Biomacromolecules. 2025; 26(8); 4995-5009
komenda lab
We do fundamental research in microbial photosynthesis and also applies it to constructing photosynthetic measuring devices. The important characteristic of the laboratory is its multidisciplinary approach, which combines biophysics, molecular biology, evolutionary biology, biochemistry, physiology and classical microbiology.
Topics in five principal, overlapping areas are studied by individual groups.
Centre ALGATECH
Applied Research
- New design and improvements to tools for photosynthesis research, including cultivation equipment, microscopic techniques, and spectroscopic devices.
- Identification of microalgae and cyanobacteria strains suitable for the production of biomass and valuable substances.
Research Groups
« Swipe to view more bookmarks »
Biogenesis of Photosystem II
Mostly using a model cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6803 it deals with mechanisms and regulation of the assembly of membrane pigment-protein complexes and their quality control. It focuses on the role of structural subunits and auxiliary protein factors in the process of Photosystem II assembly and on the elucidation of structure and function of homologues of the bacterial proteases FtsH in the degradation of structural as well as regulatory proteins participating in the biogenesis of photosynthetic apparatus
Microbial photosynthesis
The research objectives of our group are focused mainly on photosynthetic processes in cyanobacteria and other microalgae on a scale ranging from molecular mechanisms to biogeochemical implications. At the subcellular level we rely heavily on fluorescence microscopy to investigate the mobility of photosynthetic proteins and their organization within the thylakoid membrane. Furthermore, our research extends to the physiology of phototrophs at a single-cell level, such as the role of cell-to-cell heterogeneity in N2-fixing cyanobacteria. Another key interest of our group is how environmental factors such as light and nutrient availability regulate photosynthetic processes and photoprotective mechanisms at the population level.
Photosynthetic pigments
It deals with the study of chlorophyll biosynthesis pathway, which is rather complicated and partially overlap with the pathway for synthesis other important cofactors like heme and phycobilins. The aim of the work is to elucidate mechanisms of regulation of chlorophyll biosynthesis and to identify pathways by which the chlorophyll is built in membrane pigment-protein complexes and by which is removed from them during their degradation.
Dynamics of Photosynthetic Membranes
It studies mobility and photoprotection of photosynthetic proteins. We use single-cell microscopic methods (FRAP, FCS) to resolve process of proteins diffusion and reorganization in thylakoid. We also study mechanism of photosynthetic energy conversion in light-harvesting antennae, how it is optimized by non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) or during state transitions.
Algal evolution and ecology
We study how different groups of algae gained or lost photosynthesis, how endosymbiosis works, and what evolutionary innovations drive algal success in natural environments. Our work involves single-celled and multicellular algae, but also cyanobacteria and algae-derived parasites. We use genomics, microscopy and molecular cell biology with the general aim to understand their diversity, evolution and significance to humans.
The group is jointly led by Jan Janouškovec and Eva Horáková.
Our Publications
Applied and Environmental Microbiology. 2025; 91(8); e00087-25
Competition for light color between marine Synechococcus strains with fixed and variable pigmentation
Plant Physiology. 2025; 198(2); kiaf213
High-light-inducible proteins control associations between chlorophyll synthase and the Photosystem II biogenesis factor Ycf39
Journal of Phycology. 2025; 61(4); 895-910