On May 11, 2023, Professor Marta Miączyńska, the Director of the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw (IIMCB), signed a contract for the preparation of design documentation for Institute's new seat with an architectural studio Atelier Tektura Sp. z o.o, the winner of the competition for the best architectural concept for Institute's seat.
The signing of the contract is another step that brings us closer to the new seat, which is so important for Institute's further development. We are convinced that cooperation with Atelier Tektura will be successful and it will allow to achieve the set goal in the planned time – said Prof. Marta Miączyńska, the Director of the IIMCB.
In December 2022, the competition for the architectural concept of Institute's new seat was settled. The winner was Atelier Tektura. The winning project was recognized for its very good, rational, and logical solution of rooms layout. The flexibility of the project was also appreciated, namely, the possibility of modifying the layout of the space as well as the construction solutions.
A two-month internship in one of the IIMCB's well-equipped 14 laboratories, under the guidance of outstanding scientists and experts in their fields – this is an offer of the internship program introduced by the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw.
The offer is aimed at talented life sciences students interested in the field of biology and biotechnology. During the internship, selected students will have the opportunity to participate in research projects being currently carried out in the IIMCB laboratories, under the supervision of excellent scientists. It will also be an excellent opportunity to work in international teams on issues related to the development of modern science as well as an opportunity to improve own scientific and analytical skills.
Students whose applications will be approved, will be offered a one-month full-time internship with a salary in the amount of PLN 2.500 net/month. The IIMCB will provide them with initial scientific training and guidelines from the experienced scientists and PhD students. In addition, the apprentices will obtain full organizational and administrative support in a friendly and international work environment.
Students interested in the offer are encouraged to learn more about the research topics of individual laboratories and send their application (CV and registration form) to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
The applications for the internship program are accepted on a rolling basis. Undergraduate students, graduate students, and recent graduates are invited to send their applications.
The number of places is limited.
Polish RNA Biology Meeting 2023 – International Conference at IIMCB.
Prof. Andrzej Dziembowski from the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, has received an ERC Advanced Grant. It is the first time that a scientist working in the field of life sciences in Poland has received such a grant. This prestigious award is given by the European Research Council (ERC) to outstanding scientists to finance their cutting-edge research. The goal of Prof. Dziembowski's project is to explore the mechanisms of mRNA processing in cells and throughout the body which will enable the development of a new generation of mRNA-based therapies. The project, with the acronym ViveRNA, will last 5 years and has a budget of almost 2.5 million euros.
mRNA vaccines were a milestone in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. They paved the way for mRNA-based therapies and enabled their wider use in medicine. However, the processes of mRNA metabolism at the organism level are still not fully understood which limits the possibilities for improving vaccines and RNA-based therapies. For this reason, Prof. Andrzej Dziembowski and his team will thoroughly investigate how to increase mRNA stability which should enable optimization of mRNA applications in medical therapies.
- The stability of mRNA molecules is affected by the length of their poly(A) tail, which in turn has implications for the efficacy of therapeutics. The preliminary data collected by my team have shown that the variability in how poly(A) tails are processed in different cells is much greater than previously thought, says Prof. A. Dziembowski. One of our goals is to improve the accuracy of the method for determining the properties of mRNAs, including measurements of the poly(A) tail length. In our work, we will use primary cell cultures and synthetic biology methods. I believe that this research will facilitate the development of next-generation mRNA therapeutics - adds Prof. Dziembowski.
The prestigious ERC grants support groundbreaking research conducted in a wide range of fields, from physics and medicine to social sciences and humanities. ERC projects are awarded according to a "high risk-high gain" principle. The sole criterion for evaluating project ideas is scientific excellence. This year, the European Research Council awarded 218 Advanced Grants out of 1.650 applications submitted. The value of all grants awarded amounts to 544 million euro. The program is expected not only to strengthen the quality of research across Europe, but also to create new jobs for postdoctoral fellows, doctoral students and other staff at the institution where the awarded project is being carried out.
- Receiving an ERC Advanced Grant is a great achievement in the career of any scientist.
I wholeheartedly congratulate our awardee and his research team. I strongly believe in the success of the planned work, especially since research in RNA biology is currently one of the most promising and actively developed directions in the life sciences, with great potential for application in medicine. I am also pleased because this is yet another ERC grant awarded to a project carried out at our Institute, although the previous ones (ERC Starting Grants) were led by scientists at earlier stages of their careers. It is encouraging that the ERC-appointed experts from the international scientific community appreciate the importance and value of the research conducted at our Institute - says Prof. Marta Miączyńska, the Director of the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw.
The European Research Council (ERC) was established in 2007 by the European Commission. It is an independent EU agency that funds top-quality research conducted within the European Union.
Professor Andrzej Dziembowski currently heads the Laboratory of RNA Biology – ERA Chairs Group at the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw. He also collaborates with the University of Warsaw.
Title of the awarded project: Principles of endogenous and therapeutic mRNA turnover in vivo (ViveRNA).
We are pleased to announce that as of the 1 April two new Laboratories started their activities at the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw: Laboratory of Single-Molecule Biophysics, headed by Dr. Ewelina Małecka-Grajek and Laboratory of Cellular Genomics, headed by Dr. Aleksandra Kołodziejczyk.
In the Laboratory of Single-Molecule Biophysics the researchers are focused on understanding the coordination between RNA targeting, degradation, and translation in bacteria. Most species of bacteria are harmless and are often beneficial, but others can cause infectious diseases. The Laboratory also performs research using the TIRF microscopy method which allows the visualization of hundreds of biomolecules immobilized on the microscopic slide. However, each molecule is analyzed separately.
In the Laboratory of Cellular Genomics the main research area is investigating the bidirectional crosstalk between the liver and the intestine, focusing on the role of resident microbiota. The researchers also explore how shifts in bacterial composition and changes in intestinal physiology affect liver cells and how liver health contributes to the homeostasis in the gut.They are also focused on the mechanisms underlying chronic inflammatory processes accompanying organ fibrosis, metabolic syndrome and autoimmune disorders. The scientists are also exploring the role of microbiota-derived metabolites in the host physiology, with special regard to the the molecular mechanisms by which metabolites affect cellular functions.
We already know the results of the Best Papers Awards 2022! The best scientific papers of the past year, affiliated with IIMCB, were awarded. Any experimental work of a scientific nature with no subject restriction could be submitted to this Competition. The best publications were selected by the Jury consisting of all Laboratory Leaders, based on content and significance and not bibliometric data. Laboratory Leaders were not allowed to vote for papers from their own laboratory. In 2022, the following papers were awarded:
- 1st PLACE
Kaczmarska Z*, Czarnocki-Cieciura M*, Górecka-Minakowska KM*, Wingo RJ, Jackiewicz J, Zajko W, Poznański JT, Rawski M, Grant T, Peters JE#, Nowotny M#. Structural basis of transposon end recognition explains central features of Tn7 transposition systems. Mol Cell, 2022; 82(14):2618-32.e7. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2022.05.005
*these authors contributed equally; #corresponding authors; in bold authors affiliated with IIMCB
Transposons, also called “jumping genes”, are DNA fragments that can move within or between genomes in a process called transposition. In bacteria, transposons are involved in the transmission of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes. Bacterial Tn7 elements are among the best-studied and most widespread DNA transposons. Tn7 mobility is mediated by five element-encoded proteins. Transposition occurs via a cut-and-paste mechanism that is executed by a heteromeric transposase, TnsA-TnsB, which is recruited to the target DNA by TnsC protein, which is an AAA+ ATPase. TnsC interacts with one of the two target selectors, TnsD or TnsE. TnsD directs the element to the conserved chromosomal attTn7 site, whereas TnsE allows transposition to conjugal plasmids. CRISPR-associated transposon (CAST) elements that use element-encoded CRISPR-Cas systems for RNA-guided DNA transposition are related to Tn7 and encode TnsB-like transposases. They may provide new tools for next-generation gene editing.
Scientists from the Laboratory of Protein Structure, led by Marcin Nowotny, in collaboration with the Joe Peters group from Cornell University, studied the structure and mechanism of prototypic E. coli Tn7 TnsB. They used cryoelectron microscopy (cryo-EM) to determine the structure of a complex of TnsB with double-stranded DNA that corresponded to the right end of the transposon at 2.7 Å resolution. The structure shows that multiple TnsB chains, which adopt a beads-on-a-string architecture, interact with repeating binding sites in the DNA. Upon this interaction the DNA-binding and catalytic domains of TnsB chains are arranged in a tiled and intertwined fashion. TnsB forms few base-specific contacts with DNA that lead to binding preference rather than strict specificity. The formation of an array of TnsB molecules that bind to multiple weakly conserved sites at appropriate spacing converts this preference into specific end recognition. These scientists also proposed a model of the TnsB strand-transfer complex that aims to understand late steps of the Tn7 TnsB reaction. Collectively, these results help explain how subtle differences in the spacing of binding sites are used for specific transposon end recognition and define central features of Tn7 transposition systems.
- 2nd PLACE
Das A, Thapa P, Santiago U, Shanmugam N, Banasiak K, Dąbrowska K, Nolte H, Szulc NA, Gathungu RM, Cysewski D, Krüger M, Dadlez M, Nowotny M, Camacho CJ, Hoppe T, Pokrzywa W#. A heterotypic assembly mechanism regulates CHIP E3 ligase activity. EMBO J, 2022; 41(15):e109566, doi: 10.15252/embj.2021109566
#corresponding author; in bold authors affiliated with IIMCB
The fate of eukaryotic proteins is supervised by the chaperone network and the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS). CHIP (C‐terminus of Hsc70‐interacting protein) is an important quality control E3 ubiquitin ligase that links the chaperone system with the UPS to degrade damaged proteins. It also mediates chaperone-independent ubiquitylation and can interact with other E3s. However, the regulation of CHIP processivity and substrate selectivity in response to chaperone and E3 binding has remained unclear. Scientists from the Laboratory of Protein Metabolism, led by Wojciech Pokrzywa, performed a structural-functional analysis of the complex that was formed by CHIP and UFD-2, another E3 ubiquitin ligase, guided by the idea that they form a highly processive ubiquitylation system alternative to the CHIP/chaperone axis. The data showed that UFD-2 binding promotes structural gain of function in CHIP. The researchers demonstrated that the heat shock protein Hsp70 outcompetes UFD-2 for CHIP binding and negatively regulates activity of the complex by stabilizing the auto-inhibited state of CHIP. Using the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the scientists discovered that an interaction with UFD-2 enables CHIP to regulate S-adenosylhomocysteinase, an enzyme that is crucial for cellular methylation. The results obtained by the Pokrzywa group open new horizons in research on the cooperation of ubiquitin ligases in gaining high activity and substrate selectivity. In addition, the revealed CHIP processivity switching mechanism has potential application in targeted protein degradation approaches.
- 3rd PLACE
Niescierowicz K*, Pryszcz L*, Navarrete C*, Tralle E*, Sulej A*, Abu Nahia K, Kasprzyk ME, Misztal K, Pateria A, Pakuła A, Bochtler M#, Winata C#. Adar-mediated A-to-I editing is required for embryonic patterning and innate immune response regulation in zebrafish. Nat Commun, 2022; 13(1):5520, doi: 10.1038/s41467-022-33260-6
*these authors contributed equally; #corresponding authors; in bold authors affiliated with IIMCB
Adenosine-to-inosine (A-to-I) editing is necessary for regulating the innate immune system in humans and other mammals and it is implicated in human diseases, including autoimmune conditions. The enzyme adenosine deaminase acting on RNA (Adar) is responsible for catalyzing such editing, which entails the deamination of adenosine (A) at the C6 position, giving rise to an inosine (I). Researchers from the Laboratory of Zebrafish Developmental Genomics and Laboratory of Structural Biology, led by Cecilia Winata and Matthias Bochtler, respectively, investigated the role of Adar in zebrafish, where it is highly expressed in the earliest stages of embryogenesis. Genome-wide editing discovery by combined analyses of the parental genome and embryonic transcriptome uncovered prevalent A-to-I editing in maternal and the earliest zygotic transcripts, the majority of which occurred in the 3’-untranslated region. Transcripts that are known to play a role in gastrulation and embryonic patterning were found to contain multiple editing sites, suggesting that Adar may exert its function through them. Through Adar loss- and gain-of-function experiments, the researchers demonstrated that maternal Adar function is essential for proper embryonic patterning along the antero-posterior and dorso-ventral axes, and this function depends on an intact deaminase domain. Analyses of adar zygotic mutants revealed the distinct zygotic function of Adar in regulating the innate immune response, a role that is conserved in mammals. Collectively, the study established a novel function of Adar-mediated A-to-I editing in regulating embryonic patterning and revealed the conservation of zygotic Adar function between zebrafish and mammals.
It will be one of the most important scientific events in Poland in 2023! We are happy to announce that the registration for the Polish RNA Biology Meeting PL-RNA 2023 conference starts today! It is also our great pleasure to present to you a short video concerning the conference. Prof. Andrzej Dziembowski - Chairman of the Organizing Committee and Prof. Gracjan Michlewski - Chairman of the Scientific Committee – are announcing the event, talking about the program details and invited guests.
The field of RNA biology - is a rapidly growing field of life sciences, relating to issues such as RNA biology in prokaryotic and eukaryotic systems, transcription, RNA processing and metabolism and RNA in therapy and medicine. The main purpose of the meeting is to bring together outstanding scientists, specialists in RNA biology from Poland and overseas, to exchange knowledge, experience and facilitate networking. The event will be also an excellent opportunity for PhD students and postdoctoral researchers to present their best research projects.
World-renowned specialists Prof. Lori Passmore, Prof. Alfredo Castello, Prof. Andrea Rentmeister and Prof. Witold Filipowicz have confirmed their participation in the conference.
Registration link: https://pl-rna.iimcb.gov.pl/
The Chairman of the Scientific Committee is Prof. Gracjan Michlewski, Head of the Laboratory of RNA-Protein Interactions - Dioscuri Center, IIMCB.
Members of the Scientific Committee are: Prof. Sebastian Glatt, Malopolska Biotechnology Center, Jagiellonian University, Prof. Jacek Jemielity, Warsaw University, Prof. Kinga Kamieniarz-Gdula, A. Mickiewicz University in Poznan, Prof. Elżbieta Kierzek, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Poznan and Prof. Joanna Kufel, Warsaw University.
The Chairman of the Organizing Committee is Prof. Andrzej Dziembowski, Head of the RNA Biology Laboratory - ERA Chairs Group, IIMCB.
The meeting is organized within the framework of the MOSaIC project, funded by the Horizon2020 ERA Chairs Program.
More information: https://pl-rna.iimcb.gov.pl/
The International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw (IIMCB) invites applicants for Junior Group Leader positions. Below you will find the job description.
The IIMCB is an internationally recognized research institute in Poland where cutting-edge research meets innovation. In line with the IIMCB’s mission, we support ambitious scientists of any nationality to pursue frontier research to respond to health-related societal challenges. We are looking for talented, dynamic, and motivated scientists to establish their first independent research groups. Successful candidates will be supported by the IIMCB’s institutional project entitled “RNA and Cell Biology - from Fundamental Research to Therapies” (RACE) selected for funding in the Teaming for Excellence programme under Horizon Europe. The prospect of a new, larger building with state-of-the-art infrastructure offers the new groups an unprecedented opportunity for scientific and personal development.
The IIMCB hosts a vibrant, multinational community of scientists and is well connected internationally, as exemplified by the composition of the IIMCB’s International Advisory Board and the IIMCB’s membership in the EU-LIFE, an alliance of 15 top independent European research institutes. The IIMCB has an excellent record of attracting funding on national and international levels, and a high proportion of EMBO members among its group leaders.
Candidates’ profile:
Successful candidates must have an outstanding record of scientific accomplishments and be able to develop an independent competitive research program in one of the following areas: (i) RNA biology: drug development, including chemical biology and formulations for RNA therapeutics; (ii) cell biology: tissue, organoid, and animal models of human diseases, modification of patient-derived cells for development of cell-based therapies, (iii) computational biology: AI/machine learning approaches, big data analysis, and advanced bioinformatics.
The proposed program is expected to broaden the scope of and synergize with research performed at the IIMCB (see more at www.iimcb.gov.pl).
The IIMCB offers:
- Junior Group Leader position (a full-time salary with social benefits), with an initial appointment
of 5 years and possible subsequent promotion to a position with rolling tenure upon positive evaluation - Start-up funds and core funding after the start-up funds have been used
- Access to state-of-the-art equipment
- Support in applying for national and international grants
- Full organizational and administrative support by professional English-speaking staff
- Friendly, inclusive, international working environment
- Access to the International PhD program of the IIMCB
Applications should include:
- Cover letter explaining motivation for application
- Curriculum Vitae including a publication list
- Concise statement of 1-3 scientific achievements
- Two-page summary of research plans
- Contact information for two references
How to apply:
- Applications should be sent to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
- In the subject of the message include "JGL" and your first and last name
- Please include the following statement in your CV: “I hereby agree to the processing of my personal data, included in the application documents by the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology
in Warsaw, 4 Księcia Trojdena Street, 02-109 Warsaw, for the purpose of carrying out thecurrent recruitment process.” Your personal data will be processed for the purpose of the recruitment procedure by the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw. Full information is available under the link https://bit.ly/3UFWpY2.
The deadline for applications is March 31, 2023. Chosen applicants will be asked to give on-line lectures on
May 11-17, 2023. Short-listed applicants will be invited for on-site interviews during the IIMCB’s International Advisory Board meeting on June 19-21, 2023. The positions are available from September 2023 with the formal appointment date set on a case-by-case basis.
Inquiries about the offer, research environment, and science in Poland are welcome and should be sent
to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
All information provided by applicants will remain strictly confidential and will be reviewed only by authorized officials of the selection committee.
The main protagonists are enzymes of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. Place of action: the human body. The goal: to impersonate the UPS protein E3 ligase and catch substrates in time for ubiquitination. Sound mysterious? We are truly pleased to announce that preparations for a new educational project of IIMCB for schoolchildren, funded by the Ministry of Education and Science grant, have already started. The grant is being implemented under the leadership of Dr. Wojciech Pokrzywa, Head of the Laboratory of Protein Metabolism; the coordinator of the educational project is Natalia Szulc, a PhD student and Fulbright Junior Research Award recipient.
The project aims to create an educational computer game that will explain in an accessible way the mechanism of action of modern anticancer drugs e.g. of the PROTAC type. The game's protagonists will be the enzymes of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) and their substrates. The player will aim to impersonate the UPS protein E3 ligase and catch its substrates in time for their ubiquitination and targeting for 26S proteasome-dependent degradation. For example, with a power-up - a PROTAC-type drug - the E3 ligase will be able to ubiquitinate proteins that have not previously been its substrates - such as oncoproteins.
Each step of the action the player takes will be preceded by a short instruction. Then, after each step of the action, a description of the biological mechanism that occurred as a result of the action taken will be displayed. The game will have an encyclopedic section, with detailed information on each issue covered and the protagonist as well. After completing the game, the player will have the opportunity to test his knowledge in a quiz. The game will be available in Polish and English, and its target audience will be high school students in Poland. The game aims to introduce the mechanisms of modern anti-cancer drugs and consolidate confidence in medicine and science. The game is expected to be developed by the end of July 2024.