🙏 Huge thanks to our incredible lab and project team.
@kgoepfrich.bsky.social, Taniya Chakraborty,
@floppleton.bsky.social, Luca Monari, Maja Illig, and Franziska Giessler
This work couldn't be done without their support!
Looking forward to what’s next!

🌱 Furthermore, RNA origami structures can be genetically programmed to assemble inside cells and perform specific functions — opening new paths for synthetic cytoskeletons, scaffolding, or sensing.
Excited to explore new applications and collaborations! 🧬🤝
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💻 we built 1 micron RNA origami assemblies for coarse-grained simulation with oxRNA model
📊 the simulations manage to predict the persistence length almost correctly at 3.7 μm (experimental data: 3.4 μm)
📊 the phenotypic transition from nanotubes to nanorings is also elucidated by the simulations
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Our RNA nanotubes:
✔️ can be produced in situ and self-assemble inside liposomes
✔️ show tunable stiffness - flexible tubes can bundle at high Mg2+
✔️ subtle mutations lead to formation of nanorings instead of nanotubes (cover image)
✔️ form membrane cortex and deform membrane
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We engineered RNA tiles that fold co-transcriptionally and assemble in situ inside Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUVs)
No chemical synthesis needed — just a DNA template, rNTPs building blocks, and T7 polymerase.
A new route to building functional, evolvable synthetic cells.
🧵👇

🧬 Thrilled to share that our work is featured on the cover of @natnano.nature.com (May issue)!
We genetically encoded RNA origami that self-assembles into cytoskeletal nanotubes inside synthetic cells.
📄 Paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
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In the latest from @kgoepfrich.bsky.social’s group, led by the relentless @tranmai.bsky.social, we expressed RNA origami “cytoskeletons” in vesicles! We were fascinated that small changes in design led to divergent results. Future potential for directed evolution?! 🧬🧪
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Scientists have found two ‘dials’ in the brain that help to explain how chronic stress hijacks decision-making

https://go.nature.com/41nrC88

and it affects not only the laundry industry but also my experiments 😢 gotta shock myself with a metal window before work so often in this dry weather 😖

I'm happy to share this roadmap towards the synthesis of life! It is the result of one of the best workshops I ever attended, where scientists across biology, chemistry, and physics came together to map out the key challenges to synthesize life. Enjoy!

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

super nice pack! could I also be added? thank you ☺️