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> LoogLab
LoogLab
Web: https://looglab.com
Prof. Mart Loog’s lab focuses on understanding the processing of kinase signals via multisite phosphorylation networks in disordered proteins that control the cell cycle. Inspired by the discovered natural phosphorylation systems, we engineer multisite phosphorylation-based synthetic circuits for creative solutions and applications in synthetic biology and biotechnology.
A living cell contains thousands of molecules that mediate the cellular response to different stimuli. The networks of these molecules form a huge web of signaling circuits. Among the most important components of these circuits are protein kinases. These proteins act as molecular switches: they attach phosphoryl groups to proteins and this change mediates the transfer of signaling information.
We want to understand the phenomenon of multisite protein phosphorylation. This is a process where protein kinases add multiple phosphates to a protein and the patterns of phosphates act as complex signal processors. We look how such molecular switches regulate the cell division.
Our greater vision is to apply the discovered rules of multisite phosphorylation to engineer synthetic circuits for synthetic biology. One practical application of such “molecular toolbox” of processors and circuit elements would be to use them in designer cells that act as cell factories producing pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals via sustainable bioprocessing.
MeritsLab
Each and every virus is unique and highly complex system. The complexity is hugely increased when one considers also interactions of virus with its host and, for vector transmitted viruses, with the arthropod vector. Our research focus has been RNA replication process/enzymes/complexes of positive-strand RNA viruses. As genome replication and gene expression represent the central event for infection cycle of a virus it effects directly or indirectly all other aspects of biology of viruses.
Viruses with positive-strand RNA genomes are diverse and wide-spread in nature. Many of them are major human pathogens causing millions of cases each year: coronaviruses, dengue virus (DENV), noroviruses, rhinoviruses to name just few. Others have known to cause sudden outbreaks and epidemics; recent examples include Zika virus (ZIKV, family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus) outbreak 2015-2016 and chikungunya virus (CHIKV, family Togaviridae, genus Alphavirus) outbreaks 2005-2008 and 2013.
Viruses causing epidemics use different modes of transmission. These include droplet/aerosol transmission (SARS-CoV-2) and transmission by arthropod vectors (ZIKV, CHIKV). Our research group has been engaged in basic and applied studies of alphaviruses that are pathogenic for humans: CHIKV, Ross River virus (RRV), Barmah Forest virus (BFV), o’nyong’nyong virus (ONNV), Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), Sindbis virus (SINV) and also Semliki Forest virus (SFV), not associated with known diseases. During outbreak of ZIKV our research interest was extended to flaviviruses and, by obvious reasons, at 2020 extended again 2020 to include SARS-CoV-2. We maintain research competence with those viruses.
KollistLab
Web: https://www.plantsignalresearch.com
Hannes Kollist Lab aims to study mechanisms by which plants sense changes in the environment. As a tool for our research we use Arabidopsis mutants and mutant screens. Furthermore natural variation among Arabidopsis exotypes is used as a source of genetic information and the long standing aim is to transfer knowledge collected from the model species to crops and trees. The research carried out in the lab can be divided into three interconnected topics: Guard cell signaling, Stomatal regulation of crops, Biochemistry of organelles.
GasFermTec Lab
GasFermTec group research focuses on advancing gas fermentation technologies through its The Valgepea Lab led by Dr. Kaspar Valgepea focuses on the integration of gas fermentation technologies with systems and synthetic biology to address global challenges of biosustainability by developing bioprocesses that would realise sustainable production of fuels and chemicals. We employ acetogen bacteria to recycle carbon from inexpensive and abundant waste feedstocks (e.g. waste gases, gasified biomass) into value-added products. We investigate fundamentals of acetogen metabolism, develop novel systems and synthetic biology tools, and apply metabolic engineering for the creation of acetogen cell factories. We are an international team of researchers and students collaborating globally with both academia and industry. Recently, group leader Kaspar Valgepea received the ERC Consolidator grant for next-generation engineering of gas-fermenting cell factories through large-scale systems-level phenotype maps.
Contact: Group leader Dr. Kaspar Valgepea, kaspar.valgepea@ut.ee
