prof. dr hab. Barbara Nawrot

Profesor, Dział Chemii Bioorganicznej

Telefon: (+48) (42) 68 03 248

Email:

Scientific career:

• 1975 – MSc, Technical University of Lodz, Poland
• 1975-1985 – Ass. and Lecturer, Technical University of Lodz, Poland
• 1983 – PhD, Technical University of Lodz, Poland
• 1985-1986 – Postdoctoral fellow, Memorial Sloan Kettering, Cancer Center, New York, USA
• 1986-1994 – Lecturer, Technical University of Lodz, Poland
• 1994-1996 – Researcher, Biochemistry Dept., Bayreuth University, Germany
• 1997-present – Lecturer and Associate Professor, Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies
• 1999 – DSc, Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies
• 2000 (3 months) – Visiting Professor, Natl. Inst. for Adv. Interdisciplinary Res., Tsukuba, Japan
• 2001-now – Associate professor in the Department of Bioorganic Chemistry, Centre of Molecular and Macromolecular Studies of the Polish Academy of Sciences
• 2006 – Full Professor

Current research area:
Professor Barbara Nawrot has a broad experience in the synthetic organic chemistry of nucleosides, nucleotides and oligonucleotides, both in DNA and RNA series. She is involved in research on an application of nucleic acid components as model compounds for investigation of function and structure relationship of various proteins interacting with nucleic acids (endonucleases). Her research is also focused on the application of short nucleic acids as sequence-specific gene expression inhibitors, in particular in the synthesis of backbone modified DNA and RNA analogues operating as antisense, antigene, ribozyme and siRNA agents. Her current subject is focused on the inhibition of expression of beta-secretase – the target protein in anty-amyloid therapy for Alzheimer’s disease treatment. She and her group identified active hammerhead ribozymes and siRNA molecules able to diminish the level of the target protein as well as the level of a toxic beta amyloid peptide Abeta40 in cellular system.

Recently, she has become involved in the project focused on the screening of stomach disordered patients for the level of the expression of Fragile Histidine Triad (FHIT) protein. The FHIT protein is a tumor suppressor protein and may serve as an early marker for detection of any tumor changes.

Another subject of interest is the stability of the sulfur-modified transfer RNA (tRNA) in oxidative stress, and the consequences of desulfuration of these biomolecules on the codon-anticodon interactions and cellular processes in which tRNA is engaged.

Selected papers:

1. E. Sochacka, R. H. Szczepanowski, M. Cypryk, M. Sobczak, M. Janicka, K. Kraszewska, P. Bartos, A. Chwialkowska, B. Nawrot: 2-Thiouracil deprived of thiocarbonyl function preferentially base pairs with guanine rather than adenine in RNA and DNA duplexes. Nucleic Acids Res. 2015, DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv109, in press (IF 8.808)
2. M. Krawiecka, B. Kuran, J. Kossakowski, M. Cieślak, J. Kazmierczak-Barańska, K. Królewska, B. Nawrot: Synthesis and cytotoxic properties of halogen and aryl-/heteroarylpiperazinyl derivatives of benzofurans. Anti-Cancer Agents in Med. Chem. 2015, 15: 115-121 (IF 2.939)
3. S. Y. Wu, X. Yang, K. M. Gharpure, H. Hatakeyama, M. Egli, M. H. McGuire, A. S. Nagaraja, T. M. Miyake, R. Rupaimoole, C. V. Pecot, M. Taylor, S. Pradeep, M. Sierant, C. Rodriguez-Aguayo, H. J. Choi, R. A. Previs, G. N. Armaiz-Pena, Li Huang, C. Martinez, T. Hassell, C. Ivan, V. Sehgal, R. Singhania, H.-D. Han, C. Su, Ji Hoon Kim, H. J. Dalton, C. Kovvali, K. Keyomarsi, N. A. J. McMillan, W.illem W. Overwijk, Jinsong Liu, Ju-Seog Lee, Keith A. Baggerly, Gabriel Lopez-Berestein, Prahlad T. Ram, Barbara Nawrot, Anil K. Sood: 2’-OMe-phosphorodithioate-modified siRNAs show increased loading into the RISC complex and enhanced anti-tumour activity. Nature Comm. 2014, 5: 3459 (IF 10.742)
4. P. S. Pallan, Xianbin Yang, M. Sierant, N. D. Abeydeera, T. Hassell, C. Martinez, M. Janicka, B. Nawrot, M. Egli: Crystal structure, stability and Ago2 affinity of phosphorodithioate-modified RNAs. RSC Adv. 2014, 4: 64901-64904 (IF 3.708)
5. A. Kwiatkowska, M. Sobczak, B. Mikolajczyk, S. Janczak, A. B. Olejniczak, M. Sochacki, Z. J. Lesnikowski, B. Nawrot: siRNAs modified with boron cluster and their physicochemical and biological characterization. Bioconjugate Chem. 2013, 24: 1017-1026 (IF 4.821)
6. Xianbin Yang, M. Sierant, M. Janicka, L. Peczek, C. Martinez, T. Hassell, Na Li, Xi Li, T. Wang, B. Nawrot : Gene silencing activity of siRNA molecules containing phosphorodithioate substitutions. ACS Chem. Biol. 2012,7: 1214-1220 (IF 5.356)
7. M. Sierant, M. Janicka, Xian-Bin Yang, N. Li, B. Nawrot: Improved stability and gene silencing activity of siRNA analogs containing phosphorodithioate linkages. Nucleic Acid Ther. 2011, 21 (5), A27-A27 (IF 2.914)
8. B. Nawrot, E. Sochacka, M. Duechler: tRNA structural and functional chanmges induced by oxidative stress. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 2011, 68(24): 4023-4032 (IF 5.86)
9. R. Pecherzewska, A. Krakowiak, A. Tomaszewska, R. Kaczmarek, J. Baraniak, B. Nawrot: The analog of diadenosine tetraphosphate (JB 419) induces apoptosis in FHIT-positive cells. FEBS J. 2010, 27: 177-178 (suppl.1) (3.986)
10. E. Sochacka, K. Kraszewska, M. Sochacki, M. Sobczak, M. Janicka, B. Nawrot: The 2-thiouridine unit in the RNA strand is desulfured predominantly to 4-pyrimidinone nucleoside under in vitro oxidative stress conditions. Chem. Commun. 2011, 47: 4914–4916 (IF 6.718)
11. Ł. P. Słomnicki, B. Nawrot, W. Leśniak: S100A6 binds p53 and affects its activity. Int. J. Biochem. Cell Biol. 2009, 41(4): 784-790 (IF 4.240)
12. B. Knobloch, B. Nawrot, A. Okruszek, R. K. O. Sigel: Discrimination in metal ion binding to RNA dinucleotides with a non-bridging oxygen or sulfur in the phosphate diester link. Chem. Eur. J. 2008, 14(10): 3100-3109 (IF 5.696)
13. K.Stec-Michalska, Ł.Peczek, A.Krakowiak, B.Michalski, J.Chojnacki, A.Knopik-Dabrowicz, G.Klupińska, B.Nawrot: Expression of somatostatin receptor subtype 3 in the gastric mucosa of dyspeptic patients in relation to helicobacter pyroli infection and a family history of gastric cancer. J. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2008, 23: 424-429 (IF 3.627)
14. B.Nawrot, E.Gaggelli: Understanding the chemical mechanisms of life. Nat Chem Biol. 2007; 3(12): 745-749 (IF 13.217)
15. K. Sipa, E. Sochacka, J. Kazmierczak-Baranska, M. Maszewska, M. Janicka, G. Nowak, B. Nawrot: Effect of base modifications on structure, thermodynamic stability, and gene silencing activity of short interfering RNA. RNA 2007, 13(8): 1301-1316 (IF 5.377)
16. B. Nawrot, K. Sipa:, Chemical and structural diversity of siRNA molecules. Curr. Top. Med. Chem. 2006; 6(9): 913-925 (IF 3.453)
17. R. Nagarajan, K. Kwon, B. Nawrot, W.J. Stec, J.T. Stivers: Catalytic phosphoryl interactions of topoisomerase IB. Biochemistry 2005, 44: 11476-11485. (IF 3.194)

See also complete list of publications (updated February 2015) – [B Nawrot List of publications February 2015.pdf, 515 kB]