Contact

katarzyna.kotowska@pwr.edu.pl 
L-1, room 31
ORCID: 0000-0002-6307-0204
Scopus ID: 55334329600
LinkedIn

Research

My research spans four main areas: bone tissue engineering, lipidomics, FGF protein engineering, and the study of protease activity. Initially, I investigated the effects of titanium alloy surface modifications on the growth and osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells. During my PhD, I analyzed the biosynthesis and release of isotope-labelled phospholipids from fibroblast-like synoviocytes isolated from human osteoarthritic knee joints. My postdoctoral fellowship at the Faculty of Biotechnology at the University of Wroclaw, focused on studying the functions of fibroblast growth factor family proteins. Since 2023, I have been affiliated with the Department of Biological Chemistry and Imaging at the Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, where I focus on studying the protease activity. Initially, as a member of Paulina Kasperkiewicz’ team, I investigated the role of neutrophil serine proteases in cell death and differentiation. Currently, I work in the group led by Marcin Poręba, where I study protease-kinase interactions in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) using mass cytometry probes.

With a specialization in cell biology, I have extensive experience in cell cultures, including normal, cancerous, and stably transfected cell lines, as well as primary cells such as neutrophils, synoviocytes, and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. My skills include cellular differentiation and assessment of differentiation using flow cytometry, confocal microscopy, and histological staining. I utilize a broad range of functional cell assays, including: cell viability and metabolic activity assays, alkaline phosphatase activity assays, apoptosis and cell death assays, cell migration, glucose uptake analysis, intracellular localization studies, subcellular fractionation, and protein interaction studies via co-immunoprecipitation. In addition, I apply a variety of molecular biology techniques such as DNA/RNA isolation, reverse transcription, real-time qPCR, site-directed mutagenesis, transient transfection, and gene silencing using siRNA. Moreover, I am skilled in recombinant protein expression and purification, as well as in the analysis of protein–protein interactions and cellular signaling pathways.

Projects

• "Dissecting the regulatory interplay between proteases and protein kinases in acute lymphoblastic leukemia using mass cytometry compatible activity-based probes for personalized diagnostics" - NCN 2022/47/B/NZ5/02405 (granted to M. Poręba)
• "Assessment of the functions of granzyme A in neutrophils using induced pluripotent stem cells" - NCN 2020/39/B/NZ1/03027 (granted to P. Kasperkiewicz)
• "Structure-function relationship in fibroblast growth factor signaling" - CEUS-UNISONO nr 2020/02/Y/NZ3/00028 (granted to M. Zakrzewska)
• "Anti-apoptotic activity of human FGF1 and FGF2" - NCN 2015/18/E/NZ3/00501 (granted to M. Zakrzewska)
• "Bone tissue engineering with human mesenchymal stem cells, bonemorphogenetic proteins, bioactive scaffolds and dynamic culture – conditions" - NCN2011/01/B/NZ4/00664 (granted to A. M. Osyczka)

Awards

• 2022: travel scholarship of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies for the 46th FEBS congress
• 2019: travel scholarship of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies for the 44th FEBS congress

Membership in Scientific Societies

2019- current: The Polish Biochemical Society

Education and internships

2023-current: Post-doc position, Department of Chemical Biology and Bioimaging, Faculty of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology WUST

04.2023: Internship within the CEUS-UNISONO project to the group of Dr. Pavel Krejci, Cell Signaling Laboratory, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

2018-2023: Post-doc position, Department of Protein Engineering, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw, Wroclaw, Poland

2012-2017: Doctoral studies, PhD Program of the Faculties of Veterinary Medicine and Medicine of the Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany. Studies completed magna cum laude.

2012-2015: Graduate school, International Giessen Graduate School for the Life Sciences, Section Infection and Immunity, Giessen, Germany

02-05.2011: Research internship under the ERASMUS program to the group of Dr. Gwendolen Reilly, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom

2010-2012: Master's Degree in Biology, specialization: Cell Biology, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland. Graduated with honors.

2007-2010: Bachelor's Degree in Biology, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland

Teaching experience

• 2021/2022: Preparative biochemistry, laboratories at the Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw
• 2021/2022: Enzymology, laboratories at the Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wroclaw

Publications (last 10 years)

• Korba-Mikołąjczyk, K. D. Służalska, P. Kasperkiewicz. Exploring the involvement of serine proteases in neutrophil extracellular traps: a review of mechanisms and implications. Cell Death & Disease. 2025 July 18;16:535. doi: 10.1038/s41419-025-07857-w. (IF=9.6)
• J. Szymczyk, M. Sochacka, M. Biadun, K. D. Sluzalska, D. Witkowska, M. Zakrzewska. Overcoming drug resistance of cancer cells by targeting the FGF1/FGFR1 with honokiol or FGF ligand trap. Frontiers in Pharmacology. 2024 Sep 12;15:1459820. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1459820. (IF=4.4)
• A. Lampart, D. Krowarsch, M. Biadun, V. Sorensen, J. Szymczyk, K. D. Sluzalska, A. Wiedlocha, J. Otlewski, M. Zakrzewska. Intracellular FGF1 protects cells from apoptosis through direct interaction with p53. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. 2023 Oct 2;80(10):311. doi: 10.1007/s00018-023-04964-9. (IF=6.2)
• D. Nawrocka, M. Krzyscik, K. D. Sluzalska, J. Otlewski. Dual-Warhead Conjugate Based on Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 Dimer Loaded with α-Amanitin and Monomethyl Auristatin E Exhibits Superior Cytotoxicity Towards Cancer Cells Overproducing Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 1. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2023, 24(12), 10143 (IF=4.556).
• A. Lampart, K. D. Sluzalska, A. Czyrek, A. Szerszen, J. Otlewski, A. Wiedlocha, M. Zakrzewska. Nuclear Localization Sequence of FGF1 Is Not Required for Its Intracellular Anti-Apoptotic Activity in Differentiated Cells. Cells 2022, 11, 522 (IF=7.666).
• J. Szymczyk, K. D. Sluzalska, I. Materla, L. Opalinski, J. Otlewski, M. Zakrzewska. FGF/FGFR-Dependent Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Anti-Cancer Drug Resistance. Cancers (Basel) 2021, 18;13(22):5796 (IF=6.575).
• K. D. Sluzalska, J. Slawski, M. Sochacka, A. Lampart, J. Otlewski, M. Zakrzewska. Intracellular partners of fibroblast growth factors 1 and 2 - implications for functions. Cytokine and Growth Factor Review. 2020 May 18;S1359-6101(20)30043-5 (IF=17.66).
• K. D. Sluzalska, G. Liebisch, B. Ishaque, H. Hackstein, G. Schmitz, M. Rickert, J. Steinmeyer. The Effect of Dexamethasone, Adrenergic and Cholinergic Receptor Agonists on Phospholipid Metabolism in Human Osteoarthritic Synoviocytes. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2019 Jan 15;20(2). pii: E342 (IF=4.556).
• K. D. Sluzalska, G. Liebisch, J. Wilhelm, B. Ishaque, H. Hackstein, G. Schmitz, M. Rickert, J. Steinmeyer. Growth factors regulate phospholipid biosynthesis in human fibroblast-like synoviocytes obtained from osteoarthritic knees. Scientific Reports, October 2017 18;7(1):13469 (IF=4.576).
• K. D. Sluzalska, G. Liebisch, G. Lochnit, B. Ishaque, H. Hackstein, G. Schmitz, M. Rickert, J. Steinmeyer. Interleukin-1ß affects the phospholipid biosynthesis of fibroblast-like synoviocytes from human osteoarthritic knee joints. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, November 2017, Volume 25 (11), Pages 1890-18999 (IF=4.793).

Conferences (last 10 years)

• K. Skrzynska, D. Krowarsch, S. Staszak, K. Sluzalska, K. Baran, K. Szczepanska, P. Krejci, M. Zakrzewska. Poster presentation: „Modulation of Fibroblast Growth Factor 8 activity by increasing its stability.” The 47th FEBS Congress, 8-11.07.2023, Tour, France.
• K. Służalska, J. Szymczyk, M. Biaduń, M. Kostaś, A. Lampart, J. Otlewski, D. Krowarsch, M. Zakrzewska. Oral presentation: “Interactions of FGF2 with novel bindingpartners play an essential role in its anti-apoptotic response”. July 2022 FEBS 2022 (FEBS Open Bio, 12: ShT-03.2-4), doi: 10.1002/2211-5463.13442.
• K. Służalska, M. Biaduń, M. Zakrzewska. Poster presentation: “Antiapoptotic activity of FGF1 and FGF2 in PC12 cells.” July 2019 FEBS 2019 (FEBS Open Bio, 9: P6-26), doi: 10.1002/2211-5463.13442.
• K. Sluzalska, G. Liebisch, G. Lochnit, M. Rickert, B. Ishaque, G. Schmitz, J. Steinmeyer. Oral presentation: „Biosynthesis of phospholipids by human osteoarthritic fibroblast-like synoviocytes.” Conference: German Congress of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (DKOU 2016), doi: 10.3205/16dkou438.
• K. Sluzalska, G. Liebisch, G. Lochnit, M. Rickert, G. Schmitz, J. Steinmeyer. Poster presentation: „Development of an in vitro model to study biosynthesis of phospholipids by human fibroblast-like synoviocytes.” 8th Annual GGL Conference,