James Saenz
@jamessaenz.bsky.social
Geochemist and biologist, Interested in lipids, RNA, pathogens, & synthesis of life.
Pinned
James Saenz
@jamessaenz.bsky.social
· Jul 8
Build-a-Cell seminar James Saenz: Harnessing minimal cells to understand the living membranes
YouTube video by Build-a-Cell
youtu.be
How do lipids shape life? I explore this question in my recent talk for the Build-a-Cell 🦠 seminar series. Thanks to @kateadamala.bsky.social for hosting! Watch it here: youtu.be/JnF7hPCiSbI?...
Reposted by James Saenz
Now properly published at @natcomms.nature.com with few additional experiments incl. demonstration of Daptomycin's ability to depolarise non-growing cells.
See the original preprint-thread for a summary of our findings.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#microsky
See the original preprint-thread for a summary of our findings.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#microsky
November 24, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Now properly published at @natcomms.nature.com with few additional experiments incl. demonstration of Daptomycin's ability to depolarise non-growing cells.
See the original preprint-thread for a summary of our findings.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#microsky
See the original preprint-thread for a summary of our findings.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#microsky
What a beautiful evening sky over Dresden…after a bone chilling ride through the Heide 🥶
November 23, 2025 at 4:41 PM
What a beautiful evening sky over Dresden…after a bone chilling ride through the Heide 🥶
Reposted by James Saenz
thinking about how i get anxious writing emails because i don't want to sound like a moron while larry summers is apparently typing emails like this:
u kno she dint want to talk tomorrow. make me bad pheel.
u kno she dint want to talk tomorrow. make me bad pheel.
November 13, 2025 at 1:38 AM
thinking about how i get anxious writing emails because i don't want to sound like a moron while larry summers is apparently typing emails like this:
u kno she dint want to talk tomorrow. make me bad pheel.
u kno she dint want to talk tomorrow. make me bad pheel.
Reposted by James Saenz
Looking forward to participating in this conference!
Come discuss recent breakthroughs in RNA biology, from molecules to organisms, at the EMBO | EMBL Symposium 'The complex life of RNA'! 👉 s.embl.org/ees26-12-bl
Submit your abstract by 7 July and present your research at #EESRNA 🥼
Submit your abstract by 7 July and present your research at #EESRNA 🥼
November 20, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Looking forward to participating in this conference!
Reposted by James Saenz
Biology of bridge-like lipid transfer proteins continues to be uncovered at a rather brisk pace. These things are important... Cool paper, congratulations!
Thrilled to share our latest work showing that the bridge lipid transport protein ATG2A transfers diacylglycerol (DAG), and some TAG/PA, from the ER to LDs, thereby recruiting DGAT2 to drive local TAG synthesis, promoting LD expansion while protecting ER membranes.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
ATG2A-mediated DAG transfer recruits DGAT2 for lipid droplet growth - Nature Structural & Molecular Biology
Elhan et al. show that ATG2A acts with DGAT2, the enzyme producing triacylglycerol (TAG), in lipid droplet growth. By delivering diacylglycerol to lipid droplets, ATG2A not only fuels TAG production b...
www.nature.com
November 18, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Biology of bridge-like lipid transfer proteins continues to be uncovered at a rather brisk pace. These things are important... Cool paper, congratulations!
Reposted by James Saenz
@jcv.bsky.social penned an obituary for Ham Smith in @nature.com. Since the early 90s, Ham has been a key figure at the Institute for his invaluable contributions and mentorship. "Ham was the best colleague that one could ever have in science and a great friend."
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Hamilton Smith obituary: molecular biologist who co-discovered precise molecular scissors for cutting DNA
Nobel laureate who helped to sequence the first bacterial and human genomes.
www.nature.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:32 PM
@jcv.bsky.social penned an obituary for Ham Smith in @nature.com. Since the early 90s, Ham has been a key figure at the Institute for his invaluable contributions and mentorship. "Ham was the best colleague that one could ever have in science and a great friend."
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by James Saenz
It’s a tradition that I ask my “Physics III” class to create some memes about our class material. It’s *also* a tradition that they’re super good at this. Please enjoy, like and share! 🧪
(I promised my students extra game points if this goes nano-viral!)
(Front pic is my own entry.)
1/17
(I promised my students extra game points if this goes nano-viral!)
(Front pic is my own entry.)
1/17
November 1, 2025 at 3:07 PM
It’s a tradition that I ask my “Physics III” class to create some memes about our class material. It’s *also* a tradition that they’re super good at this. Please enjoy, like and share! 🧪
(I promised my students extra game points if this goes nano-viral!)
(Front pic is my own entry.)
1/17
(I promised my students extra game points if this goes nano-viral!)
(Front pic is my own entry.)
1/17
Reposted by James Saenz
Our latest paper is out! While the circadian photoentrainment circuit has been extensively studied, the mechanisms regulating its development remain poorly understood. Here we show that retinal Müller glia play a key role in this process. Check it out! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Retinal glia regulate development of the circadian photoentrainment circuit
Circadian photoentrainment depends on intrinsically photosensitive retinal ganglion cells (ipRGCs), which convey environmental light information to th…
www.sciencedirect.com
October 29, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Our latest paper is out! While the circadian photoentrainment circuit has been extensively studied, the mechanisms regulating its development remain poorly understood. Here we show that retinal Müller glia play a key role in this process. Check it out! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by James Saenz
#ACSChemBio and #Biochemistry invite submissions to a special issue on Lipids and Lipidation guest edited by @chembiobryan.bsky.social and me! Find details in the #CallforPapers and submit your exciting findings to one of these journals by May 31, 2026. axial.acs.org/chemical-bio... #lipidtime
Call for Papers: Lipids and Lipidation | ACS Publications Chemistry Blog
This Special Issue in _ACS Chemical Biology_ will highlight the latest advancements and perspectives in the chemical biology of lipids and lipidation. Submit your manuscript by May 31, 2026.
axial.acs.org
October 28, 2025 at 3:48 PM
#ACSChemBio and #Biochemistry invite submissions to a special issue on Lipids and Lipidation guest edited by @chembiobryan.bsky.social and me! Find details in the #CallforPapers and submit your exciting findings to one of these journals by May 31, 2026. axial.acs.org/chemical-bio... #lipidtime
Reposted by James Saenz
Hilariously bad idea. In my subfield author lists are almost always alphabetical!
🧪For those of us who do complex collaborations with multiple corresponding authors this is terrible . I suspect it will also hit female authors disproportionately as they tend to have more collaborations across fields…https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03281-4
Google Scholar tool gives extra credit to first and last authors
Researchers welcome the initiative, but say it doesn’t go far enough to capture the nuance of researcher productivity and impact.
www.nature.com
October 26, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Hilariously bad idea. In my subfield author lists are almost always alphabetical!
Reposted by James Saenz
Proud to share a preprint of our paper on how bridge-like lipid transport protein VPS13C senses lysosomal membrane tension in anticipation of membrane lesions to initiate net ER-to-lysosome lipid transfer for efficient lysosomal repair www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
VPS13C/PARK23 initiates lipid transfer and membrane remodeling for efficient lysosomal repair
Perturbations in lysosome integrity are tightly linked to neurological disorders and ageing, but the underlying pathogenic mechanisms are incompletely understood. Using an unbiased proteomic approach,...
www.biorxiv.org
October 25, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Proud to share a preprint of our paper on how bridge-like lipid transport protein VPS13C senses lysosomal membrane tension in anticipation of membrane lesions to initiate net ER-to-lysosome lipid transfer for efficient lysosomal repair www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by James Saenz
Beautiful piece of work! Congratulations!
Proud to share a preprint of our paper on how bridge-like lipid transport protein VPS13C senses lysosomal membrane tension in anticipation of membrane lesions to initiate net ER-to-lysosome lipid transfer for efficient lysosomal repair www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
VPS13C/PARK23 initiates lipid transfer and membrane remodeling for efficient lysosomal repair
Perturbations in lysosome integrity are tightly linked to neurological disorders and ageing, but the underlying pathogenic mechanisms are incompletely understood. Using an unbiased proteomic approach,...
www.biorxiv.org
October 25, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Beautiful piece of work! Congratulations!
Reposted by James Saenz
Prof. Hamilton Smith at J. Craig Venter Institute, a Nobel laureate for discovering type II restriction enzymes, passed away last night.
@jcvi.org @nobelprize.bsky.social
A huge loss in Science, but his legacy will be remembered.
www.jcvi.org/about/hamilt...
@jcvi.org @nobelprize.bsky.social
A huge loss in Science, but his legacy will be remembered.
www.jcvi.org/about/hamilt...
October 25, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Prof. Hamilton Smith at J. Craig Venter Institute, a Nobel laureate for discovering type II restriction enzymes, passed away last night.
@jcvi.org @nobelprize.bsky.social
A huge loss in Science, but his legacy will be remembered.
www.jcvi.org/about/hamilt...
@jcvi.org @nobelprize.bsky.social
A huge loss in Science, but his legacy will be remembered.
www.jcvi.org/about/hamilt...
Reposted by James Saenz
Happy birthday to Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, the "Father of Microbiology" and first person to observe bacteria with a microscope! 🔬
Learn how microscopes made microbiology possible, leading to innumerable insights for biology, medicine & technology. asm.org/articles/202...
Learn how microscopes made microbiology possible, leading to innumerable insights for biology, medicine & technology. asm.org/articles/202...
Suddenly I See: How Microscopes Made Microbiology Possible | ASM.org
The direct observation of microorganisms in the 17th century was essential for the field of microbiology to flourish, leading to innumerable insights for biology, medicine and technology.
asm.org
October 24, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Happy birthday to Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, the "Father of Microbiology" and first person to observe bacteria with a microscope! 🔬
Learn how microscopes made microbiology possible, leading to innumerable insights for biology, medicine & technology. asm.org/articles/202...
Learn how microscopes made microbiology possible, leading to innumerable insights for biology, medicine & technology. asm.org/articles/202...
October 20, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Reposted by James Saenz
amazing #lipidtime story from Tontonoz lab! Lipid scrambling and cholesterol accessibility IN T-CELLS regulates nutrient uptake in small intestine 🤯🤯
Physiology is so weird!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Physiology is so weird!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
T cell cholesterol transport links intestinal immune responses to dietary lipid absorption
The intrinsic pathways that control membrane organization in immune cells and their impact on cellular functions are poorly defined. We found that the nonvesicular cholesterol transporter Aster-A link...
www.science.org
October 17, 2025 at 6:33 PM
amazing #lipidtime story from Tontonoz lab! Lipid scrambling and cholesterol accessibility IN T-CELLS regulates nutrient uptake in small intestine 🤯🤯
Physiology is so weird!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Physiology is so weird!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by James Saenz
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT📣: I haven’t been this excited to be part of something new in 15 years… Thrilled to reveal the passion project I’ve been working on for the past year and a half!🙀🥳 (thread 👇)
October 15, 2025 at 12:22 PM
BIG ANNOUNCEMENT📣: I haven’t been this excited to be part of something new in 15 years… Thrilled to reveal the passion project I’ve been working on for the past year and a half!🙀🥳 (thread 👇)
“Treat questions as threats” 😅😅
October 15, 2025 at 4:35 PM
“Treat questions as threats” 😅😅
Reposted by James Saenz
New BBSRC funded PhD opportunity in my group with Inspiralis Ltd and @conradn.bsky.social. If you are interested in RNA - protein interactions and RNA modifications check the details below for how to apply. @nrpdtp.bsky.social @biouea.bsky.social @earlhaminst.bsky.social tinyurl.com/bdzvn4dr
How do RNA molecules shape genome regulation in the nervous system? (AKAY_U26CASE) | Doctoral Training Partnership
This PhD project will investigate how RNA modifications influence the activity of topoisomerase I (TOP1), a crucial enzyme that regulates DNA supercoiling during replication and transcription. Using C...
biodtp.norwichresearchpark.ac.uk
October 12, 2025 at 7:43 PM
New BBSRC funded PhD opportunity in my group with Inspiralis Ltd and @conradn.bsky.social. If you are interested in RNA - protein interactions and RNA modifications check the details below for how to apply. @nrpdtp.bsky.social @biouea.bsky.social @earlhaminst.bsky.social tinyurl.com/bdzvn4dr
Reposted by James Saenz
Extracellular ATP is an environmental cue in bacteria
@cp-cellreports.bsky.social
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
@cp-cellreports.bsky.social
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Extracellular ATP is an environmental cue in bacteria
Extracellular ATP acts as a signal regulating physiology and immunity in eukaryotes
and is elevated during intestinal infection or damage. Tronnet et al. show that extracellular
ATP reprograms the tra...
www.cell.com
October 11, 2025 at 11:59 AM
Extracellular ATP is an environmental cue in bacteria
@cp-cellreports.bsky.social
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
@cp-cellreports.bsky.social
www.cell.com/cell-reports...
Lab hike in the #DresdnerHeide… lots of mushrooms today! And apparently we’ve recruited a new feline lab member 🐈
October 11, 2025 at 11:12 AM
Lab hike in the #DresdnerHeide… lots of mushrooms today! And apparently we’ve recruited a new feline lab member 🐈
Reposted by James Saenz
🫴🏻 Binding of Bacillus subtilis dynamin‐like protein DynA to the bacterial membrane is essential for effective phage defense:
Shafqat - The FEBS Journal - Wiley Online Library febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#subtiwiki
Shafqat - The FEBS Journal - Wiley Online Library febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#subtiwiki
FEBS Press
The bacterial dynamin-like protein DynA from Bacillus subtilis plays a key role in phage defense. It binds the plasma membrane through a unique paddle domain in its D1 subunit. This membrane associat...
febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 10, 2025 at 8:27 AM
🫴🏻 Binding of Bacillus subtilis dynamin‐like protein DynA to the bacterial membrane is essential for effective phage defense:
Shafqat - The FEBS Journal - Wiley Online Library febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#subtiwiki
Shafqat - The FEBS Journal - Wiley Online Library febs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
#subtiwiki
How awesome to catch up with old Simonslab mates in #Saarbrücken at #CellPhysics2025 🎉 It was a wonderful well-organized and inspiring conference, congratulations to the organizers!
Credit to @biancaschrul.bsky.social for the lovely photo 🤩
@sciezgin.bsky.social
Credit to @biancaschrul.bsky.social for the lovely photo 🤩
@sciezgin.bsky.social
October 9, 2025 at 10:00 AM
How awesome to catch up with old Simonslab mates in #Saarbrücken at #CellPhysics2025 🎉 It was a wonderful well-organized and inspiring conference, congratulations to the organizers!
Credit to @biancaschrul.bsky.social for the lovely photo 🤩
@sciezgin.bsky.social
Credit to @biancaschrul.bsky.social for the lovely photo 🤩
@sciezgin.bsky.social
Lipids are so hot right now 🔥
October 9, 2025 at 9:17 AM
Lipids are so hot right now 🔥