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Cell Signaling

Our team investigates fundamental mechanisms and translates findings from bench to bedside, combining preclinical models with clinical insight.

Researcher at ICRC with focus on translational medicine. Combines preclinical insights with clinical practice across cardiology, neurology, and oncology programs.

Currently leads / contributes to interdisciplinary projects bridging molecular biology, imaging, and patient care at St. Anne's University Hospital Brno.

Research Group

Team size
Team size: 10 Researchers
Place
Place: Building C2, 2nd Floor
Collaborates with
Collaborates with Charles University, Prague

Head of Research Group

Mgr. Pavel Krejčí, Ph.D.
Mgr. Pavel Krejčí, Ph.D.
Mgr. Pavel Krejčí, Ph.D.

Members

Mgr. Kateřina Ježová, Ph.D.

Mgr. Kateřina Ježová, Ph.D.

Junior Researcher

Mgr. Janka Melicherová

Mgr. Janka Melicherová

Ph.D. Student

Milada Zajícová

Milada Zajícová

Research Assistant

Jana Bartáková

Jana Bartáková

Research Assistant

Mgr. Zuzana Feketová, Ph.D.

Mgr. Zuzana Feketová, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Researcher

Gustavo Adolfo Rico Llanos, Ph.D.

Gustavo Adolfo Rico Llanos, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Researcher

Aleksandra Anna Czyrek, Ph.D.

Aleksandra Anna Czyrek, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Researcher

Marcela Krejčí

Marcela Krejčí

Lab Technician, Research Technician Specialist

Ing. Lucie Krátká

Research Specialist

Mgr. Pavel Krejčí, Ph.D.

Mgr. Pavel Krejčí, Ph.D.

Senior Research Team Leader

Team Assistant

Main Objectives

  1. Unravel mechanism of primary cilia regulation by the RTKs.
  2. Determine extent of transactivation among the human RTKs.
  3. Develop new treatments for FGFR3-related chondrodysplasias.

Research focus

Maintenance of tissue homeostasis depends on extracellular signals that govern basic cell functions. Receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) represent major molecular tools of such cell-to-cell communications. RTK importance is further emphasised by evidence of their function in disease, with more than 80 human pathologies associating with alterations in RTK genes, including cancer, developmental disorders and metabolic syndromes. Our research focuses on several poorly known areas of RTK function, such as the composition of protein complexes associating with activated RTKs at the cell membrane, nature of effectors utilized by RTKs to regulate specific cell functions, mechanisms by which RTKs interact with primary cilia and morphogene signaling, and molecular pathologies of skeletal disorders caused by RTK mutations.

Technological equipment

  • Confocal microscope, FPLC chromatography system. 

Selected Results

  • Kimura T, Bosakova M, Nonaka Y, Hruba E, Yasuda K, Futakawa S, Kubota T, Fafilek B, Gregor T, Abraham SP, Gomolkova R, Belaskova S, Pesl M, Csukasi F, Duran I, Fujiwara M, Kavkova M, Zikmund T, Kaiser J, Buchtova M, Krakow D, Nakamura Y, Ozono K, Krejci P. An RNA aptamer restores defective bone growth in FGFR3-related skeletal dysplasia in mice. Sci Transl Med. 2021 May 5;13(592):eaba4226.
  • Bosakova M, Abraham SP, Nita A, Hruba E, Buchtova M, Taylor SP, Duran I, Martin J, Svozilova K, Barta T, Varecha M, Balek L, Kohoutek J, Radaszkiewicz T, Pusapati GV, Bryja V, Rush ET, Thiffault I, Nickerson DA, Bamshad MJ; University of Washington Center for Mendelian Genomics, Rohatgi R, Cohn DH, Krakow D, Krejci P. Mutations in GRK2 cause Jeune syndrome by impairing Hedgehog and canonical Wnt signaling. EMBO Mol Med. 2020 Nov 6;12(11):e11739.
  • Kunova Bosakova M, Nita A, Gregor T, Varecha M, Gudernova I, Fafilek B, Barta T, Basheer N, Abraham SP, Balek L, Tomanova M, Fialova Kucerova J, Bosak J, Potesil D, Zieba J, Song J, Konik P, Park S, Duran I, Zdrahal Z, Smajs D, Jansen G, Fu Z, Ko HW, Hampl A, Trantirek L, Krakow D, Krejci P. Fibroblast growth factor receptor influences primary cilium length through an interaction with intestinal cell kinase. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2019 Mar 5;116(10):4316-4325. 
  • Fafilek B, Balek L, Bosakova MK, Varecha M, Nita A, Gregor T, Gudernova I, Krenova J, Ghosh S, Piskacek M, Jonatova L, Cernohorsky NH, Zieba JT, Kostas M, Haugsten EM, Wesche J, Erneux C, Trantirek L, Krakow D, Krejci P. The inositol phosphatase SHIP2 enables sustained ERK activation downstream of FGF receptors by recruiting Src kinases. Sci Signal. 2018 Sep 18;11(548):eaap8608. 
  • Balek L, Buchtova M, Kunova Bosakova M, Varecha M, Foldynova-Trantirkova S, Gudernova I, Vesela I, Havlik J, Neburkova J, Turner S, Krzyscik MA, Zakrzewska M, Klimaschewski L, Claus P, Trantirek L, Cigler P, Krejci P. Nanodiamonds as “artificial proteins”: Regulation of a cell signalling system using low nanomolar solutions of inorganic nanocrystals. Biomaterials. 2018 Sep;176:106-121.