Dr Péter Lőw
Birth
24/04/1964, Budapest, Hungary
Marital
state
married, wife: Helga Judit Borsos-Szabó, kindergarten
teacher
four children: Márton
(1991), Gergely (1993), Dorottya
(1995), Julianna (1998)
Contacts
Department of Anatomy, Cell
and Developmental Biology, Eötvös Loránd
University
Pazmany Peter setany 1/C., Budapest,
1117 Hungary
(South Building) room 6-513
Phone: +36-1-372-2895
e-mail: peter.low@ttk.elte.hu
Education
Diploma: Eötvös Loránd
University, Faculty of Natural Sciences,
Biology
major, 1988
PhD: Eötvös Loránd
University, Faculty of Natural Sciences,
PhD in biology, 1995
thesis title: The effect of 20-hydroxyecdysone on the lysosomal and ubiquitin
system of Sf9 insect cells
Habilitation: Eötvös Loránd
University, Faculty of Natural Sciences,
biological sciences, 2009
Language: Russian – level
B2, 1985
English –
level C2, 1997
Work and
positions
Eötvös Loránd University,
Faculty of Natural Sciences,
Department of
Anatomy, Cell and Developmental Biology (former Department of General Zoology)
1989 - 1991 scholarship holder for further
scientific training
1991 - 1998 assistant lecturer
1998 - 2006 assistant
professor
2006 - associate professor
2010 - head of department habilitated associate
professor
Study trips
FEBS Biomolecular
Electron Microscopy Advanced Course, Ulm, Germany, October 1989
TEMPUS Mobility
Grant, University of Nottingham, Department of Biochemistry, Nottingham, UK, February - April 1992
Wellcome Trust International
Travelling Research Fellowship, University of Bath, Department of Biology and
Biochemistry, Bath, UK, August
1995 - July 1997
British Council
Travel Grant, University of Bath, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, Bath,
UK, February 1998
Prices and
awards
HAS, Scholarship for further scientific
training, 1989-1991
HCB, Research
fellowship of the Foundation „For the Hungarian Science”, 1993
HAS, János Bolyai Research Scholarship,
1998-2001
Hungarian Electron Microscopic Award, 2001
György Békésy Postdoctoral
Scholarship, 2001-2004
József Öveges Scholarship
OMFB-01479, 2006-2007
Research
area
The role of
apoptosis and autophagy in the programmed degradation of salivary gland of
Drosophila
Grants as a
PI in last 5 years:
Development of biosimilar
monoclonal antibodies, NKFIH VKSZ_12-1-2013-0001, 2014–2017, 36 M HUF, Consortium
leader: Gedeon Richter Ltd.; Consortium participant, Principal investigator
Analysing the role of Rab19 in autophagy and
protein secretion; NKFIH K119971; 01-10-2016 – 30-03-2021; 24 M HUF; Consortium
participant, Principal investigator
Grants as a
co-worker in last 5 years:
Epigenetic role of
ascorbate compartmentalization in human diseases; NKFIH FK124442; 01-12-2017– 31-08-2022;
40 M HUF; Principal investigator: Dr Éva Margittai, participant
Plumage colour
signals: dynamic and static mechanisms; NKFIH K124443; 01-09-2017– 31-08-2022;
38 M HUF; Principal investigator: Dr Gergely Hegyi, participant
Endocytosis and
degradation of the metastasis suppressor PMCA4b and its role in the lysosomal
degradation program; NKFIH K135811; 01-09-2020 – 29-02-2024; 36 M HUF; Principal
investigator: Dr Ágnes
Enyedi, participant
Scientometric data
Full papers in
journals with peer review: 38
Full papers in
Hungarian journals with peer review, in English: 5
Book: 1
Book chapter: 3
Handbook: 3
Natural history
papers: 38
Conferences: 43
Impact factor: 187.44
Citations: 2664
Hirsch-index: 20
Links to:
MTMT https://m2.mtmt.hu/gui2/?type=authors&mode=browse&sel=authors10000294
Google https://scholar.google.hu/citations?hl=hu&user=RwP0c6IAAAAJ
Scopus https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=56141084700
Publons https://publons.com/researcher/1297118/peter-low
Teaching
BSc
Bioethics and Research Methods L (bioetib22ea)
Animal Structure and Function 1 L (astfu1b17ea)
MSc
Mammalian-human tissue and organ development
II. P (szszf2gb17lm)
Developmental Biology L (fejtagb22em)
Molecular Cell Biology L (molsbigb22em)
Programmed cell death and autophagy L (progspgb22em)
Bioethics and philosophy of science L
(bioetiub17em)
Bioethics, biosafety L (bioetbb18em)
Neuroanatomy P (neuanahb17lm)
Biology teacher
Human Anatomy L (bb5t1400)
Bioethics L (bb5t1702)
PhD
Neuroanatomy P (BIO/06/07)
Molecular cell biology of autophagy, cellular
degradation and renewal L (BIO/06/23)
Thesis work
supervision
Péter Tarlós: The role of the
ubiquitin-proteasome system in the larval muscle degradation of the Drosophila
melanogaster (2005)
Zsófia Papp: Investigation of the mechanism of muscle
breakdown in fruit fly (2007)
Ágnes Varga: The new role of the
ubiquitin proteasome system: regulation of autophagy (2009)
Bernadett Bősze:
Physiology of vision and visual illusions, BSc (2009)
Szabolcs Zödös:
Ontogenetic Evidence of Evolution, Biology Teacher Supplement (2010)
Tamás Csizmadia: The role of the
proteasome in cell signalling processes, BSc (2011)
Tamás Siller: The relationship
between the ubiquitin-proteasome system and autophagy, BSc (2011)
Hella Gyergyák: Signalling
processes-receptor tyrosine kinases, BSc (2012)
Eszter Gecse: The relationship
between apoptosis and autophagy, BSc (2012)
Zoltán Kortsmáros: Bioethical
issues in stem cell research, BSc (2012)
Oyinkan Mensah-Ogun: Ubiquitin-independent
proteasomal degradation, BSc (2012)
Hajnalka Nagy: The proteasome
as an antigen-processing enzyme: the immuno-proteasome, BSc (2013)
Tünde Mónika Tóth:
Tumours and apoptosis, BSc (2013)
Tamás Csizmadia: The role of
autophagy in the degradation of Drosophila larval salivary glands during
individual development, MSc (2013)
Ágnes Vadász: The role of the REP
gene in the process of autophagy in Drosophila melanogaster, MSc (2013)
Gábor Kemenczei: The role of the
ubiquitin-proteasome system in the regulation of transcription, BSc (2015)
Eszter Gecse: The role of the epg5
gene in autophagy in Drosophila melanogaster, MSc (2015)
Zsófia Hevesi: The role of the
tank gene in autophagy in Drosophila melanogaster, MSc (2015)
Titanilla Dankó:
Ubiquitin ligase (E3) enzymes as potential therapeutic targets, BSc (2016)
Győző Szenci: Selective
autophagic degradation, BSc (2016)
Barbara Dominika Noble: Processes in the larval salivary gland of the fruit
fly during postembryonic development, BSc (2021)
Csenge Andrea Szathmári:
Ubiquitin-like proteins in the regulation of autophagy, BSc (2021)
Kitti Szirmai: Health effects of trans fatty acids and their molecular background, BSc (2021)
Jamila Raufi: The role of autophagy in the
function of stem cells, BSc (2022)
Katalin Luca Komporday: The role of autophagy in the in antitumour therapies, BSc (2023)
Dorina Gréta Pogány: The role of autophagy in Crohn's disease, BSc (2023)
Supervision of project students in Scientific
students’ association
Péter Tarlós: The role of the proteasome in the degradation of Drosophila
larval muscles (2004) Eötvös University, Biology SSA,
3rd prize
Zsófia Papp:
Investigation of the mechanism of muscle degradation in Drosophila dominant
heat-sensitive mutants (2006)
Ágnes Varga: Is the ubiquitin proteasome system involved in the
regulation of autophagy? (2007)
Tamás Csizmadia: The role of autophagy in the degradation of the Drosophila
larval salivary gland during individual development (2012) Eötvös
University, Biology SSA, 3rd prize
Supervision
of PhD students
Tamás Csizmadia: Investigation of crinophagy in Drosophila
larval and prepupal salivary glands (defence 2018)
Randa George Naffa (joint with Ágnes Enyedi): Intracellular trafficking and degradation of the
metastasis suppressor PMCA4b in normal and tumour cells (defence 2021)
Szilvia Oláh (joint with Árpád Dobolyi): Investigation of neural networks involved in
offspring care (defence 2023)
Anikó Zsuzsanna Nagy (joint with Péter Lőrincz):
Investigation of the role of ecdysone signalling in crinophagy in Drosophila
larval salivary gland (proposed defence 12/2023)
BSc, MSc
thesis topics
BSc
The role of the proteasome in cell signalling processes
The proteasome as an antigen processing enzyme: the immunoproteasome
MSc
Investigation of possible connections between the ubiquitin-proteasome
system and autophagy in Drosophila larval adipose tissue
The phenomenon already described in tobacco hawkmoth (Manduca
sexta) is that proteins and proteasomes
ubiquitinylated in the fat body that dies by autophagy in the last larval stage
are transported to the nucleus. We would also like to monitor this phenomenon,
which suggests that the proteasome plays a role in the management of autophagy,
in vinegar. In different stages of wild and autophagy, defective mutant
individuals are observed by immunocytochemistry to see whether ubiquitinated
proteins and proteasomes enter the nucleus in the decaying adipose body. We
examine whether the process occurs upon inhibition of various autophagy genes
by RNAi. We will look at how this process takes place in mutants containing
defective proteasomes and the effect of inhibiting the proteasome itself. Once
adequate data on the phenomenon have been collected, nuclei are isolated from
adipose body samples from the above experimental settings and an attempt is
made to identify the target proteins to be degraded.
The task of the PD student is to maintain mutant strains, perform crosses,
isolate adipose body samples, and perform light microscopic
immunocytochemistry.
PhD topics
Investigation of the role of ubiquitin-proteasome system in the
regulation of crinophagy in the larval salivary gland of Drosophila
The larval salivary gland of the fruit fly (Drosophila melanogaster)
is totally degraded during development contributing to the material of adult
tissues. The salivary gland of the feeding larvae produce saliva for the food
digestion, later upon hormonal changes the larva starts wandering and the gland
changes function: it starts to produce glue proteins to fix the pupa in a dry
and safe environment. The gland cells do not empty all their secretory content
the remnant should be eliminated. This is fulfilled with crinophagy, which is a
special type of autophagy. We would like to clear the regulatory steps of this
process during our research. The ubiquitin-proteasome system plays an essential
role in the control of many cellular processes. We observe if crinophagy is
completed upon the repression of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. We
investigate on ultrastructural level if there are differences in the UPS
mutants. The candidate have to take care of the mutant and transgenic fly
stocks, to make crossings, isolate salivary gland samples and perform PCR,
Western blot, light and electron microscopic experiments and
immunocytochemistry. The detailed research plan will be completed upon
discussions with the candidate.
Projects in
Scientific students’ association
Investigation of
the role of the EPG4 gene in autophagy in Drosophila melanogaster
Research
My research
focuses on autophagy (intracellular self-digestion), within which I primarily
examine crinophagy, its regulation, and its relationship to the
ubiquitin-proteasome system. Malfunction of autophagy appears as a causal
factor in the pathomechanism of many diseases or
contributes to the development of the disease and the exacerbation of symptoms.
Excessive crinophagy, for example, plays a role in excessive insulin
degradation within β-cells that cause type II diabetes and early
activation of pancreatic enzymes, leading to the development of acute
pancreatitis. Our main goal is to explore the regulatory pathways of
crinophagy, thus bringing us closer to understanding the pathomechanism
of these diseases and thus more effectively treating diseases that occur mainly
in gland cells with defective crinophagy.
Collaborations
Dr Judit Ovádi (HAS Institution of
Enzymology) The role of cytoskeletal proteins and attached
proteins in cell function
Dr Ágnes Enyedi (Semmelweis
University, 2nd Department of Pathology) Intracellular trafficking and
degradation of the metastasis suppressor PMCA4b in normal and tumour cells and
its role in autophagy
Dr Árpád Dobolyi (Eötvös University, Department of Physiology and Neurobiology)
Study of synapses of TIP39 fibres on dopaminergic neurons in the preoptic
region of rat brain
Dr Miklós Csala (Semmelweis
University, Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry) Cellular toxicity of dietary trans fatty acids and its correlation with ceramide and
diglyceride accumulation
Dr Éva Margittai (Semmelweis
University, Institute of Clinical Experimental Research) Epigenetic role of
ascorbate compartmentalization in human diseases
Dr Robert Farkaš (Institute of Experimental Endocrinology, Biomedical
Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences,
Bratislava, Slovakia) Apocrine
secretion of cellular proteins in Drosophila salivary glands
Membership in scientific societies and boards
Hungarian Biochemical Society, 1989 –
Hungarian Biological Society, 1989 –
Hungarian Microscopic Society, 1990 –
HAS Public Assembly (11687), 1998 –
Secretary of Cell and
Developmental Committee of HAS 2005 – 2011
Hungarian Biological Society, Zoological Section’s committee
member, 2010 –
Chair of the Biology OKTV, 2011 –
Hungarian Society of Geneticists, 2013 –
Reviewer’s
activity
journals
Journal of Insect Physiology, 1998 –
Editorial board member of North-Western
Journal of Zoology, 2005 –
Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2011 –
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Cell Research,
2016 –
Cells, 2017 –
Journal of Cellular Biochemistry, 2018 –
Nature Scientific Reports, 2018 –
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2019 –
Biomolecules, 2019 –
Autophagy, 2019 –
Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2019 –
Biochemical Journal, 2021 –
Biologia Futura – Guest Editor 2019, 2022
grant proposals
OTKA, 2005, 2006
TéT, 2007, 2008
OTKA Infraindividual
Biology committee member, 2012-14
Momentum Grants, 2013
Participation in the judging panels of scientific students’
competitions
Jury member of the 9th
National Conference of Scientific Students’ Associations (2009) Cell Biology
Section
Jury member of Conference
of Biology Scientific Students’ Association, Eötvös
University (2009) Cell Biology Section
President of the National
High School Study Competition in Biology, from the 2011-12 academic year
Jury Chairman Conference
of Biology Scientific Students’ Association, Eötvös
University (2016) Genetics, Cell and Developmental Biology Section
Jury member Conference
of Biology Scientific Students’ Association, Eötvös
University (2018) Genetics and Cell Biology Section
University
public activity
Secretary of the
Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd
University, 2001-2006
Elected member of the
Council of the Institute of Biology of Eötvös Loránd University, 2009-2010
Substitute of General
Council of the Committee of Legal Remedy for Students, 2009-
Proggins of the
Disciplinary Committee of Eötvös Loránd
University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, 2013-
Chair of the Animal
Welfare Committee of Eötvös Loránd
University, 2014-
Head of Molecular Cell
and Neurobiology Program, Biology Doctoral School, Eötvös
Loránd University, 2021-
Participation
in scientific qualification procedures
Since 2002, I have participated in more than 85
doctoral and habilitation actions of Biology Doctoral
School, Eötvös Loránd
University, and Doctoral Schools of University of Szeged; University of
Debrecen, Medical School; University of Pécs, Medical
School and Semmelweis University, Budapest as an examiner or reviewer or as a
secretary or member of the committee.