2025

Gábor Erdős (TTK): ELTE Computational Protein Dynamics Laboratory

The group aims to develop a next-generation framework that integrates artificial intelligence (AI) with molecular dynamics (MD) in order to better understand the functioning of complex biological systems such as multistate proteins and intrinsically disordered regions. The method combines generative models with Boltzmann distribution–based energy learning, thereby accelerating conformational sampling while preserving physical accuracy and enabling the efficient mapping of high-dimensional protein energy landscapes. The approach will first be applied to the study of large-scale conformational transitions in redox-potential-sensitive disordered regions and viral fusion proteins, providing insights into protein regulation and the mechanisms of viral infection. The project also aims to develop an open-access AI-MD platform.

2024

Norbert Bencsik (TTK): ELTE Neuronal Scaffold Protein Research Group

The group aims to provide evidence for the importance of Caskin neuronal scaffold proteins in the central nervous system by combining various biochemical and microscopic methods, as well as using cell lines and primary hippocampal cultures. They also seek to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which Caskin proteins integrate into the postsynaptic protein network and participate in synaptic plasticity and cognitive functions. They expect that future research will lead to exciting advances in the early detection and treatment of neurodevelopmental disorders and other human diseases. Norbert Bencsik was named a Promising Researcher of ELTE in 2024.

2023

Tibor Kovács (TTK): ELTE Drosophila Ageing and Neurodegeneration Group

The main goal of the group is to discover new regulatory checkpoints that could improve quality of life in old age and help prevent the development of various neurodegenerative diseases. Autophagy is a cell-protective degradation process through which cells eliminate harmful components (including disease-causing factors) while generating energy and essential building blocks for biosynthetic pathways. However, the autophagy-activating agents known so far are not sufficiently specific and may therefore cause numerous adverse side effects. There is a need to identify new regulatory points that would allow the selective activation of autophagic degradation steps that support cell survival. These newly identified regulatory points could later serve as targets for designing small-molecule drug candidates to prevent the onset of age-related dementia or neurodegenerative diseases.

2022

Péter Lőrincz (TTK): ELTE Vesicle trafficking research group

The lysosomal system ensures the degradation and recycling of materials taken up by the cell (endocytosis) and of damaged or starvation-induced disposable cellular components (autophagy). Defects in this system contribute to the development of numerous diseases. The molecular mechanisms underlying the two main pathways leading to lysosome formation are still not fully understood.

The main goal of the newly established research group is to characterize and discover new SNARE complexes of the endolysosomal system, identify the molecular machinery behind autophagosome motility and secretion, and uncover the interactions between the autophagic and endocytic pathways. Their investigations will primarily be carried out in Drosophila melanogaster, an ideal model organism for studying lysosome biogenesis. They hope that their results will provide deeper insight into how this essential cellular organelle is formed and how it functions. Péter Lőrincz received the ‘Promising Researcher of ELTE’ award in 2021.

András Micsonai (TTK): ELTE Functional Nucleic Acid Motifs Research Group

Proteins play a central role in almost all processes of living organisms, and their expression and expression levels are strongly influenced by regulatory mechanisms encoded at the structural level of nucleic acids. One important group of the underlying nucleic acid structures consists of local secondary structural motifs, which autonomously adopt their conformation and function as independent structural units.

The researchers aim to create, at a later stage, an openly accessible database containing high-quality circular dichroism (CD) spectra of nucleic acid motifs measured under standardized conditions — a currently missing resource in the field. Another goal is to develop a structural prediction method that enables the analysis of nucleic acid motifs with previously unknown structures.

Zoltán Lóránt Nagy (TTK): ELTE linear hypergraphs

The rapidly developing theory of graphs plays an increasingly important role in various applications, including computer science (networking and security), coding theory, transportation networks and route planning, bioinformatics, biochemistry, telecommunication services, and social networks. The aim of the project is to investigate extremal problems of linear hypergraphs: the research group primarily studies theoretical questions that place several classical results of Erdős, Turán, Ruzsa and Szemerédi, as well as Gallai, into a general and unified framework — combining graph-theoretic, algebraic, and finite-geometric approaches.

Szabolcs Takáts (TTK): ELTE Secretory Autophagy Research Group

Secretory autophagy (SA) is a little-known process that may play an important role in inter-tissue communication and tumor formation. In Drosophila melanogaster, the researchers will establish the first in vivo system in which the genetic regulation and physiological function of SA can be studied. Using proximity labeling with TurboID biotin ligase, they will identify numerous new proteins secreted through SA and map the tissues between which these proteins are transported, thereby revealing a new layer of inter-tissue communication. They will also examine which proteins participate in the intracellular regulation of secretory autophagy. Finally, they will investigate the effect of SA-secreted proteins on tumor growth.

Gergely László Tolnai (TTK): ELTE Novel Scaffolds Research Group

The research group works in a branch of organic preparative chemistry that aims to develop new types of building blocks. These building blocks can replace the molecular structural units commonly used today in pharmaceutical and fine chemical research, while maintaining — or in some cases improving — their effects. The scaffold structures examined by the researchers are spatial building elements that make it possible to create new arrangements not achievable with traditional units. The newly synthesized molecules may also influence other research fields, including pharmaceutical, agrochemical, and materials science studies.

(Source: elte.hu)