The Hritz group focuses on understanding the molecular mechanics of neurodegenerative diseases, with a particular focus on protein misfolding and aggregation that drive pathologies such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Tau and α-Synuclein Pathologies: The group investigates the structural and functional dynamics of tau and α-synuclein—two hallmark proteins implicated in neurodegeneration. Their aggregation into insoluble fibrils is a defining feature of diseases like Alzheimer’s and Lewy body dementia.
Post-Translational Modifications & Protein Interactions: Special attention is given to phosphorylation events and their role in modulating protein behavior. The interaction of phosphorylated tau with regulatory proteins such as 14-3-3 is a key area of study, shedding light on how cellular signaling pathways influence aggregation propensity.
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Methodology Overview:
Structural Biology Tools: The group employs high-resolution techniques like Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Cryogenic Electron Microscopy (cryo-EM) to visualize protein conformations and fibril architecture at atomic detail.
Protein Engineering & Labeling: Expertise in protein expression and purification enables the production of isotopically labeled proteins, including 19-F labeling for sensitive NMR detection and fluorescent labeling for real-time tracking of protein dynamics via fluorimetry.
Computational Modeling: Advanced molecular dynamics simulations, including enhanced sampling techniques, are used to explore conformational landscapes and predict interaction hotspots that may drive pathological transitions.
Junior researcher:
Iveta Haraštová
Postdoc:
Hana Nedozrálová
LabTech:
Kateřina Králová
PhD candidates:
Aneta Kozeleková
Thomas Peter Fellmeth
Vojtěch Vařečka
Pavle Križan
Lucia Iľkovičová
Grad. students:
Jana Novotná
Eliška Pirnosová
Romana Halová
Undergrads students:
Viktória Kubišová
Terézia Jurašková
Ondřej Kutý
SOČ student:
Vilém Heger