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John Rubinstein

@johnrubinstein.bsky.social

2.1K followers 520 following 180 posts

CryoEM, Bioenergetics, V-ATPases (especially in synaptic vesicles and lysosomes), OxPhos (especially in mycobacteria as a TB drug target) Scientist, The Hospital for Sick Children Professor, U of Toronto 👨‍👩‍👧🔬🚲 rubinsteinlab.org COI: structura.bio

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John Rubinstein @johnrubinstein.bsky.social · May 16

EtfD links beta oxidation to OxPhos in mycobacteria - recent work suggests that targeting EtfD could shorten #tubeculosis treatment.
But how does EtfD work? And how can you assay its activity?
In his final PhD manuscript @courbongautier.bsky.social provides answers!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

A) Diagram showing how EtfD transfers electrons from beta oxidation to the menaquinol pool in the membrane, linking beta oxidation to oxidative phosphorylation in mycobacteria.
B) A growth curve showing the Mycobacterium smegmatis lacking EtfD can grow when glucose is provided as the carbon source, but has a slight growth delay. Complementing the ∆etfD strain with M. tuberculosis on a plasmid rescues the defect.
C) A growth curve showing that ∆etfD M. smegmatis cannot grow on medium where the fatty acid oleic acid is the only carbon source. A plasmid with with M. tuberculosis EtfD rescues the defect.

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Joachim Frank @joachim123.bsky.social · 2d

I'm excited to report that a species has been named after my son Ze Frank, "in recognition of his outstanding contributions to science communication, which have inspired curiosity, wonder, and deeper public engagement with the natural world"

The certificate by Senckenberg Ocean Species Alliance, issued in Voncina, 2025, spells out that a newly described species of chiton has been formally named Craspedochiton zefranki. This is in recognition of his outstanding contributions to science communication, which have inspired curiosity, wonder, and deeper public engagement with the natural world.

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Filip Van Petegem @filipvanpetegem.bsky.social · 5d

Our cryo-EM structure of the intermediate state of the KCNQ1 potassium channel is out. Collaborative effort with the David Fedida and Luca Maragliano labs. Cryo-EM work spearheaded by Efthimios Kyriakis, PhD

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

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Ben Engel @cellarchlab.com · 8d

EXCITING NEWS!! We're searching for a new professor colleague at the Biozentrum🇨🇭. Ideal candidates are exploring novel biological questions with structure, biophysics, or high-resolution imaging. 🧪 🧶🧬 🔬

The call closes Nov 3. Please get in touch if you would like more information. Come join us! 👩‍🔬🤓

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Lori Passmore @lapassmore.bsky.social · 11d

We have an open post-doc position in my group to study mRNA cleavage and polyadenylation using biochemical reconstitution and cryoEM.

Please get in touch if you are interested in joining this amazing team! 🔬🧬🤩
#RNA #cryoEM

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John Rubinstein @johnrubinstein.bsky.social · 19d

Is that the F20??

John Rubinstein @johnrubinstein.bsky.social · 21d

Nice! Congratulations!

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Ed Twomey @cryoet.bsky.social · 22d

🚨🧠🔬 A major breakthrough in molecular neuroscience:

I am excited to share a new story from our lab, published in accelerated format today by @nature.com:

"Delta-type glutamate receptors are ligand-gated ion channels"

Read more here (free article link): rdcu.be/eGIKz

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Rebecca Mosher @rm0sher.bsky.social · 23d

Three Associate Professor (or Professor) positions available at Oxford Biology. Come be my colleague! www.biology.ox.ac.uk/article/we-a...

We are hiring! Oxford biology has three associate professorships available as we move to new state-of-the-art facilities

www.biology.ox.ac.uk

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W. Brent Derry @wbderry.bsky.social · 26d

Proud to be a scientist at SickKids. www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/arti... @sickkidsto.bsky.social

SickKids named world’s best pediatric hospital in new ranking

The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto has topped a new list ranking the world’s top pediatric hospitals.

www.ctvnews.ca

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Bronwyn Lucas @bronwynalucas.bsky.social · Aug 30

First pre-print from the Lucas Lab led by Matthew Giammar and @joshdcryoem.bsky.social online today! We develop a new, extensible Python implementation of 2DTM and apply it to build pixel size optimization, constrained search and characterize molecular motions in situ www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Leopard-EM: An extensible 2DTM package to accelerate in situ structural biology

The ability to generate high-resolution views of cells with cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) can reveal the molecular mechanisms of biological processes in their native cellular context. The re...

www.biorxiv.org

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Daniel Durocher @durocher1.bsky.social · Aug 28

JOB ALERT 🚨 We are hiring TWO principal investigators in cell, molecular, systems, or chemical biology in Toronto, Canada at @sinaihealth.bsky.social. We provide a generous startup, fully funded salary and academic appointment at U of Toronto.

www.nature.com/naturecareer...

Please repost!

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Sabina Vohra-Miller @sabivm.bsky.social · Aug 23

I mentioned to a couple of people that I had a surprise waiting to be shared when Moderna got approval for its updated COVID-19 vaccine. It’s approved, and the big news??? Completely produced domestically!!!!! 🥳🤩

Approved as usual for all aged 6mo+!

Moderna just received Health Canada authorization for its updated LP.8.1 variant COVID-19 vaccine.

The exciting part? It will be manufactured domestically!
Their authorization allows parts of the vaccine to be produced at Moderna’s new facility in Quebec, while the fill-finish will be handled by Novocol Pharma in Ontario. The domestically produced vaccine will be ready for this year’s fall vaccination campaign.

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John Rubinstein @johnrubinstein.bsky.social · Aug 23

Montréal keeps getting better and better!

Montréal @mtl.org · Aug 23

The city of Montréal has just announced that Ste Catherine Street will become permanently pedestrianized next year, as part of a beautification project of the Village including leafy trees, softer walkways and comfy installations. We’re jumping for joy! 🤩

📷 @evablue.bsky.social

#montreal

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Chi-Min Ho @cmholab.bsky.social · Aug 18

Our #CryoET story on how a top antimalarial drug candidate perturbs the native malarial translation machinery is out @natsmb.nature.com🥳 rdcu.be/eBbrH

A massive team effort led by @leonieanton.bsky.social Meseret Haile & Wenjing Cheng in collaboration with Jerzy Dziekan & the Alan Cowman! #TeamTomo

Integrated structural biology of the native malarial translation machinery and its inhibition by an antimalarial drug

Nature Structural & Molecular Biology - Integrated structural biology approach leveraging in situ cryo-electron tomography reveals molecular details of the native malarial translation...

rdcu.be

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Kristin Connor @kconnor.bsky.social · Aug 9

I can save Carney heaps—start with NFRF, CERC & the global innovation clusters.

DON’T touch tricouncil funding.
This would be the worst ROI & catastrophic for 🇨🇦’s research, innovation, training & economic development & growth.

@liberalca.bsky.social
@mark-carney.bsky.social

Canada plans a 15% budget cut. Scientists are alarmed

Cuts could erase promised boost, researchers fear

www.science.org

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John Rubinstein @johnrubinstein.bsky.social · Aug 15

Whoever designed the new landscaping around King's College Circle at @utoronto.ca has done a brilliant job!
All summer I've been getting off the subway early to walk down Philosopher's Walk and the new walkways on the St. George campus - a great half hour start to each day.

U of T's Philosopher's Walk, with the Royal Ontario Museum on the left and the Royal Conservatory of Music's Koerner Hall on the right.

U of T St. George Campus, around Kings College Cirlce. A view of Hart House's Soldiers' Tower (centre) with part of University College (left)

A view of U of T University College from King's College Circle.

Benches on King's College Circle, U of T.

John Rubinstein @johnrubinstein.bsky.social · Aug 15

🚨🇨🇦 Job Alert 🇨🇦🚨
Assistant Professor in Aging, at a great university in one of the world's great cities!

Mathieu Ferron @mathieuferron.bsky.social · Aug 15

Faculty position in aging in Montreal!

www.nature.com/naturecareer...

Assistant Professor in Aging - Montréal, Quebec (CA) job with IRIC – Université de Montréal | 12842218

This is for an Assistant or Associate Research Professor position in Aging

www.nature.com

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Chris Greening @greening.bsky.social · Aug 8

1/3 Electricity from air! In the top journal Nano Energy today, we report the first fuel cell that makes power from air alone. We achieved this by using the enzyme Huc to oxidize ambient hydrogen. This results in a continuous low-level power from air and higher outputs with industrial waste gases.

Nanoengineered bioanode with oxygen-insensitive hydrogenase for sustainable energy harvesting from atmospheric hydrogen and waste gases

Enzymatic biofuel cells (EBFCs) utilizing hydrogenases to oxidize hydrogen offer a sustainable approach to energy conservation. However, the oxygen se…

www.sciencedirect.com

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WEHI (The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research) @wehi-research.bsky.social · Aug 5

Discovery: mRNA vaccine candidate blocks malaria from reproducing inside mosquitoes, cuts transmission by up to 99.7%. Built on cryo-EM insights into parasite’s fertilisation machinery. A key step towards elimination. In @science.org

🔗 www.wehi.edu.au/news/reveale...

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Jim Woodgett @jwoodgett.bsky.social · Aug 5

The rest of the world, fortunately, will not ignore the huge potential of RNA vaccines. The result will be loss of leadership in the US and delay of benefits to Americans. The promise of personalized anti-cancer vaccines alone is incredible. #OwnGoal

Jen Bendery @jbendery.bsky.social · Aug 5

"The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the beginning of a coordinated wind-down of its mRNA vaccine development activities...."

cc: Sen. Bill Cassidy

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Helen Branswell 🇨🇦 @helenbranswell.bsky.social · Aug 5

Pandemic preparedness in the US has been leveled a crippling blow with the cancellation of multiple #BARDA contracts to help develop mRNA vaccines. No other vaccine platform produces vaccine so quickly; without mRNA, Americans will have a long wait for pandemic vax. www.statnews.com/2025/08/05/m...

Health secretary RFK Jr. shuts door on U.S. investment in mRNA vaccine research

Vaccine experts and people steeped in pandemic preparedness expressed horror at the news that RFK Jr. has shut the door in U.S. investment in mRNA vaccine research.

www.statnews.com

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Carter Lab @carter-lab.bsky.social · Aug 5

Excited to share our latest work with @simonbullock11.bsky.social! We looked at how diverse mRNAs get selected for subcellular localization and it turns out that a single protein can recognize different RNA elements using shared features that weren’t apparent before.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

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John Rubinstein @johnrubinstein.bsky.social · Aug 5

Very nice work! Congratulations!

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John Rubinstein @johnrubinstein.bsky.social · Aug 5

This is very cool!

A. Reza Mehdipour @rezamehdipour.bsky.social · Aug 5

We are excited to announce the first in-cell structure of a LINC complex within a native nuclear envelope at subnanometer resolution!! #In-cell cryo-ET + #atomistic MD simulations! @tomdendooven.bsky.social et al!!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Reposted by John Rubinstein

The Globe and Mail @theglobeandmail.com · Aug 4

Quebec’s RSV immunization program greatly lowered infant hospitalizations, study says

The study found the program was more than 85% effective in reducing infant hospitalizations, emergency-room consultations and ICU admissions

www.theglobeandmail.com

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