At the beginning of the year, Michaela Dzurov Krafčíková joined our team, and we are truly happy to welcome her among us. She brings not only valuable experience, but also curiosity and a friendly energy.
In the short interview below, you can learn where Michaela comes from and what she will be focusing on in the near future.
My professional background lies in structural biology, biophysics, molecular biology, and biochemistry. I completed my PhD studies at Masaryk University in the field of biomolecular chemistry and bioinformatics. During my scientific career, I first worked at CEITEC Masaryk University, and later at the Institute of Biophysics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, where I focused on studying biomolecules in living cells using in-cell NMR spectroscopy.
Before joining the Department of Biochemistry, I spent three years in the Netherlands as an EMBO postdoctoral fellow at Utrecht University. There, I worked on nucleic acids and proteins in intact cells and organelles using DNP-enhanced solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Throughout my scientific career, I also developed close collaborations with research groups in Italy, Sweden, and Germany. After a short parental break, I returned to the Czech Republic with the intention of continuing this research direction.
I specialize in the structural study of nucleic acids and proteins in cellular and subcellular environments, primarily using solution and solid-state NMR spectroscopy. I combine these methods with molecular biology approaches, including work with cell cultures and their genetic manipulation, the isolation of organelles and nucleic acids, protein expression, and a range of biochemical and immunochemical analyses (e.g., Western blot). My research also includes fluorescence-based methods, particularly confocal microscopy and flow cytometry (FACS), which allow structural information to be connected with the cellular context. I would like to contribute to advancing solid-state NMR spectroscopy for the study of biomolecules, which has not yet been developed in the Czech Republic to the same extent as abroad.
In my research, I focus on nucleic acids and their interactions with proteins in the cellular environment, especially in relation to mechanisms of cellular communication and signaling. My goal is to understand how these interactions influence cell function in different physiological contexts. One of the projects I am currently launching is a project on VDAC1 as a mitochondrial sensor of nucleic acids, supported by the MUNI Junior Star grant. The project focuses on the VDAC1 protein, located in the outer mitochondrial membrane, and its role in releasing mitochondrial DNA into the cytoplasm in response to cellular stress. The aim is to clarify the role of VDAC1 in regulating mitochondrial DNA and innate immune responses, as well as to better understand its significance in the context of mitochondrial dysfunction associated with diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus and Parkinson’s disease.
Are you thinking about where to do your master's degree? Come to the event organized by biochemistry students! You will learn information about the master's degree program, you can ask any questions and meet classmates from other years. You can also look forward to light refreshments and we look forward to you joining us for this friendly meeting!
Our department is among those embracing the shift toward practice-focused final projects at the Faculty of Science. This new format replaces extensive theoretical theses with concise, research-driven work.
