prof. dr. sc. Branimir Bertoša

Teaching

undergraduate

• Computer laboratory course 1 (38181) - Lecturer in charge
• Computer laboratory course 2 (38190) - Lecturer in charge
• Mathematical methods in chemistry 2 (41013) - Lecturer in charge

graduate

• Molecular biophysics (198313) - Lecturer in charge
• Molecular Biophysics (44406) - Lecturer in charge
• Structural computational biophysics (198314) - Lecturer in charge
• Structural Computational Biophysics (60217) - Lecturer in charge

doctoral

• Bioenergetics (223930) - Lecturer in charge

Biography

Affiliation and current position: Full Professor, Division of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb (2021–).  

Previous positions: Associate Professor (2015–2021) Assistant Professor (2012–2015), Division of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb.  Research Associate (2009–2012), Senior Assistant (2007–2009), Assistant (2001–2007), Laboratory for Chemical and Biological Crystallography, Division of Physical Chemistry, "Ruđer Bošković" Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.

Visits to foreign research and education institutions: 2008–2009 Postdoctoral position, Department of Statistical and Biological Physics, "International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA)", Trieste, Italy.  

Education at Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb: Diploma thesis (Chemistry, 2001); Doctoral thesis (Chemistry, 2007).  

Research interest:  Investigation of biologically important molecules (systems) using computational methods (molecular mechanics, molecular dynamics, Monte Carlo conformational search, Random Acceleration Molecular Dynamics, 3D-QSAR). The selection of biological systems for research is based on biological relevance, access to experimental data and possibility of collaboration with experimentalists. Systems that are in the focus of present investigations: hydrolytic enzymes from GDSL family, purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) from Escherichia coli, heterocyclic compounds with antitumor activity.  

Scientific papers: co-author of 56scientific papers in journals indexed in WoS and Scopus. Average impact factor of scientific publications is 5. Number of citations is above 600.  

Awards and recognitions and memberships:  

The Annual award for science of Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb 2024.

The Annual Award of "The Society of University Teachers, Scholars and Other Scientists – Zagreb" for young scientists and artists in 2008.

EMBO fellowship for "EMBO Course on Biomolecular simulation", Institute Pasteur, Paris, France, 18. 07. – 25. 07. 2004. 

Principal investigator of research projects:

2023 – "MIcrobe-synthesised DNA NAnostructures for DIsplay-controlled Storage Cartridges  (MI-DNA DISC)", Horizon Europe – EIC Pathfinder (total value of 4 000 000 EUR, funds for University of Zagreb cca 500 000 EUR).

2021 –2025 "Managanese metalosensors" funds provided by Croatian Science Foundation (cca 200 000 EUR).

2020 – 2023 "MARILIA" Horizon Europe - EIC Transition to Innovation (total value of 2 000 000 EUR, funds for University of Zagreb cca 195 000 EUR).

2011 -2013 bilateral project with Germany "Biocatalysis of bacterial hydrolases of the GDSL–superfamily studied by a multidisciplinary approach"

2012 scientific project "Substrate promiscuity of bacterial SGNH hydrolases" funds provided by Croatian Academy of Science and Art.  

Project collaborator of 11 reseasrch projects including  the FP6 project "Reinforcement of the Centre for Computational Solutions in the Life Sciences" (2007-2010).

Scientific publications (CroRIS)

Show publications in CRORIS

Show CROSBI records

List of select publications

1. M. Manenica, B. Bertoša, Molecular basis of protein-DNA interactions between Halalkalibacterium halodurans MntR and its DNA operator sequence, Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 311 (2025) No. 142937.
2. M. Kožić, B. Bertoša, Trajectory maps: molecular dynamics visualization and analysis, NAR genom. bioinform. 6 (2024) 1-8.
3. K. Radman, I. Crnolatac, N. Bregović, Z. Jelić Matošević, P. A. Fernandes, D. Merunka, D. Žilić, I. Piantanida, I. Leščić Ašler, B. Bertoša, Conformational change induced by binding of Mn2+ ions activates SloR transcription factor in Streptococcus mutans. Int. J. Biol. Macromol. 290 (2025) No. 138828.
4. R. J. Lever, E. Simmons, R. Gamble-Milner, R. J. Buckley, C. Harrison, A. J. Parkes, L. Mitchell, J. A. Gausden, S. Škulj, B. Bertoša, E. L. Bolt, T. Allers, Archaeal Hel308 suppresses recombination through a catal ytic s witch that controls DNA annealing, Nucleic Acids Res., (2023) 51 (16), 8563-8574  
5. D. Kuťák, L. Melo, F. Schroeder, Z. Jelić-Matošević, N. Mutter, B. Bertoša, I. Barišić, CATANA: an online modelling environment for proteins and nucleic acid nanostructures. Nucleic Acids Res., (2022) 50 (W1) (2022) W152–W158.

List of select projects

Selected projects:

• "MIcrobe-synthesised DNA NAnostructures for DIsplay-controlled Storage Cartridges  (MI-DNA DISC)",  Horizon Europe – EIC Pathfinder, total funding:  4 000 000 €, Faculty of Science share:  500 000 €,  by European Commission, project started on 1st September 2023.
•  "Manganovi metalosenzori" (IP-2020-02-3446), Croatian Science Fundation, funding: 128 000 €, project started on 1st February 2021 and finished on 30th June 2025.
• "MARILIA", Horizon Europe - EIC Transition to Innovation, total funding:  2 000 000 €, Faculty of Science share:  195 000 €,  by European Commission, project duration: 1. 9. 2020. – 28. 2. 2023.

Past employments

2001–2012     Research Associate (2009–2012), Senior Assistant (2007–2009), Assistant (2001–2007), Laboratory for Chemical and Biological Crystallography, Division of Physical Chemistry, "Ruđer Bošković" Institute, Zagreb, Croatia.

2008–2009    Postdoctoral position, Department of Statistical and Biological Physics, "International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA)", Trieste, Italy.