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John Ngo

@johntngo.bsky.social

1.9K followers 1.4K following 100 posts

Associate Prof of BME at BU Synthetic mechanobiology, single molecules, molecular structure and engineering, bio-organic chemistry, and general enthusiast of science, kindness, and understanding. www.thengolab.com

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John Ngo @johntngo.bsky.social · 16d

🚀 Our new paper is out @natmethods.nature.com!

Kuffer & Marzilli engineered conditionally stable MS2 & PP7 coat proteins (dMCP & dPCP) that degrade unless bound to RNA, enabling ultra–low-background, single-mRNA imaging in live cells.

🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🧬 www.addgene.org/John_Ngo/

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Reposted by John Ngo

Matt Bogyo @mbogyo.bsky.social · 12d

After a long journey and much hard work from many talented scientists, our paper is finally out. Take a look if you are interested in proteases and host microbe interactions in the gut. www.cell.com/cell-host-mi...

A Bacteroides fragilis protease activates host PAR2 to induce intestinal pain and inflammation

Lakemeyer and colleagues analyze the secretome of gut bacteria to identify factors that target host PAR2. They find that the Bacteroides fragilis protease Bfp1 cleaves and activates PAR2, disrupting i...

www.cell.com

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Reposted by John Ngo

Gene Chong @chongg.bsky.social · 14d

Engineered bispecific Notch agonists “pull” on and mechanically activate Notch receptors in the presence of desired biomarkers

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

Engineering synthetic agonists for targeted activation of Notch signaling - Nature Chemical Biology

The development of soluble Notch agonists is a challenge because of the mechanical forces needed to activate Notch receptors. Here, bispecific Notch agonist proteins were designed that ‘pull’ on and activate Notch receptors in the presence of desired biomarkers.

www.nature.com

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Reposted by John Ngo

Itay Budin @ibudin.bsky.social · 23d

Very excited to share new work out today in @natchembio.nature.com on a new approach - FACES - for selectively imaging of phospholipids and other biomolecules at spatial resolutions down to individual membrane leaflets (1/n) www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Leaflet-specific phospholipid imaging using genetically encoded proximity sensors - Nature Chemical Biology

An approach combining bioorthogonal chemistry with genetically encoded fluorogen-activating proteins enables subcellular imaging of phospholipids and glycans, as well as the visualization of lipid tra...

www.nature.com

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John Ngo @johntngo.bsky.social · 15d

Wow—thank you so much Evelina! We have long been inspired by your work! Please let us know what you see (and let us know if we can help!). 😎

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John Ngo @johntngo.bsky.social · 16d

Many thanks, Gal!!! We’re excited to see the paper live online! =)

John Ngo @johntngo.bsky.social · 16d

Thanks Brian! it was a a fun project led by two super talented students. Glad you like the movies! 😎

John Ngo @johntngo.bsky.social · 16d

Thanks Dan! We hope so. Plasmids are on AddGene… let us know what you see!

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John Ngo @johntngo.bsky.social · 16d

4️⃣ Plasmids are on #AddGene!
www.addgene.org/browse/artic...

Addgene: RNA-Stabilized Coat Proteins for Sensitive and Simultaneous Imaging of Distinct Single mRNAs in Live Cells

www.addgene.org

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John Ngo @johntngo.bsky.social · 16d

3️⃣ Future synthetic biology utilities:

Right now, we are fusing these proteins to #synbio effectors and adaptors to:
• control RNA fate,
• boost CRISPR/dCas9 RNA scaffolds,
• reduce off-target labeling
enabling next-gen RNA–protein circuits for synthetic regulation and control.

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John Ngo @johntngo.bsky.social · 16d

2️⃣ Advantages in Imaging & Controlling Single mRNAs:

• Single-mRNA sensitivity using 1×mNeonGreen fusions in live #imaging

• Track the localization & translation #mRNAs encoding cytoplasmic, nuclear, mitochondrial & secreted proteins

• Direct #mRNA localization by fusing dMCP to targeting signals

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John Ngo @johntngo.bsky.social · 16d

1️⃣ Mechanism & protein engineering:

Through circular permutation + degron masking, we designd dMCP & dPCP to be rapidly degraded unless bound to their cognate #RNA hairpins (MS2 & PP7). Hairpin binding switches them from unstable to bright, RNA-bound reporters via a #degron masking mechanism.

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John Ngo @johntngo.bsky.social · 16d

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John Ngo @johntngo.bsky.social · 20d

Do what you love and love what you do, and if you can, leave the world a better, more open, and more understanding place.

John Ngo @johntngo.bsky.social · Aug 20

My lab at BU is looking to hire a post-doc with experience in biophysics, protein engineering, and chemical (or synthetic) biology. The anticipated start date is Jan 2026. Please send a resume, cover letter, and names/emails for 3 references. We are looking to interview people during Sept/Oct 2025.

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Harry Low’s Lab @lowlab.bsky.social · Aug 11

Please RT 🙏 If you’re an early career researcher working in the fields of structural or synthetic biology wishing to start your lab then come join us at Imperial. We’re looking to support outstanding individuals for external Career Development Awards/Fellowships.

www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperi...

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John Ngo @johntngo.bsky.social · Aug 1

Congratulations, Rita!! And thank you for all the awesome work you do. Nature Biomedical Engineering is lucky to have you at the helm!

John Ngo @johntngo.bsky.social · Jul 17

A world without science is one without hope and progress!

Reposted by John Ngo

John Ngo @johntngo.bsky.social · Jul 17

For those who can, and while you are in it, give science, knowledge, possibility, and hope your full effort. We’re counting on you. It’ll be worth it… trust me.

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John Ngo @johntngo.bsky.social · Jul 17

For those who can, and while you are in it, give science, knowledge, possibility, and hope your full effort. We’re counting on you. It’ll be worth it… trust me.

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John Ngo @johntngo.bsky.social · Jul 17

Everybody be you and keep going. Do your best. We are so proud of you!

John Ngo @johntngo.bsky.social · Jun 21

This group photo from the 1999 Bioorganic GRC is everything… and more!

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John Ngo @johntngo.bsky.social · Jun 19

There was a bingo card with your name on it!

John Ngo @johntngo.bsky.social · Jun 19

Oh! I didn’t notice! ;)

(Everybody has been talking about you all week… you look the same!!!) ❤️🧡💛💚💙

John Ngo @johntngo.bsky.social · Jun 19

Greetings from the 2025 Bioorganic GRC, where this gem is on display in the meeting history books. So many familiar faces—who do you see? Check out right side row 3 for RYT. @michaelzlin.bsky.social

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John Ngo @johntngo.bsky.social · Apr 18

To my fellow young scientists---I have one key message to share with you right now: do what you love and love what you do. That is exactly science needs right now.

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