Head of the research group
-
Viljemka Bučević – Popović Assistant Professor- phone: +385 21 619 254
- office B2-38
- viljemka.bucevic.popovic@pmfst.hr
Group members
Deparment of Chemistry
Research areas:
– Enzyme catalysis
– Protein interactions, oligomeric proteins
– Dynamic of protein conformation
– Biochemical research with application in biomedicine
Research description:
The resaearch interest of our laboratory are nonribosomal peptide synthetases, with focus on protein conformational changes upon substrate binding. Knowledge about this process is important in designing proteins with new properties, directed toward synthesis of new biologically active peptides. In collaboration with researchers from other institutions, we also investigate molecular mechanisms of urinary bladder cancer development; autophagy, with emphasis on different pathways of damaged mitochondria removal; and the role of SPARTAN protein in DNA replication.
Contacts with academic and other institutions:
– Medicinski fakultet Sveučilišta u Splitu
– Kemijsko-tehnološki fakultet u Splitu
– Institut za jadranske kulture i melioraciju krša u Splitu
Description of the current cooperation:
Assistant professor Viljemka Bučević-Popović is a collaborator on the project ‘The role of inflammation in urinary bladder cancer development’ (project leader: Professor Janoš Terzić, School of Medicine, Split), funded by the Croatian Science Foundation. Viljemka Bučević Popović also participates in interdisciplinary studies through collaborations with Faculty of chemistry and technology and the Institute for Adriatic Crops and Karst Reclamation. All these collaborations resulted in joined publications.
Matilda Šprung, PhD is a collaborator on the project ‘The role of protein SPARTAN in DNA replication’ (project leader: Associate professor Ivana Marinović-Terzić, School of Medicine, Split), funded by the Croatian Science Foundation. Matilda Šprung is also involved in autophagy research through a collaboration with the group lead by Associate professor Ivana Novak-Nakir, School of Medicine, Split.
Plans for future research:
Members of the biochemistry research group have a longtime experience in experimental studies in the field of protein chemistry which are the subject of our current as well as future research. In our departmental laboratories we routinely perform gene cloning, expression and purification of recombinant proteins by FPLC chromatography. We use various experimental methods of protein characterization such as spectroscopic assays for enzyme activity, electrophoresis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Availability of the research equipment and previous successful collaborations, open the possibility for cooperation through different interdisciplinary projects requiring biochemical expertise.
List of selected research papers:
1. Zorić, Z., Markić, J., Pedisić, S., Bučević-Popović, V., Generalić Mekinić, I., Grebenar, K., Kulišić- Bilušić, T. (2016) Stability of rosmarinic acid in aqueous extracts from different Lamiaceae species after in vitro digestion with human gastrointestinal enzymes. Food Technology and Biotechnology. 54 (1), 97-102.
2. Soldo, B., Šprung, M., Mušac, G., Pavela-Vrančić, M., Ljubenkov, I. (2016) Evaluation of olive fruit lipoxygenase extraction protocols on 9- and 13-Z, E-HPODE formation. Molecules. 21 (4), 506-515.
3. Lepen Pleić, I., Bušelić, I., Trumbić, Ž., Bočina, I., Šprung, M., Mladineo, I. (2015) Expression analysis of the Atlantic bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β, TNFα1 and TNFα2 in response to parasites Pseudocycnus appendiculatus (Copepoda) and Didymosulcus katsuwonicola (Digenea). Fish & Shellfish Immunology. 45 (2), 946-954.
4. Bučević-Popović, V., Delaš, I., Međugorac, S., Pavela-Vrančić, M., Kulišić-Bilušić, T. (2014) Oxidative stability and antioxidant activity of bovine, caprine, ovine and asinine milk. International Journal of Dairy Technology. 67 (3), 394-401.
5. Paradžik, M., Bučević-Popović, V., Šitum, M., Jaing, C. J., Degoricija, M., McLoughlin, K. S., Ismail, S. I., Punda-Polić, V., Terzić, J. (2014) Association of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) with bladder cancer in Croatian patients. Tumor Biology. 35, 567-572.
6. Šprung, M., Bučević-Popović, V., Soldo, B., Pavela-Vrančić, M., Orhanović, S. (2013) Influence of subunit interface mutations on kinetic and dynamic properties of alkaline phosphatase from E. coli. Croatica Chemica Acta. 86 (2), 165-170.
7. Bedenić, B., Vraneš, J., Hofmann-Thiel, S., Tonkić, M., Novak, A., Bučević-Popović, V., Hoffmann, H. (2012) Characterization of the extended-spectrum-beta-lactamases and determination of virulence factors of uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from children. Wiener Klinische Wochenschrift. 124 (15/16), 504-515.
8. Bučević Popović, V., Šprung, M., Soldo, B., Pavela-Vrančić, M. (2012) The A9 core sequence from NRPS adenylation domain is relevant for thioester formation. ChemBioChem. 13 (13), 1913-1920.
9. Maravić, A., Skočibušić, M., Šprung, M., Šamanić, I., Puizina, J., Pavela-Vrančić, M. (2012) Occurrence and antibiotic susceptibility profiles of Burkholderia cepacia complex in coastal marine environment. International Journal of Environmental Health Research. 22 (6), 531-542.
10. Goreta, S., Bučević-Popović, V., Vuletin Selak, G., Pavela-Vrančić, M., Perica, S. (2008) Vegetative growth, superoxide dismutase activity, and ion concentration of salt stressed watermelon as influenced by rootstock. The Journal of Agricultural Science. 146 (6), 695-704.
11. Goreta, S., Bučević-Popović, V., Pavela-Vrančić, M., Perica, S. (2007) Salinity-induced changes in growth, superoxide dismutase activity, and ion content of two olive cultivars. Journal of Plant Nutrition and Soil Science – Zeitschrift fur Pflanzenernahrung und Bodenkunde. 170 (3), 398-403.
12. Boraska, V., Terzić, J., Škrabić, V., Čačev, T., Bučević-Popović, V., Peruzović, M., Markotić, A., Zemunik, T. (2006) NeuroD1 gene and interleukin-18 gene polymorphisms in type 1 diabetes in Dalmatian population of Southern Croatia. Croatian Medical Journal. 47 (4), 571-578.
13. Bučević-Popović, V., Pavela-Vrančič, M., Dieckmann, R., von Döhren, H. (2006) Relationship between activating and editing functions of the adenylation domain of apo-tyrocidin synthetase 1 (apo-TY1). Biochimie. 88 (3-4), 265-270.
14. Orhanović, S., Bučević-Popović, V., Pavela-Vrančič, M., Vujaklija, D., Gamulin, V. (2006) Effect of a Thr81→ Ala mutation at the subunit interface on catalytic properties of alkaline phosphatase from Escherichia coli. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules. 40 (1), 54-58.
15. Bučević-Popović, V., Pavela-Vrančič, M., Dieckmann, R. (2004) Metal-ion induced conformational changes in alkaline phosphatase from E. coli assessed by limited proteolysis. Biochimie. 86 (6), 403-409.