Laboratory of Genome Biology | Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology

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Genome Biology Research Unit

We study meiotic crossover formation and control in plants at the level of the whole genome, chromosome regions and single recombination hotspots.

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Prof. Piotr Ziółkowski

Principal Investigator

Research

We are interested in understanding the control of meiotic recombination in plants. Our research covers three main themes: First, we investigate how DNA polymorphism and protein complexes detecting base mismatches between homologous chromosomes shape crossover formation. Second, we identify novel trans-acting modifiers meiotic recombination in Arabidopsis using QTL and GWAS approaches. Finally, we investigate the (epi)genetic factors that control the activity of crossover hotspots in plants using our seed-typing method. Our basic research model is Arabidopsis, although we also carry out projects on crops such as barley or maize. This research will add to our understanding of plant sexual reproduction but will also find applications in modern plant breeding and biotechnology.
In addition, we study molecular mechanisms responsible for regulation of gene expression at the level of chromatin remodelling and modification. Specifically, we research how the histone variant H2A.Z and its posttranslational modifications act in the control of transcriptional response to environmental stresses.

Selected publications

The kinase ATR controls meiotic crossover distribution at the genome scale in Arabidopsis. Zhu L, Dluzewska J, Fernández-Jiménez N, Ranjan R, Pelé A, Dziegielewski W, Szymanska-Lejman M, Hus K, Górna J, Pradillo M, Ziolkowski PA. Plant Cell. 2024, https://doi.org/10.1093/plcell/koae292
MSH2 stimulates interfering and inhibits non-interfering crossovers in response to genetic polymorphism. Dluzewska J, Dziegielewski W, Szymanska-Lejman M, Gazecka M, Henderson IR, Higgins JD, Ziolkowski PA. Nat Commun. 2023, http://doi:10.1038/s41467-023-42511-z
The effect of DNA polymorphisms and natural variation on crossover hotspot activity in Arabidopsis hybrids Szymanska-Lejman M, Dziegielewski W, Dluzewska J, Kbiri N, Bieluszewska A, Poethig RS, Ziolkowski PA. Nat Commun. 2023, https://doi:10.1038/s41467-022-35722-3
NuA4 and H2A.Z control environmental responses and autotrophic growth in Arabidopsis. Bieluszewski T, Sura W, Dziegielewski W, Bieluszewska A, Lachance C, Kabza M, Szymanska-Lejman M, Abram M, Wlodzimierz P, De Winne N, De Jaeger G, Sadowski J, Côté J, Ziolkowski PA. Nat Commun. 2022, https://doi:10.1038/s41467-021-27882-5
Natural variation identifies SNI1, the SMC5/6 component, as a modifier of meiotic crossover in Arabidopsis Zhu L, Fernández-Jiménez N, Szymanska-Lejman M, Pelé A, Underwood CJ, Serra H, Lambing C, Dluzewska J, Bieluszewski T, Pradillo M, Henderson IR, Ziolkowski PA. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2021, https://doi:10.1073/pnas.2021970118
MSH2 shapes the meiotic crossover landscape in relation to interhomolog polymorphism in Arabidopsis Blackwell AR, Dluzewska J, Szymanska-Lejman M, Desjardins S, Tock AJ, Kbiri N, Lambing C, Lawrence EJ, Bieluszewski T, Rowan B, Higgins JD, Ziolkowski PA, Henderson IR. EMBO J. 2020, https://doi:10.15252/embj.2020104858
Nucleosomes and DNA methylation shape meiotic DSB frequency in Arabidopsis thaliana transposons and gene regulatory regions Choi K, Zhao X, Tock AJ, Lambing C, Underwood CJ, Hardcastle TJ, Serra H, Kim J, Cho HS, Kim J, Ziolkowski PA, Yelina NE, Hwang I, Martienssen RA, Henderson IR. Genome Res. 2018, https://doi:10.1101/gr.225599.117
Massive crossover elevation via combination of HEI10 and recq4a recq4b during Arabidopsis meiosis. Serra H, Lambing C, Griffin CH, Topp SD, Nageswaran DC, Underwood CJ, Ziolkowski PA, Séguéla-Arnaud M, Fernandes JB, Mercier R, Henderson IR. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018, https://doi:10.1073/pnas.1713071115
Dual Role of the Histone Variant H2A.Z in Transcriptional Regulation of Stress-Response Genes. Sura W, Kabza M, Karlowski WM, Bieluszewski T, Kus-Slowinska M, Pawełoszek Ł, Sadowski J, Ziolkowski PA. Plant Cell. 2017, https://doi:10.1105/tpc.16.00573
Natural variation and dosage of the HEI10 meiotic E3 ligase control Arabidopsis crossover recombination. Ziolkowski PA, Underwood CJ, Lambing C, Martinez-Garcia M, Lawrence EJ, Ziolkowska L, Griffin C, Choi K, Franklin FC, Martienssen RA, Henderson IR. Genes Dev. 2017, https://doi:10.1101/gad.295501.116

More publications in PubMed.

Research grants

Title: Participation of H2A.Z histone variant in plant drought response: Determining of correlation between H2A.Z occupation in promoter regions and transcriptional gene activity.
Ministry of Science and Higher Education N N303 313437 (Opus): 2009-2014 (budget ~68 000 EUR).
PI: dr Piotr Ziółkowski

Title: Identification of QTL responsible for meiotic crossover frequency in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Polish National Science Centre 2016/21/B/NZ2/01757 (Opus): 2017-2020 (budget ~275 000 EUR).
PI: dr hab. Piotr Ziółkowski

Title: Characterization of factors involved in detection of sequence polymorphisms during meiotic recombination.
Polish National Science Centre 2016/22/E/NZ2/00455 (Sonata Bis): 2017-2022 (budget ~550 000 EUR).
PI: dr hab. Piotr Ziółkowski

Title: Understanding the mechanisms of crossover control in plants with the prospect of their application in crop improvement.
European Molecular Biology Organisation EMBC CEMB/05/17 (EMBO Installation Grant): 2017-2021 (budget 250 000 EUR).
PI: dr hab. Piotr Ziółkowski

Title: Identification of chromatin factors affecting meiotic crossover formation in plants.
Foundation for Polish Science POIR.04.04.00-00-5C0F/17-00 (TEAM): 2018-2023 (budget 810 000 EUR).
PI: dr hab. Piotr Ziółkowski

Title: Unraveling the genetic basis of crossover variation in Arabidopsis thaliana by exploiting a broad diversity.
Polish National Science Centre 2021/41/B/NZ2/01340 (OPUS): 2022-2025 (budget 420 000 EUR).
PI: dr Alexandre Pelé

Title: RecHybrid: Regulation of meiotic recombination in Arabidopsis and tomato hybrids by MutS-dependent sensitivity to genetic polymorphism.
Polish National Science Centre & German Research Foundation 2020/39/I/NZ2/02464 (OPUS-LAP): 2022-2025 (budget 540 000 EUR).
PI: Prof. UAM dr hab. Piotr Ziółkowski & dr Charles Underwood