Biophysics, Biochemistry and Ecophysiology of Plants

This main research direction is interdisciplinary, covering research activities in the field of biophysics, biochemistry and ecophysiology of the assimilation apparatus of plants, which are carried out by the Biophysics group operating at the Department of Physics of the Faculty of Science of the University of Ostrava. This is an international team that specializes in the study of the influence of abiotic environmental factors (primarily the intensity and spectral composition of light and temperature) on the structure and function of the assimilation apparatus of higher plants, especially in relation to the process of photosynthesis. The goal is to comprehensively understand the regulatory and protective mechanisms related to the adaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus to stressful environmental conditions at the molecular level. To achieve this goal, the team uses a wide range of modern experimental methods of biophysics, biochemistry and molecular biology, such as advanced optical spectroscopy for detailed analysis of pigment-protein complexes, high-pressure liquid chromatography for separation and quantification of metabolites, mass spectrometry for structural characterization of biomolecules or RT-qPCR for analysis of gene expression. Currently, the main areas of study are the characterization of the properties of the lipid phase of biological membranes, structural-functional analyses of membrane systems and proteins, oxidative stress and antioxidant mechanisms in plants in the context of abiotic stresses. An important part of the research is also the development of new methodological approaches to the detection of reactive oxygen species and oxidative damage to biological membranes and their components. With regard to the prospective applicability of the aforementioned methods in other biological and biomedical fields, the team's ambition within the LERCO project is to continue to deepen and strengthen interdepartmental cooperation at the Faculty of Science (especially with the Department of Biology and Ecology in the field of molecular biology and genomics) as well as interfaculty cooperation with the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Ostrava in the field of hemato-oncology research. A more detailed description of the team's research focus is provided on the website of the Biophysics group.

Research Teams and Staff Involved:

  • Kinga Ilona Böde, Ph.D.
  • Mgr. Ondřej Dlouhý, Ph.D.
  • Dr. Gyözö Garab, DSc.
  • prof. Éva Olga Hideg
  • Mgr. Václav Karlický, Ph.D.
  • Mgr. Zuzana Kmecová Materová, Ph.D.
  • Mgr. Irena Kurasová, Ph.D.
  • Mgr. Pavol Melicher, Ph.D.
  • Mgr. Martin Navrátil, Ph.D.
  • Mgr. Jakub Nezval, Ph.D.
  • prof. RNDr. Vladimír Špunda, CSc.
  • doc. Mgr. Michal Štroch, Ph.D.
  • Mgr. Adriana Volná, Ph.D.
  • Mgr. Daniel Vrábl, Ph.D.

Major projects over the last five years:

  • 2023-2027: LERCO – Life Environment Research Center Ostrava. Ministry of the Environment of the Czech Republic, CZ.10.03.01/00/22_003/0000003. Research Programme 2 Leader, Biochemical and Biophysical Methods for the Analysis of Biological Systems, Biophysics Section: prof. RNDr. Vladimír Špunda, CSc.
  • 2023-2025: Identification and Characterization of Structures Associated with Different Phases of Lipids in Plant Thylakoid Membranes. Czech Science Foundation, GA23-07744S. (Lead Researcher: Dr. Győző Garab, DSc.)
  • 2021-2024: Optimization of the Treatment Technology of Sewage Sludge from Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants with Respect to Their Chemical and Microbial Composition and Water Retention Capacity for Safe Use in Agricultural and Forest Soils. Ministry of Agriculture of the Czech Republic, QK21010300. (Co-Investigator: Mgr. Daniel Vrábl, Ph.D.)
  • 2021-2023: Light-Induced Protective Mechanisms Mediated by Low-Molecular Metabolites and Their Role in Plant Tolerance to High Temperatures and Drought. Czech Science Foundation, GA21-18532S. (Lead Researcher: prof. RNDr. Vladimír Špunda, CSc.)
  • 2019-2021: Effects of Non-Bilayer Lipids and Non-Lamellar Lipid Phases on the Structure, Dynamics, and Function of Plant Thylakoid Membranes. Czech Science Foundation, GA19-13637S. Lead Researcher: Dr. Győző Garab, DSc.

Significant publications:

  • Garab G, Böde K, Dlouhý O, Násztor Z, Karlický V, Dér A, Špunda V (2025) Lipid polymorphism of plant thylakoid membranes. The dynamic exchange model – facts and hypotheses. Physiol Plant 177: e70230
  • Böde K, Trotta A, Dlouhý O, Javornik U, Paakkarinen V, Fujii H, Domonkos I, Zsiros O, Plavec J, Špunda V, Aro E-M, Garab G (2025) Lipid phase behaviour of the curvature region of thylakoid membranes of Spinacia oleracea. Physiol Plant 177: e70289
  • Böde K, Javornik U, Dlouhý O, Zsíros O, Biswas A, Domonkos I, Šket P, Karlický V, Ughy B, Lambrev PH, Špunda V, Plavec J, Garab G (2024) Role of isotropic lipid phase in the fusion of photosystem II membranes. Photosynth Res 161: 127-140
  • Volná A, Červeň J, Nezval J, Pech R, Špunda V (2024) Bridging the Gap: From Photoperception to the Transcription Control of Genes Related to the Production of Phenolic Compounds. Int J Mol Sci 25: 7066
  • Pech R, Volná A, Špunda V, Nezval J (2024) Blue light as an important factor increasing plant tolerance to acute photooxidative stress. Env Exp Bot 226: 105923
  • Vrábl D, Nezval J, Pech R, Volná A, Mašková P, Pleva J, Kuzniciusová N, Provazová M, Štroch M, Špunda V (2023) Light Drives and Temperature Modulates: Variation of Phenolic Compounds Profile in Relation to Photosynthesis in Spring Barley. Int J Mol Sci 24: 2427
  • Garab G, Yaguzhinsky LS, Dlouhý O, Nesterov SV, Špunda V, Gasanoff ES (2022) Structural and functional roles of non-bilayer lipid phases of chloroplast thylakoid membranes and mitochondrial inner membranes. Prog Lipid Res 86: 101163
  • Pech R, Volná A, Hunt L, Bartas M, Červeň J, Pečinka P, Špunda V, Nezval J (2022) Regulation of phenolic compound production by light varying in spectral quality and total irradiance. Int J Mol Sci 23: 6533
  • Štroch M, Karlický V, Ilík P, Ilíková I, Opatíková M, Nosek L, Pospíšil P, Svrčková M, Rác M, Roudnický P, Zdráhal Z, Špunda V, Kouřil R (2022) Spruce versus Arabidopsis: different strategies of photosynthetic acclimation to light intensity change. Photosynth Res 154: 21-40
  • Karlický V, Kmecová Materová Z, Kurasová I, Nezval J, Štroch M, Garab G, Špunda V (2021) Accumulation of geranylgeranylated chlorophylls in the pigment-protein complexes of Arabidopsis thaliana acclimated to green light: effects on the organization of light-harvesting complex II and photosystem II functions. Photosynth Res 149: 233-252

Updated: 28. 05. 2026