2017- present – Group leader, Tenure-track Research Associate

Group members: Cecile Otten, PhD; Christine Supina, MSc; Ivan Anticevic, MSc; Marin Kutnjak, MSc

Group website: https://martafry.wixsite.com/popoviclab

Postdoctoral Researcher, 2014 - 2017 (DNA Damage and Repair Group - PI: Prof.dr.sc Kristijan Ramadan) working on the project: The role of SPRTN protease in the repair of DNA-protein crosslinks at CRUK/MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation Oncology, University of Oxford, UK.

Feb 2014       PhD in Molecular Biosciences, mentor: dr.sc. Tvrtko Smital, Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia

2008 - 2014   Doctoral studies in Molecular Biosciences (GPA 5.0/5.0), joint interdisciplinary postgraduate  programme - University of Osijek, University of Dubrovnik and Ruder Boskovic Institute, Zagreb

2006/2007     MSc in Environmental Sciences, Master thesis mentor: Rosa Maria Roman-Cuesta (MSc thesis - distinction), Oxford University Centre for Environment (OUCE), University of Oxford, UK

1999 - 2005   MSc in Biology, Master thesis mentor: Dr. Sanja Gottstein, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb (GPA 4.9/5.0), Zagreb, Croatia

1.2020-2023 ‘Structural characterization of factors involved in DNA-protein crosslink repair‘ - Slovenian-Croatian Bilateral Project (IPS-2020-01) (1.5 million HRK), Institute Ruder Boskovic, Croatia and National Chemistry Institute, Slovenia. Collaborators: dr.sc Marjetka Podobnik (SLO) and dr.sc. Nives Ivić (IRB, HR)  ̴ 200,000 EUR (CRO side, project co-leader dr. Marta Popovic) +   ̴ 300,000 EUR SLO side, project co-leader dr. Marjetka Podobnik

2.2018-2023 ‘Deciphering DNA-Protein Crosslink Repair in vivo using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing   in zebrafish model ’Croatian National Science Foundation Installation project grant (1.86 million HRK), Institute Ruder Boskovic, Croatia.   ̴ 250,000 EUR Project leader dr. Marta Popovic

More information at group website:

https://martafry.wixsite.com/popoviclab

2006/2007 OSI/FCO Chevening Scholarship (Open Society Institute/Foreign Commonwealth Office), fully funded for MSc at Oxford University, fully funded for MSc at Oxford University, UK (full scholarship covering university fees, accommodation and life expanses and travel   ̴ 35,000 EUR) 

2002 – 2004 City of Zagreb scholarship City of Zagreb Scholarship for exceptionally gifted student (  

̴ 10,000 EUR)

2014 - Annual award ‘Zeljko Trgovcevic’ given by Croatian Genetics Society for the best publication by young scientists (Popovic et al., JBC, 2013)

2014 - Departmental award for best publication in 2013, Institute Ruder Boskovic, Zagreb, Croatia.

2013 – FEBS (Federation of European Biochemical Societies), EMBO (European Molecular Biology Organization) and IUBMB (International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) joint scholarship for the attendance at Spetsai summer school ‘Protein interactions, assemblies and human disease', Greece.

2012 –Student scholarship given by Croatian society for biochemistry and molecular biology’ for the attendance (presentation) at theFEBS3+ Meeting – From molecules to life and back,Opatija, Croatia.

2011 – Student scholarship for the attendance (presentation) at the 16th International Symposium on Pollutant Responses in Marine Organisms (PRIMO 16), Long Beach, California.

2010 – FEBS scholarship for the attendance (poster and short presentation) at the 35^th Annual meeting of Federation of European Biochemical Societies – ' FEBS - Molecules of Life’ and YSF (Young scientist Forum), Goteborg, Sweden.

2009 – Best presentation award for young researchers at the 15th International Symposium on Pollutant Responses in Marine  Organisms (PRIMO 15), Bordeaux, France.

Teaching activities

Invited lecturer at the educational workshop for mentors 'The Importance of Mentoring and of Being Mentored', organized by interdisciplinary postgraduate programme ' Molecular Biosciences', 16/11/2019, Ruder Boskovic, Zagreb, Croatia.

Supervision of postdoctoral fellows, PhD students, Master and Bachelor students

I am currently supervising 3 PhD students, 1 Master student and 3 Bachelor and Erasmus students. I have completed supervision of five master theses at the Faculty of Sciences, two bachelor theses and six student internships from the Faculty of Sciences and Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology at University of Zagreb and one Erasmus exchange student from the University of Ghent. During my work as a Research Assistant in a group of T. Smital, I was co-supervising two PhD students and one Master student which resulted in 4 publications.

1. 1. Popovic, M*., Kahl, V.*, Hoch, N.* Editorial: Genome Instability: Old Problem, New Solutions. Front. Cell Dev. Biol., 24 February 2022 (*equal contribution).
2. Popovic, M. *, Fielden, J.*, Ramadan, K. (2022) TEX264 at the Intersection of Autophagy and DNA repair. Autophagy 1-10 (IF 12.04, Q1, 10%) (*equal contribution).
3. Ruggiano, A.*, Vaz, B.*, Kilgas, S., Popovic, M., Rodriguez-Berriguete, G., Singh, A.N., Higgins, G.S., Kiltie, A.E., Ramadan, K. (2021) SPRTN protease and SUMOylation coordinate DNA-protein crosslink repair to prevent genome instability. Cell reports (IF 9.42, Q1) (*equal contribution).
4. 3.Halder, S. *, Torrecilla, I. *, Burkhalter, M., Popovic, M.,  Fielden, J., Vaz, B., Oehler, J.,..., Ramadan, K. (2019) SPRTN Protease and Checkpoint Kinase 1 Cross-Activation Loop Safeguards DNA Replication. Nature communications, 3142 (IF 13.8, Q1, 5%) (*equal contribution)
5. 4. Fielden, J. *, Ruggiano, A. *, Popovic, M., Ramadan, K. (2018). DNA protein crosslink proteolysis repair: From yeast to premature ageing and cancer in humans. DNA Repair (Invited review article with partly original data) (*equal contribution) (IF 4.5, Q1, 5%)
6. 5.Popovic, M.*, Vaz, B*., Ramadan, K. (2017). DNA-Protein Crosslink Proteolysis Repair. Trends in Biochemical Sciences (Invited review article with partly original data) (*equal contribution) (IF 16.9; Q1, 5%)
7. 6. Popovic, M.*, Vaz, B*., Newman, J., Fielden, J., Aitkenhead, H., Halder., S…Gileadi, O., Ramadan, K. (2016) Metalloprotease SPRTN/DVC1 Orchestrates Replication-Coupled DNA-Protein Crosslink Repair. Molecular Cell. 64, 704–719. (*equal contribution) (IF 15.6; Q1, 5%)
8. 7.Popovic, M.*, Mihaljevic, I.*, Zaja, R., Smital, T. (2016) Phylogenetic, syntenic, and tissue expression analysis of slc22 genes in zebrafish (Danio rerio). BMC genomics. 17:626. (*equal contribution) (IF 4.39; Q1).
9. 8. Popovic, M.*, Lončar, J*., Krznar, P., Zaja, R., Smital, T. (2016) First characterization of MATE (Multidrug and Toxin Extrusion) proteins in zebrafish. Scientific Reports. Article number: 28937. (*equal contribution) (IF 5.8; Q1, 10%).
10. 9.Popovic, M., Zaja, R, Fent, K., Smital, T. (2014). Interaction of environmental contaminants with zebrafish uptake transporter Oatp1d1 (Slco1d1). Toxicology and applied pharmacology, 280 (1), 149-158. (IF 4.45; Q1, 10%).
11. 10.Popovic, M., Zaja, R., Fent, K., Smital, T. (2013) Molecular characterization of zebrafish Oatp1d1 (Slco1d1), a novel organic anion transporting polypeptide. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 288 (47) 33894-33911. (IF 5.33; Q1, 10%).
12. 11. Popovic, M., Zaja, R., Smital, T. (2010) Organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATP) in zebrafish (Danio rerio): phylogenetic analysis and tissue distribution. Comparative Biochemistry and physiology-A: Molecular and Integrative Physiology 155 (3), 327-335. (IF 3.1; Q1).
13. 12. Popovic, M., Zaja, R., Loncar, J., Smital, T. (2010) A novel ABC transporter: The first insight into zebrafish (Danio rerio) Abch1. Marine Environmental Research 69 (SUPPL. 1), pp. S11-S13. (IF 3.45; Q1, 10%).
14. 13. Popović, M., Gottstein-Matočec S. (2006). Biological aspects of the Spinicaudata (Branchiopoda, Diplostraca) in the largest alluvial wetland in Croatia. Crustaceana 79 (4), 423-440. (IF 0.79; Q2).

Sažetak izlaganja sa skupa

• Otten, Cecile ; Supina, Christine ; Dakic, Valentin ; Anticevic, Ivan ; Popovic, Marta | Investigating the role of the P97/Vcp segregase in DNA-protein crosslink repair (DPCR) in vivo using the zebrafish // FEBS Open Bio, 2022. str. 246-246

  febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

• Anticevic, Ivan ; Otten, Cecile ; Jukic, Luka ; Popovic, Marta | Mechanisms of topoisomerase 1 DNA-protein crosslink repair // FEBS Open Bio, 2022. str. 279-279

  febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.comfebs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

• Antičević, Ivan ; Lončar, Jovica ; Supina, Christine ; Popović, Marta | The role of Tyrosyl-DNA-phosphodiesterases in the repair of DNA-protein crosslinks in vivo // FEBS Open Bio, 2021. str. 279-279. doi: 10.1002/2211-5463.13205

  doifebs.onlinelibrary.wiley.comdoi.org

Neobjavljeni prilog sa skupa

• Fiket, Željka; Antičević, Ivan; Popović, Marta; Hamarashid, Roshna A.; Mohialdeen, Ibrahim M. J. | Comparative study of metal contamination and ecotoxicology in soils near Sisak ironworks (Croatia) and Sulaimani steel plant (Kurdistan Region, Iraq) // GeoKurdistan VI | Irak, 05.11.2024-07.11.2024

• Kutnjak, Marin; Otten, Cecile; Supina Pavić, Christine; Popović, Marta | ACRC (GCNA) is a conserved DNA-protein crosslink repair protease essential in vertebrate development // EMBO Workshop "Evolution and Diversity of the DNA Damage Response" | Indija, 19.02.2024-23.02.2024

• Kutnjak, Marin; Ivić, Nives; Vukasović-Lončar, Vedrana; Bembič, Primož; Antičević, Ivan; Podobnik, Marjetka; Popović, Marta | The importance of the SPRTN:p97 complex for DNA-protein crosslink repair in human cells // 3rd Chromosomal Instability as a Driver of Human Disease Conference | Dubrovnik, Hrvatska, 14.10.2023-17.10.2023

• Kutnjak, Marin ; Supina Pavić, Christine ; Otten, Cecile ; Popović, Marta | GCNA (ACRC) is an essential protease that repairs DNA-protein crosslinks during zebrafish embryonic development // EMBO Workshop "The DNA Damage Response, Immunity and Aging" | Singapur, Singapur, 10.10.2022-13.10.2022

• Kutnjak, Marin ; Supina Pavić, Christine ; Otten, Cecile ; Popović, Marta | GCNA (ACRC) is an essential protease that repairs DNA-protein crosslinks during zebrafish embryonic development // EMBO Workshop "Cell and Developmental Systems" | Arolla, Švicarska, 22.08.2022-26.08.2022

• Žaja, Roko ; Popović, Marta ; Lončar, Jovica ; Fent, Karl, Smital, Tvrtko | Expression and characterization of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus Mykiss) BCRP (ABCG2) in SF9 insect cells // Primo 16 - Pollutant Responses in Marine Organisms | Long Beach (CA), Sjedinjene Američke Države, 14.05.2011-18.05.2011

• Žaja, Roko ; Senta, Ivan ; Lončar, Jovica ; Popović, Marta ; Terzić, Senka ; Ahel, Marijan ; Smital, Tvrtko | IDENTIFICATION OF POTENT P-GLYCOPROTEIN (ABCB1) INHIBITORS IN CONTAMINATED SEDIMENT SAMPLES // Primo 16 - Pollutant Responses in Marine Organisms | Long Beach (CA), Sjedinjene Američke Države, 14.05.2011-18.05.2011

• Lončar, Jovica ; Žaja, Roko ; Popović, Marta ; Medvedović, Jasna ; Smital, Tvrtko | Tissue distribution and gene expression regulation of MRP9 (abcc12) in rainbow trout and zebrafish // Primo 16 - Pollutant Responses in Marine Organisms | Long Beach (CA), Sjedinjene Američke Države, 14.05.2011-18.05.2011

• Smital, Tvrtko ; Žaja, Roko ; Popović, Marta ; Lončar, Jovica | Uptake and efflux transporters versus the adme-tox concept in aquatic toxicology // Primo 16 - Pollutant Responses in Marine Organisms | Long Beach (CA), Sjedinjene Američke Države, 14.05.2011-18.05.2011

• Glišic, Branka ; Popović, Marta ; Žaja, Roko ; Lončar, Jovica ; Smital, Tvrtko ; Kovačević, Radmila | Phylogenetic and tissue distribution analysis of glutathione-S-transferase family in zebrafish (Danio rerio) // Primo 16 - Pollutant Responses in Marine Organisms | Long Beach (CA), Sjedinjene Američke Države, 14.05.2011-18.05.2011

• Popović, Marta ; Žaja, Roko ; Fent, Karl ; Smital, Tvrtko | FIRST CHARACTERIZATION OF ZEBRAFISH (Danio rerio) UPTAKE TRANSPORTERS (Solute Carrier families SLC21 and SLC22) // Primo 16 - Pollutant Responses in Marine Organisms | Long Beach (CA), Sjedinjene Američke Države, 14.05.2011-18.05.2011

• Ahel, Marijan ; Terzić, Senka ; Žaja, Roko ; Senta, Ivan ; Lončar, Jovica ; Popović, Marta ; Mikac, Iva ; Smital, Tvrtko | Comprehensive Scheme for Non-target Screening of Wastewater and Its Application for the Effect- directed Analysis Municipal Sewage // 13th EuCheMS International Conference on Chemistry and the Environment | Zürich, Švicarska, 11.09.2011-15.09.2011

Diplomski rad

• Kutnjak, Marin | Uloga proteina ACRC u popravku unakrsnih veza DNA-protein u modelnom organizmu zebrici (Danio rerio) / Popović, Marta; Malenica, Nenad (mentor); Supina, Christine (neposredni voditelj) . | Zagreb, Prirodoslovno-matematički fakultet, Zagreb, 2021

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• Vukasović Lončar, Vedrana | KARAKTERIZACIJA INTERAKCIJE HUMANIH PROTEINA SPRTN I p97 METODOM SUPROČIŠĆAVANJA AFINITETNOM KROMATOGRAFIJOM / Stuparević, Igor (mentor); Popović, Marta (neposredni voditelj) . | Zagreb, Prehrambeno-biotehnološki fakultet, 2022

• Krznar, Petra | Expression profiling and phylogeny of MATE (Multidrug and toxin extrusion) proteins in zebrafish, Danio rerio (Hamilton, 1822) / Smital, Tvrtko (mentor); Popović, Marta (neposredni voditelj) . | Zagreb, Prirodoslovno-matematički fakultet, Zagreb, 2013

• Popović, Marta | Dinamika populacija rakova redova Notostraca i Diplostraca u Lonjskom polju / Mladen Kerovec (mentor). | Zagreb, Prirodoslovno-matematički fakultet, Zagreb, 2005

Doktorska disertacija

• Popović, Marta | IDENTIFICATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND ECOTOXICOLOGICAL RELEVANCE OF MEMBRANE TRANSPORT PROTEIN FAMILIES SLC21 AND SLC22 IN ZEBRAFISH (DANIO RERIO Hamilton, 1822) / Smital, Tvrtko (mentor); Smital, Tvrtko (neposredni voditelj) . | Osijek, Sveučilište Josipa Jurja Strossmayera u Osijeku, Odjel za biologiju, 2014

Croatian society of biochemistry and molecular biology - member

Croatian biophysical society - member

Croatian Association for Cancer Research (HDIR) - member

Croatian genetic society - member