Institute of Biological Sciences

Head: prof. dr hab. Mariusz Gagoś Akademicka 19, 20-033 Lublin room 43B, tel. +48 81 537 59 04 mail: mariusz.gagos@umcs.pl

Staff members

prof. dr hab. Mariusz Gagoś
prof. dr hab. Krystyna Winiarczyk
dr hab. Ewa Szczuka, prof. UMCS      
dr hab. Dorota Tchórzewska, prof. UMCS
dr hab. Ewa Janik-Zabrotowicz
dr hab. Arkadiusz Matwijczuk 
dr Adrianna Sławińska-Brych  
dr Marcin Domaciuk 
dr inż. Dariusz Karcz 
dr Joanna Strubińska
dr inż. Agnieszka Dróżdż 
dr Kinga Lewtak 

dr Jacek Pietrusiewicz
mgr Dominika Kubera

Doctoral students

mgr Magdalena Chęć
mgr Katarzyna Mitura

History

The Department of Cell Biology was established in 2019 when the Department of Cell Biology and the Department of Plant Anatomy and Cytology merged.

The Department of Cell Biology established in 1944 was originally named the Chair of General Zoology and Evolutionism. It was organised and headed by UMCS Rector prof. Henryk Raabe. The Chair changed its name three times into the Department of General and Experimental Zoology in the 1950s, Department of Embryology in 1970, and Department of Cell Biology in 1975. It was headed by doc. dr Robert Towarnicki (1950-52), doc. dr Edward Wilkus (1953-57), dr Włodzimierz Juszczyk (1958-59), doc. dr Wanda Stojałowska (1960-61), prof. dr hab. Mirosław Chicewicz (1962-72), prof. dr hab. Michał Górski (1972-75), prof. dr hab. Renata Śnieżko (1992-2011), and prof. dr hab. Mariusz Gagoś (2011-2019).

The Department of Plant Anatomy and Cytology (initially the Chair of Plant Anatomy and Cytology) was set up after division of the Department of General Botany. It was headed by prof. Władysław Wiśniewski, prof. Józef Motyka, doc. dr hab. Maria Olszewska, and dr Franciszek Kadej. In 1969, prof. dr hab. Bohdan Rodkiewicz was appointed the new Head and held the function until 1993, when he was succeeded by prof. dr hab. Józef Bednara. Between October 1, 2012 and October 1, 2019, the Department was headed by dr hab. Ewa Szczuka prof. UMCS. On October 1, 2019, prof. dr hab. Mariusz Gagoś became the first Head of the Department of Cell Biology.

Current research topics

• Spectroscopic and structural studies of the molecular organisation of biologically active compounds in biological model systems;
• Antitumour and antifungal activity of natural and synthetic compounds in in vitro studies;
• Studies on the impact of fake wax foundation on the development of preimaginal stages in the honeybee;
• Search for effective methods for analysis and purification of beeswax;
• Application of infrared microspectroscopy for chemical mapping at the cellular and tissue levels;
• Studies of the tissue and cell structure of agriculturally and evolutionarily important  plants in terms of reproduction and micropropagation;
• Application of in vitro methods for breaking deep seed dormancy in plants with disturbed germination;
• Studies of mechanisms underlying sexual reproduction disorders in wild plants and industrially important species;
• Comparative analyses of the biology, structure, and reproduction of Deschampsia species growing in various latitudes vs. climate change;
• Analyses of the biological activity of plant extracts from species originating from their natural habitat and in vitro tissue cultures;
• Establishment of the conditions for somatic embryogenesis in the Pennsylvanian mallow;
• Relationships of pollen protein coating with compatible and incompatible pollination;
• Localisation of arabinogalactan proteins in generative organs of vascular plants

Research projects

1. OPUS 4 (NCN) (2013-2017) „Badania aktywności biologicznej antybiotyku amfoterycyny B kompleksowanego jonami miedzi (II) oraz modyfikowanego oksydacyjnie na układach modelowych błon lipidowych oraz in vitro” [Studies on the biological activity of the amphotericin B antibiotic complexed with copper(II) ions and modified oxidatively in model lipid membrane systems and in vitro]. Head of the project: prof. dr hab. Mariusz Gagoś
2. Synchrotron beam HASYLAB Hamburg (Germany) research project I-20120039 EC: “Molecular organisation of amphotericin B in lipid monolayers with cholesterol and ergosterol”, Duration: May 10-17, 2013 (7 days). Head of the project: prof. dr hab. Mariusz Gagoś

Patent applications

1. Patent application no. P.429877 (Urząd Patentowy Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej); 2019. „Tester wosków” [Tester of waxes]. Inventors: Pietrow M., Gagoś M., Wawryszczuk J.,.
2. Patent application no.: P.429878 (Urząd Patentowy Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej); 2019. „Analizator wosków” [Analyser of waxes]. Inventors: Pietrow M., Gagoś M., Wawryszczuk J.,.
3. Patent application no. P.429878 (Urząd Patentowy Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej); 2019. „Przyrząd do analizy wosków”[Device for analysis of waxes]. Inventors: Pietrow M., Gagoś M., Wawryszczuk J.,.
4. Patent application no. P.427017 (Urząd Patentowy Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej); 2018. „Sposób obróbki soku owocowego” [Method for fruit juice processing]. Inventors: Pawłat J., Starek A., Chudzik B.,.
5. Patent application no. P.427018. (Urząd Patentowy Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej); 2018. „Sposób obróbki soku owocowego” [Method for fruit juice processing]. Inventors: Pawłat J., Starek A., Chudzik B., Kwiatkowski M., Terebun P.,.
6. Patent application no. P. 427019. (Urząd Patentowy Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej); 2018. „Sposób obróbki soku owocowego” [Method for fruit juice processing]. Inventors: Pawłat J., Starek A., Chudzik B., Kwiatkowski M., Terebun P., Sagan A., Andrejko D., Kopacki M.,.
7. Patent application no. P. 427020. (Urząd Patentowy Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej); 2018. „Sposób obróbki soku warzywnego” [Method for vegetable juice processing]. Inventors: Pawłat J., Starek A., Chudzik B., Kwiatkowski M., Terebun P.,.
8. Patent application no. P. 427021. (Urząd Patentowy Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej); 2018. „Sposób obróbki soku warzywnego” [Method for vegetable juice processing]. Inventors: Pawłat J., Starek A., Chudzik B., Kwiatkowski M., Terebun P., Sagan A., Andrejko D., Kopacki M.,.
9. Patent application no. P. 427022. (Urząd Patentowy Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej); 2018. „Sposób obróbki soku warzywnego” [Method for vegetable juice processing]. Inventors: Pawłat J., Starek A., Chudzik B.,.
10. Patent application no. P. 421946. (Urząd Patentowy Rzeczpospolitej Polskiej); 2017. „Kompozycja do zwalczania infekcji grzybiczych”. [Composition of a formulation for treatment of fungal infections]. Inventors: Gagoś M., Chudzik B., Niewiadomy A., Matwijczuk A., Czernel G., Karpińska M

Research cooperation

The Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology cooperates with the following units of Lublin universities: UMCS (Chair of Biophysics, Botanical Garden), University of Life Sciences (Chair of Biophysics, Department of Apiculture, Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases), Medical University (Department of Parasitology and Invasive Diseases, Chair and Department of Medical Microbiology, I Clinic of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy), Catholic University of Lublin (Chair of Environmental Protection and Landscape Preservation, Chair of Plant Physiology and Biotechnology). We also cooperate with the following national research centres: University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (Chair of Plant Physiology, Genetics, and Biotechnology), Institute of Plant Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences in Poznań, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice (Chair of Molecular Biology).

The Department of Cell Biology cooperates with the following foreign research institutions: Laboratory for Cell Biology, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Wageningen, the Netherlands, Robert H. Smith Institute of Plant Science and Genetics in Agriculture, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem Rehovot (Israel), Department of Ornamental Horticulture, Volcani Center Bet Dagan (Israel), the Botanical Garden of Daniel Halicki Lviv National Medical University (Ukraine), and McMaster University, Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Hamilton, Canada.

Major publications

• Wu A., E. Grela, K. Wójtowicz, N. Filipczak, Y. Hamon, R Luchowski, W. Grudziński, O. Raducka-Jaszul, M. Gagoś, A. Szczepaniak, G. Chimini, W.I. Gruszecki, T. Trombik. ABCA1 transporter reduces amphotericin B cytotoxicity in mammalian cells. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences 76(24), pp. 4979-4994
• Chudzik B., Bonio, K., Dąbrowski, W., Pietrzak, D., Niewiadomy, A., Olender, A. Malodobry, K., Gagoś, M. Synergistic antifungal interactions of amphotericin B with 4-(5-methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-yl) benzene-1,3-diol. 2019. Scientific Reports 9(1) 12945
• Starek A., Pawłat J., Chudzik B., Kwiatkowski M.,Terebun P., Sagan A., Andrejko D. Effect of cold atmospheric pressure plasma generated in a GlidArc reactor on different quality parameters of tomato juice, 2019. Scientific Reports. 9(1),8407.
• Sławińska-Brych A., B. Zdzisińska, A. Czerwonka, M. Mizerska-Kowalska, M. Dmoszyńska-Graniczkac, A. Stepulak, M. Gagoś. Xanthohumol exhibits anti-myeloma activity in vitro through inhibition of cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis via the ERK and JNK-dependent mechanism, and suppression of sIL-6R and VEGF production. 2019. BBA – General Subjects 1863. 129408
• Żurek A, Mizerska-Kowalska M, Sławińska-Brych A, Kaławaj K, Bojarska-Junak A, Kandefer-Szerszeń M, Zdzisińska B. Alpha ketoglutarate exerts a pro-osteogenic effect in osteoblast cell lines through activation of JNK and mTOR/S6K1/S6 signaling pathways. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol. 2019, Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology, 374, pp. 53-64
• Mizerska-Kowalska M., Sławińska-Brych A., Kaławaj K., Żurek A., Pawińska A., Rzeski W., Zdzisińska B. Betulin promotes differentiation of human osteoblasts in vitro and exerts an osteoinductive effect on the hFOB 1.19 cell line through activation of JNK, ERK1/2, and mTOR kinases. Molecules 2019, Molecules 24(14),2637
• Chudzik B., Bonio, K., Dąbrowski, W., Pietrzak, D., Niewiadomy, A., Olender, A., Pawlikowska-Pawlęga B., Gagoś, M. Antifungal effects of a 1,3,4-thiadiazole derivative determined by cytochemical and vibrational spectroscopic studies. 2019. PLoS ONE 14(9),e0222775
• Marciniec, R., Zięba, E., Winiarczyk, K. 2019. Distribution of plastids and mitochondria during male gametophyte formation in Tinantia erecta (Jacq.) Fenzl. Protoplasma 256 (4): 1051-1063
• Fiołka  M. J., Rzymowska J., Bilska S., K. Lewtak,  Dmoszyńska-Graniczka M.,  Grzywnowicz K., Kaźmierski W., Urbanik-Sypniewska T. „Antitumor activity and apoptotic action of coelomic fluid from the earthworm Dendrobaena veneta against A549 human lung cancer cells”. APMIS, 127(6):435-448
• Leszczuk A., Szczuka E., Zdunek A. 2019. Arabinogalactan proteins: Distribution during the development of male and female gametophytes. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 135: 9-18, https:/doi.org/10.1016/j.plaphy.2018.11.023
• Dąbrowska A., Śmigała M., Denisow B., Winiarczyk K. 2019. Biology of flowering and insect visitors of Iris aphylla L. (Iridaceae). Turkish Journal of Botany: 43: 1-11, doi:10.3906/bot-1812-36
• Leszczuk A., Kozioł A., Szczuka E., Zdunek A. 2019. Analysis of AGP contribution to the dynamic assembly and mechanical properties of cell wall during pollen tube growth. Plant Science 281: 9-19
• Leszczuk A., Wydrych J., Szczuka E. 2019. The occurrence of calcium oxalate crystals and distribution of arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) in ovary cells during Fragaria x ananasa (Duch.) development. Journal of Plant Growth Regulation, doi. org/10.1007/s00344-018-0912-7  
• Lewtak K., Fiołka M.J., Czaplewska P., Macur K., Kaczyński Z., Buchwald T., Szczuka E., Rzymowska J. 2019. Sida hermaphrodita seeds as the source of anti-Candida albicans activity. Scientific Reports 9:12233,https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-48712-1
• Sugier D., Sugier P., Jakubowicz-Gil J., Winiarczyk K., Kowalski R. Essential Oil from Arnica Montana L. Achenes: Chemical Characteristics and Anticancer Activity. Molecules 2019, 24, 4158; doi:10.3390/molecules24224158
• A. Hoser, D. M. Kamiński, A. Skrzypek, A. Matwijczuk, A. Niewiadomy, M. Gagoś, K. Woźniak. Interplay of inter- and intramolecular interactions in crystal structures of 1,3,4-thiadiazole resorcinol derivatives. Crystal Growth & Design. 2018. 18(7), pp. 3851-3862
• D.M. Kamiński, I. Budziak, M. Arczewska, M. Sachadyn-Król, A. Matwijczuk, A. Waśko, M. Gagoś, K. Terpiłowski. Effect of Polyols on the DMPC Lipid Monolayers and Bilayers. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta – Biomembranes 1860(11), pp. 2166-2174
• A. Matwijczuk, D. Karcz, K. Pustuła, M. Makowski, A. Górecki, D. Kluczyk, M. Karpińska, A. Niewiadomy, M. Gagoś,. Spectroscopic and theoretical studies of fluorescence effects in bio-active 4-(5-(methyl-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl))benzene-1,3-diol and 4-(5-(methylamino-1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl))benzene-1,3-diol compounds: Effect of molecular aggregation and amino group position. Journal of Luminescence. 2018. 201. pp. 44-56
• A. Matwijczuk, E. Janik, R. Luchowski, A. Niewiadomy. W.I. Gruszecki, M. Gagoś, Spectroscopic studies of the molecular organization of 4-([ 1,2,4 ] triazolo [ 4,3-a ] pyridin-3-yl)-6-methylbenzene-1,3-diol in selected solvents. Journal of Luminescence. 2018. 194. pp. 208-218
• Leszczuk A., Szczuka E., Wydrych J., Zdunek A. 2018. Changes in arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) distribution in apple (Malus x domestica) fruit during senescence. Postharvest Biology and Technology, 138: 99-106
• Leszczuk A., Domaciuk M., Szczuka E. 2018. Unique features of the female gametophyte development of strawberry Fragaria x ananassa Duch. Scientia Horticulturae, 234: 201-209
• Tchórzewska D., Luchowski R., Gruszecki W. I.,  Winiarczyk K. 2018. Comparative studies of live tapetum cells in sterile garlic (Allium sativum) and fertile leek (Allium ampeloprasum) using the fluorescence lifetime imaging analytical method. South African Journal of Botany. South African Journal of Botany, 117: 222-231
• Leszczuk A., Chylińska M., Zięba E., Skrzypek T., Szczuka E., Zdunek A. 2018. Structural network of arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) and pectins in apple fruit during ripening and senescence processes. Plant Science, 275: 36-48
• Chudzik B., Szczuka E., Leszczuk A. 2018. Strubińska J. Modification of pectin distribution in sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.) roots in response to lead exposure. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 155: 251-259
• Leszczuk A., Szczuka E. 2018. Arabinogalactan proteins: Immunolocalization in the developing ovary of a facultative apomict Fragaria x ananassa (Duch.). 2018. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 123: 24-33
• E. Janik, J. Bednarska, K. Sowinski, R. Luchowski, M. Zubik, W. Grudzinski, Wieslaw I. Gruszecki, Light-induced formation of dimeric LHCII. Photosynthesis Research, 2017. 132(3), pp. 265-276
• M. Bartnik, A. Sławińska-Brych, A. Żurek, M. Kandefer-Szerszeń, B. Zdzisińska. 8-methoxypsoralen reduces AKT phosphorylation, induces intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways, and suppresses cell growth of SK-N-AS neuroblastoma and SW620 metastatic colon cancer cells. Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 2017. 207. pp. 19–29
• B. Chudzik, G. Czernel, A. Miaskowski, M. Gagoś, Amphotericin B-copper(II) complex shows improved therapeutic index in vitro. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2017, 97, pp. 9-21
• M. Arczewska, Kamiński, D.M., Gieroba B., Gagoś, M., Acid-Base Properties of Xanthohumol: A Computational and Experimental Investigation. Journal of Natural Products. 2017. 80(12). pp. 3194-3202
• E. Janik, J. Bednarska, M. Zubik, Luchowski R., Mazur R., Sowiński K., Grudziński W., Garstka M., Gruszecki W.I., A chloroplast “wake up” mechanism: Illumination with weak light activates the photosynthetic antenna function in dark-adapted plants, Journal of Plant Physiology. 2017, 210, pp. 1-8   
• Kellmann-Sopyła W., Koc J., Górecki R.J., Domaciuk M., Giełwanowska I. 2017. Development of generative structures of polar Caryophyllaceae plants, the Arctic Cerastium alpinum and Silene involucrata, and the Antarctic Colobanthus quitensis. Polish Polar Research, 38(1): 83-104.
• Borsuk G., Ptaszyńska A., Olszewski K., Domaciuk M., Krutmuang P. Paleolog J.2017. A New Method for Quick and Easy Hemolymph Collection from Apidae Adults. Plos One, 12(1): e0170487.
• Tchórzewska D., Bocianowski J., Najda A., Dąbrowska A., Winiarczyk K. 2017. Effect of environment fluctuations on biomass and allicin level in Allium sativum (cv. Harnas, Arkus) and Allium ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum (GHG-L). Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality, 90: 106-116
• Tchórzewska D. 2017. Chondriokinesis during microsporogenesis in plants. Planta, 246:1–18
• Tchórzewska D., Deryło K., Winiarczyk K. 2017. Cytological and biophysical comparative analysis of cell structures at the microsporogenesis stage in sterile and fertile Allium species. Planta, 245: 137-150
• Chylińska M., Szymańska-Chargot M., Deryło K., Tchórzewska D., Zdunek A. 2017. Changing of biochemical parameters and cell wall polysaccharides distribution during physiological development of tomato fruit. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry, 119: 328-337
• Konarska A., Domaciuk M. 2017. Differences in the fruit structure and the location and content of bioactive substances in Viburnum opulus and Viburnum lantana fruits. Protoplasma, 255(1): 25-41
• Skuhrovec J., Gültekin L., Śmigala M., Winiarczyk K., Dąbrowska A., Gosik R. 2017. Description of the immature stages of two Mononychus species (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Ceutorhynchinae) and a study of the host preferences of M. punctumalbum for Iris species in central Europe. Acta Zoologica, 99(3): 296-318
• Winiarczyk K, Gębura J. 2016. Activity of selected hydrolytic enzymes in Allium sativum L. anthers. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry102: 37- 42
•  Winiarczyk K, Łożykowska K, Gębura J, Bocianowski J. 2016. Vitality and germination of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis L.) seeds. Journal of Applied Botany and Food Quality 89, 156 -162  DOI:10.5073/JABFQ.2016.089.019
• Gębura J, Winiarczyk K 2016. A study on calcium oxalate crystals in Tinantia anomala (Commelinaceae) with special reference to ultrastructural changes during anther development. Journal of Plant Research 129:685–695        
•  Najda A, Błaszczyk L, Winiarczyk K, Dyduch J, D. Tchórzewska 2016. Comparative studies of nutritional and health-enhancing properties in the "garlic-like" plant Allium ampeloprasum var. ampeloprasum (GHG-L) and A. sativum. Scientia Horticulturae 201: 247–255    
• Winiarczyk K, Gębura J. 2016. Formation of a unique structure during microsporogenesis in Tinantia anomala (Commelinaceae) anthers. Protoplasma  DOI 10.1007/s00709-016-0990-y
• Domaciuk M,  Leszczuk A, Szczuka E, Kellmann-Sopyła W,  Koc J Giełwanowska I. 2016. Female sporogenesis in the native Antarctic grass Deschampsia antarctica Desv. Polish Polar Research, 37 (2): 289–302
• Tchórzewska D, Deryło K,  Błaszczyk L ,  Winiarczyk K 2015 Tubulin cytoskeleton during microsporogenesis in the male-sterile genotype of Allium sativum and fertile Allium ampeloprasum L. Plant Reproduction, 28(3-4): 171-182
• Seta-Koselska A, Szczuka E 2015. Activity and localization of lipoxygenase in the ovule of Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr. during megasporogenesis. Plant Growth Regulation, 76: 177-186