Roles of microtubule inner proteins in organization of microtubule doublets

• Thesis title in Czech: Význam vnitřních mikrotubulárních proteinů v uspořádání mikrotubulárních dubletů
• Thesis title in English: Roles of microtubule inner proteins in organization of microtubule doublets
• Academic year of topic announcement: 2020/2021
• Thesis type: dissertation
• Thesis language: angličtina
• Department: Department of Cell Biology (31-151)
• Supervisor: RNDr. Zdeněk Lánský, Ph.D.
• Author: hidden - assigned by the advisor
• Date of registration: 08.10.2020
• Date of assignment: 08.10.2020
• Date of electronic submission: 25.02.2025
• Date of proceeded defence: 28.05.2025
• Opponents: Mgr. Martina Huranová, Ph.D.

References

Suggested reading:
Siahaan V et al, Kinetically distinct phases of tau on microtubules regulate kinesin motors and severing enzymes. Nat Cell Biol. 2019 Sep;21(9):1086-1092
Schmidt-Cernohorska M, et al, Flagellar microtubule doublet assembly in vitro reveals a regulatory role of tubulin C-terminal tails. Science. 2019 Jan 18;363(6424):285-288.
Hernández-Vega A et al, Local Nucleation of Microtubule Bundles through Tubulin Concentration into a Condensed Tau Phase. Cell Rep. 2017 Sep 5;20(10):2304-2312

Preliminary scope of work

Lab profile: Cytoskeletal networks form the internal dynamic scaffold of living cells essential for key cellular processes, such as cell division, cell motility or morphogenesis. Our aim is to understand how the individual structural elements of the cytoskeleton mechanically cooperate to drive these cellular processes.
We use reconstituted cytoskeletal systems to study the system's self-assembly and dynamics. Central to our approach are imaging, manipulation and force measurement techniques with single molecule resolution.

Project description: During the ontogenetic formation of the nervous system, growth cones of young axons navigate through a maze of physical boundaries to establish synapses. Growth cone progression is propelled by the dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton, while the direction of growth is governed by the dynamics of microtubules. Intricate crosstalk between microtubules and actin filaments thus must take place for fully functional growth cone steering. The aim of the project is to explain how this crosstalk is mediated and how it regulates axonal pathfinding.

Candidate profile: We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD student motivated to work on cross-disciplinary projects. The candidate should hold a master's degree in (bio)chemistry, (bio)physics, molecular/cellular biology or an equivalent field.