Laboratory of Bioenergetics and Biomembranes
Head: Jerzy DUSZYŃSKI
Staff: Magdalena Bejtka (PhD student), Viola Biernat, Magda Lebiedzińska, Dominika Malińska, Luiza Sanjuan Szklarz, Jan Suski (PhD student), Joanna Szczepanowska, Jarosław Walczak (PhD student), Mariusz Więckowski, Marta Wojewoda, Aleksandra Wojtala (PhD student), Lech Wojtczak (Professor emeritus)
Research profile:
• mitochondrial energy metabolism and energy coupling
• calcium homeostasis in normal and malignant cells
• mitochondrial stress, cytoskeleton and mitochondrial organization
• oxidative stress; p66Shc and ageing
• the role of mitochondria in apoptosis and ageing
• mitochondrial diseases
Current research activities:
• regulation of calcium homeostasis in mammalian cells. The role of PAM (Plasma Membrane Associated Mem- branes) and MAM (Mitochondria Associated Membranes) components in calcium homeostasis
• interactions between mitochondria and the ER
• effect of mitochondrial genetic defects on cell structure, mitochondrial energy state, generation of ROS and calcium homeostasis in human cells with defined mito- chondrial disorders
• the role of p66Shc protein in oxidative stress and ageing
• effect of antioxidants and inhibitors of p66Shc pathway on oxidative stress and mitochondrial energetic state in human fibroblasts harboring mitochondrial defects
• metabolic and genetic mitochondrial stress – effect of selenium
• the role of UCP (Uncoupling Protein) in energy coupling and antioxidant defense
• role of glycogen in the nervous system
Methods:
• measurement of mitochondrial parameters
• measurement of ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) pro- duction
• cell subfractionation (isolation of mitochondria, ER, the plasma membrane, PAM and MAM fractions)
• Blue Native and Clear Native PAGE with the “in-gel” activity assay
• [Ca2+] measurements in intracellular compartments with fluorescent and aequorin probes
Selected publications:
Wojewoda M., Duszyński J., Szczepanowska J. (2011) NARP mutation and mtDNA depletion trigger mitochondrial biogenesis which can be modulated by selenite supplementation. International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, 43: 1178-1186.
Giorgi C., Ito K., Lin H.K., Santangelo C., Więckowski M.R., Lebiedzińska M., Bononi A., Bonora M., Duszyński J., Bernardi R., Rizzuto R., Tacchetti C., Pinton P., Pandolfi P.P. (2010) PML regulates apoptosis at endoplasmic reticulum modulating calcium release. Science, 30: 1247-1251.
Lebiedzińska M., Karkucińska-Więckowska A., Giorgi C., Karczmarewicz E., Pronicka E., Pinton P., Duszyński J., Pronicki M., Więckowski M.R. (2010) Oxidative stress-dependent p66Shc phosphorylation in skin fibroblasts of children with mitochon- drial disorders. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1797: 952-960.
Wojewoda M., Duszyński J., Szczepanowska J. (2010) Antioxidant defence systems and generation of reactive oxygen species in osteosarcoma cells with defective mitochondria: Effect of selenium. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 1797: 890-896.
Więckowski M.R., Giorgi C., Lebiedzińska M., Duszyński J., Pinton P. (2009) Isolation of mitochondria-associated membranes and mitochondria from animal tissues and cells. Nature Protocols, 4: 1582-1590.
