Laboratory of Membrane Transport
Content of this page
Sodium and potassium transporting protein observed in yeast cells through a fluorescence microscope. Green fluorescence corresponds to the protein localized in the cell plasma membrane; red fluorescence visualizes membranes of vacuoles.
About the Laboratory
We study the proteins transporting compounds and signals across the cell membranes. These proteins, called transporters, assure the uptake of nutrients into the cells, efflux of waste compounds from cells and communication with the environment. To study the animal and plant transporters, we mainly use a model eukaryotic microorganism – yeasts. Our research is focused mainly on:
- Structure, function and regulation of cell transport systems at protein molecule level.
- Role of transporters in specific cell properties and in diseases.
- Role of transporters in Candida virulence and pathogenicity.
- Development of new techniques to estimate cell physiological parameters.
Projects
Achievement
Participation in project "Otevřená věda"
Our laboratory is already for many years involved in project Otevřená věda organised by Czech Academy of Sciences. The mission of this successful project is to lure enthusiastic students from secondary schools and show them how amusing the science can be.
Denis Cmunt is one of the first students who started the scientific career in our laboratory with support of Otevřená věda. The link to the inspiring interview with Denis is mentioned below (only in Czech).
Natálie Pořízková is another successful student who came to our laboratory via Otevřená věda. Natálie captivated the committee with her work and won the first place in category Live Nature/medical sciences and Biochemistry during the closing conference of Otevřená věda. Here you can read the interview with Natálie (in Czech):
The current knowledge about membrane transport in yeast is summarized in a new book.
José Ramos, Hana Sychrová, Maik Kschischo
Fruitful Czech - Belgian collaboration with group of Dr. Pierra Morsomm from Université catholique de Louvain.
Anne-Sophie Colinet
Successful collaboration with the group of Dr. Pierre Morsomm was crowned by the short-term research fellowship of Belgian student Anne-Sophie Colinet at our department. The aim of joint project is the uncovering of the transport mechanism of Gdp1p in Golgi apparatus of S. cerevisiae. Gdp1 is the Ca2+ transporter homologous to the product of human gene TMEM165. Mutations in this gene are associated with the autosomal recessive disorder Congenital Disorder of Glycosylation, type IIk (CDG II). The main task of Anne-Sophie Colinet was the measurement of the intracellular pH in S. cerevisiae lacking gene encoding the Gdt1 transporter.
We look for antifungal drugs as a part of a European consortium
On October 1, 2013, our new European project entitled Molecular Mechanisms of Human Fungal Pathogen Host Interaction (ImResFun, FP7-PEOPLE-2013-ITN ) has started. In the consortium composed of nine laboratories and three companies from nine European countries, we will study the interaction of pathogenic yeasts with cells, tissues and organs of the host. Our aim is to identify so far unknown targets in pathogenic yeasts for the development of new antifungal drugs.
Publications
Papoušková; Klára - Gómez; M. - Kodedová; Marie - Ramos; J. - Zimmermannová; Olga - Sychrová; Hana Heterologous expression reveals unique properties of Trk K+ importers from nonconventional biotechnologically relevant yeast species together with their potential to support Saccharomyces cerevisiae growth. Yeast. 2023; 40(2); 68-83.
IF = 2.6
Brockhurst; M. - Cavet; J. - Diggle; S. P. - Grainger; D. - Mangenelli; R. - Sychrová; Hana - Martin-Verstraete; I. - Welch; M. - Palmer; T. - Thomas; G.H. Shaping microbiology for 75 years: highlights of research published in Microbiology. Part 1 – Physiology and growth. Microbiology. 2023; 169(6); 001356.
IF = 2.8
Zimmermannová; Olga - Velázquez; Diego - Papoušková; Klára - Průša; Vojtěch - Radová; Viktorie - Falson; P. - Sychrová; Hana The Hydrophilic C-terminus of Yeast Plasma-membrane Na+/H+ Antiporters Impacts Their Ability to Transport K+. Journal of Molecular Biology. 2024; 436(4); 168443.
IF = 5.6
Masaryk; Jakub - Kale; Deepika - Pohl; Pavel - Ruiz-Castilla; F. J. - Zimmermannová; Olga - Obšilová; Veronika - Ramos; J. - Sychrová; Hana The second intracellular loop of the yeast Trk1 potassium transporter is involved in regulation of activity; and interaction with 14–3-3 proteins. Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal. 2023; 21(April); 2705-2716.
IF = 6.0
Mane; S. - Pathan; E. - Tupe; S. - Deshmukh; S. - Kale; Deepika - Ghormade; V. - Chaudhari; B. - Deshpande; M. Isolation and Characterization of Chitosans from Different Fungi with Special Emphasis on Zygomycetous Dimorphic Fungus Benjaminiella poitrasii: Evaluation of Its Chitosan Nanoparticles for the Inhibition of Human Pathogenic Fungi. Biomacromolecules. 2022; 23(3); 808-815.
IF = 6.2
Photogallery
People
Head of Laboratory
Deputy Head of Laboratory
Laboratory staff
