Laboratory of Epitranscriptomics

About the Group

The Laboratory of Epitranscriptomics focuses on studying the effects of chemically modified nucleotide presence in RNA on cellular RNA-dependent processes. The areas of group’s interest include modifications of ribonucleic acids in eukaryotic cells and viruses. Viruses use chemically modified nucleotides to hide their genetic material from receptors of host cell immune response pathways. Using biochemical, molecular, and cellular biology methods, our team is trying to understand how chemical modifications of viral RNA affect its immunogenic potential and stability in infected cells. Furthermore, we are investigating how epitranscriptomic modifications occurring in eukaryotic mRNA alter its biological properties. We are interested in how protein biosynthesis or the stability of the transcript itself is affected by modifications present especially at mRNA 5′ end.

Research activities

Scientific projects

• Deciphering how viral epitranscriptome shapes host immune response
  National Science Centre, Sonata Bis (2022-2026), PI Paweł Sikorski
• Novel versatile tool for RNA labeling
  Excellence Initiative – Research University New Ideas (IDUB Nowe Idee) (2023-2024), PI Paweł Sikorski
• FLU-SWITCH Identification of factors driving the emergence and spread of avian influenza viruses with zoonotic potential
  Project coordinated by Dr. Romain Volmer, INRAE; polish partner: Paweł Sikorski.
  ERA-NET ICRAD (International Coordination of Research on Infectious Animal Diseases) (2023-2026)

Publications

• Tomecki R., Drazkowska K., Kobylecki K., Tudek A. 2023. SKI complex: A multifaceted cytoplasmic RNA exosome cofactor in mRNA metabolism with links to disease, developmental processes, and antiviral responses. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews RNA. e1795
• Drazkowska K., Tomecki R., Warminski M., Baran N., Cysewski D., Depaix A., Kasprzyk R., Kowalska J., Jemielity J., Sikorski P.J. 2022. 2′-O-Methylation of the second transcribed nucleotide within the mRNA 5′ cap impacts the protein production level in a cell-specific manner and contributes to RNA immune evasion. Nucleic Acids Research. 50: 9051–9071

Offer

Design and synthesis of customised HPLC-purified (m)RNA for in vitro and in vivo research studies, including labelled (e.g. fluorescently or biotinylated) transcripts.

Team Leader

Dr. Paweł Sikorski defended his doctoral thesis at the Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw (supervisor –  Prof. Joanna Kufel). Subsequently, he did a postdoctoral training in the group of Prof. Jacek Jemielity at the Centre for New Technologies University of Warsaw. During his scientific work, he completed a scientific internship in the laboratory of Dr. Dominique Gagliardi (Institut de Biologie Moléculaire des Plantes du CNRS, Strasbourg, France). Additionally, he has co-authored more than 20 scientific publications in journals such as Nucleic Acids Research, Journal of the American Chemical Society, and Angewandte Chemie. He is currently engaged in research aiming to understand the effects of epitrascriptomic markers on RNA-dependent cellular processes.