Joanna Wątły
Scientific interests
Bioinorganic and medicinal chemistry, including e.g. metal ion homeostasis in H. pylori, bahaviour of poly-His tag motif domains in metal binding proteins, interaction of metal cations with e.g. phytochelatins and other biologically relevant ligands. Currently- understanding relationship between the metal-antimicrobial peptide complex structure, stability, mode of action and efficacy, important in the design of novel, more potent AMP-based therapeutics.
Education and Employment
01.01.2020 - now - post-doctoral researcher, Biological Inorganic Chemistry Research Group, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław (NCN SONATA BIS 7 nr 2017/26/A/ST5/00364: „Interaction of antimicrobial peptides with metal ions - understanding the relationship between coordination chemistry, structure, thermodynamics and mode of action"
01.05.2017-31.12.2019 - post-doctoral researcher, Department of Chemical Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław (NCN OPUS 11 nr 2016/21/B/NZ1/02847; „The role of cross-domain allosteric communication in the Rad50 protein in the control of genome stability by the Mre11 complex"
2017 – PhD in chemistry (with summa cum laude), University of Wrocław, Faculty of Chemistry, Bioinorganic and
Biomedical Chemistry Group Title of PhD thesis: „The role of poly-his-tags in synthetic and natural proteins in metal ion binding", Supervisor: Prof. Henryk Kozłowski
2012 – M.Sc. in chemistry at University of Wrocław, Faculty of Chemistry, specialty: chemistry, Title of MSc thesis „Thermodynamic characterization of interactions Bi(III) and Zn(II) with fragment of HypA protein from Helicobacter pylori”, Supervisor: Dr hab. Magdalena Rowińska-Żyrek
2010 B.Sc. in chemistry at University of Wrocław, Faculty of Chemistry, specialty: biological chemistry
List of publications:
E. Dzień, A. Mikołajczyk-Tarnawa, A. Matera-Witkiewicz, K. Szewczyk, M. Barceló-Oliver, L. Pawlik-Sobecka, J. Wątły, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, “From speciation to action: Cu(II) and Zn(II) tune histatins, but pH and enamel drive efficacy,” Dalton Transactions, 2026. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D5DT02485D
A. Miller, A. Matera-Witkiewicz, A. Mikołajczyk-Tarnawa, A. Kola, M. Wiloch, M. Jonsson-Niedziolka, R. Wieczorek, J. Wątły, D. Valensin, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, “Cu(II) binding to an antimicrobial shrimp peptide – a small step for structural chemistry, a big leap for medicinal applications,” Chemical Science, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4SC05222F
J. Wątły, K. Szarszoń, A. Kola, F. Zobi, T. Janek, D. Valensin, “Exploring zinc(II) ion binding and antimicrobial activity via d-amino acid substitution and retro-inverso modifications in MUC7 peptide from human saliva,” Dalton Transactions, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D5DT00562K
J. Gawłowski, A. Ślusarczyk, K. Szarszoń, F. Zobi, T. Janek, J. Wątły, “Short but promising – how nature modulates the antimicrobial activity of proline-rich fragment of salivary MUC-7,” Dalton Transactions, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D5DT01418B
A. Ślusarczyk, J. Wątły, “WPŁYW ENANCJOMERYCZNEJ WYMIANY AMINOKWASÓW W PEPTYDACH ŚLINOWYCH BOGATYCH W PROLINĘ NA WŁAŚCIWOŚCI KOORDYNACYJNE I AKTYWNOŚĆ BIOLOGICZNĄ,” Wiadomości Chemiczne, 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.53584/WIADCHEM.2025.11.5
A. Krynicka, W. Lizak, K. Szarszoń, A. Ślusarczyk, T. Janek, J. Wątły, “Zinc(II) and Copper(II) Binding of a MUC7 Peptide Fragment: Coordination, Thermodynamic Stability, and Antimicrobial Potency,” European Journal of Inorganic Chemistry, Oct. 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ejic.202500263
J. Wątły, K. Szarszoń, M. Sabieraj, A. Kola, R. Wieczorek, T. Janek, D. Valensin, “Modulating Copper(II) Coordination and Antimicrobial Activity: Effects of d-Amino Acid Substitution and Retro-Inverso Modification in Human Saliva MUC7 Peptide,” Inorganic Chemistry, Mar. 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.5c00438
E. Dzień, J. Wątły, A. Kola, A. Mikołajczyk, A. Miller, A. Matera-Witkiewicz, D. Valensin, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, “Impact of metal coordination and pH on the antimicrobial activity of histatin 5 and the products of its hydrolysis,” Dalton Transactions, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4DT00565A
E. Dzień, J. Wątły, A. Hecel, A. Mikołajczyk, A. Matera-Witkiewicz, M. Adrover, M. Barceló-Oliver, A. Domínguez-Martín, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, “Zn(II) coordination influences the secondary structure, but not antimicrobial activity of the N-terminal histatin 3 hydrolysis product,” Dalton Transactions, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D4DT02274B
K. Szarszoń, N. Baran, P. Śliwka, M. Wiloch, T. Janek, J. Wątły, “Bioinorganic Chemistry Meets Microbiology: Copper(II) and Zinc(II) Complexes Doing the Cha-Cha with the C-t-CCL-28 Peptide, Dancing till the End of Microbes,” Inorganic Chemistry, Oct. 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c02500
A. Miller, A. Mikołajczyk, D. Bellotti, K. Garstka, J. Wątły, A. Hecel, R. Wieczorek, A. Matera-Witkiewicz, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, “Zn(II) and Cu(II) Coordination Enhances the Antimicrobial Activity of Piscidin 3, but Not That of Piscidins 1 and 2,” Inorganic Chemistry, Jul. 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c01659
K. Szarszoń, S. Andrä, T. Janek, J. Wątły, “Insights into the Chemistry, Structure, and Biological Activity of Human Salivary MUC7 Fragments and Their Cu(II) and Zn(II) Complexes,” Inorganic Chemistry, Jun. 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c00868
M. Łuczkowski, W. Leszczyńska, J. Wątły, S. Clemens, A. Krężel, “Phytochelatins Bind Zn(II) with Micro- to Picomolar Affinities without the Formation of Binuclear Complexes, Exhibiting Zinc Buffering and Muffling Rather than Storing Functions,” Inorganic Chemistry, Jun. 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.4c01707
K. Szarszoń, A. Mikołajczyk, M. Grelich-Mucha, R. Wieczorek, A. Matera-Witkiewicz, J. Olesiak-Bańska, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, J. Wątły, “Bioinorganic chemistry of shepherin II complexes helps to fight Candida albicans?” Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, Apr. 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2023.112476
K. Garstka, D. Bellotti, J. Wątły, H. Kozłowski, M. Remelli, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, “Metal coordination to solute binding proteins – exciting chemistry with potential biological meaning,” Dalton Transactions, 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/d3dt02417b
J. Wątły, K. Szarszoń, A. Mikołajczyk, M. Grelich-Mucha, A. Matera-Witkiewicz, J. Olesiak-Bańska, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, “Zn(II) Induces Fibril Formation and Antifungal Activity in Shepherin I, An Antimicrobial Peptide from Capsella bursa-pastoris,” Inorganic Chemistry, Dec. 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.3c03409
K. Garstka, V. Dzyhovskyi, J. Wątły, K. Stokowa-Sołtys, J. Świątek-Kozłowska, H. Kozłowski, M. Barceló-Oliver, D. Bellotti, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, “CH vs. HC—Promiscuous Metal Sponges in Antimicrobial Peptides and Metallophores,” Molecules, May 2023. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28103985
D. Dudek, E. Dzień, J. Wątły, A. Matera-Witkiewicz, A. Mikołajczyk, A. Hajda, J. Olesiak-Bańska, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, “Zn(II) binding to pramlintide results in a structural kink, fibril formation and antifungal activity,” Scientific Reports, Nov. 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-24968-y
J. Wątły, A. Hecel, R. Wieczorek, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, H. Kozłowski, “Poly-Gly Region Regulates the Accessibility of Metal Binding Sites in Snake Venom Peptides,” Inorganic Chemistry, Sep. 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.2c02584
D. Dudek, K. Garstka, A. Miller, E. Dzień, J. Wątły, A. Hecel, H. Kozłowski, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, “ODDZIAŁYWANIE PRZECIWDROBNOUSTROJOWYCH PEPTYDÓW Z JONAMI METALI – RELACJA MIĘDZY CHEMIĄ KOORDYNACYJNĄ, STRUKTURĄ, TERMODYNAMIKĄ A SPOSOBEM DZIAŁANIA,” Wiadomości Chemiczne, Jun. 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.53584/wiadchem.2022.5.7
D. Witkowska, A. Szebesczyk, J. Wątły, M. Braczkowski, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, “A comparative study on nickel binding to Hpn-like polypeptides from two Helicobacter pylori strains,” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms222413210
M. Kędzierski, A. Hecel, D. Dudek, H. Kozłowski, F. Pontecchiani, D. Valensin, “Mono-substituted cage-like silsesquioxanes bound by trifunctional acyl chloride as a multi-donor N,O-type ligand in copper(II) coordination chemistry: synthesis and structural properties,” New Journal of Chemistry, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/d0nj05425a
J. Wątły, A. Miller, H. Kozłowski, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, “Peptidomimetics – An infinite reservoir of metal binding motifs in metabolically stable and biologically active molecules,” Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2021.111386
J. Wątły, M. Łuczkowski, M. Padjasek, A. Krężel, “Phytochelatins as a dynamic system for Cd(II) buffering from the micro- to femtomolar range,” Inorganic Chemistry, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.0c03639
A. Miller, A. Matera-Witkiewicz, A. Mikołajczyk, J. Wątły, D. Wilcox, D. Witkowska, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, “Zn-enhanced Asp-rich antimicrobial peptides: N-terminal coordination by Zn(II) and Cu(II), which distinguishes Cu(II) binding to different peptides,” International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22136971
A. Hecel, M. Ostrowska, K. Stokowa-Sołtys, J. Wątły, D. Dudek, A. Miller, S. Potocki, A. Matera-Witkiewicz, A. Domínguez-Martín, H. Kozłowski, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, “Zinc(II)—The Overlooked Éminence Grise of Chloroquine’s Fight against COVID-19?” Pharmaceuticals, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ph13090228
J. Wątły, A. Hecel, R. Wieczorek, J. Świątek-Kozłowska, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, H. Kozłowski, “Uncapping the N-terminus of a ubiquitous His-tag peptide enhances its Cu2+ binding affinity,” Dalton Transactions, 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/c9dt01635j
A. Więch, K. Dębska, M. Orłowski, D. Witkowska, A. Ożyhar, R. Wieczorek, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, “Copper(II)-Binding Induces a Unique Polyproline Type II Helical Structure within the Ion-Binding Segment in the Intrinsically Disordered F-Domain of Ecdysteroid Receptor from Aedes aegypti,” Inorganic Chemistry, 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.9b01826
A. Więch, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, J. Wątły, A. Czarnota, R. Hołubowicz, Z. Szewczuk, A. Ożyhar, M. Orłowski, “The intrinsically disordered C-terminal F domain of the ecdysteroid receptor from Aedes aegypti exhibits metal ion-binding ability,” The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsbmb.2018.09.008
J. Wątły, A. Hecel, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, H. Kozłowski, “Impact of histidine spacing on modified polyhistidine tag – Metal ion interactions,” Inorganica Chimica Acta, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ica.2017.06.053
M. Remelli, R. Guerrini, F. Pontecchiani, S. Potocki, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, J. Wątły, H. Kozłowski, “Zn(II) and Ni(II) complexes with poly-histidyl peptides derived from a snake venom,” Inorganica Chimica Acta, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ica.2017.05.070
A. Hecel, J. Wątły, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, J. Świątek-Kozłowska, H. Kozłowski, “Histidine tracts in human transcription factors: insight into metal ion coordination ability,” JBIC Journal of Biological Inorganic Chemistry, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00775-017-1512-x
J. Wątły, A. Hecel, P. Kołkowska, H. Kozłowski, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, “Poly-Xaa Sequences in Proteins - Biological Role and Interactions with Metal Ions: Chemical and Medical Aspects,” Current Medicinal Chemistry, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/0929867324666170428104928
M. Remelli, C. Ceciliato, R. Guerrini, P. Kołkowska, K. Krzywoszyńska, S. Salvadori, D. Valensin, J. Wątły, H. Kozłowski, “DOES hemopressin bind metal ions in vivo?” Dalton Transactions, 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/c6dt03598a
J. Wątły, H. Kozłowski, “Polihistydylowe sekwencje z motywem His-tag - ich rola i biologiczne znaczenie oddziaływania z jonami metali = Polyhistidine sequences with His-tag motif - their role and biological significance of interaction with metal ions,” Wiadomości Chemiczne, 2016.
D. Brasili, J. Wątły, E. Simonovsky, R. Guerrini, N. A. Barbosa, R. Wieczorek, M. Remelli, H. Kozłowski, Y. Miller, “The unusual metal ion binding ability of histidyl tags and their mutated derivatives,” Dalton Transactions, 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/c5dt04747a
P. K. Walencik, J. Wątły, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, H. Kozłowski, “Fungal Zinc Homeostasis – A Tug of War Between the Pathogen and Host,” Current Medicinal Chemistry, 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/0929867323666160817163834
J. Wątły, S. Potocki, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, “Zinc Homeostasis at the Bacteria/Host Interface-From Coordination Chemistry to Nutritional Immunity,” Chemistry – A European Journal, 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/chem.201602376
G. Zamariola, J. Wątły, E. Gallerani, R. Gavioli, R. Guerrini, H. Kozłowski, M. Remelli, “AGHLDDLPGALSAL: A hemoglobin fragment potentially competing with albumin to bind transition metal ions,” Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, Oct. 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2016.04.001
P. Kołkowska, A. Hecel, D. Kędzierska, M. Ostrowska, P. K. Walencik, J. Wątły, K. Zdyb, M. Spodzieja, S. Rodziewicz-Motowidło, S. Potocki, M. Łuczkowski, E. Gumienna-Kontecka, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, “HENRYK - An endless source of metal coordination surprises,” Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry, 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2016.02.030
A. Perczel, A. Atanasov, V. Sklenář, J. Nováček, V. Papoušková, P. Kadeřávek, L. Žídek, H. Kozłowski, J. Wątły, A. Hecel, et al., “The Eighth Central European Conference ‘Chemistry towards Biology’: Snapshot,” Molecules, Oct. 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules21101381
J. Wątły, E. Simonovsky, N. Barbosa, M. Spodzieja, R. Wieczorek, S. Rodziewicz-Motowidło, Y. Miller, H. Kozłowski, “African Viper Poly-His Tag Peptide Fragment Efficiently Binds Metal Ions and Is Folded into an α-Helical Structure,” Inorganic Chemistry, Aug. 2015. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.inorgchem.5b01029
S. Potocki, M. Rowińska-Żyrek, M. J. Pyrkosz, A. Szebesczyk, K. Krzywoszyńska, H. Kozłowski, “General Aspects of Metal Toxicity,” Current Medicinal Chemistry, Jul. 2014. DOI: https://doi.org/10.2174/0929867321666140716093838
J. Wątły, E. Simonovsky, R. Wieczorek, N. Barbosa, Y. Miller, H. Kozłowski, “Insight into the Coordination and the Binding Sites of Cu2+ by the Histidyl-6-Tag using Experimental and Computational Tools,” Inorganic Chemistry, Jul. 2014. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/ic500387u
Research grants/awards:
1. Award in the Ludwik Hirszfeld Student Scholarship Program in the field of Biological and Medical Sciences,
Wroclaw, Poland, 11.2015
2. New Journal of Chemistry Poster Prize at XIII International Symposium on Inorganic Biochemistry, Karpacz, Poland, 09.2015
3. Award for the best poster - poster session of PhD students at the Faculty of Chemistry, University of Wrocław, Poland, 5-15.12.2016.
4. PhD Thesis with summa cum laude, 24.01.2017
5. Training grant winner: CPD16 INSTRUCT workshop at the Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal, 13 15.09.2016.
6. Conference Grant of the Society of Biological Inorganic Chemistry (SBIC) for Young Researchers at 13th European Biological Inorganic Chemistry Conference, Budapest, Hungary, 05.2016
7. Grant Academy of Development as the Key To Strengthen Human Resources of the Polish Economy co-financed by the European Union under the European Social Fund, 01.12.2014-30.11.2015
8. Grant Development of potential and the education offer of the University of Wrocław - chance to increase the competitiveness of universities co-financed by the European Union under the European Social Fund,
01.10.2014-28.02.2015
9. Training grant: COST-TS-ECOST-TRAINING_SCHOLL-CM1003-060914-046836 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium,
07-14.09.2014r.
10. Fellowships for the PhD students from the University of Wroclaw, 01.10.2012-30.09.2016
11. Fellowships for the best PhD students from the Rector of University of Wrocław, 01.10.2013-30.09.2015
12. Pro-quality Fellowship for the best PhD students from the University of Wroclaw, 01.10.2014-30.09.2015
Scientific experience/training
1. Post-doc, Faculty of Biotechnology, Department of Chemical Biology, University of Wrocław, 05.2017-12.2019
2. Internship, Faculty of Chemistry, Kiev National Taras Shevchenko University, Kiev, Ukraine, 27.02-30.03.2015
3. Summer School: Advanced Lecture course chemistry of metals in biological systems. Catholic University of Louvain la Nouvelle, Louvain la Nouvelle, Belgium, 07-14.09.2014
4. Summer School: Bioinorganic Chemistry. Universita degli studi di Cagliari, Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy, 06-13.09-2013
5. Course teaching and pedagogical practices, Wrocław, Opoczno, Poland, 2007-2011
Additionally:
Work for the Faculty of Chemistry at the University of Wrocław:
1. Member of the Faculty Council of Doctoral Students, 05.2015-10.2016
2. Member of the Faculty Team for the Quality of Education, 10.2014-10.2016
3. Doctoral Students' Council of the University of Wrocław: Representative in the Peer Court, 10.2014-10.2016
4. Co-organization of two international scientific conferences, International Symposium on Metal Complexes (ISMEC2015) and XIII International Symposium on Inorganic Biochemistry, 2015
Participation in scientific societies:
1. Member of The Society of Biological Inorganic Chemistry
2. Member of the Polish Biochemical Society and the Polish Chemical Society
3. Group coordinator in the XVII and XVIII Lower Silesian Science Festival, 2014 and 2015 (chemical workshops in schools)
Author of 20 published papers with a total impact factor of over 70 (2 further ones are currently under review); Hirsch index 7, cited more than 170 times.
Hobbies: knitting, cooking and gardening ;)