Dominika Trzaska

Papers

Total Citations

117

H-Index

About

Dominika Trzaska is a molecular biologist whose research focuses on the structural and functional mechanisms of RNA polymerases (RNAPs), the essential enzymes responsible for transcribing genetic information in all living cells. Her work centers on understanding how conserved domains within these complex molecular machines coordinate the precise processing of nucleic acid substrates. Trzaska's most influential contribution, cited 92 times, examines how perturbations to two critical structural elements — the bridge helix and trigger loop — can generate superactive RNA polymerases. This landmark study advanced our mechanistic understanding of transcription, revealing how subtle conformational changes in these domains dramatically alter enzymatic activity, with significant implications for our broader comprehension of gene expression regulation. Complementing this work, Trzaska co-developed an innovative robotic in vitro assembly platform capable of producing recombinant RNAP complexes at high throughput and with exceptional reproducibility. This methodological contribution, cited 25 times, provided the research community with a powerful tool for systematically exploring structure-function relationships across large protein complexes — work that continues to support mechanistic studies of transcription machinery. Together, her contributions reflect a strong commitment to both fundamental biological discovery and the technological innovation needed to drive it forward.