First German-Serbian Knowledge Exchange at ISAS

In June, ISAS welcomed Dr Jasmina Živanović and her colleague Dr Marko Miler from the Serbian Institute for Biological Research »Sinisa Stankovic« as guests. Biologist Živanović took part in the »Serbian Science and Diaspora Collaboration Program«. The aim of the EU-funded project is to promote collaboration between Serbian scientists in their homeland and those living abroad. At ISAS, Živanović collaborated with Dr habil. Miloš Filipović, who has been leading the Sulfaging research group since 2020. They wanted to integrate his research findings on persulfidation into her project. Živanović’s and Miler’s goal for their stay in Dortmund was to integrate Filipović’s re-

sults from his research on persulfidation (p. 20) into their project.

Biologist Dr Jasmina Živanovic conducts research on the circadian rhythm.

Does the internal clock control cell functions?

In her work, Živanović analyses how the circadian rhythm, meaning the day-night rhythm, influences structural changes in proteins. In Dortmund, she therefore investigated redox modifications (e.g. oxidation) of the amino acid cysteine. “The redox modification is a very interesting approach that they could also use, for example, to find out what role ageing processes play in the day-night rhythm,” said Filipović. For the time in Dortmund, Živanović had brought protein samples from different organs of rats. At ISAS, she used proteomic approaches to detect the location of various post-translational modifications – changes to the protein after translation has already taken place – of cysteine residues. Back in Belgrade, so the biologist hoped, they should be able to recognise from the data at which times of the day or night these redox changes occur and how they alter cell functions. Živanović’s research could contribute to a better understanding and treatment of diseases such as sleep disorders in the future.

Old acquaintances in a young research field

The idea to come to Dortmund for the knowledge exchange was no coincidence. Back in 2016, project leader Živanović was part of Filipović’s team for two and a half years. At the University of Bordeaux, they both conducted research on signal transmission through gasotransmitters such as H2S and nitric oxide. During the summer of 2021, Živanović was very pleased that the Serbian government was supporting the country’s science through a newly established fund more than before.

(CMP)

ERC-Sulfaging

Dr habil. Miloš Filipović T: +49 (0)231 1392-4173 E: milos.filipovic@isas.de