Summary of national projects:
From conformation to biological functions of HP1 protein
Project ID: 18-07384S (standard project)
Project Provider: GA ČR (Czech Science Foundation)
Project Duration: 2018 - 2020
Principal Investigator: assoc. prof. RNDr. Stanislav Kozubek, DrSc.
Project objectives: During cell differentiation and DNA repair processes, changes in post-translation modifications and conformation properties of heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) are expected. These changes, determined by epigenetic events, will be analyzed by theoretical approaches using computational chemistry and mass spectrometry (MS). On the other hand, fluorescent properties of HP1 in time will be studied experimentally by means of FLIM-FRET microscopy as well as biological functions of HP1 proteins with different FLIM characteristics. Three variants of HP1 protein (HP1α, HP1β, HP1γ) as well as possible homodimers or heterodimers between HP1 variants will be investigated. The goal will be to show functions of HP1 proteins from the point of view of gene activity or gene silencing during differentiation or DNA repair. Epigenetic properties of individual domains of HP1 proteins, derived from theoretical calculations, their modifications determined by MS and conformational arrangements, will be correlated with biological functions accompanying changes of gene activity.
Dynamics and Organization of Chromosomes in the Cell Cycle and during Differentiation under Normal and Pathological Conditions
Project ID: 302/12/157 (Project of Excellence)
Project Provider: GA ČR (Czech Science Foundation)
Project Duration: 2012 - 2018
Principal Investigator: assoc. prof. RNDr. Stanislav Kozubek, DrSc.
Project objectives: The Project of Excellence represents a continuation of the successful Centre of Basic Research LC535 and will bring together the best Czech teams interested in the arrangement and function of the cell nucleus and epigenetics in normal and cancer cells either intact or damaged. We will accent the research of epigenetics and DNA damage in human pluripotent stem cells in relation to oncogenic transformation. Research in this field can provide highly important practical implications. Practical significance can be also expected from the research of complex chromosomal aberrations. Participation of computer scientists in the project will enable development of control software for microscope systems as well as high-level analysis of the results. Multidiciplinary nature of the consortium will enable the use of complementarity in methods and approaches, achieve synergistic effects, join elements of basic and applied research and solve difficult objectives. The joint research will generate a high added value leading to the growth of scientific excellence and of an international recognition.
Chromatin dynamics during DNA repair
Project ID: P302/10/1022 (standard project)
Project Provider: GA ČR (Czech Science Foundation)
Project Duration: 2010 - 2014
Principal Investigator: assoc. prof. RNDr. Eva Bártová, Ph.D., DSc.
Project objectives: Cells have developed sophisticated mechanisms to overcome damage to DNA resulting in double-strand breaks (DSBs) induced by toxic agents of our environment. Improper repair of DSBs can lead to the development of cancer. Once a cancer has developed, radiation and chemotherapy are used to damage DNA in order to kill the tumor cells. Thus, the information of how cells respond to DNA damage is critical for understanding both the development of cancer and its therapy. We want to contribute to this knowledge by the elucidation of the processes changing the chromatin structure in the DSB vicinity. Chromatin changes represent the fundamental response of the cell to DSB induction that should allow the access of repair proteins to DNA for efficient signaling and repair. It should be found how the chromatin structure is modified, what is the difference in chromatin dynamics in open and compact chromatin compartments and how are all these processes coordinated in time to allow accumulation of repair proteins forfull restoration of genome integrity.
Activation of adenosine receptors combined with cyclooxygenase inhibition in modulation of radiation-induced myelosuppression
Project ID: GA305/08/0158 (standard project)
Project Provider: GA ČR (Czech Science Foundation)
Project Duration: 2008 - 2012
Co-Investigator: assoc. prof. MUDr. Michal Hofer, CSc.
Project objectives: Hitherto performed studies of the applicants of this project have demonstrated the effectiveness of two original experimental pharmacological approaches aimed at stimulation of regeneration of hematopoiesis supressed by exposure of a mammalian organism.
New mechanisms of oncoprotein action in genesis of promyelocytic leukemia
Project ID: IAA500040802
Project Provider: GA AV (Czech Academy of Sciences)
Project Duration: 2008 - 2011
Co-Investigator: assoc. prof. RNDr. Martin Falk, Ph.D.
Project objectives: The scope of project is to contribute to our understanding to mechanisms of gene deregulation in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), which would help to identify new targets for specific therapy. Our existing results (Dellino et al., submitted to Nature)indicate that not only direct binding of the PML/RARa oncoprotein to RARE elements in promoters of down-regulated genes is responsible for gene silencing in APL. Instead, a significant proportion of genes is silenced by an indirect mechanism, involving changes in higher-order chromatin structure provoked by PML/RARa. This behavior is atypical and was not described for any other oncoprotein. Employing the microchip technology, RT-PCR, 3D-FISH, ImmunoFISH, Chromatin Capture Conformation Assay (3C) and ImmunoChip in combination with high-resolution confocal microscopy, we would like to further study "indirect" mechanisms of carcinogenesis induced by PML/RARa and characterize effects of the most efficient anti-PML drugs to this process.
Mapping of common fragile sites in the human genome
Project ID: ME 919
Project Provider: MEYS (Ministery of Education, Youth and Sports)
Project Duration: 2007 - 2011
Principal Investigator: assoc. prof. RNDr. Eva Bártová, Ph.D., DSc.
Project objectives: Some time ago we explained experimentally observed anomaly in the luminescence decay of some doped alkali halides as a consequence of the slow lattice relaxation. Substantial slow down of the lattice relaxation was linked to creation of the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam-type soliton, which in the modern literature is referred to as a discrete breather. We would like to continue experimentally - study the limits of observed decay anomaly and enlarge the class of studied impurities: (Study of mixed crystals of KCl-xBrx:Pb2+ shown that with with 10% and more of Cl the anomaly vanishes. The impurities already studied (Tl+ a Pb2+) we would like to enlarge by In+ (lighter than Tl+) and Br3+ (the study of cation vacancy effect). Those results will be connected to our breather model. We will try direct detection of the breather by Raman spectroscopy. In the theoretical part we want to study the breather properties ( the effect of noise on the breather decay, the effect of the number of frequencies on the breather decay).
University Research Centre - Czech Myeloma Group
Project ID: LC06027
Project Provider: MEYS (Ministery of Education, Youth and Sports)
Project Duration: 2006 - 2011
Co-Investigator: assoc. prof. RNDr. Eva Bártová, Ph.D., DSc.
Project objectives: This study is using the exceptional professional, personal, spatial and organizational conditions, including exceptional source of research material in the region, to create a center of European quality aimed at research of monoclonal gammopathies and multiple myeloma. In this project, key areas of research of cytomics, genomics and proteomics, epigenetics, microenvironment as well as angiogenesis in the field of multiple myeloma are being solved. Definition of aims of project: A/ To accelerate defined areas of basic research and to obtain new information about pathogenesis of MM and MGUS B/ To prove the possibility of direct outcome of research for applied research and treatment protocols of disease C/ To stabilize and fortify the position of the research team in the EU that coordinates research of MM and MGUS in central Europe.
Chromosome dynamics and organization during the cell cycle in normal and pathologic conditions
Project ID: LC535 (Center of Basic Research)
Project Provider: MEYS (Ministery of Education, Youth and Sports)
Project Duration: 2005 - 2011
Co-Investigator: assoc. prof. RNDr. Stanislav Kozubek, DrSc.
Project objectives: Project named "Dynamics and Organization of Chromosomes in normal and pathologic conditions" represents within the frame of the "Center of Basic Research" a cooperation of four outstanding scientific teams dealing with similar problems, which are thus solved by a broad range of complementary methods. The project aims at the study of chromatin changes in normal system as well as in pathology and at the understanding of processes related to gene expression. We are particularly interested in the demonstration of some epigenetic markers in differing model situations and in the characterization of chromatin structure with respect to replication, transcription and dynamic changes of 3D-structure of chromosomal territories. The high-resolution analysis of chromatin organization represents an important benefit to structural biology. The project is in the second part of its solution substantially extended by the development of new technological procedures exploitable in microscopy and nanotechnologies.
Understanding of HMGB1 protein involvement in maintaining genome stability
Project ID: 204/08/1530 (standard project)
Project Provider: GA ČR (Czech Science Foundation)
Project Duration: 2008 - 2010
Principal Investigator: RNDr. Michal Štros, CSc.
Project objectives: HMGB1 is a relatively abundant chromatin-associated protein and recent data indicated striking chromosomal instability in HMGB1 knock-outed primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts. One mechanism for chromosome instability is through the dysfunction of telomeres, the specific nucleoprotein structures forming chromosome ends and protecting them from recombination and degradation. Recently we have discovered that deficiency of HMGB1 in mouse cells resulted in lower telomerase activity, general telomere shortening or loss, and occasional telomere expansions. We have also identified HMGB1 as a telomerase-associated protein in vitro. As most, if not all, tumor cells over-express HMGB1, deregulated expression of HMGB1 could have catastrophic consequences for the structure of telomeres. In this project we intend to study the impact of aberrant HMGB1 expression (silencing or over-expression) in human cells with different status of tumor suppressor protein p53 on: (i) the activity of telomerase; (ii) the...
Hemicatenated DNA loops: their occurence in human genome and recognition by tumor suppressor protein p53
Project ID: IAA400040702
Project Provider: GA AV (Czech Academy of Sciences)
Project Duration: 2007 - 2010
Principal Investigator: RNDr. Michal Štros, CSc.
Project objectives: Results of mapping of human genome provided evidence that DNA sequences encoding proteins represented only ~3% of human genome. Alternative DNA structures are of particular interest as potential signals to mark important sites on the genome. The CA-microsatelittes are repetitive poly(CA).poly(TG) sequences spread in all eukaryotic genomes. These (and other) sequences can form in vitro a loop maintained at its base by a hemicatenane (hcDNA). hcDNA is specifically recognized and bound by HMGB1 protein which has been implicated in transcription, DNA repair, cell signalling, stimulation of tumor growth and metastasis. We have recently discovered that tumor suppressor protein p53 can bind with high affinity to hcDNA [Štros, M. et al. (2004) Biochemistry 43,7215-7225]. The goal of the project is to search for stable DNA hemicatenanes in human genome and to determine consequences of p53 binding to hcDNA for the functiong of the protein as transactivator of p53-responsive genes.
Methylation of histone H3 as a prognostic marker of chronic myeloid leukemia remission
Project ID: 1QS500040508
Project Provider: GA AV (Czech Academy of Sciences)
Project Duration: 2005 - 2009
Principal Investigator:
Project objectives: We found that heterochromatin antigenic markers as HP1 proteins and methylated histone H3K9 while present in human lymphocytes and monocytes are absent from healthy granulocytes. Monomethylated and especially dimethylated H3K9 are, however, present in granulocytes of patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) without HP1 proteins. We observed methylation of H3K9 even in patients without typical BCR/ABL translocation. The exposure of methylated H3K9 in CML granulocytes suggests an incomplete chromatin condensation that may be linked to the leukemia cell proliferation capacity and be important for prognosis of the disease treatment and relapse. In the proposed project we wish to find the cause of the methylated histone presence in CMLgranulocytes, the relation between the level of methylation, treatment and elimination of the clone with BCR/ABL translocation, elaborate the method for the detection of genes activated in CML granulocytes after elimination of pathogenic clone.
Telomerase-independent mechanismus of telomere synthesis and loss
Project ID: IAA600040505
Project Provider: GA AV (Czech Academy of Sciences)
Project Duration: 2005 - 2009
Principal Investigator:
Project objectives: The plant family Alliaceae shows a remarkable variability of telomeres. While in some genera of this family the "typical" plant telomers of (TTTAGGG)n sequence are substituted by human type of telomeres /TTAGGG)n and other variant motifs ([TTaGG]n,[TTGGG]n), in others (namely from the genus Allium) any known minisatellite telomere sequences are completely missing. Although it has been suggested that telomerisation in these species is ensured by satellite repeats or mobile elements by their amplification mechanisms, the terminal chromosome sequences have not been characterised in detail. The aim of the proposed project is therefore to characterise these sequences and their nucleoprotein complexes, and to detect intermediates of their amplification or of the reverse process called telomere rapid deletion. The working hypothesis is based on presumption that the oldest and evolutionary conserved mechanism of telomerisation is telomere loop present in a number of eukaryotes.
Posttranslational modifications of histones after cell treatment by inhibitors of histone deacetylases and during induction of cell differentiation
Project ID: GA204/06/0978 (standard project)
Project Provider: GA ČR (Czech Science Foundation)
Project Duration: 2006 - 2008
Principal Investigator:
Project objectives: Posttranslational modifications of histone tails represent an important epigenetic factors playing specific role in the regulation of many cellular functions. Selected epigenetic histone modifications together with variants of heterochromatin proteins HP1will be studied in our laboratory after the cell treatment with inhibitors of histone deacetylases (HDACi) that have also an ability to induce specific cell differentiation and apoptosis. During experimentally induced processes, 3D-nuclear arrangements of selected structures will be analyzed in the interphase nuclei. Suggested structural parameters will be tested in different cell types and similar parameters will be studied in human embryonic stem cell line. We preferentially aimed at the H3(K9), H3(K4), H3(K27) di-methylation, H3(K9) acetylation and analyses of HP1 (alpha, beta and gamma) proteins. The dynamics of linker histone H1 will be also analyzed but in living cells induced to terminal differentiation.
Interactions of stable adenosine receptor agonists and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in hematopoiesis
Project ID: GA305/06/0015 (standard project)
Project Provider: GA ČR
Project Duration: 2006 - 2008
Principal Investigator:
Project objectives: Previous findings of the applicants, obtained when solving the projects Nos. 306/93/0051, 306/96/1721, 306/99/0027, and 305/02/0423 granted by GACR, have demonstrated that stimulation of adenosine membrane receptors with their agonists modulates in experiments with mice hematopoietic processes and that these effects are utilizable in the treatment of myelosuppression. In recent years the aplicants have been concentrated on testing the effects of synthetic adenosine analogs, more or less specific for individual subtypes of adenosine receptors, and distinct consequences of their activation in the sense of stimulation or inhibition of proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells have been revealed. In the project submitted, efforts of the applicants will be directed to employing combined action of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor and selected synthetic adenosine receptor agonists to potentiate hematopoietic recovery in mice exposed to ionizing radiation or cytotoxic drugs.
Dynamic structure and function of the cell nucleus associated with DNA breaks
Project ID: GP204/06/P349 (postdoc project)
Project Provider: GA ČR
Project Duration: 2006 - 2008
Principal Investigator: assoc. prof. RNDr. Martin Falk, Ph.D.
Project objectives: Double-strand DNA breaks (dsb) induced by ionizing radiation represent a serious damage of the genome, which can lead to neoplastic transformation if not repaired properly. Disclosure of dsb-reparation mechanisms is therefore very important for our better understanding to oncogenic transformation and for streamlining of tumor radiotherapy. Recently we have observed a centripetal movement of centromeres in the nucleus after gamma irradiation, which may relate with dsb-reparation. It follows from our previous results that chromatin structure and its nuclear topology plays an important role in regulation of gene expression, cell differentiation and emergency of tumor diseases. For all that, the "topological side" of nuclear processes regulation is still not well understood and is often disregarded. The potential changes induced by irradiation in nuclear architecture and nuclear topology of chromatin will be studied on large populations of spatially fixed cells of different types and also on...
HMGB1 role in modulation of tumor suppressors and telomere integrity
Project ID: GA204/05/2031 (standard project)
Project Provider: GA ČR
Project Duration: 2005 - 2007
Principal Investigator: RNDr. Michal Štros, Ph.D.
Project objectives: p53 is a crucial tumor suppressor for preventing malignant transformation of cells by inducing cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis. These two mutually exclusive fates can not be specified by p53 (or p73, a member of p53 family) alone, but by the tumor suppressor retinoblastoma protein Rb. Previously we have reported that chromatin architectural protein (which participates in a number of cellular processes including DNA replication, recombination, transcription, cell signaling, tumor growth and metastasis) could differentially modulate p53-dependent transactivation of genes involved in cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in human cells containing or lacking Rb (Štros et al., 2002: J. Biol. Chem. 277, 7157-7164). The ultimate goal of the project is to decipher role of Rb and HMGBl in p53/p73-dependent transactivation of p53-responsive genes and to identify proteins assoctated (cell- and promoter-specifically) with HMGBl in chromatin complexes involving Rb, p53 or p73.
Molecular evolution and functional analysis of components of plant telomeres and telomerases
Project ID: GA521/05/0055 (standard project)
Project Provider: GA ČR
Project Duration: 2005 - 2007
Principal Investigator:
Project objectives: Telomeres are nucleoprotein structures protecting chromosome ends from degradation and fusions. Many organisms use telomerase, comprising telomere reverse transcriptase (TERT) and telomerase RNA (TR), to replenish ends of chromosomal DNA lost at replication. We found in Asparagales that species divergence is associated with the evolution of novel types of telomeres. In addition to group (i) plants (e.g. orchids) with typical plant telomeres based on [TTTAGGG]n motifs, the group (ii) plants (e.g.Asparagus) exists in which mutation(s) results in synthesis of human-like [TTAGGG]n telomeres. The last group (iii) plants (e.g. Allium) do not synthesize any known telomeric repeat and their telomerization strategy must be different. The variations that occur in these related plants enable us to address key questions about telomere and telomerase evolution and function of components of telomeric machinery. Project objectives include 1) isolation and comparative analysis of TERT and TR telomerase...
Dynamic structure and function of the cell nucleus after irradiation
Project ID: 1P05OC084
Project Provider: MEYS (Ministery of Education, Youth and Sports)
Project Duration: 2005 - 2007
Principal Investigator:
Project objectives: changes of structure of chromatin caused by low doses of ionizating radiation, changes of nucleus topology of chromatine
Human genome structure
Project ID: IAA5004306
Project Provider: GA AV (Czech Science Foundation)
Project Duration: 2003 - 2007
Principal Investigator:
Project objectives: One of the main directions of human genome research in the post-genomic eta is the study of its higher-order structure that became the key to understanding of the most important cellular processes such as cell differentiation or transformation. Using high-resolution cytometry developed in our laboratory, nuclear and territorial topography of genetic elements will be systematically investigated in normal and malignant human cell types. The topography and its changel will be correlated with local acetylation of histones, methylation of DNA and expression of gene clusters. In addition, changes of the structure of chromosome terriories or whole human genome in the cell nucleus during differentiation and cancerogenesis will be determined and an attempt willbe made to find the basic psrinciples of the epigenetic regulation of gene expression. The practical goal of the project is the use of experimental results and technology developed in our laboratory in diagnostics ant therapy of cancer.
High-resolution cytometry of living cells
Project ID: GA202/04/0907 (standard project)
Project Provider: GA ČR
Project Duration: 2004 - 2006
Principal Investigator:
Project objectives: In the post-genomic era, the structure of the cell nucleus has become the key to understanding the most important cellular processes such as cell differentiation, apoptosis or transformation. In order to investigate highly organized nuclear structure detail, methods of high-resolution cytometry developed in our laboratory in combination with techniques that enable visualization of nuclear structures in living cells will be used. DNA constructs coding fusion proteins will be employed. As model systemsTRF2, AIF, H1 and HP1 proteins will be conjugated to GFP and used to study their nuclear localization and dynamics in different cell lines. Interaction with DNA will be studied using subsequent 3D FISH in cells previously investigated in vivo. For both in vivo studies and FISH the technology of high-resolution cytometry will be used. Automated image acquisition, on-line analysis, storage and evaluation of the arrays of parameters in computer memory will be used. The main objective of the project will...
Novel evolutionary forms of plant telomerase and telomeres
Project ID: GP204/04/P105 (postdoc project)
Project Provider: GA ČR
Project Duration: 2004 - 2006
Principal Investigator:
Project objectives: A group of monocotyledonous plants within the order Asparagales, forming a distinct clade in phylogenetic analyses, was reported previously to replace the "typical" Arabidopsis-type telomere (TTTAGGG)n by the human-type telomeric sequence (TTAGGG)n and this sequence is still maintained by telomerase (Sykorova et al., Proc R Soc Lond B Biol Sci, 2003, in press). Fluorescent in situ hybridization showed the human and the Arabidopsis variants are both present and can occur mixed together at the telomere. These data raised the questions as to how the new sequences function as telomeres and what kinds of adaptation occurred in response to this evolutionary event. To find answers, we will first investigate chomatin structure and the arrangement of differenttypes of telomeric sequences in Asparagales telomeres. Second, we will clone the protein subunit of Asparagales telomerase to define structural features and also differences between telomerases maintaining classical and unusual plant telomeres.
New possibilities of diagnostics of leukemia using DNA-microarrays
Project ID: 1A8241
Project Provider: MZ ČR (Ministry of Health)
Project Duration: 2004 - 2006
Principal Investigator:
Project objectives: Using DNA microarrays, gene expression will be studied in leukemia, in control cell populations and in cell cultures. Changes will be correlated to epigenetic characteristics of chromatin at the level of its modifications (methylation, acetylation). Structural characteristics of chromatin at sites with altered expression will be studied using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), spectral microscopy and immunoFISH. Drugs with narrow spectrum of genes with altered expression wil be studied. Using advanced techniques of gene or protein visualization and top level confocal microscopy, the mechanisms of the induction and progression of leukemia will be investigated with the goal to suggest appropriate markers for diagnostics. We hope that our study ofgene expression in parallel to epigenetics will allow us to propose target molecules of effective therapy.
The role of signalling through adenosine receptors and its interaction with G-CSF in regulation of haematopoiesis
Project ID: GP305/03/D050 (postdoc project)
Project Provider: GA ČR
Project Duration: 2003 - 2006
Principal Investigator:
Project objectives: The aim of the proposed project is further elucidation of the role of signalling through adenosine receptors in regulation of haematopoiesis, performed in the frame of the garant's project, and investigation of its interaction with G-CSF. The analysis ofblood serum of mice treated with drugs elevating extracellular adenosine alone or in combination with G-CSF will be performed. Besides the nonspecific effects of extracellular adenosine, the effects of selective agonist of A1 (CPA) and A3 adenosine receptors (IB-MECA) will be studied. Colony-stimulating activity and co-stimulating activity of blood serum will be assayed using a bioassay for haematopoietic progenitor cell for granulocytes and macrophages (GM-CFC). The production of selected haematopoietic growth factors, namely GM-CSF, G-CSF and IL-6, in serum of experimental animals will be determined by an ELISA method. In the case of very low levels of these haematopoietic growth factors in the serum, the cytokine levels will be measured...
The use of combination of laser microbeam and cytometric techniques in the study of the structure and dynamics of human genome
Project ID: IAA1065203
Project Provider: GA AV (Czech Science Foundation)
Project Duration: 2002 - 2006
Principal Investigator:
Project objectives: The aim of the project is to use the methods and experimental systems of optical tweezers, optical scalpel, and automated cytometer, that were developed using the finantial support of the previous scientific projects, for the study of the mechanical properties and arrangement of the interphase chromatin in the nuclei of living and fixed human cells. Theoretical and experimental experiences of the interdisciplinary team of applicants will be used for: - fluorescence labelling of chromatin in living cells, - laser induced fusion of labelled cells, - topologic analyses of the dye distribution inside living and fixed cells, - insertion of dyed nanoparticle into the living cell nucleus, optical confinement of this probe and detection of the region which isnot accesible for the probe, - study of the mechanical properties of the chromatin using optical trapping of suitable probes. The knowledge obtained by these techniques will be used for development of new diagnostic methods.
Modification of histones in chromatin regions with increased and reduced expression
Project ID: 1K04112 (support for young starting researchers)
Project Provider: MEYS (Ministery of Education, Youth and Sports)
Project Duration: 2004 - 2005
Principal Investigator: assoc. prof. RNDr. Stanislav Kozubek DrSc.
Project objectives: The variety of histone modifications (histone code) is believed to mark expression or silencing of genes. Clustering of active or silent genes in regions with increased expression (Ridges)or anti-Ridges provides excellent possibility to check the histone-code hypothesis. The most important in this context are H3K9 and H3K4 positions where mono-, di-, tri-methylation and acetylationwill be studied using antibodies in human fibroblasts and lymphocytes. DNA probes for one Ridge and one anti-Ridge of one ofhuman chromosomes will be used. Colocalization of DNA probeswith antibodies to modified histones will be investigated. Nuclear and territorial topography of the mentioned loci will be determined.
The characterization of potato's genotypes using DNA fingerprinting
Project ID: QC1164
Project Provider: MZE CR (Ministry of Agriculture)
Project Duration: 2001 - 2005
Principal Investigator: prof. RNDr. Jiří Fajkus, CSc.
Project objectives: The contemporary list of permitted potato varieties containes 102 genotypes including 32 of Czech origin. These varieties are described by using of morfological and economical characters. These descriprions seem to be unsufficient for precise and fast identification of unknown samples and it would be convenient to complete them by means of molecular genetic techniques. These techniques are used on the limited number of varieties in our institute and were not yet worked out in our country for utilizationin potato industry. The identifications by means of genetic markers are for this purpose very important. The introduction of fingerprinting on the base of DNA analysis would help to improve checking of variety genuity and purity. It could positively influence protection law of varieties in market with potato seed etc. The latest knowledge in the field of RAPD, mapping and sequencing plant projects and experience in telomere and subtelomere analysis will be utilised.