Monika Zakrzewska-Placzek, PhD

I always wanted to become a writer, but then I grew up, went to high school and met a brilliant biology teacher who inspired me. Doing research in molecular biology is addictive, so I changed direction to pursue science.

My subjects of research are the processes of RNA maturation and degradation in Arabidopsis, a system of biochemical pathways so complex and hard to study that I never get bored.

PROJECTS

One of my research interests is the process of ribosome biogenesis in Arabidopsis, in particular, the pathway of ribosomal RNA (rRNA) maturation. The efficient and accurate synthesis of ribosomes is a prerequisite for the proper functioning of any living cell. This intricate mechanism relies on a balance between transcription, rRNA processing, assembly and transport of ribosome particles, and requires the coordinated action of a myriad of proteins and small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs). A central element of ribogenesis is the pathway of ribosomal RNA processing initiated in the nucleolus as RNA polymerase I (Pol I) transcribes the primary rRNA precursor (pre-rRNA) that is subjected to multiple steps of further maturation. These processing events, although comprehensively studied in yeast, remain poorly understood in higher eukaryotes, particularly in plants. This is most likely caused by the increased complexity and functional redundancy of factors involved in plant RNA metabolism.

BIO

Since 2018

Assistant Professor, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Warsaw, Poland

2013 – 2018

Research Assistant, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Warsaw, Poland

2010 – 2011

Postgraduate Studies, ‘Innovation Manager’, SGH Warsaw School of Economics, Poland

2009 – 2013

Postdoctoral Fellow (TEAM FNP project grant for Joanna Kufel), Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Warsaw, Poland,

2009 PhD

Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland

2005

Short-term fellowship, Newark, USA

2004 MSc

Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland

2002 BSc

Department of Gene Expression, Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznań, Poland

PUBLICATIONS

Kwasnik A, Wang VY, Krzyszton M, Gozdek A, Zakrzewska-Placzek M, Stepniak K, Poznanski J, Tong L, Kufel J (2019) Arabidopsis DXO1 links RNA turnover and chloroplast function independently of its enzymatic activity. Nucleic Acids Res 47, 4751-4764.

Krzyszton M, Zakrzewska-Placzek M, Kwasnik A, Dojer N, Karlowski W, Kufel J (2018) Defective XRN3-mediated transcription termination in Arabidopsis affects the expression of protein-coding genes. Plant J 93, 1017-1031.

Tomecki R, Sikorski PJ, Zakrzewska-Placzek M (2017) Comparison of preribosomal RNA processing pathways in yeast, plant and human cells – focus of coordinated action of endo- and exoribonucleases. FEBS Lett. 591, 1801-1850.

Krzyszton M, Zakrzewska-Placzek M, Koper M, Kufel J (2012) Rat1 and Xrn2: The diverse functions of the nuclear Rat1/Xrn2 exonuclease. Enzymes 31, 131-63.

Zakrzewska-Placzek M, Souret FF, Sobczyk GJ, Green PJ, Kufel J (2010) Arabidopsis thaliana XRN2 is required for primary cleavage in the pre-ribosomal RNA. Nucleic Acids Res 38, 4487-502.