21. 1. 2026
Microbial Genetics and Gene Expression
Krásný LAB
Bacteria are the dominant form of life on Earth, inhabiting a wide variety of environments. Without them, life would not exist. The study of these organisms is fundamental to understanding the world we live in, and is essential for developing new approaches to fighting infectious diseases, as well as for new biotechnologies and industrial applications. The bacterial cell is a complex system that is finely tuned to respond to changes in the environment and subsequently adapt. This adaptation depends on changes in gene expression. The central enzyme of gene expression is RNA polymerase. This enzyme recognizes sequences in DNA, called promoters, where it initiates transcription and begins to produce RNA that either serves as a template on ribosomes for protein synthesis or has regulatory functions. Transcription is a multilayered process with a number of regulated steps. Understanding this process – how it is regulated by external influences – what its outputs are – and how this contributes to the fabric of life is the main research goal in our lab.
Focus of research
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Research on nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) contributes to understanding the global regulation of bacterial cells and reveals new opportunities for the targeted development of antimicrobial agents.
We focus on the molecular mechanisms regulating gene expression at the DNA and RNA levels in bacterial systems.
We analyze promoter sequences and their roles in controlling transcription and cellular stress responses.
We investigate epigenetic and chemical modifications of DNA and RNA and their functional impacts on gene stability and regulation.
We study small bacterial RNAs (sRNA) as key regulators of gene expression, metabolism, and cellular adaptability.
RNA polymerase is a central enzyme of gene expression that transfers genetic information from DNA to RNA (transcription), enabling bacteria to rapidly respond to changes in their environment.
We study the structural properties of RNA polymerase and their relationship to its function.
We investigate the mechanisms of transcription initiation, elongation, and termination in bacterial cells.
We analyze interactions between RNA polymerase and other cellular factors, including small molecules, proteins, and RNA.
We explore the dynamics and composition of the bacterial transcriptional machinery under diverse physiological and stress conditions.
Rising antibiotic resistance represents one of the greatest threats to modern medicine. The development of new antimicrobial agents with innovative mechanisms of action is therefore essential for the future treatment of bacterial infections.
We develop and characterize new antimicrobial compounds with high efficacy against bacterial pathogens.
We focus on lipophosphonoxins, innovative molecules that disrupt the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane and lead to rapid cell destruction.
We investigate natural antimicrobial peptides, especially glycocins, and their unique mechanisms of action.
We combine structural biology, genetics, biophysics, and omics approaches to achieve a detailed understanding of interactions between antimicrobial compounds and bacterial cells.
Understanding how bacteria respond to low doses of antibiotics and activate their defense mechanisms is essential for the development of more effective therapeutic strategies.
We study how bacteria respond to low (subinhibitory) concentrations of antibiotics.
We uncover hidden defense and adaptive mechanisms that contribute to the development of antibiotic resistance.
We analyze changes in gene expression, metabolism, and cellular physiology under antibiotic stress.
We identify regulatory pathways and signaling mechanisms activated in response to antibiotics.
We combine genetics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and functional analyses to understand complex bacterial defense strategies.
Significant Discoveries, Awards and Achievements
Patent
2024
LEGO-Lipophosphonoxins-synthesis, and potential use.
European patent application No. 20 828 017.2.
Award of the Minister of Education
2021 Jiří pospíšil
The Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Award for excellent students and alumni of the study programme and for exceptional student achievements
The Gregor Mendel Prize
2020 Jiří Pospíšil
The Gregor Mendel Prize of the Genetics Society for a significant contribution in the field of genetics and/or molecular biology in the Czech or Slovak Republic
Patent
2019
Lipophosphonoxins of second generation, and their use EP3448865A1 (Worldwide applications 2016 CZ 2017 EP AU WO US CA)
Our Publications
Nucleic Acids Research. 2025; 53(22); gkaf1342
Expanding the CarD interaction network: CrsL is a novel transcription regulator in actinobacteria
Nucleic Acids Research. 2024; 52(12); 7305-7320
Structural characterization of two prototypical repressors of SorC family reveals tetrameric assemblies on DNA and mechanism of function.
Our Team
Meet the members of our Microbial Genetics and Gene Expression Laboratory team
Krásný Lab