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Molecular & Cellular Biology

Our lab’s aim is to analyze and integrate diverse aspects of plant cell biology, including vesicular transport, nucleases engaged in PCD and plant omics responses in stress and recovery.

Prof. Przemysław Wojtaszek

Principal Investigator

Research

We want to understand molecular factors affecting vesicular transport (especially exo- and endocytosis) within plant cell and to characterize proteins participating in this process. Recently, we described γ-secretase complex displaying proteolytic activity together with its subunits and their interactions.
We also characterize plant nucleases involved in programmed cell death (PCD) during plant development. We identified members of those protein family whose activity depends on previously unknown cofactors/substrates.
In addition, we characterize alterations within plant transcriptomes, proteomes and metabolomes under diverse abiotic stress conditions (including cold, heat and drought) and after stress recovery. In particular, we investigate the participation of glycine-rich proteins (GRPs) and mitochondria in response to adverse conditions.

In our research we use current experimental tools from modern microscopy, plant molecular biology, physiology, experimental biology to functional genomics. Studied species involve mostly Brassicaceae members (e.g. Arabidopsis, cauliflower), cell and mutant lines to characterise gene functions.

Selected publications

  1. Rurek M. (2024) Mitochondria in COVID-19: from cellular and molecular perspective. Front. Physiol. 15:1406635. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1406635
  2. Szlachtowska, Z., and Rurek, M. (2023). Plant dehydrins and dehydrin-like proteins: characterization and participation in abiotic stress response. Front. Plant Sci. 14, 1213188. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1213188
  3. Słupianek, A., Kasprowicz‐Maluśki, A., Myśkow, E., Turzańska, M., and Sokołowska, K. (2019). Endocytosis acts as transport pathway in wood. New Phytol. 222, 1846–1861. doi: 10.1111/nph.15637.
  4. Krela, R., Poreba, E., Weglewska, M., Skrzypczak, T., and Lesniewicz, K. (2019). A novel method for cloning of coding sequences of highly toxic proteins. Biophys. Acta – Gen. Subj. 1863, 521–527. doi: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2018.12.010.
  5. Czolpinska, M., and Rurek, M. (2018). Plant Glycine-Rich Proteins in Stress Response: An Emerging, Still Prospective Story. Front. Plant Sci. 9, 302. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2018.00302.
  6. Rurek, M., Czołpińska, M., Pawłowski, T., Staszak, A., Nowak, W., Krzesiński, W., et al. (2018). Mitochondrial Biogenesis in Diverse Cauliflower Cultivars under Mild and Severe Drought. Impaired Coordination of Selected Transcript and Proteomic Responses, and Regulation of Various Multifunctional Proteins. J. Mol. Sci. 19, 1130. doi: 10.3390/ijms19041130.
  7. Skrzypczak, T., Krela, R., Kwiatkowski, W., Wadurkar, S., Smoczyńska, A., and Wojtaszek, P. (2017). Plant Science View on Biohybrid Development. Bioeng. Biotechnol. 5, 46. doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2017.00046.
  8. Kasprowicz-Maluski, A., Kwiatkowski, W., Starosta, A., and Wojtaszek, P. (2017). Journey from the Center of the Cell – the intra- and intercellular transport of mRNA. Acta Biochim. Pol. 63, 693-699. doi: 10.18388/abp.2016_1359.
  9. Rurek, M., Woyda-Ploszczyca, A. M., and Jarmuszkiewicz, W. (2015). Biogenesis of mitochondria in cauliflower (Brassica oleracea botrytis) curds subjected to temperature stress and recovery involves regulation of the complexome, respiratory chain activity, organellar translation and ultrastructure. Biochim. Biophys. Acta – Bioenerg. 1847, 399–417. doi: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2015.01.005.
  10. Smolarkiewicz, M., Skrzypczak, T., Michalak, M., Leśniewicz, K., Walker, J. R., Ingram, G., et al. (2014). Gamma-secretase subunits associate in intracellular membrane compartments in Arabidopsis thaliana. Exp. Bot. 65, 3015–3027. doi: 10.1093/jxb/eru147.
  11. Smolarkiewicz, M., Skrzypczak, T., and Wojtaszek, P. (2013). The very many faces of presenilins and the γ-secretase complex. Protoplasma 250, 997–1011. doi: 10.1007/s00709-013-0494-y.
  12. Leśniewicz, K., Poręba, E., Smolarkiewicz, M., Wolff, N., Stanisławski, S., and Wojtaszek, P. (2012). Plant plasma membrane-bound staphylococcal-like DNases as a novel class of eukaryotic nucleases. BMC Plant Biol. 12, 195. doi: 10.1186/1471-2229-12-195.

Research grants

  1. Title: Why do cells become smaller to survive? Analysis of BY2 tobacco cells adapted to osmotic and salt stress conditions in search of key factors regulating energy management, molecular homeostasis and cell size.
    Consortium grant (Institute of Dendrology PAS, Adam Mickiewicz University, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry PAS)  UMO-2020/39/B/NZ9/03336 (OPUS): 2021-2025
    PI: dr Anna Kasprowicz-Maluśki (from AMU)
  1. Title: Analysis of functions of secretory nucleases from Acanthamoeba castellanii.
    National Science Centre 2019/33AVNZ6/00655 (PRELUDIUM): 2019-2023.
    PI: dr Rafał Krela.
  1. Title: Flora Robotica: Societies of Symbiotic Robot-Plant Bio-Hybrids as Social Architectural Artifacts.
    Ministry of Science and Education 369172/PnH/2017 (Premia na Horyzoncie): 2017-2021.
    PI: prof. dr hab. Przemysław Wojtaszek.
  1. Title: Flora Robotica: Societies of Symbiotic Robot-Plant Bio-Hybrids as Social Architectural Artifacts.
    EU 640959 (HORIZON2020: The Future and Emerging Technologies): 2015-2019.
    PI: prof. dr hab. Przemysław Wojtaszek.
  1. Title: Towards the internationalisation of the Doctoral School of AMU.
    NAWA PPI/STE2020/1/00007/U/00001 (STER): 2021-2023.
    PI: prof. dr hab. Przemysław Wojtaszek.
  1. Title: Characterization of the mechanism of DNA degradation in various forms of programmed cell death in plants.
    National Science Centre UMO-2014/15/NZ3/00863 (OPUS): 2015-2019.
    PI: prof. UAM dr hab. Krzysztof Leśniewicz.
  1. Title: Contribution of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea botrytis) glycine-rich proteins in response to cold and heat stress and their intracellular localization.
    Dean project GDWB-13/2018 (Faculty of Biology, AMU): 2018-2019.
    PI: mgr Magdalena Czołpińska.
  1. Title: Analysis of gene expression related to cell wall metabolism in pea (Pisum sativum) cultivars characterized by different mechanical parameters of the stem, lignin content and lodging resistance.
    National Science Centre 2015/17/N/NZ9/01103 (PRELUDIUM): 2016-2018.
    PI: mgr Michał Knopkiewicz.
  1. Title: The participation of gamma-secretase in the organization and functioning of plant cells.
    National Science Centre UMO-2012/05/B/NZ3/01026 (OPUS): 2013-2017
    PI: prof. dr hab. Przemysław Wojtaszek.
  1. Title: Analysis of the specificity of nucleolytic activities in Acanthamoeba castellanii.
    Dean project GDWB-10/2016 (Faculty of Biology, AMU): 2016-2017.
    PI: mgr Rafał Krela.
  1. Title: Analysis of the structural and functional organization of the multiprotein complex participating in exocytosis in plant cells by advanced fluorescence and confocal microscopy techniques.
    Ministry of Science and Higher Education 5615/B/P01/2010/39: 2010-2016.
    PI: dr Anna Kasprowicz-Maluśki.
  1. Title: Characterization of the mechanisms of regulation of the exocyst complex in plant cells.
    National Science Centre UMO-2011/03/N/NZ3/01796 (PRELUDIUM): 2012-2015.
    PI: mgr Michał Michalak.
  1. Title: Activity of gamma-secretase in plant cells.
    National Science Centre UMO-2013/09/N/NZ3/00532 (PRELUDIUM): 2014-2015.
    PI: mgr Tomasz Skrzypczak.
  1. Title: The role of plant membrane nucleases in defense against pathogen attack.
    Ministry of Science and Higher Education NN301 034 740 (own grant): 2011-2014.
    PI: dr hab. Krzysztof Leśniewicz.
  1. Title: Protein-protein and protein-lipid interactions involving selected Arabidopsis thaliana proteins potentially associated with endocytosis.
    Ministry of Science and Higher Education NN301 599 740 (promoter grant): 2011-2013.
    PI: prof. dr hab. Przemysław Wojtaszek.
  1. Title: Structural and functional analysis of the γ-secretase complex in Arabidopsis thaliana.
    Ministry of Science and Higher Education NN303 813 540 (promoter grant): 2011-2012.
    PI: prof. dr hab. Przemysław Wojtaszek.
  1. Title: Functional analysis of potential connecting proteins within the cell wall-cell membrane-cytoskeleton continuum in plant cells.
    Ministry of Science and Higher Education NN303 360 735 (promoter grant): 2011-2012.
    PI: prof. dr hab. Przemysław Wojtaszek.
  1. Title: Proteomics of cauliflower (Brassica oleracea botrytis) mitochondria under stress conditions.
    Ministry of Science and Higher Education NN303 338835 (own grant): 2008-2010.
    PI: dr Michał Rurek.
  1. Title: Cloning and characterization of plant nucleases involved in programmed cell death.
    Ministry of Science and Higher Education NN301 033034 (own grant): 2008-2010.
    PI: dr Krzysztof Leśniewicz.
  1. Title: Analiza funkcjonalna potencjalnych białek łącznikowych w obrębie kontinuum ściana komórkowa-błona komórkowa-cytoszkielet w komórkach roślinnych.
    Ministry of Science and Higher Education NN303 360735 (own grant): 2008-2010.
    PI: prof. dr hab. Przemysław Wojtaszek.

Current group members

Prof. Przemysław Wojtaszek

Prof. Przemysław Wojtaszek

principal investigator

Prof. AMU Michał Rurek

Prof. AMU Michał Rurek

university professor

Prof. AMU Krzysztof Leśniewicz

Prof. AMU Krzysztof Leśniewicz

university professor

Anna Kasprowicz-Maluśki, PhD

Anna Kasprowicz-Maluśki, PhD

assistant professor

Tomasz Skrzypczak, PhD

Tomasz Skrzypczak, PhD

assistant professor

Maria Tomys, MSc

Maria Tomys, MSc

PhD student

Liliana Maria Ciszewska, MSc

Liliana Maria Ciszewska, MSc

technical assistant, specialist