Phage people: Rich Losick and I are combing the world looking for T4 rIIB mutant FC0 (also known as P13). FC0 was the starting point for Francis Crick's beautiful 1961 paper on the triplet nature of the genetic code. We want to sequence it. Anyone have it in an ancient stock collection?

Having a blast!
#RNA25 @jrrnascientists.bsky.social @rnasociety.bsky.social

Looking forward to the 30th Annual Meeting of The @rnasociety.bsky.social starting tomorrow! Join Concurrent Session 15 on Saturday at 3:30 PM to hear my talk on Theta Ribozymes!

Did you know that some phages can switch genetic codes during infection via the use of suppressor tRNAs? 🧬
One year ago we identified a ribozyme group which appears to be crucial for this process!
Read the original article: rdcu.be/dANOT
Or the press release: shorturl.at/7UPFX

@kienbeck.bsky.social

🚨 PhD Opportunity!

Passionate about enzyme engineering or genetic code expansion? 🧬 Our lab is hiring a PhD student!

🔬 Exciting interdisciplinary research
🤝 Engaging environment 🌱

📄 Does this sound like you, apply now! ⏳🔗
📢 Know someone? Share this! 🔄

jobs.uzh.ch/job-vacancie...

And this is why we do RNA research. Credit: The incredible xkcd. xkcd.com/3056/

Hello bluesky! The SigelLab is now also here, we are looking forward to good science, fascinating stories and good discussions!

This account is - as was our X/Twitter account - managed by Ph.D. students or PostDocs in our lab, not Prof. Roland Sigel himself.

Exciting news from the lab! Our first preprint, “Hydrophobic Tuning with Non-Canonical Amino Acids in a Copper Metalloenzyme” is now available.
In this study, we rewrite the rules of enzyme engineering with a cyclic, hydrophobic twist that’s anything but ordinary.
🔍: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Yeah someone else mentioned this too. Maybe it's time to switch!

Good to know - I couldn't find the manufacturer. Maybe I was just unlucky, I will try out the tipps I got so far. Thanks anyways!

Thanks for the info! I am using plastic grid boxes from Ted Pella with transparent lids that screw off completely. I will try some 3D printed boxes from a Swiss startup next time (non-detachable lid). Maybe that helps! I will check if we have something like the Milty Zerostat as well!

Thanks, that's great advice! I will try to ground myself (mentally and physically) before my next session.

Dear #Cryo-EM community,
Have you ever experienced electrostatic effects when handling grids? I have had my grids stick to the box lids multiple times now and was wondering if there is an easy fix. Any suggestions?

Can someone explain to me what a CUDA Core is like you would to a 10 year old?

I froze my very first grids back in Switzerland today 🥳 wish me luck, I'm screening on Friday the 13th...

Thank you! I'll give it a shot!

Thanks! I'll try it out!

Dear #RNAsky, I need your help. I am looking for a software where I can input a defined #RNA structure and get it's predicted free energy. I can only find software that predicts structure based on free energies. Does this exist? Any help is appreciated!

Describe your current state with a song name, I'll start:
Down with the Sickness by Disturbed

Today I learned that pET expression vectors have some design flaws and fixing them can increase yield several tenfolds! Crazy how we rely on systems that "ain't broke so why fix them" for decades without questioning them. Does this bother you as well or am I just a hopeless perfectionist?

Currently, I am working on solving the structure of nascent RNAs at the lower size limit of #Cryo-EM by applying multimerization and grafting techniques. So far, I really enjoy this technique and can't wait to see my RNA particles!
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Time to properly introduce myself 👋
We found some interesting small catalytic RNAs in human gut phages - theta ribozymes. We think they might contribute to tRNA-mediated host manipulation via alternative genetic codes. Read more here: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
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Hello world! (with a blue sky)