Sonja Srdanovic

Sonja Srdanovic

Project topic: Targeted small-molecule Stabilisation of Protein-Protein Interactions

Prior to joining the group, I worked as a research assistant at 3Z pharma (Iceland), focused on CNS drug development. I obtained an MSc in Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Rijeka (Croatia), working with Prof Margetic on the synthesis of novel chlorin e6 derrivtives for photodynamic therapy.

Project description: Stabilisation of anti-tumour 14-3-3 protein-protein interactions represents a novel approach for the development of therapeutic agents. The fellowship will build on the Wilson groups’ expertise in constrained peptides and proteomimetics as modulators of apoptotic proteins: it will involve design, synthesis and characterization of small molecules that directly stabilize the activating binding of 14-3-3 to partner proteins (HDMX). This will include small molecule/ fragment based screens, the design and synthesis of multivalent anionic ligands and constrained peptides, analysis of the interaction by biophysical methods like fluorescence anisotropy (FA) and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) together with cell based assays to probe for activation of the protein targets. In addition we will use x-ray structures of the target proteins to inform design of a range of ligands for these targets.

Home country: Croatia
TASPPI partner: University of Leeds
Supervisor: Prof. Andrew Wilson
Starting date: September 1st, 2016
Publications:
  • Srdanović, S.,  Þorsteinsson, H., Friðriksson, Þ., Pétursson, S.Ó. & Karlsson, K.Æ. Transient knock-down of kcna2 reduces sleep in larval zebrafish (submitted)
  • Srdanović, S.,  Þorsteinsson, H., & Karlsson, K.Æ. Kinase Inhibitor Effects on Sleep-Wake parameters in Larval zebrafish: HT Screen Using the SYNLibrary 190 Library (in preparation)
Meetings:

Posters:

  • Srdanović, S.,  Þorsteinsson, H., & Karlsson, K.Æ Kinase Inhibitor Effects on Sleep-Wake parameters in Larval zebrafish: HT Screen Using the SYNLibrary 190 Library. IceBio2015. Reykjavik, Iceland. 
     
  • Srdanović, S.,  Þorsteinsson, H., & Karlsson, K.Æ. Kinase Inhibitor Effects on Sleep-Wake parameters in Larval zebrafish: HT Screen Using the SYNLibrary 190 Library. 9th European Zebrafish Meeting, Oslo, Norway.
     
  • Karl Ægir Karlsson; Haraldur Þorsteinsson; Sonja Srdanovic THE EFFECTS OF TRANSIENT DEC2 KNOCK-DOWN ON SLEEP-WAKE CYCLES IN LARVAL ZEBRAFISH. 4th European Zebrafish PI Meeting, Lisbon, Portugal
Secondments: