miR-183/96/182 cluster is an important morphogenetic factor targeting PAX6 expression in differentiating human retinal organoids
Our new preprint on miR-183/96/182 cluster in retinal organoids is out!
Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology and Vision Research
Tomas Barta lab
Modelling Vision in a Dish
Research interests
Our research is primarily focused on human pluripotent stem cells. Pluripotent stem cells have the unique capability to differentiate into the three primary germ cell layers and therefore potentially to produce any cell or tissue of the body. Like all stem cells, pluripotent stem cells are able to self-renew, representing a theoretically unlimited source of cells. Our group uses induced pluripotent stem cells derived from skin fibroblasts cells. We use commercially available fibroblasts and reprogram them into pluripotent state.
What do we study:
- Molecular mechanisms underlying cell fate switch during reprogramming with special focus on non-coding microRNA molecules.
- Molecular mechanisms of differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into retinal tissues.
- How light irradiation regulates development of human retina
- How light irradiation regulates circadian rhythms/molecular clock pathways
State-of-the-art Methods
In our research group, we employ cutting-edge techniques such as light sheet microscopy, advanced imaging systems (in collaboration with The Core Facility Cellular Imaging (CELLIM) CEITEC), and single-cell RNA sequencing (in collaboration with The Core Facility Genomics (CFG) CEITEC) to study the complexities of cellular biology. Light sheet microscopy allows us to image living cells in 3D with minimal damage, providing dynamic insights into cellular processes. Single-cell RNA sequencing offers unparalleled resolution in understanding gene expression at the individual cell level, revealing the heterogeneity and interactions within cellular populations. Together, these advanced methods enable us to push the boundaries of biological research, uncovering new facets of cell behavior and function.