Laboratory of Cell Differentiation

We investigate the origin of haematopoietic cells and the molecular mechanism of cell fate

+ haematopoietic cell development, + signalling pathways, + cytokines, + small molecules, + zebrafish, + lamprey, + chicken

Petr Bartůněk

Group leader

bartunek@img.cas.cz

Scientific Career – Milestones

since 2011: Director of CZ-OPENSCREEN: National Infrastructure for Chemical Biology

since 2003: Research Group Leader, IMG, Prague

1995-2000: Research Fellow, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany

1991-1995: Postdoctoral Fellow, Institute of Molecular Pathology, Vienna, Austria

1991: PhD, IMG, Prague

Identification of common progenitor of erythrocytes and thrombocytes

We have identified an evolutionarily conserved common progenitor of erythrocytes and thrombocytes in zebrafish. We have also demonstrated that mammalian megakaryocytes are their non-mammalian homologs and evolved from them during vertebrate evolution. [pubmed] [doi]

Generation of toolbox and techniques for cytokine research in zebrafish

We have identified and produced recombinant zebrafish cytokines and used them to establish clonal and suspension cultures of haematopoietic cells. These cells enable for the first time to perform experiments in tussues culture (ex vivo). [pubmed] [doi]

Elucidation of CSF1R signalling in myeloid cells of zebrafish

We have demonstrated that csf1ra and csf1rb are indispensable for macrophage differentiation and together with csf1a regulate embryonic macrophage fate. In addition, we have uncovered a novel role of Il34 in granulocyte development that is mediated by csf1rb. [pubmed] [doi]