Genetics and molecular biology group

• Višnja Besendorfer, red. prof. (PMF Zagreb)
• Nenad Malenica, docent (PMF Zagreb)
• Sanda Raić, doktorantica (Medils)
• Francois – Xavier Pellay (Medils)

Research areas:

1. The influence of phytonutrients and their metabolites on:
– The protection and repair of DNA and telomere
– Regulation of gene expression
– Epigenetic changes in the structure of the genome
2. The antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor activity of selected phytonutrients and other compounds
3. Anti-aging and rejuvenating effects of selected phytochemicals and other natural compounds
4. The organization of the genome in plant alopoliploids with an emphasis on the organization and dynamics of repetitive DNA sequences
5. Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of natural and synthetic compounds in food, drugs, pesticides
6. Functional genetic model species Arabidopsis thaliana: meiosis, the cell cycle, repair and recombination of DNA
7. Mitochondrial and chloroplast DNA, ribosomal genes and their application in molecular phylogeny

Research description:

We investigate the biological activity of natural phytochemicals and phytonutrients or/and their metabolites, as well as the complex plant matrices on regulation of gene expression and the prevention of damage to DNA and other biological macromolecules, as well as their possible anti-aging potential.
We investigate the genetic and epigenetic changes that occur after spontaneous and induced polyploidization and hybridization in plants, and their importance to the physiology, ecology, and evolution of polyploids. Particular emphasis is given to the most dynamic regions of the plant genome: the repeat (repetitive) DNA sequences, particularly satellite DNAs, mobile genetic elements, transposons and retrotransposons and genes for ribosomal RNA.
By using modern biotechnological methods, in vitro plant tissue culture, we work on induction of polyploidization of the selected plant species, to create new genotypes, which will be analyzed and the selected ones will be further develop for commercial purposes.
Functional genetics model species Arabidopsis thaliana: meiosis, telomere biology, DNA repair and recombination, cell cycle control.
Molecular genetics of gram-negative bacteria with special emphasis on their mechanisms of antibiotic resistance: identification and characterization of genes responsible for antibiotic resistance and their transfer in bacterial communities.

Contacts with academic and other institutions:

– Prirodoslovno-matematički fakultet Zagreb
– MedILs Split, Kemijsko-tehnološki fakultet Split
– Medicinski fakultete Split
– Institut Ruđer Bošković, Zagreb
– Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Vienna Austria
– Queen Mary University of London, London UK
– Faculty of Biotechnology University of Ljubljana, Slovenija

Description of the current cooperation:

We closely cooperate for thirty years with the Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb. During that perod we worked together on several scientific research projects that were supported by the Ministry of Science and Education. Also, there is a very good cooperation with the Department of Botany and Biodiversity Research, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria, and the Faculty of Biotechnology University of Ljubljana Slovenia, where the members of the research group had possibility to work in several occasions. Two bilateral project (Croatian-Austrian, and Croatian-Slovenian) were elaborated with the heads and members of research groups from those institutions.

Plans for future research:

Croatian Science Foundation project (2017-2020) (HRZZ)
‘Genomic and epigenomic changes in auto- and allopolyploids: case studies on dalmatian pyrethrum, shallot and anemone’ – principal investigator Prof. Dr. ViSnja Besendorfer, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb. By using the newest molecular techniques, including the next-generation sequencing (NGS), we will study genomic organization of the selected economically interesting polyploids and its parent species, with an emphasis on moving and repetitive genetic elements, gene expression and epigenetic changes.

Collaboration with Mediterranean Institute for Life Science (MedILS)
We study effects of selected compounds on telomeres, aging and lengevity. We plan to apply state-of-art genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and imaging methods in order to understand the underlying mechanisms of action of selected compounds.

Collaboration with Faculty of Chemistry and Technology and Medical Faculy University of Split
We study the chemical composition and antioxidative, anti-inflamatory and anti-proliferative effects of selected plant extracts and compounds. We plan continuation of the current research and the implementation of the new scientific approaches and techniques in order to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for the observed molecula and cellular response.

List of selected research papers:

– Fredotović, Željana; Šprung, Matilda; Soldo, Barbara; Ljubenkov, Ivica; Budić-Leto, Irena; Bilušić, Tea; Čikeš-Čulić, Vedrana; Puizina, Jasna.
Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of A. cepa L. and A. × cornutum (Clementi ex Visiani 1842) Methanolic Extracts. // Molecules. (2017.) (prihvaćen).
– Fredotović, Željana; Šamanić, Ivica; Kamenjarin, Juraj; Puizina Jasna.
The triparental triploid onion Allium x cornutum (Clementi ex Visiani, 1842) possesses a sterile S-type of cytoplasm. // Genetical resources and crop evolution. 1 (2017) ; 1-13 .2016.
– Šamanić, Ivica; Cvitanić, Ratko; Simunić, Juraj; Puizina, Jasna.
Arabidopsis thaliana MRE11 is essential for activation of the cell cycle arrest, transcriptional regulation and the DNA repair upon the induction of double- stranded DNA breaks. // Plant biology. 18 (2016) , 4; 681-694.
– Maravić, Ana; Skočibušić, Mirjana; Fredotović, Željana; Šamanić, Ivica; Cvjetan, Svjetlana; Knezović, Mia; Puizina, Jasna.
Urban riverine environment is a source of multidrug-resistant and ESBL-producing clinically important Acinetobacter spp.. // Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 23 (2016) , 4; 3525-3535.2015.
– Maravić, Ana; Skočibušić, Mirjana; Cvjetan, Svjetlana; Šamanić, Ivica; Fredotović, Željana; Puizina, Jasna.
Prevalence and diversity of extended-spectrum-β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae from marine beach waters. // Marine pollution bulletin. 90 (2015) , 1/2; 60-67.2014.
– Fredotović, Željana; Šamanić, Ivica; Schneeweiss-Weiss, Hanna; Kamenjarin, Juraj; Jang, Tae-Soo; Puizina, Jasna.
Triparental origin of triploid onion, Allium × cornutum (Clementi ex Visiani, 1842), as evidenced by molecular, phylogenetic and cytogenetic analyses. // Bmc plant biology. 14 (2014) ; 24-1-24-20 .
– Puizina, Jasna; Šamanić, Ivica; Krešić, Vera; Kekez, Lovorka; Šatović, Zlatko; Madec, Luc; Guiller, Annie.
Fine-scale phylogeography of a putative secondary contact zone of the land snail Cornu aspersum (Gastropoda: Pulmonata: Helicidae) along the Croatian coast and islands. // American malacological bulletin. 32 (2014) , 1; 62-73.
– Maravić, Ana; Skočibušić, Mirjana; Fredotović, Željana; Cvjetan, Svjetlana; Šamanić, Ivica; Puizina, Jasna.
Characterization of Environmental CTX-M-15-Producing Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. // Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy. 58 (2014) , 10; 6333-6334.
– Prijović, Mirjana; Škaljac, Marisa; Drobnjaković, Tanja; Žanić, Katja; Perić, Pantelija; Marčić, Dejan; Puizina, Jasna.
Genetic variation of the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Hemiptera:Aleyrodidae), among populations from Serbia and neighbouring countries, as inferred from COI sequence variability. // Bulletin of entomological research. 104 (2014) , 3; 357-366.2013.
– Šamanić, Ivica; Simunić, Juraj; Riha, Karel; Puizina, Jasna.
Evidence for Distinct Functions of MRE11 in Arabidopsis Meiosis. // PLoS One. 8 (2013) , 10; 1-12
– Puizina, Jasna; Šamanić, Ivica.
Reduced fertility and meiotic abnormalities in the late generations of telomerase-deficient Arabidopsis thaliana. // Acta biologica cracoviensia series botanica. 55 (2013) , 1; 7-15.
– Maravić, Ana; Skočibušić, Mirjana; Šamanić, Ivica; Fredotović, Željana; Cvjetan, Svjetlana; Jutronić, Marinka; Puizina, Jasna.
Aeromonas spp. simultaneously harbouring blaCTX-M-15, blaSHV-12, blaPER-1 and blaFOX-2, in wild-growing Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Adriatic Sea, Croatia. // International journal of food microbiology. 166 (2013) , 2; 301-308.
– Maravić, Ana; Skočibušić, Mirjana; Šamanić, Ivica; Puizina, Jasna.
Profile and multidrug resistance determinants of Chryseobacterium indologenes from seawater and marine fauna. // World journal of microbiology & biotechnology. 29 (2013) , 3; 515-522.