Dr Blagojce Jovcevski
Externally-Funded Research Fellow (B)
School of Biological Sciences
Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.
Blagojce completed his PhD at the University of Wollongong in 2017 on understanding the structure-function relationship of small heat-shock proteins, which are associated with numerous neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS, motor neuron disease), using native mass spectrometry and biophysical approaches.
Blagojce joined the University of Adelaide in late 2017 as a Postdoctoral Research Associate working with Prof. Tara Pukala (Discipline of Chemistry, School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences) to utilise mass spectrometry-based techniques to understand the aggregation dynamics of amyloid-fibril forming proteins and their effects on proteostasis. In addition, Blagojce is also an Associate Investigator for the Research Consortium Program for Agriculture Product Development which is supported by the South Australia Department for Industry and Skills (2020-2023).
In 2023, Blagojce joined the Discipline of Molecular & Biomedical Science (School of Biological Sciences) and established the Proteostasis and Disease Research Group - a multidisciplinary team focusing on the mechanisms and molecular networks regulating protein homeostasis (proteostasis) in several cell types (gut and the brain) and their contribution to neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson’s disease and ALS, through funding from The Hospital Research Foundation.
- My Research
- Career
- Publications
- Grants and Funding
- Teaching
- Supervision
- Professional Activities
- Contact
Research Overview
Understanding proteostasis mechanisms in the gut-brain axis in Parkinson's disease and motor neuron disease
The pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is believed to be caused by the aggregation of non-native proteins. Protein aggregation is due to the failure of protien homeostasis (proteostasis) mechanisms to maintain protein foldedness and effectively clear protein aggregates. My group focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms that maintain proteostasis in the gut-brain axis and how issues in this network fail to prevent protein aggregation in the gut, leading to proteinopathies namely Parkinson's disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
Bioactive profiling of high-value commerical and biomedical products from problematic waste biomass
Food waste in Australia is an ever-present economical and environmental issue, costing the Australian economy $37 billion annually with 7.6 million tonnes of food wasted per year and contributing up to 3% to Australia's greenhouse-gas emmisions. Transforming these waste streams to new viable products is therefore vital. I have been utilising analytical chemistry approaches to identify the composition of bioactives in these waste streams and profiling their bioactivities (neuroprotective, antimicrobial, antiviral) to guide the production of commercial and biomedical products through the Research Consortium Program for Agriculture Product Development.
Investigating the structural dynamics of amyloidogenic proteins using mass spectrometry-based approaches
My focus is on understanding the role lipids play in the aggregation dynamics of alpha-synuclein using a range of mass spectrometry-based approaches. Native MS is a high-resolution tool utilised in structural biology which can define a range of structural features within proteins, such as oligomeric distribution and polydispersity, unfolded/unstructured states, assembly stability and quaternary conformation of proteins.
Development of novel peptide-based protein aggregation inhibitors and enzymatic-targetting antimicrobials
My work has also facilitated structure-informed design of peptide-based inhibitors of amyloid fibril formation as potential therapeutics of diseases where protein misfolding and aggregation are central, as well as enzymatic inhibitor screening of novel antimicrobial drugs targeting bacterial and fungal pathogens in collaboration with The Institute for Photonics and Advanced Sensing (IPAS).
Utilising native MS tools as a complementary tool in structural biology and structure-activity relationships
We continuely utilise MS-based approaches to complement traditional structural biology approaches (e.g. X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, NMR) to structurally rationalise biomolecular function/activity to understand molecular chaperone function in proteostasis and guide antifungal and vaccine design against infectious disease.
Prospective Projects (Honours/Masters/PhD)
Project 1
Title: Developing gut-brain axis models mimicking synucleinopathies
Description: Synucleinopathies such as Parkinson’s disease (PD) and dementia with Lewy bodies arise from the formation of intracellular toxic protein aggregates. Formation of α-synuclein aggregates in the gut are trafficked from gut epithelial cells to CNS neurons during disease. This project involves 1) establishing gut and neuronal cell models (as well as mixed cell models) of α-synuclein aggregation, 2) assess the global molecular changes during α-synuclein aggregation, and 3) high-throughput screening of potential drug leads and probing aggregate trafficking mechanisms across cell types.
Location(s): Molecular Life Sciences/Adelaide Microscopy, North Terrace Campus
Available for: Honours/PhD
Project 2
Title: Developing gut-brain axis cell models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Description: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND), also arises from the formation of toxic aggregates of proteins including SOD1 and TDP-43. This project involves 1) establishing gut and neuronal cell models (as well as mixed cell models) of SOD1 and TDP-43 aggregation, 2) assess the global molecular changes during the aggregation of proteins associated with ALS, and 3) high-throughput screening of potential drug leads and probing aggregate trafficking mechanisms across cell types.
Location(s): Molecular Life Sciences/Adelaide Microscopy, North Terrace Campus
Available for: Honours/PhD
Project 3
Title: Establishing the amyloid interactome (aggregome) in the gut-brain axis
Description: Identifying the molecular networks formed during protein aggregation is crucial for biomarker discovery and precision medicine approaches. This project involves 1) the mapping of aggregating protein interactions in gut and neuronal cell models (as well as mixed cell models) of α-synuclein, SOD1 and TDP-43 aggregation.
Location(s): Molecular Life Sciences, North Terrace Campus
Available for: Honours/Masters
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Appointments
Date Position Institution name 2024 - ongoing Research Fellow/Lecturer (B), School of Biological Sciences University of Adelaide 2017 - 2023 Postdoctoral Research Associate (A), School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences University of Adelaide -
Language Competencies
Language Competency Macedonian Can read, speak and understand spoken -
Education
Date Institution name Country Title 2012 - 2017 University of Wollongong Australia PhD (Biological Sciences) 2007 - 2011 University of Wollongong Australia Bachelor of Science (Honours) (Biological Sciences) -
Research Interests
Analytical Biochemistry Biochemistry & Molecular Biology Biochemistry and Cell Biology Biophysics Cell Biology Cellular Interactions Characterisation of Biological Macromolecules Medical Biochemistry: Proteins and Peptides Medical Biotechnology Microbiology Molecular Targets Neurosciences Protein Trafficking Proteins and Peptides Proteomics and Intermolecular Interactions Structural Biology Systems Biology
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Journals
Year Citation 2025 Pachulicz, R. J., Jovcevski, B., Bulone, V., & Pukala, T. L. (2025). Acid-catalysed esterification of anthocyanin glucosyl units by organic acids: Chemical factors and structural implications. Food Chemistry, 480, 143878.
2024 Yu, L., Jovcevski, B., Pukala, T. L., & Bulone, V. (2024). Profiling and optimized extraction of bioactive polyphenolic compounds from young, red-fleshed apple using eco-friendly deep eutectic solvents. Food Research International, 187, 114334.
Scopus4 Europe PMC32023 Pederick, J. L., Klose, J., Jovcevski, B., Pukala, T. L., & Bruning, J. B. (2023). <i>Escherichia coli</i> YgiC and YjfC Possess Peptide─Spermidine Ligase Activity. Biochemistry, 62(4), 899-911.
Scopus4 Europe PMC42023 Pachulicz, R. J., Yu, L., Jovcevski, B., Bulone, V., & Pukala, T. L. (2023). Structural Analysis and Identity Confirmation of Anthocyanins in Brassica oleracea Extracts by Direct Injection Ion Mobility-Mass Spectrometry. ACS Measurement Science Au, 3(3), 200-207.
Scopus9 Europe PMC42023 Stachura, D. L., Nguyen, S., Polyak, S. W., Jovcevski, B., Bruning, J. B., & Abell, A. D. (2023). Structural Study of Potent Triazole-Based Inhibitors of <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> Biotin Protein Ligase. ACS Medicinal Chemistry Letters, 14(3), 285-290.
Scopus1 Europe PMC12023 Frkic, R. L., Pederick, J. L., Horsfall, A. J., Jovcevski, B., Crame, E. E., Kowalczyk, W., . . . Bruning, J. B. (2023). PPARγ Corepression Involves Alternate Ligand Conformation and Inflation of H12 Ensembles. ACS Chemical Biology, 18(5), 1115-1123.
Scopus4 Europe PMC82023 Pantong, W., Pederick, J. L., Maenpuen, S., Tinikul, R., Jayapalan, J. J., Jovcevski, B., . . . Salaemae, W. (2023). Biochemical and Structural Characterization of Meningococcal Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase. Protein Science, 32(6), e4654-1-e4654-13.
Scopus1 Europe PMC22022 Sanders, H. M., Jovcevski, B., Marty, M. T., & Pukala, T. L. (2022). Structural and mechanistic insights into amyloid-β and α-synuclein fibril formation and polyphenol inhibitor efficacy in phospholipid bilayers. The FEBS Journal, 289(1), 215-230.
Scopus22 WoS13 Europe PMC152022 Nguyen, S., Jovcevski, B., Pukala, T. L., & Bruning, J. B. (2022). Structural insights into the antifungal drug target guanosine monophosphate synthase from Aspergillus fumigatus. Acta Crystallographica Section D Structural Biology, 78(2), 1-12.
Scopus6 WoS2 Europe PMC32022 Nguyen, S., Jovcevski, B., Truong, J. Q., Pukala, T. L., & Bruning, J. B. (2022). A structural model of the human plasminogen and Aspergillus fumigatus enolase complex.. Proteins, 90(8), 1509-1520.
Scopus1 Europe PMC12022 Pachulicz, R. J., Yu, L., Jovcevski, B., Bulone, V., & Pukala, T. L. (2022). Polyphenol characterisation and diverse bioactivities of native Australian lilly pilly (Syzygium paniculatum) extract.. Food & Function, 13(16), 8585-8592.
Scopus4 WoS1 Europe PMC22022 Horsley, J. R., Jovcevski, B., Pukala, T. L., & Abell, A. D. (2022). Designer D-peptides targeting the N-terminal region of α-synuclein to prevent parkinsonian-associated fibrilization and cytotoxicity. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Proteins and Proteomics, 1870(10), 140826-1-140826-9.
Scopus10 WoS2 Europe PMC62022 Pederick, J. L., Horsfall, A. J., Jovcevski, B., Klose, J., Abell, A. D., Pukala, T. L., & Bruning, J. B. (2022). Discovery of an ʟ-amino acid ligase implicated in Staphylococcal sulfur amino acid metabolism. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 298(10), 1-16.
Scopus5 WoS1 Europe PMC42022 Stachura, D. L., Nguyen, S., Polyak, S. W., Jovcevski, B., Bruning, J. B., & Abell, A. D. (2022). A New 1,2,3-Triazole Scaffold with Improved Potency against Staphylococcus aureus Biotin Protein Ligase. ACS Infectious Diseases, 8(12), 2579-2585.
Scopus5 WoS2 Europe PMC22021 Nguyen, S., Jovcevski, B., Pukala, T. L., & Bruning, J. B. (2021). Nucleoside selectivity of Aspergillus fumigatus nucleoside-diphosphate kinase.. The FEBS journal, 288(7), 2398-2417.
Scopus8 WoS6 Europe PMC62020 Jovcevski, B., Das, S., Smid, S., & Pukala, T. L. (2020). Polyphenol honokiol and flavone 2′,3′,4′-trihydroxyflavone differentially interact with α-synuclein at distinct phases of aggregation. ACS Chemical Neuroscience, 11(24), 4469-4477.
Scopus17 WoS9 Europe PMC82020 Sajid, M. S., Jovcevski, B., Pukala, T. L., Jabeen, F., & Najam-Ul-Haq, M. (2020). Fabrication of Piperazine Functionalized Polymeric Monolithic Tip for Rapid Enrichment of Glycopeptides/Glycans.. Anal Chem, 92(1), 683-689.
Scopus16 WoS15 Europe PMC42020 Sanders, H. M., Jovcevski, B., Carver, J., & Pukala, T. L. (2020). The molecular chaperone β-casein prevents amorphous and fibrillar aggregation of α-lactalbumin by stabilisation of dynamic disorder. Biochemical Journal, 477(3), 629-643.
Scopus23 WoS16 Europe PMC122020 Wang, C. R., Bubner, E. R., Jovcevski, B., Mittal, P., & Pukala, T. L. (2020). Interrogating the higher order structures of snake venom proteins using an integrated mass spectrometric approach.. J Proteomics, 216, 103680.
Scopus20 WoS13 Europe PMC152020 Horsley, J. R., Jovcevski, B., Wegener, K. L., Yu, J., Pukala, T. L., & Abell, A. (2020). Rationally Designed Peptide-Based Inhibitor of Aβ42 Fibril Formation and Toxicity: A Potential Therapeutic Strategy for Alzheimer's Disease.. Biochem J, 477(11), 2039-2054.
Scopus32 WoS30 Europe PMC332020 Yeoh, Y. Q., Horsley, J., Yu, J., Polyak, S. W., Jovcevski, B., & Abell, A. D. (2020). Short photoswitchable antibacterial peptides. ChemMedChem, 15(16), 1505-1508.
Scopus15 WoS11 Europe PMC52020 Salman Sajid, M., Jovcevski, B., Mittal, P., Fatima, B., Hussain, D., Jabeen, F., . . . Najam-ul-Haq, M. (2020). Glycosylation heterogeneity and low abundant serum glycoproteins MS analysis by boronic acid immobilized Fe<inf>3</inf>O<inf>4</inf>@1,2-Epoxy-5-Hexene/DVB magnetic core shell nanoparticles. Microchemical Journal, 159, 8 pages.
Scopus7 WoS62019 Liu, Y., Jovcevski, B., & Pukala, T. L. (2019). C-Phycocyanin from Spirulina Inhibits α-synuclein and amyloid-β fibril formation but not amorphous aggregation. Journal of Natural Products, 82(1), 66-73.
Scopus32 WoS20 Europe PMC172018 Jovcevski, B., Andrew Aquilina, J., Benesch, J., & Ecroyd, H. (2018). The influence of the N-terminal region proximal to the core domain on the assembly and chaperone activity of αB-crystallin. Cell Stress and Chaperones, 23(5), 827-836.
Scopus8 WoS8 Europe PMC82017 Jovcevski, B., Kelly, M., Aquilina, J., Benesch, J., & Ecroyd, H. (2017). Evaluating the effect of phosphorylation on the structure and dynamics of Hsp27 dimers by means of ion mobility mass spectrometry. Analytical Chemistry, 89(24), 13275-13282.
Scopus13 WoS15 Europe PMC92015 Jovcevski, B., Kelly, M., Rote, A., Berg, T., Gastall, H., Benesch, J., . . . Ecroyd, H. (2015). Phosphomimics destabilize Hsp27 oligomeric assemblies and enhance chaperone activity. Chemistry and Biology, 22(2), 186-195.
Scopus107 WoS97 Europe PMC912015 Cork, A., Ericsson, D., Law, R., Casey, L., Valkov, E., Bertozzi, C., . . . Kobe, B. (2015). Stability of the octameric structure affects plasminogen-binding capacity of streptococcal enolase. PLoS ONE, 10(3), e0121764-1-e0121764-18.
Scopus14 WoS8 Europe PMC112013 Henningham, A., Ericsson, D., Langer, K., Casey, L., Jovcevski, B., Singh Chhatwal, G., . . . Walker, M. (2013). Structure-informed design of an enzymatically inactive vaccine component for group A Streptococcus. mBio, 4(4), e00509-13-1-e00509-13-9.
Scopus24 WoS16 Europe PMC14 -
Book Chapters
Year Citation 2019 Jovcevski, B., & Pukala, T. L. (2019). Mass Spectrometry and Its Applications. In V. Ramesh (Ed.), Biomolecular and Bioanalytical Techniques Theory, Methodology and Applications (pp. 219-253). USA: Wiley.
DOI Scopus3 -
Conference Papers
Year Citation 2023 Nguyen, S., Jovcevski, B., Truong, J. Q., Pukala, T. L., & Bruning, J. B. (2023). A structural model of the human plasminogen and <i>Aspergillus fumigatus</i> enolase complex: insights for antifungal drug discovery. In ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA A-FOUNDATION AND ADVANCES Vol. 79 (pp. C706). INT UNION CRYSTALLOGRAPHY. -
Report for External Bodies
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Preprint
Year Citation 2025 McDougal, D., Pederick, J., Novick, S., Jovcevski, B., Warrender, A., Pascal, B., . . . Bruning, J. (2025). A ternary switch determines ERα LBD conformation.
DOI
| Year | Funding Source/Project Title | Amount (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Moody Trust Fund - Project Grant (Sole CI): Understanding the molecular and biophysical basis of childhood Parkinson’s disease | $2,500 |
| 2025 | MS Australia - Incubator Grant (CID): Understanding neutrophil-driven pathogenic Th17 responses in MS | $25,000 |
| 2025 | Biochemistry Research Foundation Trust Fund - EMCR Project Grant (CIA): Investigating links between lipid metabolism and protein post-translational modifications in Alzheimer’s disease | $30,000 |
| 2024-25 | Biochemistry Research Foundation Trust Fund - Linkage Project Grant (CIA): Discovering drug leads in brewing waste to treat motor neuron disease | $35,000 |
| 2023-26 | The Hospital Research Foundation Group - EMCR Research Fellowship (Sole CI): Developing gut-brain axis cell models to probe proteostasis deficits triggering neurodegeneration | $390,000 |
| 2019 | Postdoctoral Travel Award - Lorne Conference on Protein Structure and Function (Sole CI) | $250 |
| 2018 | Australian Bicentennial Fellowship Travel Award - Menzies Australian Institute (Sole CI) | $1,800 |
| 2015 | American Society of Mass Spectrometry Asilomar Conference on Native Mass Spectrometry Travel Award -American Society of Mass Spectrometry (Sole CI) | $1,500 |
| 2012-16 | Henning Family Foundation PhD Scholarship - Australian Rotary Health (Sole CI) | $101,500 |
Lecturer
Biochemistry II - Molecular & Cellular Biology (BIOCHEM2500/2502), Semester 1
Protein structure and function
Transport proteins and enzyme kinetics
Biochemistry III - Molecular & Structural Biology (BIOCHEM3000/3230/3004), Semester 1
Protein Lifecycle & Protein quality control
Membrane and protein trafficking
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Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2025 Principal Supervisor Characterisation and Profiling of Bioactive Molecules from Food Waste as Inhibitors of Protein Aggregation in Motor Neuron Disease Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Miss Rebekah Grace Munro 2024 Co-Supervisor Investigating the interactions of Calcium and Intergin binding protein 1 and it’s contribution to cancer progression and chemoresistance Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Katrina Louise Schiller 2024 Co-Supervisor Investigating links between lipid metabolism and protein post-translational modifications in Alzheimer's disease Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Mrs Elaheh Eskandari 2024 Co-Supervisor Mass spectrometry Approaches to Analysis Intact Protein Assemblies in the context of protein-misfolding disorders Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Shima Amini -
Past Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name 2021 - 2024 Co-Supervisor Development of Mass Spectrometric-Immunoassays for the Detection of Neurodegenerative Disease Biomarkers Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Mr Shaun Thomas Ellis 2020 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Mass Spectrometric Characterisation of Protein Assemblies from Bitis arietans Snake Venom Master of Philosophy Master Full Time Miss Emily Rose Bubner 2020 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Structural and Biochemical Insights into Antifungal Drug Targets from Aspergillus fumigatus Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Stephanie Nguyen -
Other Supervision Activities
Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name 2025 - ongoing Principal Supervisor Understading SOD1/TDP-43 aggregation in the gut in MND University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Olivia Moore 2025 - ongoing Principal Supervisor Understanding the molecular and biophysical basis of childhood Parkinson’s disease University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Natalie Payne 2024 - 2025 Principal Supervisor Developing cell models to understand α-synuclein aggregation and proteostasis in the gut University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Ms Yifei Yang -
Mentoring
Date Topic Location Name 2022 - ongoing Diagnosis and therapeutics of intrinsically disordered protein misfolding disorders Doctor of Philosophy - University of Adelaide Mr Zohaib Raza 2021 - 2024 Chemical and Functional Exploration of Agricultural Waste for Identification of High Value Bioactives Doctor of Philosophy - University of Adelaide Mr River Jack Pachulicz 2020 - 2024 Structural characterisation of snake venom proteins by mass spectrometry Doctor of Philosophy - University of Adelaide Miss Chia-De Ruth Wang 2020 - 2024 Biophysical characterisation of DNA triplexes for antigene technology Doctor of Philosophy - University of Adelaide Mr Jack Klose 2020 - 2023 The Synthesis and Activity of New Antibiotics Doctor of Philosophy - University of Adelaide Dr Damian Stachura 2019 - 2020 Functionalised polymers for glycopeptide enrichment Doctor of Philosophy - Bahauddin Zakariya University (Pakistan) Mr Muhammad Salman Sajid 2017 - 2021 MASS SPECTROMETRY-BASED STRUCTURAL INSIGHTS INTO PROTEIN ASSEMBLIES Doctor of Philosophy - University of Adelaide Mr Henry Michael Sanders
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Committee Memberships
Date Role Committee Institution Country 2022 - 2023 Board Member Australian and New Zealand Society for Mass Spectrometry Executive Committee Australian and New Zealand Society for Mass Spectrometry Australia 2021 - 2022 Chair Adelaide Protein Group ASBMB Australia 2020 - 2021 Representative ASBMB Liason, Adelaide Protein Group ASBMB Australia 2019 - 2020 Member Lorne Proteins ECR Committee Lorne Proteins Australia -
Memberships
Date Role Membership Country 2019 - ongoing Member Australian and New Zealand Society for Mass Spectrometry Australia 2018 - ongoing Member Adelaide Protein Group Australia 2018 - ongoing Member Australian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Australia 2017 - ongoing Member Cell Stress Society International United States -
Editorial Boards
Connect With Me
External Profiles
