Cross-Links between Thymine and Tryptophan Radical: Possible ...

Prof. Dr. Petar M. Mitrasinovic
Dr. Mitrasinovic (1968- ) is a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, India,
a professor at the Belgrade Institute of Science and Technology, Serbia, a visiting professor at
Wakayama University, Japan, and an invited professor at several universities in Japan (University
of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Nagoya University, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, RIKEN
Institute), Europe and Canada.
He earned his B.Sc., Dipl.Ing.-Master (1993) in control engineering and magister (1995) in
materials science and nanotechnology from the University of Belgrade, Serbia. In his magister’s
thesis, a new methodology for C60 commercial production has been proposed. Several years later, in
the United States of America (USA), the laser-based C60 synthesis has been optimized in terms of
achieving the highest yields and production rates.
He obtained his Ph.D. (2002) in chemistry from Florida State University, USA, where he
was employed as lecturer. In his doctoral dissertation, the structure of isolated atoms and their
chemistry forming molecules have been shown to be a physical consequence of the wave-like
nature of an electron and a novel concept, the delocalization shell-like structure of electrons, has
been introduced. In this way, an official understanding relating traditional shells to atoms, not to the
behavior of electrons, and present in most of the university textbooks in physics and chemistry has
been disputed.
During 2002, Dr. Mitrasinovic was a European Union Research Fellow at the University of
Mons-Hainaut, Belgium. His work in Belgium has fundamentally established the quantum theory of
atoms in molecules (QTAIM) as an invaluable tool for investigating surface chemistry problems
and has employed the theory to determine the nature of the interfacial interactions between organic
molecules and metallic surfaces from the physically meaningful standpoints.
During 2003 and 2004, Dr. Mitrasinovic was an Izaak Walton Killam Fellow at Dalhousie
University, Halifax, Canada. He has successfully developed reaction mechanisms for the crosslinking
of DNA and tryptophan-containing peptides by ionizing radiation and has determined the
physical conditions influencing a most likely reaction pathway. In addition, his new insights into the
electronic basis of donor-acceptor interactions have placed the chemistry of donor-acceptor
molecules on a more rational ground.
During 2005, Dr. Mitrasinovic was an IBM Research Scientist at Henri Poincare University,
Nancy, France. His work in France resulted in proposing the possible ways of resolving structural
ambiguities related to the flexibility of the sugar-phosphate backbone of RNA in a 2.5-3 Ang.
resolution range, which is typically attainable by experiment in case of large biologically relevant
nucleic acids.
Dr. Mitrasinovic was an associate professor of biophysics (2006-8) in the Center for
Multidisciplinary Studies, University of Belgrade, Serbia. His research team has elucidated the most
essential phenomena underlying the radioresistance of prostate carcinoma cells to ionizing radiation
at the molecular level. Shortly afterwards, he has elucidated the molecular mechanism of the
resistance of avian (H5N1) influenza A virus neuraminidase to the action of oseltamivir (Tamiflu) -

the most effective currently approved drug. Consequently, he has proposed the chemical structures
of two new H5N1 neuraminidase inhibitors aimed to circumvent Tamiflu resistance.
His group is currently engaged in the modeling of a variety of biomolecular complexes that
are relevant for envisioning the more creative strategies for the design and development of novel
anti-HIV drugs and anti-cancer agents.
Prof. Mitrasinovic has published more than 50 original scientific articles (of which 15 as a
single author) and 15 review papers in leading international journals, 6 book chapters and 6 books
in chemistry, biophysics, drug design, bioinformatics, materials science, and nanotechnology. He
has been plenary/invited speaker at numerous meetings, universities and institutes worldwide. He is
Guest Editor of Current Organic Chemistry and of Current Bioinformatics, Academic Editor of
British Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, Editor of Biomedical Science and Engineering,
reviewer for prestigious international scientific journals and agencies, and is currently serving on
editorial boards of 4 international journals.
Prof. Mitrasinovic has been elected Full Member of the European Society of Computational
Methods in Science and Engineering since 2005 and the recipient of several international
recognitions: the Izaak Walton Killam Memorial Award (2003-04) from Dalhousie University,
Canada, in recognition of outstanding academic achievements, the Indian National Science
Academy Professorship (2009-12), the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Professorship
(2011-12) and the International Scientist of the Year 2008 Award from the International Bio-center
in Cambridge, UK.