Our laboratory is located at the Center for Advanced Technologies, Adam Mickiewicz University, in the beautiful city of Poznań, Poland. We are interested in understanding the functions of evolutionarily conserved dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) family proteases and Pumilio and FBF (PUF) family RNA binding proteins. A major goal of our research is to dissect the catalytic activity dependent functions of DPPIV proteases by identifying their substrate repertoire and elucidating their roles in processes including, but not limited to, the silencing of repetitive DNA sequences and “selfish” genetic elements such as transposons, as well as the maintenance of genome integrity. In parallel, we characterize endogenous protein complexes containing these proteases to uncover their catalytic activity independent functions.

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Additionally, we investigate the molecular mechanisms by which PUF family RNA binding proteins regulate gene expression. A central theme of our work is to understand the interplay between DPPIV proteases and RNA binding proteins, and how this crosstalk contributes to optimal gene expression control. We also explore the potential applicability of these proteases in addressing specific neurodegenerative diseases.

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We use Caenorhabditis elegans and cell culture systems, including induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), as model systems. Our approaches integrate advanced proteomics, next generation sequencing, genome editing (CRISPR/Cas9), and standard molecular biology and biochemical techniques.

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If you are interested, motivated, and curious to gain a deep understanding of the biology of DPPIV proteases and/or PUF RNA binding proteins, and would like to be part of our team, we encourage you to reach out to us.