Dr. Petra Prijatelj Chair of Biochemistry Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology (FCCT) University of Ljubljana Jamova 39 SI-1000 Ljubljana Slovenia tel.: +386 1 2419 488 fax: +386 1 2419 487, +386 1 477 3594 email: petra.prijatelj{afna}fkkt.uni-lj.si University Education: B. Sc. (1998), FCCT, University of Ljubljana. Ph. D. (2003), "Mutational analysis of ammodytoxin A, a presynaptically neurotoxic phospholipase A2 from the venom of the long-nosed viper (Vipera ammodytes ammodytes)" Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana. Research Interests: She is interested in defining amino acid residues important for presynaptic neurotoxicity of ammodytoxin A (AtxA), a phospholipase A2 from the venom of the long-nosed viper (Vipera ammodytes ammodytes). She is using methods of site directed mutagenesis and protein expression in bacteria Escherichia coli in a form of fusions with peptides at the N-terminus. Purified mature mutants are determined the neurotoxicity on mice and enzymatic activities on micellar and vesicular neutral and negatively charged substrates. Affinity determinations of the mutants for high affinity binding proteins, R180, R25 and calmodulin are carried out using the inhibition of radioactively labelled ammodytoxin. AtxA also possesses strong anticoagulant activity. Interaction affinity of the AtxA mutants for the acceptor anticoagulant factor Xa is studied by system Biacore. Bibliography: COBISS or PubMed Participation in Current Research Projects: "Toksini in biomembrane" (0207-105) Teaching Positions: Teaching assistant trainee for biochemistry at the University of Ljubljana, 1998-2003 Teaching assistant for biochemistry at the University of Ljubljana, 2003- Awards and Fellowships: "Prešeren" Award of the FCCT for students, 1998 Member of the Slovenian Biochemical Society