About
Microbial diversity both genetic and biochemical is incredible resource of different proteins and biocatalysts. Analysis and exploration of such diversity is one of the main aim of our group. The studies are concentrated in several fields.
The first one is related to isolation of N-heterocyclic compounds-utilising microorganisms and investigation of catabolic pathways of these compounds in individual bacteria. Both genetic and biochemical characterization of bioconversion processes are carried out. The identified novel oxygenases as well as other enzymes participating in the biodegradation are tested as biocatalysts for organic chemistry.
The modified nucleotides are ones of the many substrates, whose catabolism is being elucidated. In addition, the studies of biosynthetic pathways of wyosine, a modified nucleotide base, is also our activity.
Screening of novel enzymes is also carried out by application of metagenomic techniques, specific and effective selection systems combined with tailored substrates. In cooperation with other groups both from Vilnius University and international, the screened enzymes are used for development of biosensors, biofuel-cells and for synthesis of industry-related chemical compounds.
The second major field of our activities is associated with studies of bacteriophages active towards various gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. We are interested in elucidation of structural diversity of bacteriophages, initial stages of the infection process and the identification of self-assembling proteins applicable for construction of the hybrid nanoparticles.
We are experts in discovering of enzymes including hydrolases, oxidoreductases and transaminases. Metagenomic libraries combined with the “smart” substrates that are developed and synthesized in our group is a technology, which offers an efficient screening and selection of novel biocatalysts applicable for bioconversion, organic syntheses and development of biosensors as well as biofuel cells. Our team is also skilled in isolation and identification of bacteriophages as a source of proteins predisposed to form self-assembling structures and important for the biomedical application.
Main Grants
National Research Projects funded by Research Council of Lithuania:
Development of methods for screening and expression of Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases. (MIP-042/2012) Dr. R. Meškys. 2012–2014.
tRNA modification pathways – evidence of the enzyme evolution. (MIP-043/2012) Dr. J. Urbonavičius. 2012–2014.
European Social Fund (ESF) under the Human Resources Development Action Programme, the Global Grant measure, project No. VP1-3.1-ŠMM-07-K-03-015. Change or die: redesign of oxidoreductases (CHORD). Dr. R. Meškys. 2013–2015.
Proteogenomics of the early infection stages of virulent Escherichia coli bacteriophages. (MIP-002/2014) Dr. L. Truncaitė. 2014–2016.
Screening and analysis of novel enzymes participating in catabolism of modified uracil base and nucleosides (MIP-103/2015) Dr. J. Urbonavičius. 2015–2017.
Novel prodrug activation systems for cancer genotherapy (SEN-15027) Dr. J. Urbonavičius. 2015–2018.
International Research Projects:
EU Horizon2020 Program. H2020-BG-2014-2. Industrial Applications of Marine Enzymes: Innovative screening and expression platforms to discover and use the functional protein diversity from the sea (INMARE). Dr. R. Meškys. 2015–2019.
Contractual Research:
Bayer Technology Services GmbH (Germany), Amilina AB (Lithuania), Baxalta Innovation GmbH (Austria). Dr. R. Meškys.
Main publications
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About
Microbial diversity both genetic and biochemical is incredible resource of different proteins and biocatalysts. Analysis and exploration of such diversity is one of the main aim of our group. The studies are concentrated in several fields.
The first one is related to isolation of N-heterocyclic compounds-utilising microorganisms and investigation of catabolic pathways of these compounds in individual bacteria. Both genetic and biochemical characterization of bioconversion processes are carried out. The identified novel oxygenases as well as other enzymes participating in the biodegradation are tested as biocatalysts for organic chemistry.
The modified nucleotides are ones of the many substrates, whose catabolism is being elucidated. In addition, the studies of biosynthetic pathways of wyosine, a modified nucleotide base, is also our activity.
Screening of novel enzymes is also carried out by application of metagenomic techniques, specific and effective selection systems combined with tailored substrates. In cooperation with other groups both from Vilnius University and international, the screened enzymes are used for development of biosensors, biofuel-cells and for synthesis of industry-related chemical compounds.
The second major field of our activities is associated with studies of bacteriophages active towards various gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. We are interested in elucidation of structural diversity of bacteriophages, initial stages of the infection process and the identification of self-assembling proteins applicable for construction of the hybrid nanoparticles.
We are experts in discovering of enzymes including hydrolases, oxidoreductases and transaminases. Metagenomic libraries combined with the “smart” substrates that are developed and synthesized in our group is a technology, which offers an efficient screening and selection of novel biocatalysts applicable for bioconversion, organic syntheses and development of biosensors as well as biofuel cells. Our team is also skilled in isolation and identification of bacteriophages as a source of proteins predisposed to form self-assembling structures and important for the biomedical application.
Main Grants
National Research Projects funded by Research Council of Lithuania:
Development of methods for screening and expression of Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases. (MIP-042/2012) Dr. R. Meškys. 2012–2014.
tRNA modification pathways – evidence of the enzyme evolution. (MIP-043/2012) Dr. J. Urbonavičius. 2012–2014.
European Social Fund (ESF) under the Human Resources Development Action Programme, the Global Grant measure, project No. VP1-3.1-ŠMM-07-K-03-015. Change or die: redesign of oxidoreductases (CHORD). Dr. R. Meškys. 2013–2015.
Proteogenomics of the early infection stages of virulent Escherichia coli bacteriophages. (MIP-002/2014) Dr. L. Truncaitė. 2014–2016.
Screening and analysis of novel enzymes participating in catabolism of modified uracil base and nucleosides (MIP-103/2015) Dr. J. Urbonavičius. 2015–2017.
Novel prodrug activation systems for cancer genotherapy (SEN-15027) Dr. J. Urbonavičius. 2015–2018.
International Research Projects:
EU Horizon2020 Program. H2020-BG-2014-2. Industrial Applications of Marine Enzymes: Innovative screening and expression platforms to discover and use the functional protein diversity from the sea (INMARE). Dr. R. Meškys. 2015–2019.
Contractual Research:
Bayer Technology Services GmbH (Germany), Amilina AB (Lithuania), Baxalta Innovation GmbH (Austria). Dr. R. Meškys.
Main publications
2019
1. Časaitė, V., Sadauskas, M., Vaitekūnas, J., Gasparavičiūtė, R., Meškienė, R., Skikaitė, I., Sakalauskas, M., Jakubovska, J., Tauraitė, D. and Meškys, R., 2019. Engineering of a chromogenic enzyme screening system based on an auxiliary indole‐3‐carboxylic acid monooxygenase. MicrobiologyOpen, p.e795. IF 2.738
2. Ferrer M., C. Méndez-García, R. Bargiela, J. Chow, S. Alonso, A. García-Moyano, G.E.K. Bjerga, I. H. Steen, T. Schwabe, C. Blom, J. Vester, A. Weckbecker, P. Shahgaldian, C.C.C.R. de Carvalho, R. Meškys, G. Zanaroli, F.O. Glöckne, A. Fernández-Guerra, S. Thambisetty, F. de la Calle, O.V. Golyshina, M.M Yakimov, K.E. Jaeger, A.F. Yakunin, W.R. Streit, O. McMeel, J.B. Calewaert, N. Tonné, P.N. Golyshin, 2018. Decoding the ocean's microbiological secrets for marine enzyme biodiscovery. FEMS microbiology letters, 366(1), p.fny285. IF 1.994
3. Gineitytė, J., Meškys, R., Dagys, M. and Ratautas, D., 2019. Highly efficient direct electron transfer bioanode containing glucose dehydrogenase operating in human blood. Journal of Power Sources, 441, p.227163. IF 7.467
4. Gordeeva, J., Morozova, N., Sierro, N., Isaev, A., Sinkunas, T., Tsvetkova, K., Matlashov, M., Truncaitė, L., Morgan, R.D., Ivanov, N.V. and Siksnys, V., 2018. BREX system of Escherichia coli distinguishes self from non-self by methylation of a specific DNA site. Nucleic acids research, 47(1), pp.253-265. IF 11.147
5. Gružauskaitė, J., Jasinskaitė, J., Meškys, R., Gaidamavičienė, G., Žalga, A., Laurynėnas, A., Tetianec, L. and Dagys, M., 2019. Gold-coated magnetic nanocatalyst containing wired oxidoreductases for mediatorless catalysis of carbohydrate oxidation by oxygen. Catalysis Communications, p.105848. IF 3.674
6. Jakubovska, J., Tauraitė, D. and Meškys, R., 2019. Transient N4‐acyl‐DNA protection against the cleavage by restriction endonucleases. ChemBioChem. IF 2.593
7. Kazlauskas, A., Darinskas, A., Meškys, R., Tamašauskas, A. and Urbonavičius, J., 2019. Isocytosine deaminase Vcz as a novel tool for the prodrug cancer therapy. BMC cancer, 19(1), p.197. IF 2.933
8. Krikstolaityte, V., Hamit-Eminovski, J., Abariute, L., Niaura, G., Meskys, R., Arnebrant, T., Lisak, G. and Ruzgas, T., 2019. Impact of molecular linker size on physicochemical properties of assembled gold nanoparticle mono-/multi-layers and their applicability for functional binding of biomolecules. Journal of colloid and interface science, 543, pp.307-316. IF 6.361
9. Petkevičius, V., Vaitekūnas, J., Tauraitė, D., Stankevičiūtė, J., Šarlauskas, J., Čėnas, N. and Meškys, R., 2019. A Biocatalytic Synthesis of Heteroaromatic N‐Oxides by Whole Cells of Escherichia coli Expressing the Multicomponent, Soluble Di‐Iron Monooxygenase (SDIMO) PmlABCDEF. Advanced Synthesis & Catalysis. IF 5.451
10. Petkevičius, V., Vaitekūnas, J., Vaitkus, D., Čėnas, N. and Meškys, R., 2019. Tailoring a Soluble Diiron Monooxygenase for Synthesis of Aromatic N-oxides. Catalysts, 9(4), p.356. IF 3.444
11. Ramonas, E., Ratautas, D., Dagys, M., Meškys, R. and Kulys, J., 2019. Highly sensitive amperometric biosensor based on alcohol dehydrogenase for determination of glycerol in human urine. Talanta, 200, pp.333-339. IF 4.916
12. Sadauskas, M., Statkevičiūtė, R., Vaitekūnas, J., Petkevičius, V., Časaitė, V., Gasparavičiūtė, R. and Meškys, R., 2020. Enzymatic synthesis of novel water-soluble indigoid compounds. Dyes and Pigments, 173, p.107882. IF 4.018
13. Šimoliūnas, E., Truncaitė, L., Rutkienė, R., Povilonienė, S., Goda, K., Kaupinis, A., Valius, M. and Meškys, R., 2019. The robust self-assembling tubular nanostructures formed by gp053 from phage vB_EcoM_FV3. Viruses, 11(1), p.50. IF 3.811
14. Špakova, A., Šimoliūnas, E., Batiuškaitė, R., Pajeda, S., Meškys, R. and Petraitytė-Burneikienė, R., 2019. Self-Assembly of Tail Tube Protein of Bacteriophage vB_EcoS_NBD2 into Extremely Long Polytubes in E. coli and S. cerevisiae. Viruses, 11(3), p.208. IF 3.811
15. Šulčius, S., Šimoliūnas, E., Alzbutas, G., Gasiūnas, G., Jauniškis, V., Kuznecova, J., Miettinen, S., Nilsson, E., Meškys, R., Roine, E. and Paškauskas, R., 2019. Genomic characterization of cyanophage vB_AphaS-CL131 infecting filamentous diazotrophic cyanobacterium Aphanizomenon flos-aquae reveals novel insights into virus-bacterium interactions. Appl. Environ. Microbiol., 85(1), pp.e01311-18. IF 4.077
16. Urbelienė, N., Kutanovas, S., Meškienė, R., Gasparavičiūtė, R., Tauraitė, D., Koplūnaitė, M. and Meškys, R., 2019. Application of the uridine auxotrophic host and synthetic nucleosides for a rapid selection of hydrolases from metagenomic libraries. Microbial biotechnology, 12(1), pp.148-160. IF 4.857
2018
1. Ratautas, D., Ramonas, E., Marcinkevičienė, L., Meškys, R. and Kulys, J., 2018. Wiring Gold Nanoparticles and Redox Enzymes: A Self‐Sufficient Nanocatalyst for the Direct Oxidation of Carbohydrates with Molecular Oxygen. ChemCatChem, 10(5), pp.971-974.
2. Petkevičius, V., Vaitekūnas, J., Stankevičiūtė, J., Gasparavičiūtė, R. and Meškys, R., 2018. Catabolism of 2-hydroxypyridine by Burkholderia sp. MAK1: a five-gene cluster encoded 2-hydroxypyridine 5-monooxygenase HpdABCDE catalyses the first step of biodegradation. Applied and environmental microbiology, pp.AEM-00387.
3. Mikalkėnas, A., Ravoitytė, B., Tauraitė, D., Servienė, E., Meškys, R. and Serva, S., 2018. Conjugation of phosphonoacetic acid to nucleobase promotes a mechanism-based inhibition. Journal of enzyme inhibition and medicinal chemistry, 33(1), pp.384-389.
4. Kaliniene, L., Truncaitė, L., Šimoliūnas, E., Zajančkauskaitė, A., Vilkaitytė, M., Kaupinis, A., Skapas, M. and Meškys, R., 2018. Molecular analysis of the low-temperature Escherichia coli phage vB_EcoS_NBD2. Archives of virology, 163(1), pp.105-114.
5. Aučynaitė, A., Rutkienė, R., Gasparavičiūtė, R., Meškys, R. and Urbonavičius, J., 2018. A gene encoding a DUF523 domain protein is involved in the conversion of 2‐thiouracil into uracil. Environmental microbiology reports, 10(1), pp.49-56.
6. Urbelienė, N., Kutanovas, S., Meškienė, R., Gasparavičiūtė, R., Tauraitė, D., Koplūnaitė, M. and Meškys, R., 2018. Application of the uridine auxotrophic host and synthetic nucleosides for a rapid selection of hydrolases from metagenomic libraries. Microbial biotechnology.
7. Šulčius, S., Šimoliūnas, E., Alzbutas, G., Gasiūnas, G., Jauniškis, V., Kuznecova, J., Miettinen, S., Nilsson, E., Meškys, R., Roine, E. and Paškauskas, R., 2018. Genomic characterization of cyanophage vB_AphaS-CL131 infecting filamentous diazotrophic cyanobacterium Aphanizomenon flos-aquae reveals novel insights into virus-bacterium interactions. Appl. Environ. Microbiol., pp.AEM-01311.
8. Šulčius, S., Mazur-Marzec, H., Vitonytė, I., Kvederavičiūtė, K., Kuznecova, J., Šimoliūnas, E. and Holmfeldt, K., 2018. Insights into cyanophage-mediated dynamics of nodularin and other non-ribosomal peptides in Nodularia spumigena. Harmful algae, 78, pp.69-74.
9. Šimoliūnas, E., Šimoliūnienė, M., Kaliniene, L., Zajančkauskaitė, A., Skapas, M., Meškys, R., Kaupinis, A., Valius, M. and Truncaitė, L., 2018. Pantoea Bacteriophage vB_PagS_Vid5: A Low-Temperature Siphovirus That Harbors a Cluster of Genes Involved in the Biosynthesis of Archaeosine. Viruses, 10(11), p.583.
10. Šimkus, R., Meškienė, R., Aučynaitė, A., Ledas, Ž., Baronas, R. and Meškys, R., 2018. Phoretic interactions and oscillations in active suspensions of growing Escherichia coli. Royal Society open science, 5(5), p.180008.
11. Stanislauskienė, R., Kutanovas, S., Kalinienė, L., Bratchikov, M. and Meškys, R., 2018. Tetramethylpyrazine-Inducible Promoter Region from Rhodococcus jostii TMP1. Molecules, 23(7), p.1530.
12. Krikštaponis, A. and Meškys, R., 2018. Biodegradation of 7-Hydroxycoumarin in Pseudomonas mandelii 7HK4 via ipso-Hydroxylation of 3-(2, 4-Dihydroxyphenyl)-propionic Acid. Molecules, 23(10), p.2613.
13. Jakubovska, J., Tauraitė, D. and Meškys, R., 2018. A versatile method for the UVA-induced cross-linking of acetophenone-or benzophenone-functionalized DNA. Scientific reports, 8(1), p.16484.
14. Jakubovska, J., Tauraitė, D., Birštonas, L. and Meškys, R., 2018. N4-acyl-2′-deoxycytidine-5′-triphosphates for the enzymatic synthesis of modified DNA. Nucleic acids research.
15. Aučynaitė, A., Rutkienė, R., Tauraitė, D., Meškys, R. and Urbonavičius, J., 2018. Identification of a 2′-O-Methyluridine Nucleoside Hydrolase Using the Metagenomic Libraries. Molecules, 23(11), p.2904.
16. Aučynaitė, A., Rutkienė, R., Tauraitė, D., Meškys, R. and Urbonavičius, J., 2018. Discovery of bacterial deaminases that convert 5-fluoroisocytosine into 5-fluorouracil. Frontiers in Microbiology, 9.
2017
Sadauskas, M., Vaitekūnas, J., Gasparavičiūtė, R. and Meškys, R., 2017. Indole Biodegradation in Acinetobacter sp. Strain O153: Genetic and Biochemical Characterization. Applied and environmental microbiology, 83(19), pp.e01453-17.
Tauraitė, D., Jakubovska, J., Dabužinskaitė, J., Bratchikov, M. and Meškys, R., 2017. Modified Nucleotides as Substrates of Terminal Deoxynucleotidyl Transferase. Molecules, 22(4), p.672.
Kaliniene, L., Šimoliūnas, E., Truncaitė, L., Zajančkauskaitė, A., Nainys, J., Kaupinis, A., Valius, M. and Meškys, R., 2017. Molecular analysis of Arthrobacter myovirus vB_ArtM-ArV1: we blame it on the tail. Journal of Virology, 91(8), pp.e00023-17.
Tetianec, L., Chaleckaja, A., Kulys, J., Janciene, R., Marcinkeviciene, L., Meskiene, R., Stankeviciute, J. and Meskys, R., 2017. Characterization of methylated azopyridine as a potential electron transfer mediator for electroenzymatic systems. Process Biochemistry, 54, pp.41-48.
Dagys, M., Laurynėnas, A., Ratautas, D., Kulys, J., Vidžiūnaitė, R., Talaikis, M., Niaura, G., Marcinkevičienė, L., Meškys, R. and Shleev, S., 2017. Oxygen electroreduction catalysed by laccase wired to gold nanoparticles via the trinuclear copper cluster. , 10(2), pp.498-502.
2016
Urbonavičius, J., Rutkienė, R., Lopato, A., Tauraitė, D., Stankevičiūtė, J., Aučynaitė, A., Kaliniene, L., Van Tilbeurgh, H. and Meškys, R., 2016. Evolution of tRNAPhe: imG2 methyltransferases involved in the biosynthesis of wyosine derivatives in Archaea. RNA, 22(12), pp.1871-1883.
Stankevičiūtė, J., Vaitekūnas, J., Petkevičius, V., Gasparavičiūtė, R., Tauraitė, D. and Meškys, R., 2016. Oxyfunctionalization of pyridine derivatives using whole cells of Burkholderia sp. MAK1. Scientific reports, 6.
Vaitekūnas, J., Gasparavičiūtė, R., Rutkienė, R., Tauraitė, D. and Meškys, R., 2016. A 2-Hydroxypyridine Catabolism Pathway in Rhodococcus rhodochrous Strain PY11. Applied and environmental microbiology, 82(4), pp.1264-1273.
2015
Stankevičiūtė, J., Kutanovas, S., Rutkienė, R., Tauraitė, D., Striela, R. and Meškys, R., 2015. Ketoreductase TpdE from Rhodococcus jostii TMP1: characterization and application in the synthesis of chiral alcohols. PeerJ, 3, p.e1387.
Povilonienė, S., Časaitė, V., Bukauskas, V., Šetkus, A., Staniulis, J. and Meškys, R., 2015. Functionalization of α-synuclein fibrils. Beilstein journal of nanotechnology, 6, p.124.
2014
Urbonavičius, J., Meškys, R. and Grosjean, H., 2014. Biosynthesis of wyosine derivatives in tRNAPhe of Archaea: role of a remarkable bifunctional tRNAPhe: m1G/imG2 methyltransferase. Rna, 20(6), pp.747-753.
Šimoliūnas, E., Kaliniene, L., Stasilo, M., Truncaitė, L., Zajančkauskaitė, A., Staniulis, J., Nainys, J., Kaupinis, A., Valius, M. and Meškys, R., 2014. Isolation and Characterization of vB_ArS-ArV2–First Arthrobacter sp. Infecting Bacteriophage with Completely Sequenced Genome. PloS one, 9(10), p.e111230.
2013
Šimoliūnas, E., Kaliniene, L., Truncaitė, L., Zajančkauskaitė, A., Staniulis, J., Kaupinis, A., Ger, M., Valius, M. and Meškys, R., 2013. Klebsiella phage vB_KleM-RaK2—a giant singleton virus of the family Myoviridae. PLoS One, 8(4), p.e60717.
Kutanovas, S., Stankeviciute, J., Urbelis, G., Tauraite, D., Rutkiene, R. and Meskys, R., 2013. Identification and characterization of a tetramethylpyrazine catabolic pathway in Rhodococcus jostii TMP1. Applied and environmental microbiology, 79(12), pp.3649-3657.
Personnel
Head of department
Dr. Rolandas Meškys
Chief research fellow
852234386Research staff
PhD students
Jevgenija Jakubovska
852234383
Arūnas Krikštaponis Algirdas Noreika Monika Šimoliūnienė Mikas Sadauskas
852234395Nina Urbelienė
852234395
Technical staff
Virginija Dzekevičienė
technician
852234399Lina Juškienė
technician
tel:852234399Algimantas Krutkis
engineer