Ondřej Nykles

In his doctoral studies, Ondřej focuses on the regulation of tetrapyrrole biosynthesis in cyanobacteria, specifically Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Tetrapyrroles are precursors of chlorophyll and heme, indispensable molecules for photosynthesis. To avoid phototoxic damage made by free chlorophyll, the pathway has to be strictly controlled. Understanding how cyanobacteria administrate the biosynthesis of tetrapyrroles and coordinate it with other biosynthetic pathways (chlorophyll, photosystems biogenesis etc.) could provide valuable information for biotechnological research. Ondřej’s work primarily revolves around the GluTR enzyme (Glutamyl-tRNA-reductase), which is the first enzyme in tetrapyrrole synthesis, and is known as a crucial regulatory step of this pathway. The aim of the Ph.D. thesis is to find possible interactors of the GluTR and uncover their role in GluTR control.