Laboratory of Cell biology and Cytogenetics
Infrastructure
Fluorescence microscope
Laminar Flow Cabinet and High-Content Screening System
Multimode Microplate Reader
Laboratory view
Cooperating Laboratories
- Institute of Nutrition and Genomics, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra: Ing. Alica Navrátilová, PhD.
- Institute of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra: Ing. Marek Kovár, PhD.
- Comenius University in Bratislava, Department of Genetics
- Slovak Academy of Science, Centre of Biosciences SAS, Institute of Animal Biochemistry and Genetics
- Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Institute of Physiology, Prague
Scientific and Research Activities of the Laboratory
- Monitoring the effects of toxic elements—such as heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Al) and food contaminants (e.g., acrylamide and its metabolite glycidamide)—on fundamental life processes, including cell growth and proliferation, cell morphology, and cell-cycle regulation, using flow cytometry, spectroscopic, and microscopic techniques
- Determination of the organism’s antioxidant status under toxic-element exposure by measuring reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and the activities of key antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx) via absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy
- Analysis and characterization of cellular defense mechanisms at the molecular level by quantifying stress-response gene expression changes (encoding enzymes and other protective proteins) using RT-qPCR
- Testing the potential protective effects of highly bioactive, particularly antioxidant, compounds—such as L-ascorbic acid—against contaminant-induced toxicity
Solved Projects
Most significant projects
- APVV-22-0294 Funkčná analýza TOR signálnej dráhy v regulácii abiotického stresu v kvasinke Schizosaccharomyces pombe
- VEGA 1/0583/23 Odpoveď organizmu na environmentálny stres závislá od signalizácie TORC2 kinázového komplexu
- APVV-22-0348 Potential anticancer effect of MCT coconut oil determined by addition of plant extracts from selected Capsicum spp. fruits
- 12-GASPU-2021 Zmiernenie toxického účinku akrylamidu pôsobením biologicky aktívnych látok
Project participation
- ITMS2014+ 313011V336 (Drive4SIFood)
- Dopytovo-orientovaný výskum pre udržateľné a inovatívne potraviny, Drive4SIFood
- ITMS2014+ 313011W580 (Uranos) Údajová a vedomostná podpora pre systémy rozhodovania a strategického plánovania v oblasti adaptácie poľnohospodárskej krajiny na klimatické zmeny a minimalizáciu degradácie poľnohospodárskych pôd
- APVV-19-0598 Protektívny účinok extraktu hlivy ustricovej (Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm.) pri chronických neprenosných ochoreniach
Publications
Most Significant Publications
Klongová, L., Kovár, M., Navrátilová, A., Fialkova, V., & Požgajová, M. (2024). Cornus mas L. Extract-Mediated Modulations of the Redox State Induce Cytotoxicity in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Applied Sciences, 14(10), Article 10. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14104049
Kovár, M., Navrátilová, A., Jančo, I., Klongová, L., & Požgajová, M. (2024). Kinetics of Acrylamide-Induced Changes in Ionome Composition in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Acta Fytotechnica et Zootechnica :: ISSN 1336-9245, 27(4), Article 4. https://www.acta.fapz.uniag.sk/journal/article/view/610
Požgajová, M., Klongová, L., Kovár, M., Navrátilová, A., Požgajová, M., Klongová, L., Kovár, M., & Navrátilová, A. (2024). Cell Protection by Oxidative Stress Mitigation Using Substances with Bioactive Properties. V The Power of Antioxidants—Unleashing Nature’s Defense Against Oxidative Stress. IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.1004522
Požgajová, M., Kovár, M., Navrátilová, A., Fialková, V., & Chlebová, Z. (2024). Oyster Mushroom (Pleurotus Ostreatus) Ethanolic Extract Protects Yeast Cells From Hyper- And Hypo-Glycemic Stress. Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Food Sciences, 13(4), Article 4. https://doi.org/10.55251/jmbfs.9817
Navrátilová, A., Kovár ,Marek, Kopčeková ,Jana, Mrázová ,Jana, Trakovická ,Anna, & and Požgajová, M. (2023). Protective effect of Aronia melanocarpa juice against acrylamide-induced cellular toxicity. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B, 58(2), 139–149. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601234.2023.2172287
Ďúranová, H., Šimora, V., Ďurišová, Ľ., Olexiková, L., Kovár, M., & Požgajová, M. (2023). Modifications in Ultrastructural Characteristics and Redox Status of Plants under Environmental Stress: A Review. Plants, 12(8), Article 8. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12081666
Fialková, V., Ďúranová, H., Požgajová, M., & Chlebová, Z. (2023). Mushroom β-glucans as anticancer and therapeutic agents: A focus on their mechanism of action. Acta Fytotechnica et Zootechnica :: ISSN 1336-9245, 26(4), Article 4. https://acta.fapz.uniag.sk/journal/article/view/392
Požgajová, M., Navrátilová, A., & Kovár, M. (2022). Curative Potential of Substances with Bioactive Properties to Alleviate Cd Toxicity: A Review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), Article 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191912380
Kovár, M., Navrátilová, A., Kolláthová, R., Trakovická, A., & Požgajová, M. (2022). Acrylamide-Derived Ionome, Metabolic, and Cell Cycle Alterations Are Alleviated by Ascorbic Acid in the Fission Yeast. Molecules, 27(13), Article 13. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27134307
Navrátilová, A., Kovár, M., & Požgajová, M. (2021). Ascorbic acid mitigates cadmium-induced stress, and contributes to ionome stabilization in fission yeast. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 28(12), 15380–15393. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-11480-x
Navratilova, A., Kovar, M., Trakovicka, A., & Pozgajova, M. (2021). Nickel induced cell impairments are negatively regulated by the Tor1 kinase in Schizosaccharomyces pombe. World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 37(10), 165. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11274-021-03130-2
Pozgajova, M., Navratilova ,Alica, Arvay ,Julius, Duranova ,Hana, & and Trakovicka, A. (2020). Impact of cadmium and nickel on ion homeostasis in the yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part B, 55(2), 166–173. https://doi.org/10.1080/03601234.2019.1673613
Požgajová, M., Navrátilová, A., Šebová, E., Kovár, M., & Kačániová, M. (2020). Cadmium-Induced Cell Homeostasis Impairment is Suppressed by the Tor1 Deficiency in Fission Yeast. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(21), Article 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21217847
Huraiova, B., Pozgajova, M., & Gregan, J. (2018). Sexual Reproduction: Preventing Re-fertilization in Fission Yeast. Current Biology, 28(22), R1300–R1303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2018.09.048
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