Roman J. Szczęsny, PhD

PI, head of mitochondrial research group

(+48) 22 592 3027 lab
(+48) 22 592 3023 office
Room no. 027 (lab), 023 (office)

 

Involved in: RNA metabolism, high-throughput siRNA screenings

Academic and Research Career:

Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, since 2009
Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences,
Postdoc, Laboratory of RNA Biology and Functional Genomics, advised by Andrzej Dziembowski

Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (Unite 814), Lille, France, 2005/2006, 2007
Visiting Graduate Student, advised by Pierre Formstecher and Renata Polakowska

Institute of Medical Technology, University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland, 2007/2008
Visiting Graduate Student, advised by Johannes Spelbrink

Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics Polish Academy of Sciences, 2004-2009
PhD Student, advised by Ewa Bartnik and Piotr Stepien

University of Manchester, School of Biological Sciences, Gene regulation and Bioinformatics, Manchester, England, 2004
Erasmus student, advised by Andrew Sharrocks

Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 2004
Master Student, advised by Ewa Bartnik

Department of Genetics, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 2002
Bachelor Student, advised by Ewa Bartnik

Publications:

Multiple myeloma-associated hDIS3 mutations cause perturbations in cellular RNA metabolism and suggest hDIS3 PIN domain as a potential drug target.
Tomecki R, Drazkowska K, Kucinski I, Stodus K, Szczesny RJ, Gruchota J, Owczarek EP, Kalisiak K, Dziembowski A.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2013 Oct 22. [Epub ahead of print]

A new strategy for gene targeting and functional proteomics using the DT40 cell line.
Orlowska KP, Klosowska K, Szczesny RJ, Cysewski D, Krawczyk PS, Dziembowski A.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2013 Sep;41(17):e167.

Yeast and human mitochondrial helicases.
Szczesny RJ, Wojcik MA, Borowski LS, Szewczyk MJ, Skrok MM, Golik P, Stepien PP.
Biochim Biophys Acta. 2013 Aug;1829(8):842-53.

Identification of a novel human mitochondrial endo-/exonuclease Ddk1/c20orf72 necessary for maintenance of proper 7S DNA levels.
Szczesny RJ, Hejnowicz MS, Steczkiewicz K, Muszewska A, Borowski LS, Ginalski K, Dziembowski A.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2013 Mar 1;41(5):3144-61.

Human mitochondrial RNA decay mediated by PNPase-hSuv3 complex takes place in distinct foci.
Borowski LS, Dziembowski A, Hejnowicz MS, Stepien PP, Szczesny RJ.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2013 Jan;41(2):1223-40.

RNA degradation in yeast and human mitochondria.
Szczesny RJ, Borowski LS, Malecki M, Wojcik MA, Stepien PP, Golik P.
Biochim Biophys Acta. 2012 Sep-Oct;1819(9-10):1027-34.

Human Suv3 protein reveals unique features among SF2 helicases.
Jedrzejczak R, Wang J, Dauter M, Szczesny RJ, Stepien PP, Dauter Z.
Acta Crystallogr D Biol Crystallogr. 2011 Nov;67(Pt 11):988-96.

Involvement of human ELAC2 gene product in 3′ end processing of mitochondrial tRNAs.
Brzezniak LK, Bijata M, Szczesny RJ, Stepien PP.
RNA Biol. 2011 Jul-Aug;8(4):616-26.

The human core exosome interacts with differentially localized processive RNases: hDIS3 and hDIS3L.
Tomecki R, Kristiansen MS, Lykke-Andersen S, Chlebowski A, Larsen KM, Szczesny RJ, Drazkowska K, Pastula A, Andersen JS, Stepien PP, Dziembowski A, Jensen TH.
EMBO J. 2010 Jul 21;29(14):2342-57.

RNA turnover in human mitochondria: more questions than answers?
Borowski LS, Szczesny RJ, Brzezniak LK, Stepien PP.
Biochim Biophys Acta. 2010 Jun-Jul;1797(6-7):1066-70.

Human mitochondrial RNA turnover caught in flagranti: involvement of hSuv3p helicase in RNA surveillance.
Szczesny RJ, Borowski LS, Brzezniak LK, Dmochowska A, Gewartowski K, Bartnik E, Stepien PP.
Nucleic Acids Res. 2010 Jan;38(1):279-98.

Interaction of human SUV3 RNA/DNA helicase with BLM helicase; loss of the SUV3 gene results in mouse embryonic lethality.
Pereira M, Mason P, Szczesny RJ, Maddukuri L, Dziwura S, Jedrzejczak R, Paul E, Wojcik A, Dybczynska L, Tudek B, Bartnik E, Klysik J, Bohr VA, Stepien PP.
Mech Ageing Dev. 2007 Nov-Dec;128(11-12):609-17.

Down-regulation of human RNA/DNA helicase SUV3 induces apoptosis by a caspase- and AIF-dependent pathway.
Szczesny RJ, Obriot H, Paczkowska A, Jedrzejczak R, Dmochowska A, Bartnik E, Formstecher P, Polakowska R, Stepien PP.
Biol Cell. 2007 Jun;99(6):323-32.

Nuclear and mitochondrial genome responses in HeLa cells treated with inhibitors of mitochondrial DNA expression.
Piechota J, Szczesny R, Wolanin K, Chlebowski A, Bartnik E.
Acta Biochim Pol. 2006;53(3):485-95.

Differential stability of mitochondrial mRNA in HeLa cells.
Piechota J, Tomecki R, Gewartowski K, Szczesny R, Dmochowska A, Kudła M, Dybczyńska L, Stepien PP, Bartnik E.
Acta Biochim Pol. 2006;53(1):157-68.

Selected aspects of biogenesis of respiratory chain proteins in mammalian mitochondria.
Piechota J, Szczesny R.
Postepy Biochem. 2004;50(3):228-39. Polish.

Awards:

Scholarship for Outstanding Young Scientists from the Polish Ministry of Science and Higher Education (2013-2015).

START Programme Stipend, Foundation for Polish Science (2010, 2011).

Scholarship for the Best Young PhDs of the University of Warsaw (2010-2011).

Award of the Polish Biochemical Society for the best PhD thesis defended in 2009.

Award of the Director of Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, PAS for the best PhD thesis defended in 2009.

Team awards of the Rector of the University of Warsaw for scientific achievements.