Laboratory of Developmental Genetics

Research Topic

The Laboratory of Developmental Genetics is dealing with hormonal control of postembryonic morphogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster, notably its metamorphosis and associated signaling pathways using molecular and genetic tools, so uniquely available in this species. Two recent achievements of the laboratory can be highlighted. (1) The atomistic model of juvenile hormone (JH) receptor (JHR), we originally described in 2009 was further elaborated in detail and results were recenlty published. (2) Discovery of an apocrine secretion in the late prepupal salivary glands of Drosophila is completely novel and was purely unexpected. Since its first presentation by Purkinje in 1883 and description by Schiefferdecker in 1917 there were no data about any mechanistic aspects of apocrine secretion that would allow.

Research Team

 

RNDr. Robert Farkaš, CSc.

Head of Laboratory

+421 2 3229 5235

PROFESSIONALS:

Mgr. Milan Beňo, PhD.

Mgr. Denisa Beňová-Liszeková, PhD.

Mgr. Ludmila Trusinová, PhD.

Mgr. Lucia Mentelová, PhD., external

PhD. STUDENT:

Alexandra Straková

TECHNICIAN:

Magda Bardačová

Publications

    • Farkaš R, Pečeňová L, Mentelová L, Beňo M, Beňová-Liszeková D, Mahmoodová S, Tejnecký V, Raška O, Juda P, Svidenská S, Hornáček M, Chase BA, Raška I. Massive excretion of calcium oxalate from late prepupal salivary glands of Drosophila melanogaster demonstrates active nephridial-like anion transport. Dev Growth
    • Differ. 2016 Aug;58(6):562-74. doi: 10.1111/dgd.12300
    • Kukumberg P, Karlík M, Beňová-Liszeková D, Beño M, Pechan T, Farkaš R. New perspectives in human tear analysis? Neuro Endocrinol Lett. 2015;36(3):185-6.
    • Farkaš R, Beňová-Liszeková D, Mentelová L, Mahmood S, Ďatková Z, Beňo M, Pečeňová L, Raška O, Šmigová J, Chase BA, Raška I, Mechler BM. Vacuole dynamics in the salivary glands of Drosophila melanogaster during prepupal development. Dev Growth Differ. 2015 Jan;57(1):74-96.
    • Farkaš R, Ďatková Z, Mentelová L, Löw P, Beňová-Liszeková D, Beňo M, Sass M, Řehulka P, Řehulková H, Raška O, Kováčik L, Šmigová J, Raška I, Mechler BM. Apocrine secretion in Drosophila salivary glands: subcellular origin, dynamics, and identification of secretory proteins. PLoS One. 2014 Apr 14;9(4):e94383. doi:
    • 10.1371/journal.pone.0094383. eCollection 2014
    • Farkas R, Kováciková M, Liszeková D, Beno M, Danis P, Rabinow L, Chase BA, Raska I. Exploring some of the physico-chemical properties of the LAMMER protein  kinase DOA of Drosophila. Fly (Austin). 2009 Apr-Jun;3(2):130-42