Food research and
molecular
biotechnology at
FCUB
Faculty of Chemistry,
University of Belgrade,
Serbia
FCUB
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Founded in 1988 by the Government of Serbia, following division of
the Faculty of Natural Sciences into several independent faculties
Non-profit entity
Education of chemists, biochemists and chemistry teachers;
research
92 employed researchers, 42 teachers
From 2009 it has its own Innovation Center with 25 employed
researchers
Resources
National Projects (MNTR)
 National Investment fund
 Own resources (international students)
 International Projects
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 Research
projects: NATO SFP
 Mobility schemes: COST 928, DAAD
 Education support: TEMPUS, WUS Austria
Facilities
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Starting from 2005 trough various funding
resources, up to 1 mEuro was put into
upgrading research facilities at the FCUB
 Protein
analysis (PA)
 Structural Instrumental Analysis (SIA)
 Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (MBB)
 Cell Culture facilities (CC)
National Investment Fund and WUS Austria grants
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2003
 Protein
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analysis
2004
 Laboratory
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for Molecular Biology
2007
 Structural
instrumental analysis
 Cell culture laboratory
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2009
 Laboratory
for Molecular Biotechnology
Facilities for protein isolation,
purification and analysis
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Ultracentrifuge Sorwall 80,
ÄKTA purifier HPLC,
1D and 2D PAGE protein analysis, semy-dry and wet electroblotters,
ELISA microplate reader and washer,
Waters Breeze HPLC with electrochemical detection,
Gel Documentation System,
Eppendorf Centrifuges
microcentrifuges with cooling,
System for Ultra pure water,
Deep Freezers (-80 oC),
Lyophylizer.
Molecular Biotechnology and
Enzymology facilities
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Master Cyclers with gradient system,
Electroporators,
Autoclave,
Incubators and shakers,
Illuminators,
Microplate readers,
Centrifuges with cooling,
Low pressure LC system,
Deep Freezers (-80 oC),
Analytical and Preparative Electrophoresis systems for DNA analysis,
inNO Nitric Oxide measuring System, Innovative Instruments Inc (USA),
inO2 Dissolved Oxygen meter, Innovative Instruments Inc (USA).
Cell culture facilities
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Laminar flows,
CO2 incubators,
Centrifuges with cooling,
Microscopes and inverted microscopes,
Deep Freezers (-80 oC),
Liquid nitrogen containers,
Flow cytometer FACSCalibur (BD Biosciences).
Structural instrumental analysis
facilities
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Superconducting Fourier-Transform NMR Spectrometer AVANCE
500 MHz,
Parr Hydrogenization system up to 200 barr,
System for synthesis and purification of small physiologically active
molecules consisting of glove box, microwave reactor and Biotage
chromatography system,
GC-MS,
Elemental analysis system,
UV/VIS spectrophotometer,
FT-IR Spectrometer, Polarimeter,
HPLC with UV/VIS detection,
HPLC with electrochemical detection.
Strategic plan of the FCUB development for the 5year period involves following:
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- Food safety and quality: Evaluation and standardization of food allergenic extracts
(peanuts, cow’s milk, fruit and vegetables) at the molecular level. Development of
cutting-edge methods for trace allergen contaminants determination in food matrix
(MS-based and multiplex technologies based on flow-cytometry).
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- Food biotechnology and enzymology: Development of new enzyme tools for food
industry, based on production, preparation and stabilization of enzymes (protease,
glycohydrolases, lipases) by techniques of molecular biotechnology. Development of
new recombinant allergens for the purposes of allergy diagnosis improvement.
Translation of research to industry and SME.
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- Food for health: Development of new prebiotic and probiotic products for healthy
newborns - In vitro infant formulae. New nutraceuticals development with organically
bounded trace elements. Healthy diet: methods development for organically bounded
oligo- and micro-elements in food. Impact of bioprocessing of food on health effects
of food, digestion, allergenicity and bioactive compounds release.Translation of
research to industry and SME.
Research groups presentation
Department of Biochemistry
 Department of Analytical Chemistry
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Research group 1 (RG1):
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Main area of interest:
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Group leader: Tanja Cirkovic Velickovic
PhD students: Jelena Radosavljevic, Luka Mihajlovic, Jana Ognjenovic, Marija Stojadinovic
MS students: Jasna Bojcevski
● Food bioprocessing
● Health effects of food
● Food safety, including food allergens
Ongoing projects:
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Microwave and ultrasound enhanced action of cross-linking enzymes on proteinaceous
substrates
Effects of polysaccharide food matrices and bioprocessing on the protein digestion by
gastrointestinal enzymes
Food allergens and hypoallergenic foods by chemical and enzymatic means
New quantification methods for food allergen detection, including multiplex technology
Recombinant food allergens for food allergy diagnosis
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Research group 2 (RG2):
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Main area of interest:
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Group leader: Marija Gavrovic-Jankulovic
Senior researchers: Milan Nikolic
PhD students: Milica Popovic, Milica Grozdanovic, Rajna Dimitrijevic, Mohamed Salem
Alzwam Abugren
MS students: Igor Macinkovic, Draidi Abuajila Rogaia
● Food nutrients with immunomodulatory potential
● Food safety including food allergens
● Food probiotics
● Health effects of food
Ongoing projects:
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Modulation of human immune response by food nutrients
Production of food proteins by recombinant DNA technology
Identification of novel food allergens & development of a monoclonal-antibody based assay
for detection of food allergens
Microbial production of novel food probiotics
Influence of the different dietary patterns on red blood cell lipids
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Research group 3 (RG3):
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Main area of interest:
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Group leaders: Ratko Jankov
PhD students: Dusan Velickovic, Aleksandra Dimitrijevic, Milena Rikalovic, Ziyad Tantoush
● Enzyme isolation and characterization
● Enzyme stabilization and application in nonaqueos systems
Ongoing projects:
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Isolation, immobilization and stabilization of glucosidases (glucoamylases, α-glucosidases,
lipases)
Synthesis of physiologycally active glycosides
Application of glycosidases and lipases in synthesys of glycolipids and glycosides.
Food bioprocessing by oxidases
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Research group 4 (RG4):
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Main area of interest:
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Group leader: Zoran Vujcic
PhD students: Uros Andjelkovic, Biljana Dojcinov, Aleksandra Milovanovic, Nikola Loncar
● Food bioprocessing
● Food safety, including food contaminants
● Food utilization
● Animal feedstuffs
Ongoing projects:
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Enzyme immobilization techniques (using natural, synthetic and composed materials) and
their use in continual substrate biotransformations (bioreactors) and biosensors.
New quantification methods for food enzyme and contaminant detection.
Chemical modifications of proteins and nucleic acids; examination of effects of modification
on the structure and function of proteins and nucleic acids.
Food chemistry and biochemistry. Flavours. Connection between chemistry of natural
products with food chemistry and natural food contaminants.
Purification and characterization of enzymes from various food sources. Examination of
enzyme structures and their interactions with other proteins (antibodies, lectins, enzymes
and enzyme inhibitors) and nucleic acids.
Influence of food ingredients on the digestive enzyme expression and food utilization with
midgut of Morimus funereus larvae as a model system.
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Research group 5 (RG5):
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Main area of interest:
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Group leader: Miroslav Vrvic
Senior researchers: Ljuba Mandic, Vesna Jovanovic
PhD students: Mila Ilic, Nikoleta Lugonja, Olga Martinov, Vladimir Beskoski, Srdjan Miletic,
Jelena Milic, Jelena Acimovic,Tamara Lazarevic-Pasti
● Food biotechnology
● Food supplements
● Food microbiology
● Food safety control
● Health effects of food
Ongoing projects:
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Developing of new prebiotic and probiotic products for healthy newborns - In vitro
examination of infant formulae.
New nutraceuticals – organically bounded trace elements: chromium yeast
Examination of organically bounded oligo- and micro-elements in food – healthy diet
Characterization of advanced glycation end products. Protein thiol group modification with
methylglyoxal generated in diabetes.
Enzymes and modified proteins – diagnostic markers of diabetic complications and chronic
renal failure. Development of methods for their determinations.
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Research group 6 (RG6):
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Main area of interest:
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Group leader: Dusana Milojkovic-Opsenica
Senior researchers: Zivoslav Tesic, Maja Natic, Dragan Manojlovic, Jelena Mutic
PhD students: Jelena Trifkovic, Filip Andric, Kristina Lazarevic, Dragana Dabic, Ivan
Andjelkovic
Determination of trace elements in food by ICP and AAS.
Trace analysis of pesticides residues by HPLC-UV detection.
Chromatographic analysis (HPTLC, HPLC, IC) of food additives.
Water quality control (analysis of anions) by ion chromatography.
Application of bioassays for screening purposes of POPs chemicals in food.
Ongoing projects:
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New method development and method assessment for quantification of trace elements and
multiresidue analysis of pesticides in foodstuff.
Food origin and authenticity, development and application of novel chemometrics approach.
Macroporous ultramicroelectrode arrays for environmental analysis of metal cations
ultratraces.
Use of ELISA tests based on formation of ArH receptors–dioxin like compounds complex in
screening for POPs chemicals in foodstuff.
Food biotechnology and enzymology
RG3
RG4
RG5
RG1
RG6
Food quality and safety
RG2
Health effects of food
Selected publications: Health
effects of food
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Gavrovic-Jankulovic, M., Grozdanovic, M. (in press 2010) Application of Plant-Derived Food Lectins in
Proteoglycomics and Immunomodulation. Handbook of Nutritional Biochemistry: Genomics, Metabolomics and
Food Supply. Ed.: Sondre Haugen and Simen Meijer ISBN: 978-1-60741-916-7
Nikolic, M., Medic Ristic, D., Stanic, D., Postic, M., Arsic, A., Niketic, V. (2008). Dietary lipid intake influences
the level of cholesterol bound to haemoglobin in human erythrocytes. European Journal of Nutrition. 47(3),
123-130. (RG2)
Gorjanovic S., Beljanski M., Gavrovic-Jankulovic, M., Gojgic-Cvijovic G., Pavlovic M., Bejosano F. (2007)
Antimicrobial activity of malting barley grain thaumatin-like protein isoforms S and R, Journal of the
Institute of Brewing, 113, 206-212. (RG5)
Gavrovic-Jankulovic, M., Poulsen, K., Brckalo, T., Bobic, S., Lindner, B., Petersen, A. (2008) A novel
recombinantly produced banana lectin isoform is a valuable tool for glycoproteomics and a potent
modulator of the proliferation response in CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ populations of human PBMCs.
International Journal of Biochemistry and Cell Biology 40(5), 929-41. (RG2)
Dimitrijevic, R., Stojanovic, M., Zivkovic, I., Petersen, A., Jankov, R.M., Dimitrijevic, Lj., Gavrovic-Jankulovic, M.
(2009) The identification of a low molecular mass bacteriocin rhamnosin A, produced by Lactobacillus
rhamnosus strain 68. Journal of Applied Microbiology doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2009.04539.x (RG2)
Jovanovic, B.V., Dimitrijevic-Sreckovic, S.V., Mandic, M.Lj. (2008) Serum N-acetyl--D-glucosaminidase
profiles in type 1 diabetes secondary complications: causes of changes and significance of
determination. Journal of Clinical Laboratory Analysis, 22, 307-313. (RG5)
Nikolic, M., Vranic, D., Spiric, A., Batas, V., Nikolic-Kokic, A., Radetic, P., Turubatovic, L., Blagojevic, D.P., Jones,
D.R., Niketic, V., Spasic, M.B. (2006) Could cholesterol bound to haemoglobin be a missing link for the
occasional inverse relationship between superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities?
Biochemical Biophysical Research Communication, 348(1), 265-270. (RG2)
Selected publications: Food
quality and safety
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Polovic, N., Pjanovic, R., Burazer, L., Velickovic, S., Jankov, R., Cirkovic Velickovic, T. (2009) Acid-formed
pectin gel delays major incomplete kiwi fruit allergen Act c 1 proteolysis in in vitro gastrointestinal
digestion, Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 89(1), 8-14. (RG1)
Polovic, N., Blanusa, M., Gavrovic-Jankulovic, M., Atanaskovic-Markovic, M., Burazer, L., Jankov, R., Cirkovic
Velickovic, T. (2007) A matrix effect in pectin-rich fruits hampers digestion of allergen by pepsin in vivo
and in vitro. Clinical and Experimental Allergy, 37(5), 764-71. (RG1)
Blanusa, M., Perovic, I., Popovic, M., Polovic, N., Burazer, L., Milovanovic, M., Gavrovic-Jankulovic, M., Jankov,
R., Cirkovic Velickovic, T. (2007) Quantification of Art v 1 and Act c 1 being major allergens of mugwort
pollen and kiwi fruit extracts in mass-units by ion-exchange HPLC-UV method. Journal of Chromatography,
B: Analytical Technologies in the Biomedical and Life Sciences, 857(2), 188-194. (RG1)
Gavrovic-Jankulovic, M., Spasic, M., Cirkovic Velickovic, T., Stojanovic, M., Inic-Kanada, A., Dimitrijevic, L.,
Lindner, B., Petersen, A., Becker, W.M., Jankov, R.M. (2008) Quantification of the thaumatin-like kiwi allergen
by a monoclonal antibody-based ELISA. Molecular Nutrition Food Research, 52(6), 701-7. (RG2)
Popovic, M., Milovanovic, M., Burazar, L., Vuckovic, O., Hoffmann-Sommergruber, K., Knulst, A., Lindner, B.,
Petersen, A., Jankov, R., Gavrovic-Jankulovic, M. (accepted May 2009) Cysteine proteinase inhibitor Act d 4 is
a functional allergen contributing to the clinical symptoms of kiwifruit allergy. Molecular Nutrition Food
Research. (RG2)
Vidovic, S., Stojanovic, B., Veljkovic, J., Prazic-Arsic, L., Roglic, G., Manojlovic, D. (2008) Simultaneous
determination of some water-soluble vitamins and preservatives in multivitamin syrup by validated
stability-indicating high-performance liquid chromatography method. Journal of Chromatography A, 1202(2),
155-162. (RG6)
Stanic D., Monigioudi E. Dilek E., Radosavljevic J., Lantto R., Mattinnen M., Vuckovic O., Bucher J., Cirkovic
Velickovic T (2009) Allergenicity and digestibility of cross-linked beta-casein. Molecular Nutrition Food
Research, in press. (RG1)
Selected publications: Molecular
Biotechnology and Enzymology
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Milosavic, N., Prodanovic, R., Jankov, R.M. (2007) A simple and efficient one-step, regioselective, enzymatic
glucosylation of arbutin by a-glucosidase. Tetrahedron Letters, 48, 7222-7224. (RG3)
Milosavic, N., Prodanovic, R., Jovanovic, S., Vujcic, Z. (2007) Immobilization of glucoamylase via its
carbohydrate moiety on macroporous poly(GMA-co-EGDMA). Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 40, 14221426. (RG3)
Milovanovic, A., Bozic, N., Vujcic, Z. (2007) Cell wall invertase immobilization within calcium alginate beads.
Food Chemistry, 104(1), 81-86. (RG4)
Vujcic, Z., Dojnov, B., Milovanovic, A., Bozic, N. (2008) Purification and Properties of the Major Leucyl
Aminopeptidase from Solanum tuberosum Tubers. Fruit, Vegetable and Cereal Science and Biotechnology,
2(1), 125-130. (RG4)
Dojnov, B., Bozic, N., Nenadovic, V., Ivanovic, J., Vujcic, Z. (2008) Purification and properties of midgut αamylase isolated from Morimus funereus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) larvae. Comparative Biochemistry and
Physiology, 149B, 153-160. (RG4)
Bozic, N., Ivanovic, J., Nenadovic, V., Bergstrom, J., Larsson, T., Vujcic, Z. (2008) Purification and properties of
major midgut leucyl aminopeptidase of Morimus funereus (Coleoptera, Cerambycidae) larvae. Comparative
Biochemistry and Physiology 149B, 454–462. (RG4)
Momic, T., Vujcic, Z., Vasic, V. (2008) Kinetics of Inhibition of Peroxidase Activity of Myeloperoxidase by
Quercetin. International Journal of Chemical Kinetics, 40(7), 384-394. (RG4)
Radulovic, M., Cvetkovic, O., Nikolic, S., Djordjevic, D., Jakovljevic, D., Vrvic, M. (2008) Simultaneous
production of pullulan and biosorption of metals by Aureobasidium pullulans strain CH-1 on peat
hydrolisate. Bioresource Technology, 99, 6673-6677. (RG5)
Ilic, S., Konstatinovic, S., Veljkovic, V., Savic, D., Lazic, M., Gojgic-Cvijovic, G. (2008) Impact of
carboxymethylcellulose on morphology and antibiotic production by Streptomyces hygroscopicus.
Current Microbiology, 57, 8-11. (RG5)
Stanic D., Radosavljevic J., Polovic N., Kostic-Jadranin M., Cirkovic Velickovic T., Removal of N-terminal
peptide from beta-lactoglobulin by contaminants in phenol oxidase preparations. (2009) International Dairy
Journal, in press (RG1)