Jackson Cahn
@jkbcahn.bsky.social
Learning from evolution to make drugs with enzymes.
Biomimetic Base-Exchange Reaction for Late-Stage Synthesis of Stereodivergent NAADP + and NAD(P) + Derivatives
Biomimetic Base-Exchange Reaction for Late-Stage Synthesis of Stereodivergent NAADP+ and NAD(P)+ Derivatives
Abstract. Nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAADP+) and related NAD(P)+ analogues are important tools for calcium signaling, redox biology, an
pubs.acs.org
J. Chem Ed (2026): "Introducing Enzyme Immobilization and Flow Biocatalysis to the Undergraduate Curriculum" https://paradisiresearch.com/research-highlights/j-chem-ed-2026-introducing-enzyme-immobilization-and-flow-biocatalysis-to-the-undergraduate-curriculum/
Trump on Lindsey Graham: "He had one bad moment in the January 6 thing when he stood up -- 'alright, now I've had it, that's it, I can't do it anymore' -- then he called me about 40 minutes later and said, 'Did I really said that? I can't believe it.' And he took it back."
You may have heard about the OMB rule change that will put politics over federal grants. However bad you think it is? It's probably worse. Thanks to @theverge.com for letting me report this one out. There is still time to comment. bit.ly/4v2X4nQ
The war against ‘woke’ could end US science as we know it
“Everyone will be affected, not just scientists. Every community in the country.“
bit.ly
One prominent group has been totally silent about the Trump administration’s latest attempt to grab control of all federal science funding. That’s the biopharma companies, and their suddenly shy, quiet CEOs. Here’s the calculation they’re making:
Speaking Up: Who Is, and Who Isn't
science.org
Two new activities for #barettin, extracted from my pet sponge 'Geodia barretti' : promising activity against 1) chronic pain and 2) the most common and aggressive type of pancreatic cancer! Two papers from the Cartmell Lab👇 www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/24... doi.org/10.1021/acs....
Barettin, a Nonopioid, Nonhallucinogenic Marine Natural Product with Antihyperalgesic Properties Mediated by 5HT2A Inverse Agonism
Despite increasing interest, there remain limited treatments for chronic pain, with opioids continuing to be one of the top prescribed medications. Marine natural products present a wealth of untapped potential for new treatments for chronic pain. In this study, we investigated the analgesic effects of the sea sponge ligand barettin in a mouse model of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Barettin exhibited efficacious antihyperalgesic activity in male mice with no efficacy shown in females. Through the use of a PRESTO-Tango assay, we found that barettin acts as an inverse agonist at the 5HT2A receptor while also presenting no activity at the μ-opioid receptor. Head twitch experiments confirmed no hallucinogenic activity, suggesting that barettin may be a promising nonopioid, nonhallucinogenic, marine-derived therapeutic agent for the treatment of chronic pain.
doi.org
Biocatalysis! Process chem! Job! #PfizerChemistry is hiring! PhD 0-5 years exp #ChemJobs #ChemSky
Senior Scientist, Process Development
Use Your Power for Purpose We are seeking a creative, highly motivated chemist with experience in biocatalysis to join Chemical Research and Development (CRD) in Groton, Connecticut. The successful ca...
pfizer.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com
We're about to submit a paper and my collaborator fed it into an LLM and asked for critical reviews from numerous perspectives: subject matter experts in each technique, a journal editor, copy-writer, graphic designer... To be honest I've never gotten more helpful feedback from my actual peers.
In just 17 years, Seattle went from not having light rail to having the most ridden system in the nation. We’ve proven how leadership & investment can change a city and people’s lives for the better
Yonah Freemark@yonahfreemark.com · 4mo agoSeattle's light rail & streetcar lines carried 4.8 million riders in April—a 44% increase above March, after Link Line 2 was extended to connect Seattle & Bellevue across Lake Washington. Seattle's light rail & streetcar lines are now the most-ridden in the nation, above LA, Boston, or San Diego.
This is insane. Pulte is the failson of a major RE developer, and before 2025 was next known as a memestock conspiracist. At FHA, he's been responsible for scrutinizing the mortgage applications of Trump critics to find "crimes". Clearly that's what Trump wants US intelligence services working on.
This is bad. Bad for researchers. Bad for science. Bad for universities. Bad for professional associations. For example: 1. Every award would be vetted by political appointees, who could overrule peer reviewers and deny the award if it doesn't advance the president's priorities. 1/🧵
elizabethginexi.bsky.social@elizabethginexi.bsky.social · 5mo agoSummary of Key Changes in OMB’s Proposed Federal Financial Assistance Rule. Russell Vought is going destroy American Science. elizabethginexi.substack.com/p/summary-of...
The people of Kentucky sent a clear message to the nation tonight: the Epstein files should stay buried and no one implicated should face any consequences.
Found a legitimate exception to "Vote Blue No Matter Who"
Mrs. Detective PikaBOO, Esq.@clapifyoulikeme.favrd.social · 5mo agoI simply do not think this woman should hold elected office
Sorry, but this is dumb. The limiting factor for these weapons is not the design of new agents. Chemical structures are known, viral genomes are published. The bottlenecks are manufacturing, formulation, and delivery, where AI isn't particularly advantaged.
Nature@nature.com · 5mo agoThere's a growing concern that AI tools used to help produce innovative drugs could also make it easier to create new threats go.nature.com/4fhtqXx
Marty Makary might be out at FDA (a welcome development, to be sure), but there's no easy path back to normalcy -- especially when the political pressures on the agency aren't going anywhere. My latest for @opinion.bloomberg.com:
Makary Is Out, But the FDA Is Still Far From Normal
In an ideal world, this week’s resignation of Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Marty Makary would signal the end of a troubling period at the agency — one where the job of overseeing a sizabl...
bloomberg.com
This is basically harassment of scholars willing to question the Trump administration’s targeting of Chinese colleagues. Innes already had the FBI investigate his lab and was given the all clear. Now USDA is shutting down the Lab, which focuses on making fungus-resistant plants.
Science Magazine@science.org · 5mo agoBreaking news: Indiana University plant microbiologist Roger Innes has been locked out of his laboratory by the school in response to a request by one of his federal funders. The move comes after Innes complained about the government’s prosecution of Chinese postdocs. https://scim.ag/4tsDqRr
You should be able to criticize the government for its racism and not have your chickenshit employer take the side of the racists.
Science Magazine@science.org · 5mo agoBreaking news: Indiana University plant microbiologist Roger Innes has been locked out of his laboratory by the school in response to a request by one of his federal funders. The move comes after Innes complained about the government’s prosecution of Chinese postdocs. https://scim.ag/4tsDqRr
Biocatalysts can build big molecules. A team at Merck & Co. developed a suite of enzymes that stitch together their oral PCSK9 inhibitor enlicitide. My latest for @cenmag.bsky.social cen.acs.org/pharmaceutic... #chemsky
This is the big one! So proud to have played a part on this team. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/... Enlicitide is an exciting potential molecule for cardiovascular disease, but if we were going to make it on a commercial scale, existing chemical techniques just weren't going to cut it.
Biocatalytic cascades enable manufacture of the macrocyclic peptide enlicitide
Historically, many compelling therapeutic targets have been accessible only by injectable biologic drugs. Macrocyclic peptides, such as the proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitor enli...
science.org
Help me think this through, what *is* protein thermostability?
Like most drug discovery researchers, I’ve been watching the “peptides for everything” craze with a mixture of amusement and alarm:
Ah, Peptides. Where to Begin?
science.org
When I spend all day in meetings
Michael Baym@baym.lol · 6mo agoSome day I’ll figure out how to work this into a talk
All the worst cunts in the world - from journalism to politics, the Kermlin to the White House - are suffering tonight.
