Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Mehdi Jafarnejad @rnanomad.bsky.social · 5d

@alf-castello.bsky.social & I are inviting applications for a competitive PhD studentship to study the mechanisms of translational regulation of the host response to RNA virus infections. The student will be based at Uni. Glasgow. Please spread the word. #RNASky

www.gla.ac.uk/postgraduate...

University of Glasgow - Postgraduate study - Centres for Doctoral Training - NorthWest Biosciences - Our Projects - Understanding Pathogens, from Molecules to Phenotypes - Alfredo Castello

www.gla.ac.uk

Reposted by Mehdi Jafarnejad

Markus Hafner @markushafnerrna.bsky.social · 11d

www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Delighted to share the story of two germline RBPs - one with little (DND1) and one with no (NANOS3) intrinsic sequence-specificity - that together build a continuous RNA binding surface recognizing a 7-mer (AUGAAUU) in target mRNA 3’UTRs, leading to deadenylation.

The DND1-NANOS3 complex shapes the primordial germ cell transcriptome via a heptanucleotide sequence in mRNA 3'UTRs

The RNA-binding proteins DND1 and NANOS3 are essential for primordial germ cell survival. Their co-immunoprecipitation and overlapping loss-of-function phenotypes suggest joint function, yet how they ...

www.biorxiv.org

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Mehdi Jafarnejad @rnanomad.bsky.social · 14d

Amazing paper & very cool mechanism!

Ule Lab @ulelab.bsky.social · 14d

Collective challenges need collective solutions. Happy to share the insights we've gained from the way our cells handle this: www.nature.com/articles/s41... and its summary www.crick.ac.uk/news/2025-09....

This link will take you to a page that’s not on LinkedIn

lnkd.in

Mehdi Jafarnejad @rnanomad.bsky.social · Sep 3

Looking forward to a few days of exciting discussions at the #EMBLProtein synthesis and translational control meeting www.embl.org/about/info/c...

Protein synthesis and translational control

www.embl.org

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Reposted by Mehdi Jafarnejad

Niladri Sinha @2primehydroxyl.bsky.social · Aug 29

We have an opening for a Postdoctoral Fellow to join us in exploring fundamental questions at the interface of protein synthesis defects and stress-responsive signaling pathways. utah.peopleadmin.com/postings/187... #RNAsky

Post Doc Res Assoc

Postdoc with a primary duty consisting research-related work. Required to meet FLSA threshold to be paid on a salaried basis, otherwise employment record will convert to hourly.

utah.peopleadmin.com

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Mehdi Jafarnejad @rnanomad.bsky.social · Jul 31

The Svedberg unit!

Elise Cutts @elisecutts.bsky.social · Jul 30

What's a bit of jargon in your field that everyone pretends to understand but, really doesn't?

You know. Those -nods- "mmhm... interesting" type words.

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Mehdi Jafarnejad @rnanomad.bsky.social · Jul 16

FMRP represses translation by competing with eIF4G1 for binding to cap-bound eIF4E

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

FMRP drives mRNP targets into translationally silenced complexes

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) results from a deficiency of the ubiquitously expressed RNA-binding protein fragile X protein (FMRP). While FMRP-mediated tra…

www.sciencedirect.com

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Mehdi Jafarnejad @rnanomad.bsky.social · Jun 30

Few places can compete with the drama of Scottish landscape. Now imagine that along with some great science!

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Mehdi Jafarnejad @rnanomad.bsky.social · Jun 30

Looking forward to a great lineup of speakers and posters. And the icing on the cake is that the venue is literally a stone’s throw from Arthur’s Seat. #TLUK2025, #RNASky #RNA

Cathy Abbott @cathyabbott.bsky.social · Jun 30

Kicking off Translation UK in Edinburgh - the latest in a distinguished history #TLUK2025 🎉🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Table with list of conferences back to 1993

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Reposted by Mehdi Jafarnejad

Andrew Blackford @andrewblackford.bsky.social · May 29

We’re #hiring, please share! A fully funded #postdoc position is available in my lab to work on DNA damage response mechanisms.

Please get in touch with your CV if you are interested; closing date: 27th June 2025.

More details here: candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationI...

Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Blackford Group

A position as Postdoctoral Research Associate is available at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, in the group headed by Dr. Andrew Blackford. Th

candidate.hr-manager.net

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Mehdi Jafarnejad @rnanomad.bsky.social · Jun 19

They list the ones funded by US agencies. Not the rest, unfortunately.

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Mehdi Jafarnejad @rnanomad.bsky.social · Jun 17

A challenging observation about the GRB10-interacting GYF protein 2 (GIGYF2), linked to autism and the antiviral innate immune response. Unlike its mouse homologue, the human GIGYF2 does not interact with GRB10! www.life-science-alliance.org/content/8/9/...

No evidence that human GIGYF2 interacts with GRB10: implications for human disease

GIGYF2 (growth factor receptor–bound protein 10 [GRB10]-interacting GYF [glycine–tyrosine–phenylalanine] protein 2) reduces mRNA stability and translation via microRNAs, ribosome quality control, and ...

www.life-science-alliance.org

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Reposted by Mehdi Jafarnejad

Manolis Maragkakis @manolis-maragkakis.bsky.social · Jun 4

🚨 We’re looking for a curious mind to join our lab at the NIH!
Passionate about #RNA biology, #MachineLearning, and the #genomics of #aging?

Interested in a postdoc or a PhD research visit at NIH? Let’s connect.
📩 DM or email for details!

#Bioinformatics #AI #ComputationalBiology

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Reposted by Mehdi Jafarnejad

Martin Turner @martint-babraham.bsky.social · May 28

Opportunities if you're interested in immunity: we have projects on RNA binding proteins in B & T cell memory and effector responses. marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu/calls/msca-p...

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2025

MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships enhance the creative and innovative potential of researchers holding a PhD and who wish to acquire new skills through advanced training, international, interdisciplinary ...

marie-sklodowska-curie-actions.ec.europa.eu

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Reposted by Mehdi Jafarnejad

Julie @rna-julie.bsky.social · May 14

Delighted to share paper on translational activity of 80S monosomes across different tissues in 🪰 in @narjournal.bsky.social thanks to fabulous team Albert Blandy Tayah Hopes Elton Vasconcelos @amy-turner96.bsky.social Bulat Fatkhullin Michaela Agapiou Juan Fontana academic.oup.com/nar/article/...

Translational activity of 80S monosomes varies dramatically across different tissues

Abstract. Translational regulation at the stage of initiation can impact the number of ribosomes translating each mRNA molecule. However, the translational

academic.oup.com

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Mehdi Jafarnejad @rnanomad.bsky.social · May 6

ZNF574 is a quality control factor for defective ribosome biogenesis intermediates

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

ZNF574 is a quality control factor for defective ribosome biogenesis intermediates

Eukaryotic ribosome assembly is an intricate process that involves four ribosomal RNAs, 80 ribosomal proteins, and over 200 biogenesis factors that pa…

www.sciencedirect.com

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Mehdi Jafarnejad @rnanomad.bsky.social · May 2

We have a competitive PhD studentship in my lab to study the role of mRNA translation and quality control mechanisms in cellular response to anti-cancer treatments in AML. Please share with your network and if interested apply through the link below.
#PhD

www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

Improving AML treatment efficacy by targeting mRNA and protein quality control mechanisms at Queen’s University Belfast on FindAPhD.com

PhD Project - Improving AML treatment efficacy by targeting mRNA and protein quality control mechanisms at Queen’s University Belfast, listed on FindAPhD.com

www.findaphd.com

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Reposted by Mehdi Jafarnejad

Edward Wallace @ewjwallace.bsky.social · Apr 29

Translation UK abstract deadline is tomorrow!

Biochemical Society @biochemsoc.bsky.social · Apr 16

Are you registered for the 30th Translation UK meeting? This year, our ever-popular conference is taking place at the incredible University of Edinburgh! Be quick - abstract submission and earlybird discount ends 30 April. 🧪
Register today: www.eventsforce.net/biochemsoc/2...

A Biochemical Society Scientific Meeting
Translation UK 30 June- 2 July 2025
Abstract and earlybird deadline: 30 April 2025

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Reposted by Mehdi Jafarnejad

David Courtney @thecourtneylab.bsky.social · Apr 27

Checkout our review article at PLOS. Happy to see the thoughts of Stefano and myself on influenza virus RNA trafficking published in PLOS Pathogens a few days ago. A topic we are both greatly interested in. dx.plos.org/10.1371/jour...

Influenza A virus RNA localisation and the interceding trafficking pathways of the host cell

Viruses have evolved to efficiently navigate host cells to deliver, express, and replicate their genetic material. Understanding the mechanisms underlying viral RNA localisation is paramount to design...

dx.plos.org

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Mehdi Jafarnejad @rnanomad.bsky.social · Apr 24

We have a new preprint, led by @pharrissnell.bsky.social & (former) postdoc Parisa Naeli. We report a chordate-specific mechanism, mediated by 2 prologue RBPs ZC3H7A/B, that links codon usage to mRNA translation/stability.
Huge thanks to our amazing collaborators!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

Codon-dependent regulation of mRNA translation and stability by ZC3H7A and ZC3H7B RNA-binding proteins

Decelerated translation elongation caused by non-optimal codons can reduce mRNA stability through codon optimality-mediated mRNA degradation. A key element of this process is the coupling of sensing t...

www.biorxiv.org

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Reposted by Mehdi Jafarnejad

Edward Wallace @ewjwallace.bsky.social · Apr 22

Translation meeting in Edinburgh (that I'm co-organising).
Invited speakers include Allen Buskirk on his deep mechanistic work on prokarotic translation, Karen Merchante on plant ribosomal proteins and their effect, and the UK Translation community bringing their best science!
#RNAbiology #ribosome

Biochemical Society @biochemsoc.bsky.social · Apr 16

Are you registered for the 30th Translation UK meeting? This year, our ever-popular conference is taking place at the incredible University of Edinburgh! Be quick - abstract submission and earlybird discount ends 30 April. 🧪
Register today: www.eventsforce.net/biochemsoc/2...

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Reposted by Mehdi Jafarnejad

Biochemical Society @biochemsoc.bsky.social · Apr 16

Are you registered for the 30th Translation UK meeting? This year, our ever-popular conference is taking place at the incredible University of Edinburgh! Be quick - abstract submission and earlybird discount ends 30 April. 🧪
Register today: www.eventsforce.net/biochemsoc/2...

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Mehdi Jafarnejad @rnanomad.bsky.social · Apr 16

We really need to pay more attention to IDRs in RBPs and this is a great example of how much we are missing by not doing so!

Faraz Mardakheh @mardakheh.bsky.social · Apr 15

🧵1/
🚨Check out our significantly updated preprint, now out on @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social. Together with Sasi Conte lab, we characterize a novel role for intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) in promoting RNA-binding selectivity in RNA binding proteins (RBPs): www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

An intrinsically disordered region mediates RNA-binding selectivity and pro-oncogenic activities of LARP6

Intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) are prevalent in RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), yet their roles in RNA interactions remain poorly defined. Here, we examined the structured and disordered RNA-bin...

www.biorxiv.org

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Mehdi Jafarnejad @rnanomad.bsky.social · Apr 7

Congrats. Beautiful work!

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Mehdi Jafarnejad @rnanomad.bsky.social · Mar 26

Brilliant!

Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) @dndi.org · Mar 25

📢Important announcement! Today, the @asapdiscovery.bsky.social consortium disclosed the structure of our preclinical candidate, ASAP-0017445, a promising broad-spectrum antiviral with potent activity against SARS-CoV2 and other viruses belonging to the same family. (1/10)

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