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 investigate the mechanisms that control meiotic recombination in plants. Our research explores three main questions: how DNA polymorphism and mismatch-recognition complexes influence crossover formation between homologous chromosomes; how natural genetic variation shapes meiotic recombination in Arabidopsis; and how genetic and epigenetic factors regulate crossover hotspot activity.

To study recombination, we combine genome-wide approaches based on sequencing large populations with reporter-based systems and high-resolution methods for analysing the activity of individual recombination hotspots, including our seed-typing approach.

Although Arabidopsis is our primary model, we also work on crop species such as barley and maize. By uncovering the mechanisms that shape recombination landscapes, we aim to advance our understanding of plant reproduction and develop new opportunities for plant breeding and biotechnology.

In parallel, we study chromatin-based mechanisms of gene regulation, with a particular focus on the role of the histone variant H2A.Z and its post-translational modifications in plant responses to environmental stress.

Selected publications

Modifying meiotic recombination by targeting chromatin regulators to crossover hotspots in Arabidopsis. Szymanska-Lejman M, Dziegielewski W, Wilhelm A, Hus K and Ziolkowski PA. Science Advances. 2026, doi: https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.aeb2890
Enhancing local meiotic crossovers in Arabidopsis and maize through juxtaposition of heterozygous and homozygous regions. Mikhailov ME, Boideau F, Szymanska-Lejman M, Botnari V, Ziolkowski PA.Nat Plants. 2025, doi: https://10.1038/s41477-025-02085-8
Genetic dissection of MutL complexes in Arabidopsis meiosis. Kbiri N, Fernández-Jiménez N, Dziegielewski W, Sáez-Zárate E, Pelé A, Mata-Villanueva A, Dluzewska J, Santos JL, Pradillo M, Ziolkowski PA.Nucleic Acids Res. 2025, http://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkaf187
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
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

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
Title: Anti-crossover functions of the main crossover pathway proteins.
Polish National Science Centre 2024/54/A/NZ2/00266 (MAESTRO): 2025-2030 (budget 1 160 000 EUR).
PI: Prof. dr hab. Piotr Ziółkowski
Title: The impact of MutS complexes on meiotic recombination in two crossover classes
Polish National Science Centre 2025/57/B/NZ2/00881 (OPUS): 2025-2029 (budget 502 000 EUR).
PI: Dr Julia Dłużewska