Student Researchers' Society Topics

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common, highly aggressive brain tumor. The average survival of patients from the diagnosis is 14 months. The standard therapy includes surgical removal of the tumor, radiotherapy and chemotherapy using temozolomide (TMZ). In some patients, TMZ treatment is ineffective.

Our research team works with GBM cell lines and investigate the possible molecular background of the development of TMZ resistance. Our goal is to induce apoptosis in these cell lines by activating alternative signaling pathways.

 Members of the research team: Marica Németh, Barbara Brandt, Bence Balázs

Members of the research team: Barbara Brandt, Márton Turcsán

Co-supervisor: Dr. GASZLER, Péter

Directed axonal growth depends on proper coordination of the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton in the growth cone. However, the mechanisms whereby actin polymerization is coupled to microtubule stabilization and advancement in the peripheral growth cone remained largely unclear. We have shown that the formin protein Disheveled-associated activator of morphogenesis (DAAM) can bind to both actin filaments and microtubules and physically crosslink the two different cytoskeletal polymers. Moreover, DAAM is associated with the microtubule end-binding EB1 protein. These interactions can have relevance in the functioning of the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton dynamics in neurons. We aim to dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying the concerted action of DAAM and EB1 in the regulation of the neuronal actin-microtubule cytoskeleton.

You can get expertise in the following approaches

• protein purification from tissue or recombinantly (E.coli)
• fluorescence spectroscopy
• total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy, image analysis
• liquid chromatography
• sedimentation
• statistical tools in biological data analysis
• You can get insight into cooperation between research groups.

Actin filaments assembled in the presence of DAAM and visualized by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM, Olympus IX81).

Related publications

1. Gaszler Péter: Az axonok növekedését irányító molekuláris gépezet vizsgálata. Diploma work, UP MS 2017
2. Földi I et al Molecular dissection of DAAM function during axon growth in Drosophila embryonic neurons. CELLS 2022
3. Szikora Sz et al The formin DAAM is required for coordination of the actin and microtubule cytoskeleton in axonal growth cones. JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE 2017
4. Vig AT et al The activities of the c-terminal regions of the formin protein disheveled-associated activator of morphogenesis (DAAM) in actin dynamics. JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY 2017

Biomimetics is the application of solutions already "invented" by living systems to solve complex problems, in fact, nature-inspired innovation. You must have heard of the hook-and-loop fastener, which was inspired by the small hooks on the surface of plant spikes; or buildings that maintain a natural heat balance inspired by termite castles. Biomimetics is also an important research tool in the investigation of the actin cytoskeleton. In our research, we develop biomimetic systems that reconstruct the organization/function of actin networks within the cell. Examining the models in a cell-free environment can contribute to the understanding of the molecular events controlling the actin cytoskeleton.

You can get expertise in the following approaches

• protein purification from tissue or recombinantly (E.coli)
• fluorescence spectroscopy
• total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy
• image analysis
• liquid chromatography
• sedimentation
• statistical tools in biological data analysis
• you can get insight into cooperation between research groups

Biomimetic model of the actin network responsible for the generation of cell membrane protrusions. (A) Phase-contrast and (B) fluorescence microscopy image. (Bugyi B et al. EMBO Journal 2010)

Related publications

1. Vemula V et al Myosin and gelsolin cooperate in actin filament severing and actomyosin motor activity. JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY 2021
2. Pintér R et al The Activities of the Gelsolin Homology Domains of Flightless-I in Actin Dynamics. FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES 2020
3. Bugyi B et al How tropomyosin regulates lamellipodial actin-based motility: a combined biochemical and reconstituted motility approach.  EMBO JOURNAL 2010

Co-supervisor: Dr. SCHNEIDER, György

Bacteriophages, also known as phages, are viruses that infect and replicate in bacterial cells. The use of phages has been proposed as an alternative method to control pathogenic bacteria. During recent years several scientific reports have been published about the successful use of phages in different fields, for example food safety, agriculture and human health. For this reason, our research aimed to: identification of newly isolated bacteriophages. The members of the research team: Dr. György Schneider, Botond Pertics.

Co-supervisor: Dr. BALOGH, Bálint

The signaling of MAP-Kinases is studied in wild type and mutant rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cell cultures. These enzymes are known mediators of neuronal differentiation and various stress inducers. Currently we are studying the effects of agents from the family of proteasome inhibitors (like MG-132 and epoxomicin) that can elicit neuronal differentiation in this cell type. Other members of the group are studying signaling mechanisms initiated by the peptide urocortin 2 in PC12 cells. From these observations the ability of this peptide ligand to modulate the action of nerve growth factor (NGF) appear to be especially interesting. The members of the research team: Alexandra Stayer-Harci, OktáviaTarjányi  MD, Mónika Vecsernyés. 

Co-supervisor: Prof. Dr. SZEBERÉNYI, József

Nitric oxide (NO), as a second messenger, plays multiple roles in intracellular signal transduction events. The signaling pathways leading to survival or apoptosis of different cell types are mostly well known. Nitric oxide, by activating or inactivating proteins involved in the above mentioned processes, plays a modulatory role in the regulation of these signaling pathways. Melanoma cell lines treated with high (e.g. toxic) doses of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a molecule which forms nitric oxide are used in our experiments. Our task is to identify changes in activation or expression of proteins involved in apoptosis. The member of the research team: Petra Morvai

Co-supervisor: Dr. LEMPEL, Edina

Resin-based composites have already long been a popular tool in dental treatment, also due to their excellent mechanical properties and easy handling, however, monomers released from them (eg. because of incomplete polymerization) can potentially have cytotoxic effects as well. The aim of our experiments is to study the effects of monomers released from resin-based composites on the level of pulp and periodontal ligament derived cell cultures, and also to examine the signaling events behind these effects. The members of the research team: Dr. György Sétáló Jr., Mónika Vecsernyés

Nitric oxide (NO), as a second messenger, plays multiple roles in intra- and intercellular signal transduction events. The signaling pathways leading to apoptosis, proliferation or differentiation of PC12 cells are well known. Nitric oxide, by activating or inactivating proteins involved in the above mentioned processes, plays a paramount role in the regulation of these signaling pathways. Our research team explores mainly the role played by the members of the Ras family and p53 protein in these events. The member of the research team: Petra Morvai

PKR is a serine/threonin specific kinase, which has an important role in the mediation of interferon induced antiviral response, in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation. Trough the activation of different transcription factors (STAT, p53, NFκB) and the phosphorylation of the eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α) PKR has a key role in the regulation of apoptosis too. Signal transduction effects of PKR are being studied using clones expressing PKR siRNA. The member of the research team: Mónika Vecsernyés .