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POSITION
Professor
WORK EXPERIENCE
1985
Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Kyiv State University, Kyiv, Ukraine.
1986–2001
Assoc. Professor
Biology Faculty, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv (Ukraine)
1998-1999
Visiting Scientist
Biophysical laboratories, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Great Britain.
2001-2008
Research Scientist
John Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA
2008–2013
Research Assoc. Professor
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Institute of Fluorescence, University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC), Baltimore, USA
2013-present.
Assoc. Professor
Institute of High Technology, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2018
Head of State Budget Research (SBR): “Computer Modeling and Experimental Research of Biological Nanocomposite Complexes”.
¹.16ÁÔ07-03, Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Institute of High Technology, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine.
2018
Head of Research Laboratory (NDL): "Chemical and biological methods of materials research" of the Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics.
2019-present
Acting Head of the Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Institute of High Technology, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine.
Honors and Awards:
1994
Yaroslav Mudryi Award ¹8 of the Academy of Science of High School of Ukraine for a series of works on chromatin structure and function, and for outstanding contributions to science and education.
1995
Award of the International Soros Science Education Program (ISSEP): in recognition and appreciation of outstanding contributions to science education at the university level. Elected and named as a Soros Associate Professor.
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Principles of structural organization of biological macromolecules
Research Fields:
Biology & Biochemistry
Chemistry
Materials Science
Molecular Biology & Genetics
Previous and Current Research
- Structure and function of chromatin transcription activators – HMG proteins;
- Investigation of mechanisms of activation of interferon regulator factor 3: the role of C-terminal domain phosphorylation in IRF-3 dimerization and DNA binding;
- Study of assembling the human IFN-beta enhanceosome in model conditions in solution;
- Thermodynamics of Protein/DNA Complexes and Micro-calorimetry;
- Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Anisotropy in the Analysis of DNA-Protein Interactions;
- What drives proteins into the major and minor grooves of DNA?
- Interpreting protein/DNA interactions: distinguishing specific from non-specific and electrostatic from non-electrostatic components;
- Experimental study of DNA Hydration by novel approach - Pressure Perturbation Scanning Microcalorimetry;
- Development of a novel approach: Plasmon Resonance Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence for application in Biology and Medicine;
- Fluorescence Properties of super dyes (SYBR Green I and Pico Green) and their Interactions with DNA;
- Development of two-color, 30 second Microwave-Accelerated Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence DNA assays: A new Rapid Catch and Signal (RCS) technology in Biology and Medicine;
Selected Grants:
Principal Investigator. “Structure and Function of the Chromosomal Activator Protein HMG1” funded by the European Union INTAS Program (INTAS-94-0280), 1997-1998.
Research Scientist. “Forces stabilizing protein structure” supported by National Institute of Health Grant (NIH Grant GM48036-10), USA, 2001-2004.
Co-Principal Investigator on the project “Energetics of DNA recognition by the bZIP transcription factors” supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF Grant MCB0519381), USA, 2005-2008.
Investigator on the project “Ultra Fast DNA quantitation assays” supported by MedImmune LLC, USA, 2008 – 2011.
Investigator on the project “Stability and self-association of IgG proteins”, supported by MedImmune LLC, USA, 2009 – 2013.
Investigator on the project “Ultra-Fast and Ultra-Sensitive Anthrax toxin detection assay based on Microwave-Accelerated Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence (MAMEF-ELISA)” supported by the Biological Defense Research Directorate,USA, 2009 – 2013.
Future Projects and Goals
Fields of scientific interests:
Principles of structural organization of biological macromolecules, their interactions and cooperation in formation of specific protein-protein and protein/DNA complexes. The energetics of bio-molecular structures, the forces determining the folding and stability of biopolymers, the mechanisms of their association with partners. Understanding of the physical basis of such biological systems is important not only for fundamental research in biology but also for practical exploitation of these fundamental achievements, particularly in engineering various analytical applications.
A recent interest has been the theory of Plasmon Resonance Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence (MEF) and its application for rapid analysis of drugs, proteins and DNA; in particular, the creation of new sensor platforms in medicine and biology based on advanced spectroscopy and nanotechnologies.
Methodological and Technical Expertise
Inventions:
- Dragan, A.I. and Khrapunov, S.N. “Method of mutagenic treatment of plants”. Inventor’s certificate issued by the State Committee on Matters of Inventions and Discoveries of the USSR, No. 1765926. Priority date: July 12, 1990, Registration date: June 12, 1992.
- Geddes, C.D. and Dragan, A.I. “Tunable Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence Enhancement Factors” Provisional Application for Patent. Docket Number: UMBC2611CG. Date: 2010-05-11. Registration Number: 44903.
Review Services
Reviewer for the journals: Nucleic Acids Research, Journal of Molecular Biology, Biophysical Chemistry, Biophysical Journal.
Selected Publications
Books and chapters:
1. Crane-Robinson, C., Dragan, A. I. and Read, C. M. (2009) Defining the Thermodynamics of Protein/DNA Complexes and Micro-calorimetry. Chapter in book: Methods in Molecular Biology, 543, 625-651.
2. Favicchio, R., Dragan, A. I., Kneale, G and Read C. M. (2009) Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Anisotropy in the Analysis of DNA-Protein Interactions. Chapter in book: Methods in Molecular Biology, 543, 589-611.
3. Dragan, A. I. & Privalov, P. L. (2008) Use of fluorescence energy transfer (FRET) in studying protein-induced DNA bending (Review). Chapter in book: Methods in Enzymology, Fluorescence Spectroscopy, volume 450, 185-199.
4. Privalov, P.L & Dragan. A.I. (2007) Heat capacity microcalorimetry in studying the energetic bases of proteins and their complexes. Chapter in Protein Structures: Methods in Protein Structure and Stability Analysis. ; Ed. V. Uversky, Nova Science Publisher, Inc. NY.
Papers:
5. Dragan A.I., Read Ch., Crane-Robinson C., Heat Capacity Changes Reveal Hydration Differences between the Major and Minor Grooves of DNA. Eur Biophys J., 2019 Mar;48(2),131-138.
6. Dragan A.I., Read Ch., Crane-Robinson C., Enthalpy-entropy compensation: the role of solvation. Eur Biophys J., Biophysics of Structure and Mechanism 2017, 46(4), 301-308.
7. Mykuliak V., Dragan A.I. and Kornelyuk O.I., Structural states of flexible catalytic loop of M. tuberculosis tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase in different enzyme-substrate complexes. Eur. Biophys J., 2014. Vol.43, N12, p.613-622.
8. Mali, B., Dragan, A.I., Karolin, J. and Geddes, C.D. (2013) Photophysical characterization and a-type delayed luminescence of rapidly prepared Au clusters. J.Phys.Chem. C, 117, 16650-16657.
9. Dragan, AI., Mali, B., and Geddes, CD., (2013). Wavelength-dependent Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence using synchronous spectral analysis, Chemical Physics Letters, 556, 168-172.
10. Dragan, A.I., Pavlovic, R., McGivney, J.B., Casas-Finet, J.R., Bishop, E.S., Strouse, R.J., Schenerman, M.A., Geddes, C.D. (2012) SYBR Green I: Fluorescence Properties and Interaction with DNA. J. Fluorescence, 22(4), 1189-1199.
11. Dragan, A.I., Albrecht, M.T., Pavlovic, R., Keane-Myers, A.M. and Geddes, C.D. (2012) Ultra-Fast pg/ml Anthrax toxin (PA) detection assay based on Microwave Accelerated Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence, Analytical Chemistry, 425(1), 54-61.
12. Dragan, A.I. and Geddes, C.D. (2011) Excitation Volumetric Effect (EVE) in Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 13, 3831-3838.
13. Privalov, P.L., Dragan, A.I. and Crane-Robinson, C.R. (2011) Interpreting protein/DNA interactions: distinguishing specific from non-specific and electrostatic from non-electrostatic components. Nucleic Acid Research, Survey and Summary, 39(7), 2483-2491.
14. Dragan, A.I., Casas-Finet, J.R., Bishop, E.S., Strouse, R.J., Schenerman, M.A. and Geddes, C.D. (2010) Characterization of PicoGreen interaction with dsDNA and the origin of its fluorescence enhancement upon binding. Biophysical Journal, 99 (9), 3010-3019.
15. Dragan, A. I. Russel, D.J. and Privalov, P. L. (2009) DNA Hydration Studied by Pressure Perturbation Scanning Microcalorimetry, Biopolymers. 91(1):95-101.
16. Dragan, A.I., Geddes, C.D. (2009) Plasmonic electricity: A Digital form of Metal-Enhanced Fluorescence. Biophysical Journal, 96 (3), 45a-46a.
17. Dragan, A.I., Carrillo, R., Gerasimova, T.I., Privalov, P.L. (2008) Assembling the human IFN-beta enhanceosome in solution. J Mol Biol., Dec 12; 384(2), 335-48.
18. Dragan, A. I. & Privalov, P. L. (2008) Use of fluorescence energy transfer (FRET) in studying protein-induced DNA bending (Review). Chapter in book: Methods in Enzymology, Fluorescence Spectroscopy, volume 450, 185-199.
19. Dragan, A.I., Hargreaves, V.V., Makeyeva, E.N. & Privalov, P.L. & (2007) Mechanisms of activation of interferon regulator factor 3: the role of C-terminal domain phosphorylation in IRF-3 dimerization and DNA binding. Nucleic Acids Res. 35(11), 3525-3534.
20. Privalov, P.L., Dragan, A.I., Crane-Robinson, C., Breslauer, K.J., Remeta, D.P. and Minetti, C.A. (2007) What drives proteins into the major and minor grooves of DNA. Biopysical Journal, Suppl. S, 231A-231A.
21. McDonald, R.J., Dragan, A.I., Kirk, W.R., Neff, K.L., Privalov, P.L. & Maher, L.J. (2007) DNA bending by charged peptides: electrophoretic and spectroscopic analyses. Biochemistry 46(9), 2306-16.
22. Privalov, P.L., Dragan, A.I., Crane-Robinson, C., Breslauer, K.J., Remeta, D.P. & Minetti, C.A. What drives proteins into the major or minor grooves of DNA? J. Mol Biol. 2007 Jan 5;365(1), 1-9.
23. Dragan, A.I., Li, Z., Makeyeva, E., Milgotina, E., Liu, Y., Crane-Robinson, C. & Privalov, P.L (2006) Forces driving the binding of homeodomains to DNA. Biochemistry, 45, 141-151.
24. Hargreaves, V.V, Makeyeva, E.N., Dragan. A.I. & Privalov, P.L (2005) Stability and DNA binding ability of the DNA binding domains of interferon regulatory factors 1 and 3. Biochemistry, 44, 14202-14209.
25. Dragan A.I., Frank L., Liu Y., Makeyeva E. N., Crane-Robinson C. & Privalov P.L. (2004) Thermodynamic signature of GCN4-bZIP binding to DNA indicates the role of water in discriminating between the AP-1 and ATF/CREB sites. J.Mol. Biol. 343, 865-878.
26. Dragan, A.I., Potekhin, S.A., Sivolob, A.V., Lu M. and Privalov, P.L. (2004) Kinetics and Thermodynamics of the Unfolding and Refolding of the Three-Stranded alpha-Helical Coiled Coil, Lpp-56. Biochemistry 43(47), 14891-14900.
27. Dragan A.I., Read C. M., Makeyeva E. N., Milgotina E. I., Churchill M.E.A.,Crane-Robinson C. & Privalov P.L. (2004) DNA binding and bending by sequence specific HMG boxes: energetic determinants of specificity. J. Mol. Biol. 343, 371-393.
28. Dragan A.I., Liu Y., Makeyeva E. N. & Privalov P.L. (2004) GCN4-bZIP induces bending of both the ATF/CREB and AP-1 binding sites of DNA. Nucleic Acids Res. 32, 5192-5197.
29. Dragan A.I., Klass J., Read C., Churchill M.E.A., Crane-Robinson C. & Privalov P.L. (2003) DNA binding of a non-sequence-specific HMG-D protein is entropy driven with a substantial non-electrostatic contribution. J. Mol. Biol.
331, 795-813.
30. Dragan, A.I., Liggins J.R., Crane-Robinson C. & Privalov P.L. (2003) The energetics of specific binding of AT-hooks from HMGA1 to target DNA. J.Mol.Biol. 327, 393-411.
Research Gate: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Anatoliy_Dragan
Scopus: https://www.scopus.com/authid/detail.uri?authorId=7003565564
h-index: 25; total citations: 1877.
Contacts
E-mails: aidragan@univ.kiev.ua; anatoliy.dragan@gmail.com
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