Period at IMGGE: 1986-1991

Education:

BSc: Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade
MSc: Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade
PhD: University of Belgrade

Current position and address:

Assistant Professor Research

Department of Cell Biology, MSB 650
NYU School of Medicine
550 First Avenue
New York, NY 10016

Phone: 212-263-5327, 212-263-5234
Email: Branka.BruknerDabovic@nyumc.org

Research Interest:

Regulation of TGF-ß bioavailability

TGF-ß is a potent growth factor that regulates proliferation of all cell types and synthesis of many proteins in extracellular matrix. TGF-ß plays an important role in tissue remodeling which takes place in many biological processes: differentiation of organs and tissues during embryogenesis, wound healing and inflammation. Altered tissue levels of TGF-ß are associated with a number of pathological states including fibrosis, autoimmune diseases and metastatic cancer growth. TGF-ß is secreted from cells in a form of a latent complex from which TGF-ß has to be released in order to bind to a cell surface receptor and perform its biological actions.  The latent complex (LLC) consists of TGF-ß and its propeptide which are synthesized from the same gene and of one of three proteins synthesized from different genes: latent TGF-ß binding protein (LTBP) 1,3 or 4. The LTBPs interact with various ECM proteins and therefore target latent TGF-ß to ECM. Binding to ECM and proper localization of LLC is critical for TGF-ß activation and my main interest is in revealing mechanism underlying LTBP functions in regulatig TGF-ß tissue levels.

Additional information:

http://school.med.nyu.edu/

http://www.med.nyu.edu/biosketch/dabovb01