SzSA YearBook 2016/17
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SZENT-GYÖRGYI JUNIOR MENTORS<br />
BÁLINT CSOBOZ<br />
Institute of Biochemistry<br />
Biological Research Center of the<br />
Hungarian Academy of Sciences<br />
Address: Temesvári krt. 62., H-6726 Szeged, Hungary<br />
E: csoboz.balint@brc.mta.hu<br />
T: +36 62/599-652<br />
RESEARCH AREA<br />
As a “central dogma” earlier it was suggested that stress-induced<br />
protein denaturation serves as a major stress-sensing<br />
machinery, which triggers the expression of the molecular<br />
chaperone heat shock proteins (HSPs). We have introduced<br />
a new but not exclusive cellular “membrane thermosensor”<br />
model, which predicts the existence of membrane-associated<br />
stress sensing and signaling mechanisms. It proposes<br />
that changes in the physical state and composition of lipid<br />
molecular species with the concomitant destabilization/<br />
reorganization of membrane microdomains (“rafts”) can<br />
serve also as “molecular switches” to operate “cellular thermometers”.<br />
Using mammalian cells and the fission yeast (S.<br />
pombe) as models we intend to elucidate the mechanism<br />
of membrane associated stress sensors, signaling pathways<br />
and the interplay and networking of potential cellular stress<br />
survival strategies. Since HSPs play a fundamental role in<br />
the pathology of several human diseases, understanding<br />
the mechanism whereby mammalian cells can elicit a stress<br />
response may also be of paramount importance for the design<br />
of novel drug molecules.<br />
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS<br />
Török, Z., Crul, T., Maresca, B., Schütz, G.J., Viana, F., Dindia,<br />
L., Piotto, S., Brameshuber, M., Balogh, G., Péter, M., Porta,<br />
A., Trapani, A., Gombos, I., Glatz, A., Gungor, B., Peksel, B.,<br />
Vigh, L. Jr., Csoboz, B., Horváth, I., Vijayan, M.M., Hooper, P.L.,<br />
Harwood, J.L., Vigh, L. (2014) Plasma membranes as heat<br />
stress sensors: from lipid-controlled molecular switches<br />
to therapeutic applications. Biochim Biophys Acta 1838:<br />
1594-618.<br />
Csoboz, B., Balogh, G.E., Kusz, E., Gombos, I., Peter, M., Crul, T.,<br />
Gungor, B., Haracska, L., Bogdanovics, G., Torok, Z., Horvath,<br />
I., Vigh, L. (2013) Membrane fluidity matters: hyperthermia<br />
from the aspects of lipids and membranes. Int J Hyperther<br />
29: 491-499.<br />
TECHNIQUES AVAILABLE IN THE LAB<br />
Classical biochemical and molecular biology methods.<br />
Fluorescent and confocal microscopy, tissue culture.<br />
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