Laboratory of Structural Proteins

Cytoskeletal networks form the internal dynamic scaffold of living cells essential for key cellular processes, such as cell division, cell motility or morphogenesis. Ensembles of cytoskeletal proteins self-assemble to drive these processes. Our aim is to understand the principles that underpin their collective action resulting in the generation of a coherent behavior of the cytoskeletal networks.

We study i) neuronal pathfinding, a foundational process in ontogenetic development, ii) contractility of actin networks and their anchoring to the plasma membrane, key for cytokinesis, the final stage of cell division, iii) regulatory roles of intrinsically disordered, microtubule-associated proteins, essential axonal factors known for their roles in a number of neurodegenerative diseases and iv) long-range intracellular transport and trafficking of organelles, key for example for the maintenance of neuronal function. 

Our main experimental strategy is bottom-up reconstitution of cytoskeletal networks from individual components in vitro. We use genetic manipulations, biochemical and biophysical methods and mathematical modelling. Central to our approach are imaging and force measurement techniques with single molecule resolution. Employing methods of physics, we quantitatively describe the studied biological systems and predict their behavior.

VYBRANÉ PUBLIKACE

• Genova M, Grycova L, Puttrich V, Magiera MM, Lansky Z, Janke C, Braun M. (2023) "Tubulin polyglutamylation differentially regulates microtubule-interacting proteins. " EMBO J. e112101

• Siahaan V, Tan R, Humhalova T, Libusova L, Lacey SE, Tan T, Dacy M, Ori-McKenney KM, McKenney RJ, Braun M, Lansky Z. (2022) "Microtubule lattice spacing governs cohesive envelope formation of tau family proteins." Nature Chemical Biology. 18(11):1224-1235

• Kučera, O.,  Siahaan V, Janda D, Dijkstra SH, Pilatova E, Zatecka E, Diez S, Braun M, Lansky Z. (2021) "Anillin propels myosin-independent constriction of actin rings." Nature Communications, 2021, 12(1): 4595.

• Zhernov I, Diez S, Braun M, Lansky Z. (2020) "Intrinsically Disordered Domain of Kinesin-3 Kif14 Enables Unique Functional Diversity." Current Biology, 30(17):3342-3351.

• Henrichs V, Grycova L, Barinka C, Nahacka Z, Neuzil J, Diez S, Rohlena J, Braun M, Lansky Z. (2002) "Mitochondria-adaptor TRAK1 promotes kinesin-1 driven transport in crowded environments. "Nature Communications, 11(1):3123.

• Siahaan V., Krattenmacher J., Hyman A. A., Diez S.,Hernandez-Vega A., Lansky Z., Braun M. (2019) "Kinetically distinct phases of tau on microtubules regulate kinesin motors and severing enzymes. "Nature Cell Biology,  21, 1086–1092.

• Schmidt-Cernohorska M, Zhernov I, Steib E, Le Guennec M, Achek R, Borgers S, Demurtas D, Mouawad L, Lansky Z, Hamel V, Guichard P. (2019) "Flagellar microtubule doublet assembly in vitro reveals a regulatory role of tubulin C-terminal tails."Science, 363(6424):285-288.

2023

• Tran MV, Khuntsariya D, Fetter RD, Ferguson JW, Wang JT, Long AF, Cote LE, Wellard SR, Vázquez-Martínez N, Sallee MD, Genova M, Magiera MM, Eskinazi S, Lee JD, Peel N, Janke C, Stearns T, Shen K, Lansky Z, Magescas J, Feldman JL. (2023) "MAP9/MAPH-9 supports axonemal microtubule doublets and modulates motor movement." Dev Cell. S1534-5807(23)00651-2. doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.12.001. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 38159567.

• Sabo, J., Dujava-Zdimalova, M., Slater,G.P., Dostal, V., Herynek, S., Libusova, L., Lowery, L.A., Braun, M., Lansky, Z. (2023) "CKAP5 enables formation of persistent actin bundles templated by dynamically instable microtubules" Curr.Biol. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2023.11.031

• Genova M, Grycova L, Puttrich V, Magiera MM, Lansky Z, Janke C, Braun M. (2023) "Tubulin polyglutamylation differentially regulates microtubule-interacting proteins. " EMBO J. e112101

• Krattenmacher J, Casal P, Dutkiewicz J, Huchard E, Sanders E, Treich N, Wadiwel D, Williams A, Bègue L, Cardilini APA, Dhont K, Dugnoille J, Espinosa R, Gagliano M, Lairon D, Maheta M, Mendez L, Nowicki P, Quinn TP, Razum O, Ripple WJ, Rothgerber H, Twine R. (2023) "Universities should lead on the plant-based dietary transition. Lancet Planet Health." 7(5):e354-e355. doi: 10.1016/S2542-5196(23)00082-7. PMID: 37164509.

• Gélin M, Schaeffer A, Gaillard J, Guérin C, Vianay B, Orhant-Prioux M, Braun M, Leterrier C, Blanchoin L, Théry M. (2023) "Microtubules under mechanical pressure can breach dense actin networks. "J Cell Sci. 23:jcs.261667. doi: 10.1242/jcs.261667. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37870087.

2022

• Siahaan V, Tan R, Humhalova T, Libusova L, Lacey SE, Tan T, Dacy M, Ori-McKenney KM, McKenney RJ, Braun M, Lansky Z. Microtubule lattice spacing governs cohesive envelope formation of tau family proteins. Nature Chemical Biology. 2022, Nov;18(11):1224-1235.

• Liu X, Zhu H, Sabó J, Lánský Z, Neužil P. Improvement of the signal to noise ratio for fluorescent imaging in microfluidic chips. Sci Rep. 2022 Nov 7;12(1):18911.

• Sabo J, Lansky Z. Molecular motors: Turning kinesin-1 into a microtubule destroyer. Current Biology, 2022, 32(11):R518-R520.

• Puttrich V, Rohlena J, Braun M, Lansky Z. In Vitro Reconstitution of Molecular Motor-Driven Mitochondrial Transport. Methods Mol Biol. 2022, 2431:533-546.

• Havelka D, Zhernov I, Teplan M, Lánský Z, Chafai DE, Cifra M. Lab-on-chip microscope platform for electro-manipulation of a dense microtubules network. Sci Rep. 2022 Feb 14;12(1):2462.

2021

• Bujak L, Holanová K, García Marín A, Henrichs V, Barvík I, Braun M, Lánský Z, Piliarik M. "Fast Leaps between Millisecond Confinements Govern Ase1 Diffusion along Microtubules." Small Methods, 2100370

• Kučera, O.,  Siahaan V, Janda D, Dijkstra SH, Pilatova E, Zatecka E, Diez S, Braun M, Lansky Z. "Anillin propels myosin-independent constriction of actin rings." Nature Communications, 2021, 12(1): 4595

• Robert HML, Holanová K, Bujak Ł, Vala M, Henrichs V, Lánský Z, Piliarik M. "Fast photothermal spatial light modulation for quantitative phase imaging at the nanoscale." Nature Communications, 2021, 12(1):2921

• Vala, M., Bujak, Ł., García Marín, A., Holanová, K., Henrichs, V., Braun, M., Lánský, Z., Piliarik, M., Nanoscopic "Structural Fluctuations of Disassembling Microtubules Revealed by Label‐Free Super‐Resolution Microscopy." Small Methods, 2000985

2020

• Braun M, Diez S, Lansky Z. (2020) "Cytoskeletal organization through multivalent interactions." J Cell Sci, 133(12)

• Braun M, Lansky Z. (2020) "Membrane Remodeling: Passive Crosslinkers Drive Membrane Tubulation." Current Biology, 30(6):R270-R272

• Henrichs, V., Grycova, L., Barinka, C., Nahacka, Z., Neuzil, J., Diez, S., Rohlena, J., Braun, M., & Lansky, Z. (2020). "Mitochondria-adaptor TRAK1 promotes kinesin-1 driven transport in crowded environments." Nature Communications, 11(1), 3123.

• Horníková L, Bruštíková K, Ryabchenko B, Zhernov I, Fraiberk M, Mariničová Z, Lánský Z, Forstová J."The Major Capsid Protein, VP1, of the Mouse Polyomavirus Stimulates the Activity of Tubulin Acetyltransferase 1 by Microtubule Stabilization." Viruses, 2020, 12(2):227

• Monzon, G. A., Scharrel, L., A, D. S., Henrichs, V., Santen, L., & Diez, S. (2020, Nov 30). Stable tug-of-war between kinesin-1 and cytoplasmic dynein upon different ATP and roadblock concentrations. J Cell Sci, 133(22). https://doi.org/10.1242/jcs.249938

• Zhernov, I., Diez, S., Braun, M., Lansky, Z. (2020). "Intrinsically Disordered Domain of Kinesin-3 Kif14 Enables Unique Functional Diversity." Curr Biol, 30(17), 3342-3351 e3345.

2019

• Schmidt-Cernohorska, M., I. Zhernov, E. Steib, M. Le Guennec, R. Achek, S. Borgers, D. Demurtas, L. Mouawad, Z. Lansky, V. Hamel and P. Guichard (2019). "Flagellar microtubule doublet assembly in vitro reveals a regulatory role of tubulin C-terminal tails." Science 363(6424): 285-288.

• Siahaan, V., J. Krattenmacher, A. A. Hyman, S. Diez, A. Hernandez-Vega, Z. Lansky and M. Braun (2019). "Kinetically distinct phases of tau on microtubules regulate kinesin motors and severing enzymes." Nat Cell Biol 21(9): 1086-1092.

2018

• Ludecke, A., A. M. Seidel, M. Braun, Z. Lansky and S. Diez (2018). "Diffusive tail anchorage determines velocity and force produced by kinesin-14 between crosslinked microtubules." Nature Communications 9(1): 2214.

2017

• Braun, M., Z. Lansky, A. Szuba, F. W. Schwarz, A. Mitra, M. Gao, A. Ludecke, P. R. Ten Wolde and S. Diez (2017). "Changes in microtubule overlap length regulate kinesin-14-driven microtubule sliding." Nat Chem Biol 13(12): 1245-1252.

• Havelka, D., M. A. Deriu, M. Cifra and O. Kucera (2017). "Deformation pattern in vibrating microtubule: Structural mechanics study based on an atomistic approach." Sci Rep 7(1): 4227.

• Hernandez-Vega, A., M. Braun, L. Scharrel, M. Jahnel, S. Wegmann, B. T. Hyman, S. Alberti, S. Diez and A. A. Hyman (2017). "Local Nucleation of Microtubule Bundles through Tubulin Concentration into a Condensed Tau Phase." Cell Rep 20(10): 2304-2312.

• Skultetyova, L., K. Ustinova, Z. Kutil, Z. Novakova, J. Pavlicek, J. Mikesova, D. Trapl, P. Baranova, B. Havlinova, M. Hubalek, Z. Lansky and C. Barinka (2017). "Human histone deacetylase 6 shows strong preference for tubulin dimers over assembled microtubules." Sci Rep 7(1): 11547.

2016

• Braun, M., S. Diez and Z. Lansky (2016). "Cell Biology: Kinesin-14 Backsteps to Organize Polymerizing Microtubules." Curr Biol 26(24): R1292-R1294.

• Braun, M., Z. Lansky, F. Hilitski, Z. Dogic and S. Diez (2016). "Entropic forces drive contraction of cytoskeletal networks." Bioessays 38(5): 474-481.

• Jirku, M., Z. Lansky, L. Bednarova, M. Sulc, L. Monincova, P. Majer, L. Vyklicky, J. Vondrasek, J. Teisinger and K. Bousova (2016). "The characterization of a novel S100A1 binding site in the N-terminus of TRPM1." Int J Biochem Cell Biol 78: 186-193.

2015

• Grycova, L., B. Holendova, Z. Lansky, L. Bumba, M. Jirku, K. Bousova and J. Teisinger (2015). "Ca(2+) binding protein S100A1 competes with calmodulin and PIP2 for binding site on the C-terminus of the TPRV1 receptor." ACS Chem Neurosci 6(3): 386-392.

Horizon Europe: ERC-2022-SYG 101071583, Z. Lánský: Uncovering the molecular effects of the tubulin code and their impact on organism-wide functions. 2023 – 2028

GAČR: GA23-07703S, M. Braun: Label-free super-resolution microscopy based on single-protein fluctuations to study the assembly of tau protein envelopes. 2023 – 2025

GAČR: GA22-11753S, M. Braun: Megahertz Imaging of Microtubule Dynamics by Interferometric Scattering Microscopy. 2022 – 2024

MEYS: LX22NPO5107: Lánský: National institute for Neurological Research. 2022 - 2025

GACR: GA20-04068S, Braun: Translating microtubule envelope sectioning into cytoskeletal structure and function. 2020-2022.

GACR: GX19-27477X, Lánský: Cytoskeletal mechanics of the growth cone steering. 2019-2023.

GACR: GA18-08304S, Lánský: Reconstitution of mitochondrial trasport system in vitro. 2018-2020.

GACR: GA18-19705S, Lánský: High-fidelity fast tracking of protein motion mechanisms. 2018-2020.

GACR: GJ17-12496Y, Braun: The role of protein friction in the adaptive regulation of microtubule depolymerization and rescue. 2017-2019.

GACR: GA15-17488S, Lánský: Force coupling between microtubules and actin filaments by unconventional myosins. 2015-2017.

MEYS (OP RDI): ED2.1.00/19.0390, Lánský: Introduction of new research methods to BIOCEV. 2015.