Some of my PhD work is now out in Nature! www.nature.com/articles/s41... Investigating the structural basis of off‑target Cas9 binding to supercoiled DNA with #AFM & cryo-EM. From my time in the lab of @alicepyne.bsky.social, in collaboration with @qmsmith.bsky.social and the team at the MRC LMS.

Supercoiling not only brings DNA to life (and makes it dance) but also changes how key proteins such as #CRISPR interact with it. Thanks @qmsmith.bsky.social for the brilliant collaboration, Sylvia for developing an amazing new #imageanalysis pipeline & @eddierollins.bsky.social for beautiful #AFM.

Quentin Smith@qmsmith.bsky.social · 4mo ago

1/11 In our story out today in @nature.com , we showcase the molecular mechanisms that enable Cas9 to bind and cleave negatively supercoiled ((-)SC) off-targets! 🧬🧵 🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41... #CRISPR #Cas9 #DNATopology #AFM #CryoEM #SingleMolecule #Biophysics

1/11 In our story out today in @nature.com , we showcase the molecular mechanisms that enable Cas9 to bind and cleave negatively supercoiled ((-)SC) off-targets! 🧬🧵 🔗 www.nature.com/articles/s41... #CRISPR #Cas9 #DNATopology #AFM #CryoEM #SingleMolecule #Biophysics

Structural basis of supercoiling-induced CRISPR–Cas9 off-target activity - Nature

Cas9 structures explain topology sensing and off-target activation.

nature.com

New research in Nature shows that the physical twisting of DNA plays an important role in DNA editing mistakes made by CRISPR. Using nanometer-sized circles of DNA, scientists captured never-before-seen interactions between CRISPR & DNA, providing insights that could eradicate errors altogether.

DNA shape explains crucial gene-therapy challenges

CRISPR is a powerful DNA-editing tool that has underpinned huge advancements in human healthcare in the last decade. It is a precision tool, but is not perfect, and misplaced DNA edits can compromise ...

lms.mrc.ac.uk

Organized with the @sheffielduni.bsky.social team: Matt Newton, @alicepyne.bsky.social & Ruby Peters. 👏 Speakers include Gijs Wuite, @jwelburn.bsky.social, @slfort.bsky.social, @akellett.bsky.social, @michellepeckham.bsky.social & Aakash Basu. Program & registration --> bit.ly/3NtxZlM

📐On #WorldMetrologyDay, we celebrate 150 years of measurement science! At #SPM40, precision at the nanoscale is our mission, advancing biomedical research through AI-powered microscopy. #MetrologyMatters #MSCA #ResearchEU

Abstract deadlines coming up soon! Talk - 14th March Poster - 28th March Sign up on our Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/glasgow-im... and come along and see our wonderful keynote speaker @alicepyne.bsky.social ! For more info, head to the GIN website : glasgowimagingnetwork.wordpress.com

Glasgow Imaging Network@glasgowimaging.bsky.social · last yr.

the Glasgow Imaging Network (GIN) Symposium is back for 2025! The symposium will take place on 4th April 2025 at the Mazumdar-Shaw Advanced Research Centre (ARC), University of Glasgow. Register and submit your abstract via Eventbrite: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/glasgow-im...

🚨 PhD position available for Oct 25 🔬Using advanced microscopy to understand how keratin networks control tissue mechanics An interdisciplinary #cellbiology #biophysics collaboration with Ruby Peters & @alicepyne.bsky.social 👇 Apply by March 14 www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

It’s been a busy start to the year with marking, paper and grant reviews and travel to SMB2025 in the US, I think we were delayed for as long as we were actually at the conference… Its good to be home in the Peak District with my best girl Tasso 🌅 🐕 ❤️

After a remarkable 300 columns, David Goodsell has retired from the Molecule of the Month. We are very grateful for his service. @jiwasa.bsky.social will continue the series, beginning with January's article on Assembly Line Polyketide Synthases Details: cdn.rcsb.org/rcsb-pd...

EDUCATION CORNER: Molecule of the Month: Celebrating  25 Years of Storytelling and Announcing New Beginnings

After a remarkable 300 columns, David Goodsell has retired from the Molecule of the Month series.  Janet Iwasa will be continuing the series for PDB-101.

cdn.rcsb.org

Delighted to share our @NAR_Open paper on a click chemistry-derived DNA damaging agent 🧬✂️👏 Congrats to @westerlundlab.bsky.social @alicepyne.bsky.social @researchireland.bsky.social @dcuresearch.bsky.social @sspc.bsky.social @dublincityuni.bsky.social doi.org/10.1093/nar/...

Two more weeks to apply to our opening for a senior postdoc in biophysics; work on exciting projects in DNA replication and/or chromatin organization from an interest in instrumentation! Deadline Jan 15 and application link: my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru...

Today a Tasso jog through Endcliffe park - lots of storm damage with trees uprooted 🐕

Frosty twixmas adventures with Tasso 🤍💚

A few days of beautiful cloud inversions in the peak. Today a little exploration by bike 🚲- trying to stay above the cloud

Boxing Day walks with Tasso, enjoying the #PeakDistrict and thinking how much my mum would have loved to have been with us 💚

First Christmas without maman, thinking of her lots and spending time enjoying the Peak District. She loved it up here 💚

Celebrating the start of longer days with a beautiful sunrise on a morning trot with Tasso 🐕

Only two days left to apply for this amazing opportunity to join Siân’s lab at Kings. Interested in data analysis, microscopy and working with an awesome PI? One not to miss 🔬 💻

Siân Culley@superresolusian.bsky.social · 2y ago

Turns out that it's even easier to apply if you have the correct link to follow 🤠 CORRECT LINK: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DKU906/p...

We have a #PhD available! I'm really excited about this project, looking at whether and how differences in the #IDRs of paralogous epigenetic enzymes CBP and p300 cause them to behave differently. www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

Unveiling the Secrets of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins in Gene Regulation at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com

PhD Project - Unveiling the Secrets of Intrinsically Disordered Proteins in Gene Regulation at University of Sheffield, listed on FindAPhD.com

findaphd.com

📣 Please share: We’re hiring a tenure-track Group Leader in Multicellular Systems to explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms driving the formation, maintenance, or destabilization of tissues, organs and organisms. Apply at: www.fmi.ch/education-ca...

Looking for a #biophysics PhD? There's still time to apply for our Yorkshire Biosciences project on how keratin networks affect the mechanical properties of cells & tissues. Interdisciplinary collab with Ruby Peters & @alicepyne.bsky.social. Deadline 6th Jan www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

The role of keratin networks in maintaining epithelial tissue integrity at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com

PhD Project - The role of keratin networks in maintaining epithelial tissue integrity at University of Sheffield, listed on FindAPhD.com

findaphd.com

On my way to London for the @royalmicrosoc.bsky.social Data Analysis in Microscopy section meeting. Excited to catch up in person with everyone and chat all things 🔬 💻

A weekend of catching up with old pals from UCL in Hamburg. Tackling the grey drizzle with epic pastries 🥐

We were so happy to have @raveentank.bsky.social join us for our first Insigneo Imaging Life workshop in Sheffield this week. It was an amazing day of microscopy🔬 and science 🧪 - thank you Raveen for braving the Manchester-Sheffield train line!

RaveenTank.bsky.social@raveentank.bsky.social · 2y ago

It was a joy to go to Sheffield yesterday to speak at the Insigneo Imaging workshop! There are some really exciting things happening in the super resolution imaging world and I’m excited for the collaborations this has fostered! Thanks for having me Jamie Hobbs and @alicepyne.bsky.social

1/ Cancer cell biology MRC DiMeN project in collaboration with @maiblab.bsky.social & Liz Smythe to use recombinant biosensors to image active KRAS in #pancreaticcancer Apply by 13th Dec www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

MRC DiMeN Doctoral Training Partnership: Understanding the membrane recruitment of oncogenic KRAS in pancreatic cancer at University of Sheffield on FindAPhD.com

PhD Project - MRC DiMeN Doctoral Training Partnership: Understanding the membrane recruitment of oncogenic KRAS in pancreatic cancer at University of Sheffield, listed on FindAPhD.com

findaphd.com

In this paper #AFM is used to image the chain-mail structure of kinetoplast #DNA from parasites and automated analysis unravels the complex molecular topology. 🧪 🔬 🧬 @alicepyne.bsky.social doi.org/10.1039/D4CP...

Multiscale topological analysis of kinetoplast DNA via high-resolution AFM

Kinetoplast DNA is a complex nanoscale network, naturally assembled from thousands of interconnected DNA circles within the mitochondrion of certain parasites. Despite the relevance of this molecule t...

doi.org

The @royalmicrosoc.bsky.social #DataAnalysisInImaging special issue of Journal of Microscopy is out now! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/13652818... #ImageAnalysis #BioImageAnalysis #RMSDAIM

Special Issue: Data Analysis in Imaging: Journal of Microscopy: Vol 296, No 3

The <em>Journal of Microscopy</em> is the oldest journal dedicated to the science of microscopy, publishing the latest advances in microscopy techniques and novel areas of application.

onlinelibrary.wiley.com

Come join us in Harrogate for a really exciting programme at the interface of the physical and life sciences! Abstract submission is now open, Harrogate is beautiful and the meeting will be really reasonably priced thanks to all our amazing sponsors 🥳

@physicsoflifeuk@physicsoflifeuk.bsky.social · 2y ago

'Physics of Life 2025' is coming to Harrogate, UK, March 24-27! Explore program sessions, keynote/invited speakers, and submit your abstract here 👉 iop.eventsair.com/pol2025 Registration will be opening very soon! #PoL2025 #PhysicsOfLife

I haven't seen a nucleic acids starter pack yet, so I started one! Please reach out if I missed you! go.bsky.app/NxKgUY5