Chair of Biochemistry

1. Address

Chair of Biochemistry
Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Cesta v Mestni log 88a, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Telephone: +386-(0)1-241-9480
Fax: +386-(0)1-241-9487
Head: Prof. Dr. Brigita Lenarčič

2. Staff

Prof. Dr. Brigita Lenarčič  Head of the Chair
Assist. Prof. Dr. Marko Dolinar, Deputy Head of the Chair 
Asistant Dr. Vera Župunski
Dr. Petra Prijatelj Žnidaršič
Assist. Prof. Gregor Gunčar
Assist. Prof. Marko Novinec
Dr. Miha Pavšič, teaching assistant
Dr. Nejc Jelen, teaching assistant
Marina Klemenčič, teaching assistant
Matevž Korenč, teaching assistant
Sara Drmota, young researcher
Katja Hrovat Arnež, y.r.
Nataša Lindič, y.r.
Vid Puž, y.r.
Tilen Vidmar, young researcher
Dr. Helena Sabina Čelešnik, staff researcher
Matjaž Malavašič, technician
Retired: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Metka Renko
Prof. dr. Tamara Lah Turnšek, part time associate, National Institute for Biology
Prof. Dr. Kristina Djinović Carugo, part time associate
prof. dr. Roman Jerala, p.t.a.
prof. dr. Igor Križaj, p.t.a.
prof. dr. Janez Plavec, p.t.a.
prof. dr. Boris Turk, p.t.a.

3. Pedagogic Activities

a) undergraduate study
Biochemistry (Biochemistry  Programme) Lenarčič, Renko, Dolinar
Biochemistry (Chemistry  Programme)  Dolinar, Renko
Biochemistry (Pharmacy Programme) Renko, Lenarčič
Biochemistry (Laboratory Biomedicine) Renko
Enzymes (Chemistry  Programme)Lenarčič
Enzymology (Biochemistry  Programme) Lenarčič
Recombinant DNA Technology, Dolinar
Molecular Immunology, Renko, Čurin-Šerbec (ZTM)
Enzyme Technology, Lenarčič
Biological Membranes, Dolinar, Križaj (IJS)
Chemistry and Biochemistry of Foodstuff, Renko, P. Bukovec (KAOK) in Dolenc (KOK)
Regulation of Metabolism, Renko, Plemenitaš (MF)

b) postgraduate study
Biological Macromolecules, Gubenšek, Breskvar (MF), Pohar (KFK)
Gene Technology, Gubenšek, Črešnar (MF)
Structure and Function of Proteins, Gubenšek, V. Turk (IJS)
Enzymes, Gubenšek, V. Turk (IJS)
Biochemistry, Renko, P. Maček (BF), Plemenitaš (MF), Žakelj-Mavrič (MF)

BF = Biotechnical Faculty
IJS = Jožef Stefan Institute
KAOK = Chair of Inorganic Chemistry FCCT
KFK = Chair of Physical Chemistry
KOK = Chair of Organic Chemistry FCCT
MF = Medical Faculty
UŠP = university study programme
VSP = professional higher education programme
ZTM = Institute of R Slovenia for Transfusion Medicine

4. Research Activities

The research work of the Chair is performed within the framework of the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit of the "Jožef Stefan"Institute in the following three fields: Toxinology, Proteolysis and its Regulation and Structural biology.
The toxinology group deals with historical evolution and dynamics of transposition elements. Another field of interest is the analysis of  toxic phospholipase (amoditoxins) by mutagenesis in horned viper, studying which parts of the molecule are responsible for enzymatic and neurotoxic activity and how they are bonded to membranes.  
The group involved in Proteolysis and Structural biology analyse proteinases and their inhibitors – both natural and synthetic, obtained by recombinant DNA techniques – their isolation and study of properties, particularly the interaction of proteinases with inhibitors and substrates, and study  the relationships between the structure and function and determine the role of molecules in healthy and diseased cells.

5. Research equipment

• refrigerated centrifuge Haereus
• micro-centrifuge Eppendorf
• two spectrophotometers UV/VIS Pharmacia with computer support
• fluorimeter Perkin-Elmer with computer support
• PCR apparatus
• apparatus for  electrophoretic separation of proteins
• instruments for agar gel electrophoresis DNA
• transilluminator
• incubators
• fraction collector
• mixers and shaker
• analytical balances Mettler-Toledo
• pH-meter Mettler-Toledo
• electrophoresis documetation system 
• FPLC (Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography) Amersham
• PCR clean chamber