Founded on July 14, 2000.
Its main research areas are:
- studies of molecular, genetic and biochemical mechanisms of metabolic regulation in yeasts and development of novel biotechnological processes and products based on these microorganisms;
- studies of molecular mechanisms of regulation of proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in normal and tumor cells in humans and animals.
Major research achievements and developments:
The Institute of Cell Biology is a leading research institution in basic and applied studies in various fields of cell and molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics and biotechnology.
Institute's scientists have identified 5 of 30 currently known genes whose products are involved in the autophagy of cytosolic proteins and organelles in yeasts. Two new genes whose products are involved in gluthathione biosynthesis have been cloned and sequenced. The genes of riboflavin biosynthesis have been cloned; on their basis the effective producers of vitamin В2 and flavin mononucleotide have been constructed. Active microbial producers of bioethanol from plant residues are also under development. Gene engineering approaches have been used for the development of yeast overproducers of biotechnologically important enzymes. New methods of producing bioselective membranes based on these enzymes have been elaborated. Novel enzymatic and biosensor approaches have been proposed for quantitative measurement of ethanol, methanol and lactate.
The processes of multiplication and death of normal and cancer cels in animals and humans are studied. Cross-resistance of tumor cells to specific anticancer drugs and inhibitory cytokines has been discovered. A novel mechanism of redistribution of plasma membrane glycoproteins has been revealed in human and animal cells dying through apoptosis. The employment of that mechanism would help develop new techniques of detecting dying cells and methods of their removal from a mixed population of apoptotic and intact cells. Novel anticancer and immunomodulating medicines isolated from natural sources have been searched for and studied. New-in-pinciple approaches for selective enzymotherapeutic treatment of malignant tumors are under development. They rely on using enzymes degrading arginine – an important amino acids.