Davorka Breljak

Rijeka, 14 May 1968

• 2003 PhD degree in Natural Science (field of Biology), Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia. PhD thesis: ”Regulation of the expression of aminopeptidase N (EC 3.4.11.2; APN, CD13) in the HL-60 cell line”, supervised by dr. Jelka Gabrilovac, PhD
• 1997 M.Sc. degree in Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia. Master thesis: ”Effect of oligopeptide fragments of the enkephalin molecule and inhibitors of their degradation on bone marrow cells”, supervised by prof. Milivoj Boranic, MD, PhD
• 1995 – 1997 Postgraduate Study of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia 1993 BSc degree in Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia. Graduation thesis: ”Ovisnost učinka Met-enkefalina o dnevnom ritmu diobene aktivnosti stanica mišje koštane srži”, supervised by prof. Milivoj Boranic, MD, PhD
• 1988 – 1993 Graduate Study of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Croatia
• 1983 – 1987 High school ‘’Mirko Lenac’’, Rijeka, Croatia
• 1975 – 1983 Elementary School ‘’Dr. Branimir Markovic’’, Ravna Gora, Croatia

• June 2005 – present: Molecular Toxicology Unit, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, Zagreb, Croatia
• June 1994 – May 2005: Laboratory for Experimental Hematology, Immunology and Oncology, Department of Molecular Medicine, Ruđer Boskovic Institute, Zagreb, Croatia

• Experimental physiology and toxicology: cell localization and mRNA/protein expression of membrane transporters for organic anions, organic cations, water and glucose in various organs/tissues of human and experimental animals (rats and mouse).
• Professional skills: Molecular biology techniques (RNA extraction, reverse transcription, end-point PCR, quantitative PCR, electrophoresis of nucleic acids, SDS-PAGE, Western blotting), isolation of plasma membranes and tissue homogenates (differential centrifugation and ultracentrifugation), animal cell culture techniques (cultivation of cell lines in vitro, clonal culture of mouse bone marrow cells in vitro), microscopic techniques (light and fluorescence microscopy), immunocytochemistry, experimental work with small laboratory animals (mice and rats), design of experiments, analysis of data, evaluation of results, supervising of PhD students and writing of scientific articles.

1. Breljak D, Ljubojević M, Hagos Y, Micek V, Balen Eror D, Vrhovac Madunić I, Brzica H, Karaica D, Radović N, Kraus O, Anzai N, Koepsell H, Burckhardt G, Burckhardt BC, Sabolić I. Distribution of organic anion transporters NaDC3 and OAT1-3 along the human nephron. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 311:F227-38, 2016.
2. Ljubojević M, Breljak D, Herak-Kramberger CM, Anzai N, Sabolić I. Expression of basolateral organic anion and cation transporters in experimental cadmium nephrotoxicity in rat kidney. Arch Toxicol 90:525-41, 2016.
3. Vrhovac I, Balen Eror D, Klessen D, Burger C, Breljak D, Kraus O, Radović N, Jadrijević S, Aleksic I, Walles T, Sauvant C, Sabolić I, Koepsell H. Localizations of Na+-D-glucose cotransporters SGLT1 and SGLT2 in human kidney and of SGLT1 in human small intestine, liver, lung, and heart. Pflugers Arch. 467:1881-98, 2014. (IF = 4,1; Q1).
4. Herak-Kramberger CM, Breljak D, Ljubojević M, Matokanović M, Lovrić M, Rogić D, Brzica H, Vrhovac I, Karaica D, Micek V, Dupor JI, Brown D, Sabolić I. Sex-dependent expression of water channel AQP1 along the rat nephron. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 308:F809-21, 2015. (IF = 3,39; Q1).
5. Breljak D, Brzica H, Sweet DH, Anzai N, Sabolic I. Sex-dependent expression of Oat3 (Slc22a8) and Oat1 (Slc22a6) proteins in murine kidneys. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 304:F1114-1126, 2013. (IF = 3,3; Q1).
6. Sabolic I, Vrhovac I, Eror DB, Gerasimova M, Rose M, Breljak D, Ljubojevic M, Brzica H, Sebastiani A, Thal SC, Sauvant C, Kipp H, Vallon V, Koepsell H. Expression of Na+-D-glucose cotransporter SGLT2 in rodents is kidney-specific and exhibits sex and species differences. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 302:C1174-1188, 2012. (IF = 3,61; Q1).
7. Gorboulev V, Schürmann A, Vallon V, Kipp H, Jaschke A, Klessen D, Friedrich A, Scherneck S, Rieg T, Cunard R, Veyhl-Wichmann M, Srinivasan A, Balen D, Breljak D, Rexhepaj R, Parker HE, Gribble FM, Reimann F, Lang F, Wiese S, Sabolic I, Sendtner M, Koepsell H. Na(+)-D-glucose cotransporter SGLT1 is pivotal for intestinal glucose absorption and glucose-dependent incretin secretion. Diabetes 61:187-96, 2012. (IF = 7,89; Q1).
8. Breljak D, Ljubojevic M, Balen D, Zlender V, Brzica H, Micek V, Kusan M, Anzai N, Sabolic I. Renal expression of organic anion transporter Oat5 in rats and mice exhibits the female-dominant sex differences. Histol Histopathol 25:1385-1402, 2010. (IF = 2,5; Q2).
9. Sabolic I, Breljak D, Skarica M, Herak-Kramberger CM. Role of metallothionein in cadmium traffic and toxicity in kidneys and other mammalian organs. Biometals 23:897-926, 2010. (IF = 2,32; Q3).
10. Balen D, Ljubojević M, Breljak D, Brzica H, Zlender V, Koepsell H, Sabolic I. Revised immunolocalization of the Na+-D-glucose cotransporter SGLT1 in rat organs with an improved antibody. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 295:C475-C489, 2008. (IF = 3,89; Q1).

The Croatian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Research projects

• 2016 – present Principal investigator of the scientific project ”Aging-related expression of membrane transporters in rat” – AGEMETAR; No IP-2013-11-1481, funded by the Croatian Science Foundation
• 2015 Associate investigator on the scientific project of the scientific project ”Aging-related expression of membrane transporters in rat” – AGEMETAR; No IP-2013-11-1481, funded by the Croatian Science Foundation; principal investigator: dr. Ivan Sabolic, M.D., Ph.D.
• 2007 – 2013 Associate investigator on the scientific project ”Mammalian Renal Transporters: Gender Differences and Effects of Toxic Metals”, No 0222148-2146; financed by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sport, Republic of Croatia; principal investigator: dr. Ivan Sabolic, M.D., Ph.D.
• 2005 – 2006 Associate investigator on the scientific project ”Mechanisms of Heavy Metal Toxicity in Kidney and Reproductive Tract”, No 0022011, financed by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sport, Republic of Croatia; principal investigator: dr. Ivan Sabolic, M.D., Ph.D.
• 2002 – 2005 Associate investigator on the scientific project ”Regulation of Ectopeptidases and Opioid Receptors Expression”, No 0098094, financed by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Republic of Croatia; principal investigator: dr. Jelka Gabrilovac, Ph.D.
• 1994 – 2002 Associate investigator on the scientific project ”Opioid peptides and hematopoiesis”, Project No 00981106, financed by the Ministry of Science and Technology, Republic of Croatia, principal investigator: prof. Milivoj Boranic, M.D., Ph.D.