A short history of the Department
The Department of Molecular Biology (now Department of Physics of Biological Systems) was foundedat the premises of the Institute of Physics in 1958 and was
headed byAcademician Elevter Andronikashvili. The main scientific field of the Department was study of dynamic features of biological macromolecules with
physical and chemical methods in case of healthy norms and cancers, and influence of metal ions on biomacromolecule structures and functions. Some very important results
have been obtained in this field.
In 1964, P. Privalov and J. Monaselidze invented the first high sensitive adiabatic differential scanning microcalorimeter (See
,
which enabled to measure thermodynamic parameters of DNA, connective protein (collagen) and many other globular proteins.In 1968, the conducted works wer awarded with the State
Award (E. Andronikashvili, P. Privalov). After that, this method became acknowledged as one of the leading methods for characterization of dynamic
structures of biological macromolecules. Afterwards, this method developed internationally along relevant developments at the Institute of Physics (J.
Monaselidze, N. Bakradze, E. Kiziria, G. Majagaladze, V. Sokhadze, G. Tvauri, and S. Gogichaishvili).Six patents/copyrights and more than 200 scientific publications in
high impact factor Journals have been published in this field of inventions/studies.
Among the studies conducted at our Department, it should also be mentioned that a quantitative evaluation ofsome toxic and mutagen metal in biological objects have
been done with help of neutron activation analysis (L. Mosulishvili), and quantitative content of the bound water in normal and cancer tissues and plant tissues have been
measured with low-temperature calorimetry (G. Mrevlishvili, N. Bakradze, E. Kiziria, M. Abuladze). In owrDepartment, there was designed a modified atom
spectrophotometer (US Patent 2003, A. Rcheulishvili) and two types of glow discharge atom-emission spectrophotometers (V. Bregadze). A new biochip
technology was created in our Department for rapid diagnosis of viral and bacterial diseases as well as for identification of microorganisms causing adverse
environmental conditions (N. Sapojnikova, N. Asatiani, T. Kartvelishvili).
The Department staff has been awarded many international and local grants for study structures and functions of biopolymers, as well as quantitative analysis of
microelements in biological objects.
At present, 5 groups are functioning at the Department and the whole staff consists of 3 leading scientists, 13 senior scientists, 11 scientists, 4 engineers, and 2 laboratory
assistants. The groups are leaded by V. Bregadze, E. Kiziria, N. Sapozhnikova, A. Rcheulishvili, and J. Monaselidze.
Main research fields
- Cancer diagnostics with differential scanning calorimeter have been developing by our Department. Using some genetic and microcalorimetric methods, we have
studied influenceof peptide bioregulators on the chromatin fine structure that has the epigenetic nature. Using microcalorimetry and optical methods, we have
investigated effects ofγ-irradiation and metal ions on proteins of Spirulina platensis, their complexes and genetic material (E. Ghelaghutashvili, N.
Bagdavadze, M. Kiladze, M. Gorgoshidze). Also we haverecently published the following USA and Canadian international patents:
Jamlet MONASELIDZE, Gia NEMSADZE, Maya GORGOSHIDZE.
Differential scanning microcalorimeter device for detecting disease and monitoring therapeutic efficacy. (2019) US Patent US20190003995A1, 34 pages
Jamlet MONASELIDZE, Gia NEMSADZE, Maya GORGOSHIDZE. Cannadian patent CA3011444A1, international publishing number WO 2017/122174 A1, 67 pages (2017).>
- The low-pressure inductively bounded plasma as a linear spectra source was offered to use in cancer phototherapy on example of DNA (V. Bregadze).
- We have created a low-density information DNA microchip to detect and identify oilfield microorganisms involved in and causing biocorrosion
(N. Sapojnikova, T. Kartvelishvili, N. Asatiani et al., USA patent 15/949,400 "Biochips and rapid methods for detecting organisms
involved in microbially influenced corrosion (MIC)" (2018)
);
a biochip fo early diagnosis of infections hazardous forprenatal and newborns (TORCH-biochip); a biochip for identification of main bacterial groups with heavy metal
bioremediation potential; a multi-complex PJR approach for detection of GMO organisms in different foods containing soy bens, tomatoes, and corn.
- The experiments at our department also include study of metal ion distribution between bacterial fractions during their growth;and influence of metal ions
onCr(VI) restoration process by Arthrobacter-type bacteria.A differential atomic-absorption spectrometer is created (designed) and its characteristics are studied.
Influence of Mg on Zn, Cu and Cr absorption process by Arthrobacterglobiformis 151B is investigated, and changes in the cyanobacterium Spirulina
platensis biomass when loading known quantities of Cr, Se, Zn, Ni, Cu, Ag, Cd and Hg separately into the nutrient Zarrouk is studied(group headed by A. Rcheulishvili).
Collaboration
The Department has been collaborating with colleagues from the following leading scientific institutions:
- Great Dome Associates, US
- University of Portsmouth, UK
- E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, US
- Biozentrum, SektionfürKlinischeBiochemie
- MedizinischeUniversität Innsbruck, Austria
- St. Petersburg Institute of High Molecular Compounds
- Max-Planck Institute of Experimental Medicine, Department of Chemistry, Göttingen, Germany
- Institute of Biophysics, Budapest Medical University, Hungary
- Institute of Microbiology and Experimental therapy, Jena, Germany
- Belgrade University
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Moscow
- Erevan State University
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, E.O. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Laboratory of Chemical and Biological Dynamics, KatholiekeUniversiteit Leuven
- Department of Chemical Enzymology, Department of Chemistry, Moscow State University M.V. Lomonosov
- Laboratoire de ChimieBactérienne, Centre National de la RechercheScientifique
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, USA
- Oncological Science Centre, Ac. Mad. Sci. Moscow
International conferences organized by the Department
Conference series: Conformational Transitions in Biomolecules in Solutions. 1971, 1973, 1975, 1978, 1980, 1985, 1989,Institute of Physics, Tbilisi, Georgia.
Physics of DNA and Molecular Mechanisms of Genome Functioning. 1987, Institute of Physics, Tbilisi, Georgia.
Teaching
The Department has a long-term experience of teaching and of working with MSc and students in Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Tbilisi State University, and
Tbilisi Free University. The leading scientists of the department supervised 32 Ph.D. theses in the above scientific fields.
|
|
Staff:
Leading Scientists:
Senior Scientists:
Scientists:
Engineers:
Laboratory Assistants:
|
|