In his doctoral work, P. Podbevsek studied the interaction between cations and non-canonical DNA structures. By using nuclear magnetic resonance and isotope-labeled ammonium ions he determined equilibrium binding constants, binding sites and the rate of exchange of ammonium ions within bimolecular and unimolecular G-quadruplexes. In the second part of the thesis has studied the impact of chemical modifications on the structure of the dimeric 21-nt siRNA construct. He showed that 2'-F and 2'-OMe modifications on the sugar ring does not noticeably affect the structure of the siRNA. Determination of the 3D structure of isotopically non-labeled sample of this size is a big success. The observed differences in stability of the helix at the level of individual base pairs are critical in understanding the correct orientation within the RISC-siRNA-a.
D.09 Tutoring for postgraduate students
COBISS.SI-ID: 4724762Dr. Borut Zupančič, who graduated within the program group, won the Krka prize for his Ph.D. thesis at 41st Krka Prize competition.
E.01 National awards
COBISS.SI-ID: 35479813In a lecture at a conference with exceptional international attendance, we presented our latest findings and results of interactions and the effects of inorganic salts on the structure and dynamic properties of G-quadruplexes.
B.04 Guest lecture
COBISS.SI-ID: 4882714