Curriculum Vitae

General Information

NameTrifunovic, Aleksandra, Prof Dr

Maiden nameDjurkovic

Date of birth,19.05.1971, female

Address (Institute)Institute of Genetics, Cologne University

Emailaleksandra.trifunovic@uk-koeln.de

Education

06/2000PhD in Molecular Biology, University of Belgrade

1998 – 2000PhD thesis, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering (IMGGE) and University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia

1994 – 1998Magister of Science, IMGGE and University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia

1989 – 1994Bachelor of Science in Biology, University of Belgrade, Yugoslavia

Research Career

03/2014Professor at the Medical Faculty, University of Cologne, Germany

03/2012Visiting Professor at Medical Faculty, University of Belgrade, Serbia

07/2010Private Lecturer (Privatdozent) – University of Cologne

2009-2014Independent Junior Group Leader, CECAD at the Institute of Genetics, Cologne, Germany

2011-2012Senior Researcher, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

2006 – 2010Assistant Professor, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

2000 – 2005Postdoctoral fellow, Department of Medical Nutrition, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden

Awards and Honors

07/2012ERC Starter – Consolidator Grant

2007The Jeanssons Foundation Annual Award for

2006Assistant Professorship from the Swedish Research Foundation(VR)

Member of organizing committees:

10th European meeting on Mitochondrial Pathophysiology; EuroMit 10 – Cologne, Germany, 2017
EMBO Advance Course “Mitochondria in life death and disease” Crete, Greece, 2015
9th European meeting on Mitochondrial Pathophysiology; EuroMit 9 – Tampere, Finland 2014
First Cologne Aging Meeting, Cologne, Germany, May 2013
EMBO/FEBS Advance Course “Mitochondria in life death and disease” Crete, Greece, 2012
8th European meeting on Mitochondrial Pathophysiology; EuroMit 8 - Zaragoza, Spain 2011
Mosbach Colloquium “Biology of Ageing: Mechanisms and Interventions” Mosbach, Germany, 2010
FEBS Advance Course “Mitochondria in life death and disease”; Aussois, France, 2009
Key Symposium: “Biology of Ageing”; Saltsjöbaden, Stockholm, Sweden, 2007

Referee for Grant Offices

German Research Foundation (DFG) – Germany

The French National Research Agency – France

Medical Research Council – UK

Research into Ageing – UK

Austrian Academy of Science – Austria

National Research Council (NCN)– Poland

National Research Council (CNCS)– Romania

Dutch National Science Foundation(NOW) – The Netherlands

Referee for Scientific Journals

NaturePLoS ONE

ScienceAgeing Cell

Nature GeneticsExperimental Gerontology

Cell MetabolismBioEssays

PLoS BiologyBiochimicaBiophysicaActa

PLoS GeneticsJournal of Neurochemistry

The Journal of Experimental BiologyGenes & Nutrition

Laboratory Investigation

Research Support

2013-2018ERC Consolidator Grant: “Mitochondrial unfolded protein response and the role in ageing”

2012 -2016Marie Curie Initial Training Network: “MARieCuRIeAGEing Network“

2011-2014German Research Foundation (DFG): “Dissecting the role of mitochondrial translation defects in ageing“

2011-2014Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne: “Mitochondrial function and dysfunction in neurodegeneration“

2011-2013Fritz ThyssenStiftung Grant: “DARS2 deficiency in mice: Modelling the mitochondrial involvement in leucoencephalophaty“

Invited Speaker (2008-2013)

2013

3rd Lung Conference; Munich; Germany, October 4-5 2013
“Tissue Repair and Regeneration: Gordon Research Conference”, New London, New Haven, USA, June 16-21 2013.
“Mitochondria, Metabolic Regulation and the Biology of Aging” Lanzarote, Canary Islands, Spain; February 13-16 2013.

2012

“DNA and Aging”: XII Topic Day; October 3-4 2012; Grenoble, France
"Mitochondrial Molecular Biology" June 13-16 2012; Fiskebackskil Sweden
FEBS Advanced Lecture Courses: Mitochondria in Life, Death and Disease. Crete, Greece. May 9 -12 2012.

2011

“The Old Patient”: Prevention and Intervention: from Molecular Biology to Clinical Perspectives" 16th-18th September 2011; Halle, Germany
FASEB Summer Research Conference: Mitochondrial Assembly and Dynamics in Health Disease and Ageing July 17th-22nd, 2011 Steamboat Springs, Colorado, USA
DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance Forum: Ageing and Cancer: from molecules to organisms. May 19th-21st, 2011, Heidelberg, Germany
The Mitochondrial Research School: May 16th -18th, 2011, Copenhagen, Denmark

2010

The International Symposium “100 Years of Ivan Djaja’s Belgrade School of Physiology” 14th-19th September 2010
Gordon Conference on Biology of Ageing. Les Diablerets, Switzerland. August 22nd -27th, 2010.
16th European Bioenergetic Conference (EBEC), Warsaw, Poland. July 17th -22nd, 2010.

2009

1st Meeting of the Austrian Association of Molecular Life Sciences and Biotechnology (ÖGMBT), Innsbruck, Austria September 21st – 23rd 2009
FEBS Advanced Lecture Courses: Mitochondria in Life, Death and Disease. Aussois, France September 16th -20th 2009.
Embo Lecture Course in “Mitochondrial Medicine: from genetics to biological mechanisms and beyond” Bologna, Italy April 18th -22nd 2009.

2008

Gordon Conference on Mitochondria and Chloroplasts. University of New England, Biddeford, ME, USA, August 10th -15th, 2008
The Ninth International Symposium on Neurology and Neuroendocrinology of Ageing, Bregenz, Austria July 20th -25th, 2008
Bari International Symposium "Mitochondrial Physiology and Pathology", Bari, Italy, June 22th - 26th, 2008

LIST OF PUBLICATIONS

1. Peer-reviewedarticles

1. Li L, Trifunovic A,Köhler M, Wang Y, Berglund JP, Illies C, Juntti-Berggren L, Larsson NG, Berggren PO. Defects in ß-Cell Ca2+ Dynamics in Age-Induced Diabetes. Diabetes. 2014 Jul 1. pii: DB_131855. [Epub ahead of print]

2. Kukat A, Dogan SA, Edgar D, Mourier A, Jacoby C, Maiti P,Mauer J, Becker C, Senft K, Wibom R, Kudin AP, Hultenby K, Flögel U, Rosenkranz S, Ricquier D, Kunz WS, Trifunovic A.Loss of UCP2 Attenuates Mitochondrial Dysfunction without Altering ROS Production and Uncoupling Activity.PLoS Genet. 2014 Jun 19;10(6):e1004385.

3. Coutelle O, Hornig-Do HT, Witt A, Andree M, Schiffmann LM, Piekarek M, Brinkmann K, Seeger JM, Liwschitz M, Miwa S, Hallek M, Krönke M, Trifunovic A,Eming SA, Wiesner RJ, Hacker UT, Kashkar H.Embelin inhibits endothelial mitochondrial respiration and impairs neoangiogenesis during tumor growth and wound healing. EMBO Mol Med. 2014 May 1;6(5):624-39.

4. Dogan SA, Pujol C, Maiti P, Kukat A, Wang S, Hermans S, Senft K, Wibom R, Rugarli EI, Trifunovic A.Tissue-specific loss of DARS2 activates stress responses independently of respiratory chain deficiency in the heart. Cell Metab. 2014 Mar 4;19(3):458-69.

5. Pujol C, Bratic-Hench I, Sumakovic M, Hench J, Mourier A, Baumann L, Pavlenko V, Trifunovic A.Succinate dehydrogenase upregulation destabilize complex I and limits the lifespan of gas-1 mutant.PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e59493. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059493. Epub 2013 Mar 28.

6. Ahlqvist KJ, Hämäläinen RH, Yatsuga S, Uutela M, Terzioglu M, Götz A, Forsström S, Salven P, Angers-Loustau A, Kopra OH, Tyynismaa H, Larsson NG, Wartiovaara K, Prolla T, Trifunovic A,Suomalainen A. Somatic progenitor cell vulnerability to mitochondrial DNA mutagenesis underlies progeroid phenotypes in Polg mutator mice.Cell Metab. 2012 Jan 4;15(1):100-9. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2011.11.012.

7. Hench J, Bratic Hench I, Pujol C, Ipsen S, Brodesser S, Mourier A, Tolnay M, Frank S, Trifunovic A.A tissue-specific approach to the analysis of metabolic changes in Caenorhabditis elegans. PLoS One. 2011;6(12):e28417.

8. Kukat A, Edgar D, Bratic I, Maiti P andTrifunovic A. Random mtDNA mutations modulate proliferation capacity in mouse embryonic fibroblasts. (2011) BiochemBiophys Res Commun. 2011 Jun 10;409(3):394-9.

9. Ross JM, Öberg J, Brene S, Coppotelli G, Terzioglu M, Pernold K, Goiny M, Sitnikov R, Kehr J, Trifunovic A, Larsson NG, Hoffer BJ, Olson L. High brain Lactate is a hallmerkofagingandcausedby a shift in thelactatedehydrogenase A/B ratio. (2010) ProcAcadNatlSci USA Nov 16;107(46):20087-92. Epub 2010 Nov 1.

10. Bratic I, Hench J, Trifunovic A:C. elegans as a modelsystemfor mtDNA replicationdefects. (2010) MethodsAug;51(4):437-43. Epub 2010 Mar 15.

11. Edgar D, Larsson NG, Trifunovic A. Point mutationsarecausingprogeroidphenotypes in mtDNA mutator mice. (2010) CellMetab. Jan 6;11(1):93.

12. Edgar D, Shabalina I, Camara Y, Wredenberg A, Calvaruso MA, Nijtmans L, Nedergaard J, Cannon B, Larsson NG, Trifunovic A. (2009) Random pointmutationswithmajoreffects on proteincoding genes driveprematureageing in mtDNA mutator mice. CellMetab. Aug; (10):131-138.

13. Bratic I, Hench J, Henriksson J, Antebi A, Burglin T, Trifunovic A. (2009) Mitochondrial DNA levels, but not mitochondrial DNA polymerase, are essential for C. elegans development. Nucleic Acids Res. Apr;37(6):1817-28. Epub 2009 Jan 30.

14. Stewart JB, Freyer C, Elson JL, Wredenberg A, Cansu Z, Trifunovic A,Larsson NG (2008) Purifyingselection in transmissionofmammalianmitochondrial DNA.PLoSBiol Jan;6(1):e10.

15. Niu X, Trifunovic A, Larsson NG, Canlon B. (2007) Somatic mtDNA mutationscause progressive hearingloss in themouse. ExpCell Research Nov 1;313 (18):3924-34. Epub 2007 Jun 29

16. EkstrandMI, TerziogluM, GalterD, Zhu S, HofstetterC, Lindqvist E, Trifunovic A, Hoffer B, Mohammed AH, Olson L, Larsson NG. (2007) Respiratorychaindysfunction in dopamineneuronscauseskeyParkinson´sdiseasepathology in mice.ProcNatlAcadSci U S A. 23;104(4):1325-30. Epub 2007 Jan 16.

17. Duvezin-Caubet S, Jagasia R, WagenerJ, Hofmann S, Trifunovic A, Hansson A, Chomyn A, Bauer MF, Attardi G, Larsson NG, Neupert W, Reichert AS. (2006) Roleof OPA1 in distinguishingdysfunctionalfromfunctionalmitochondria.J BiolChemDec 8;281(49):37972-9. Epub 2006 Sep 26.

18. Trifunovic, A., Hansson, A., Wredenberg, A., Rovio, A., Dufour, E., Khvorostov, I., Spelbrink, J., Wibom, R., Jacobs, H., Larsson, N. (2005) Somatic mtDNA mutationscauseageingphenotypeswithoutaffectingreactiveoxygenspeciesproduction.ProcNatlAcadSci USA, 102, 17993-17998

19. Hance N, Ekstrand M, Trifunovic A. (2005) Mitochondrial DNA polymerasegammais essential formammalianembryogenesis. Hum Mol Genet. 14 (13); 1775-1783.

20. Trifunovic A, Wredenberg A, Falkenberg M, Spelbrink JN, Rovio AT, Bruder CE, Bohlooly-Y M, Gidlof S, Oldfors A, Wibom R, Tornell J, Jacobs HT, Larsson NG. (2004) Premature ageing in mice expressing defective mitochondrial DNA polymerase. Nature. May 27;429 (6990):417-23.

21. Falkenberg M, Gaspari M, Rantanen A, Trifunovic A, Larsson NG, Gustafsson CM. (2002) Mitochondrialtranscriptionfactors B1 and B2 activatetranscriptionof human mtDNA.Nat Genet. Jul; 31 (3):289-94.

22. Trifunovic A, Zaric J, Lusic M, Mijatovic M, Glisin V, Popovic Z. (2001) Induced synthesis of albumin-like protein in damaged rat reticulocytes. Br J Haematol. 115(1):205-15

23. Djurkovic, A,Zaric, J., Lusic, M, Glisin, V. and Popovic, Z. Differences in rat RBC cytosol induced after in vivo phenylhydrazine treatment.Cell Biol. Int. 23 (10): 677-683 (1999).

24. Lusic, M., Zaric, J., Djurkovic, A., Glisin, V. and Popovic, Z. The Lack of Protein 4,1a in Red Blood Cells of the Hereditarily Anemic Belgrade Laboratory (b/b) rat. J. Cell. Biochem.,75: 56-63 (1999)

25. Zaric, J., Lusic, M., Djurkovic, A., Glisin, V., Popovic, Z., Hsp70 protein is membrane bound in red blood cells of human hereditary haemolytic anemias.Comp. Hematol. Int., 8: 205-209, (1999).

2. Review articles, bookchapters etc.

1. Trifunovic A, Ventura N. Mitochondria and metabolic control of the aging process. ExpGerontol. 2014 Aug;56:1-2.

2. Dogan AS & Trifunovic A.Modeling themitochondrialdysfunction in mice.Physiol Res. 2011;60 Suppl 1:S61-70.

3. Brüning J, Langer T, Trifunovic A. Highlight: The biologyofaging: mechanismsandinterventions. (2010) Biol Chem. Oct;391(10):1113.

4. Bratic I, Trifunovic A:Mitochondrialenergymetabolismandageing.(2010) BBA –BioenergeticsMay-June Jan 11. [Epubaheadofprint]

5. Bratic I, Hench J, Trifunovic A. C. elegans as a modelsystemfor mtDNA replicationdefects. Methods (2010)

6. Kukat A, Pujol C, Bratic I, Trifunovic A.Accumulationofmitochondrial DNA mutationsduringmammalianageing. (2010) In:“BioenergeticsandBiomembranes” Volume: “Longevity, Mitochondriaand Oxygen Free Radicals”. (Eds.) Barja G, Pamplona R. Research Signpost

7. Kukat A, Trifunovic A.Somatic mtDNA mutationsandaging - Facts andfancies (2009). ExpGerontol. Jan-Feb;44(1-2):101-5.

8. Trifunovic A, Larsson NG. Mitochondrialdysfunction in mammalianageing. (2008) J IntMedFeb;263(2):167-78.

9. Edgar D, Trifunovic A. Mitochondria: The Dark Side. (2007) In: RoleofPhysicalExercise in PreventingDiseaseandImprovingthe Quality of Life. (Eds.) VStocchi, P De Feo, DA. Hood. Springer ISBN: 978-88-470-0375-0

10. Trifunovic A. Mitochondrial DNA andAgeing.BBA –Bioenergetics1757 (5-6): 611-617 May-June (2006)

11. Wredenberg A and Trifunovic A.Modelling the mitochondrial role in ageing.(2005) Drug Discovery Today: Disease Models2 (4): 257-263

12. Trifunovic A, Larsson NG. Tissue-specific knockout model for study of mitochondrial DNA mutation disorders. (2002) Methods Enzymol 353: 409-21

3. Peer-reviewedconferencecontributions.

1. Edgar D, Bratic I and Trifunovic A. Mechanism of aging in mtDNA mutator mice.Fourth European Bioenergetic Conference, July 23-27, 2006 BBA -Bioenergetics1757: Suppl. 1 (2006)

2. Trifunovic A, Larsson NG, Wredenberg A. Creationof mtDNA mutator mice 6th European Meeting on MitochondrialPathology, July 01-04, 2004 BBA -Bioenergetics1657: 21-21, Suppl. 1 (2004)

4. Patents.

Patent: mtDNA mutator mice (2004-2006)

Inventors: Aleksandra Trifunovic, Maria Falkenberg-Gustafsson and Nils-Göran Larsson

5. Popular-scientificarticles/presentations.

1. Trifunovic A. Le mythe des radicauxlibres. La Recherche (2007)406: 35-39