Curriculum vitae

Mgr. Petra Čápová - Skotnicová, Ph.D.

ORCID: 0000-0002-6077-0256

Affiliation

Institute of Microbiology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Centre Algatech, Novohradská 237 - Opatovický mlýn, 379 01 Třeboň, CZ

Position

Postdoctoral fellow  

Education and academic qualifications

• 2019, Ph.D. degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Genetics, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, CZ
• 2011, Master's degree in Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, CZ
• 2009, Bachelor´s degree in Biology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, CZ

Overview of employment

• January 2020 - now, postdoctoral fellow, Institute of Microbiology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Centre Algatech, Třeboň, CZ
• 2019 - 2011, Ph.D. student, Institute of Microbiology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Centre Algatech, Třeboň, CZ 

Stays abroad

2015, three-month doctoral internship in the Laboratory of prof. Neil Hunter, Sheffield University, Sheffield, GB

Research topic and current research work

I specialize in the detailed study of photosynthetic processes, with special emphasis on the molecular and biochemical mechanisms that regulate the functioning of photosystems in cyanobacteria. My research focuses on key proteins and their complexes that play a role in photosynthesis, including studying the biogenesis of thylakoid membranes, the membrane structures where photosynthesis takes place. One of the significant results of my work is the investigation of the cyanobacterial BtpA protein (Skotnicová et al., 2024), which is necessary for the initial steps of the biosynthesis of tetrapyrroles, precursors for the synthesis of chlorophyll, heme and bilins. I also collaborate with Vendula Krynická on FtsH proteases research (Koník et al., 2024; Krynická et al., 2023). As part of the ongoing OP JAK Photomachines project, I am looking for new methods for reprogramming regulatory pathways in Synechocystis PCC 6803, focusing on the histidine kinases Hik33 and Hik26, potentially with the goal of biotechnological use.

Mentoring and supervising students

currently, co-supervisor of 1 doctoral student (Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, CZ)

Teaching

from the school year 2024, teaching in the new study program called "Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of Cyanobacteria", Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice

Conference talks

2022, 63. konference České algologické společnosti, Ostrava, ČR

Awards

2022, Director's Award for the best scientific publication of the Institute of Microbiology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic

Top 5 publications, 2021 - 2024

1. Skotnicová, P., Staleva-Musto, H., Kuznetsová V., Bína, D., Konert M.M., Lu, S., Polívka, T., and Sobotka, R. (2021) Plant LHC-like proteins show robust folding and static non-photochemical quenching. Nature Communications 12 (1) 6890 IF 17.694
2. Linhartová, M., Skotnicová, P., Hakkila, K., Tichý, M., Komenda, J., Knoppová, J., Gilabert, J.F., Guallar, V., Tyystjärvi, T., and Sobotka, R. (2021) Mutations suppressing the lack of prepilin peptidase provide insights into the maturation of the major pilin protein in cyanobacteria. Frontiers in Microbiology 12, 756912 IF 6.064
3. Chiu, Y.F., Fu, H.Y., Skotnicová, P., Lin, K.M., Komenda, J., and Chu, H.A. (2022) Tandem gene amplification restores photosystem II accumulation in cytochrome b559 mutants of cyanobacteria. New Phytologist 233 (2), 766-780 IF 10.323
4. Krynická, V., Skotnicová, P., Jackson, P.J., Barnett, S., Yu, J., Wysocka, A., Kaňa, R., Dickman, M.J., Nixon, P.J., Hunter, C.N., and Komenda, J. (2023) FtsH4 protease controls the biogenesis of PSII complex by dual regulation of high light-inducible proteins. Plant Communications 4(1), 100502 IF 8.625
5. Skotnicová, P., Srivastava, A., Aggarwal, D., Talbot, J., Karlínová, I., Moos, M., Mareš, J., Bučinská, L., Koník, P., Šimek, P., Tichý, M., Sobotka, R. (2024) A thylakoid biogenesis BtpA protein is required for the initial step of tetrapyrrole biosynthesis in cyanobacteria. New Phytologist 241(3), 1236-1249