Independent Research Group of RNA Biology

Group leader JADWIGA JARUZELSKA Prof. of biology jadwiga.jaruzelska@igcz.poznan.pl phone: +48 616 579 208 CV

The model of RNA-Binding Proteins (RBPs) mediated posttranscriptional gene expression regulation exemplified by a PUM protein

Group members

Research

Publications

Projects

Awards

Assistant professors	PhD students	Postdoctoral fellows	Technical associates
KAMILA KUSZ-ZAMELCZYK Associate prof. of medical sciences kamila.kusz-zamelczyk@igcz.poznan.pl +48 616 579 220	ERKUT ILASLAN Graduate student erkut.ilaslan@igcz.poznan.pl +48 616 579 206	MARCIN PIOTR SAJEK PhD in medical sciences marcin.sajek@igcz.poznan.pl +48 616 579 206	KRYSTYNA KWIATKOWSKA MS. in medical biotech. krystyna.kwiatkowska@igcz.poznan.pl +48 616 579 206
	MATISA ALLA Graduate student matisa.alla@igcz.poznan.pl +48 616 579 207	MACIEJ JERZY ŚMIAŁEK PhD in medical sciences maciej.smialek@igcz.poznan.pl +48 616 579 206	ŻANETA LEMAŃSKA MS. in medical biotech. zaneta.lemanska@igcz.poznan.pl +48 616 579 206
		LAKSHMI BELLARY PhD in animal sciences lakshmi.bellary@igcz.poznan.pl +48 616 579 206

Research

Regulation of gene expression in early stages of human germ cell development, in the context of infertility

This project is focused on the posttranscriptional regulatory mechanisms of the initial stages of the human germ cell development, involving RNA-binding proteins, such as PUMILIO and their cofactors such as NANOS. These proteins bind 3’ untranslated regions of specific target mRNAs and in cooperation with the miRNA machinery determine their fate. We are identifying ribonucleoprotein (RNP) interactoms built by such proteins and study their dynamics during PGLCs specification and differentiation. In particular, mutated RNA-binding proteins from patients suffering infertility are used to identify potential changes in such interactomes. We expect that such approach will help to pinpoint crucial pathways in germ cell specification and early development and unveil molecular basis of human infertility. As the model, we use the human W15 stem cell-line and differentiate it towards PGLCs. We perform several high throughput approaches analyzes and use bioinformatic tools.

Keywords: posttranscriptional gene expression regulation, RNA-binding proteins, microRNAs, germ cells

Identification of novel genes implicated in human sex determination

This study is focused on sheding light on molecular mechanisms of sex determination and differentiation on order to understand genetic bases of sex development disorders (DSD). We identified a couple of candidate genes involved in sex determination and differentiation and validate their connection with those processes. We coordinate the work of Polish groups within an international project addressing this issue. The project is conducted by the University of Geneva, in cooperation with the Institute of Human Genetics of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Poznań, Medical State University of Yerevan, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine in Kyiv, Poznań University of Medical Sciences, and the Children’s Memorial Health Institute in Warsaw.

Keywords: human sex determination, disorders of sex development (DSD)

Projects

• National Science Center Poland 2019/35/B/NZ1/01665 (2020-2024); NANOS1 RNP-interactome: structure and dynamics during specification/early stages of human germ cell development – significance for human reproduction (principal investigator)
• National Science Center Poland OPUS 2013/09/B/NZ1/01878 (2013-2017); Global PUMILIO regulation of mRNAs and role of MAELSTROM, a nuage component and a cancer testis marker, in human seminoma (principal investigator)
• Swiss National Science Foundation SCOPES number IZ73ZO_152347/1 (2013-2016); Genetics of human disorders of sexual development (Polish coordinator)