Research Group Leaders

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Research

1. Research group April 2022 
Research group April 2022
2. Protein crystal 
Protein crystal
3. Electron density map 
Electron density map
4. Drosophila egg chambers with Vasa staining 
Drosophila egg chambers with Vasa staining
5. Scholar Goggler by Ryan Morin 
Scholar Goggler by Ryan Morin
6. AF3 model of an RNA helicase complex 
AF3 model of an RNA helicase complex


In the lab, we are using a multidisciplinary approach to investigate proteins and protein complexes with essential functions during germ cell formation and early embryonic development of Drosophila. The main research focusses on understanding molecular mechanism underlying piRNA biogenesis and piRNA-mediated silencing of transposon mRNAs, processes which are highly critical during gametogenesis and early animal development.

In particular, we are currently focusing our studies on LOTUS domain-containing proteins (Kubíková et al., 2020) and on ATP-dependent RNA helicases. To unravel the molecular mechanisms of how these proteins function in the piRNA pathway, we combine RNA/protein biochemistry, enzymology, X-ray crystallography, structural modeling using AlphaFold2/3, and cell culture techniques with Drosophila genetics.



@Jeske_Lab @mandyjeske.bsky.social