Petrovic, Stefan

Biochemistry

Short Biography

Dr. Stefan Petrovic obtained his B.S. in Cell Biology and Biochemistry from Bucknell University with minors in Physics and Mathematics, graduating summa cum laude as a Davis United World College Scholar. He obtained his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 2022, advised by Professor André Hoelz. At Caltech, he also completed his postdoctoral research. His previous work focused on elucidating the structure and function of the nuclear pore complex (NPC), a massive protein assembly that regulates nucleocytoplasmic transport. There, he used a multidisciplinary approach combining X-ray crystallography, cryo-electron microscopy, biochemical reconstitution, and cell-based assays to reveal key aspects of the NPC’s molecular architecture and dynamics. Dr. Petrovic joined the UCLA faculty in 2024 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and a member of the California NanoSystems Institute. Dr. Petrovic’s group now focuses the structure and function of complex cellular structures, with a particular emphasis on tight junctions. This new research direction aims to uncover the fundamental principles governing epithelial and endothelial tissue barriers, with implications for understanding various physiological processes and developing novel therapeutic strategies.

Research Interests

Dr. Petrovic’s research program focuses on elucidating the molecular architecture of tight junctions, crucial cellular structures that regulate the flow of solutes and water across the paracellular space and maintain apical-basolateral membrane polarity in cells. His lab employs a multidisciplinary approach, combining structural biology techniques like cryo-electron microscopy and X-ray crystallography with biochemical reconstitution, cell biology, and functional assays. Key areas of investigation include defining the molecular composition and protein-protein interaction network of tight junction components, decoding how protein composition determines the diversity of paracellular permeability and ion selectivity across tissues, and investigating the regulation of tight junction assembly, disassembly, and signaling in the broader context of cell polarity. The lab also explores tight junction modulation by pathogen factors and works on determining in situ tight junction structures. Additionally, they develop approaches for tight junction-associated disease interventions and permeability modulators. This research aims to provide insights into barrier function and tissue organization across physiological contexts, from the blood-brain barrier to the intestinal epithelium, with potential applications in treating diseases involving barrier dysfunction and improving drug targeting.

Honors & Awards

  • 2022 Herbert Newby McCoy Award, Caltech
  • 2022 Teaching Assistantship Award, Caltech
  • 2016 Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds Graduate Fellowship
  • 2014 Amgen Graduate Fellowship, Caltech
  • 2014 Prize in Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Bucknell University
  • 2014 Teaching Assistant Excellence Award, Bucknell University
  • 2014 Phi Beta Kappa Award for Academic Excellence, Bucknell University

Representative Publications

  1. Petrovic S., et al. (2022) Architecture of the linker-scaffold in the nuclear pore. Science 376, eabm9798.
  2. Bley C.J., # Nie S., # Mobbs G.W., # Petrovic S., # Gres A.T., # Liu X., # et al. (2022) Architecture of the cytoplasmic face of the nuclear pore. Science 376, eabm9129. ** Featured on the COVER of a dedicated special issue of Science with an introduction by Di Jiang and PERSPECTIVE by Thomas U. Schwartz.
  3. Stuwe T., # Bley C.J., # Thierbach K., # Petrovic S., # et al. (2015) Architecture of the fungal nuclear pore inner ring complex. Science 350, 56-64.
  4. Petrovic S., Hoelz A. (2022) Forced entry into the nucleus. Nat. Cell Biol. 24, 810-812.
  5. Petrovic S., # Mobbs G.W., # Bley C.J., # Nie S., # Patke A., Hoelz A. (2022) The structure and function of the nuclear pore complex. Cold Spring Harb. Perspect. Biol. 10.1101/cshperspect.a041264.