HOST INSTITUTION
Utrecht University
EMAIL ADDRESS
a.ernecic@uu.nl
SUPERVISOR
Prof. dr. Roland J. Pieters (Supervisor)
Dr. ir. Dirk T.S. Rijkers (co-supervisor)
BRIEF CV
I pursued my studies at the Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Technology, University of Zagreb, Croatia, where I proudly graduated cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Applied Chemistry in 2021. Continuing my education at the same faculty, I completed a Master’s degree in Applied Chemistry, with a module in Applied Organic Chemistry, in 2023. My interest in organic chemistry has allowed me to gain expertise in organic synthesis, particularly in the fields of supramolecular and medicinal chemistry. My specific research interest lies in early drug discovery, a field that inherently demands an interdisciplinary approach.
During my Bachelor’s studies, I completed an internship at the Ruđer Bošković Institute, in the Laboratory for Synthetic Organic Chemistry, where I worked on the synthesis and characterization of hydroxy derivatives of diamantane. My Bachelor’s thesis, titled New 3-thienostilbene Oximes – Synthesis and Spectroscopic Characterization, introduced me to the organic synthesis of biologically active small molecules as potential reactivators of acetylcholinesterase inhibited by organophosphorus nerve agents. For my Master’s project, titled Investigation of Inclusion Complexes of Diamondoid Ammonium Salts with Cyclodextrins, I explored the interesting field of supramolecular host-guest chemistry. During the final semester of my Master’s studies, I completed a second internship through the Erasmus+ program in the Netherlands at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, in the Department of Medicinal Chemistry. There, I worked on a structure-activity relationship (SAR) study for a new series of small molecule ligands targeting atypical chemokine receptor 3 (ACKR3).
Outside of academia, I have a passion for traveling and discovering new cultures, photography, visiting art galleries and museums, and enjoying theatre performances and concerts.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
My PhD project focuses on developing robust, potent and selective peptide-based receptors as carbohydrate-binding molecules (CBMs). Inspired by native lectins, my objective is to design and synthesize lectin-like peptides, or peptide lectinomimics, of both natural and synthetic origin. The peptides will be synthesized using solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). Their specific fold, along with the presence of amino acids capable of forming polar hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions, hold the potential to bind various carbohydrate targets.
Studying their fold using circular dichroism (CD) and designing multivalent versions are key steps toward creating highly potent and practical CBMs. The advantages of peptides over lectins include their smaller size, synthetic feasibility, and the broad range of possible structural modifications. Initial binding studies will be conducted using and comparing multiple techniques such as NMR, ITC, and UV spectroscopy. After confirming binding with smaller monosaccharides, high-throughput screening with carbohydrate microarrays will be performed using selected glycan targets. Molecular modelling will also be employed as a key technique.
The ultimate goal is to apply the most effective binders either as a diagnostic tools or as potential therapeutic agents.
MAIN RESEARCH FIELD
Supramolecular chemistry, chemical biology, organic chemistry, peptide synthesis.
