Transcription and Chromatin UK is back! Join us in York 18–20 November for three days of exciting science and networking. We look forward to seeing you there. www.eventsforce.net/biochemsoc/f...

Our new preprint is out! Using AI-guided design (RFdiffusion + ProteinMPNN), we engineered a plant immune receptor to recognise non-cognate pathogen effectors. Huge thanks to our amazing co-authors for making this possible! doi.org/10.64898/202...

Computational design of de novo integrated domains enables rational control of pathogen effector recognition in plant NLR immune receptors.

The rapid evolution of plant pathogens poses a persistent threat to global agricultural sustainability, often outpacing the discovery and deployment of natural disease resistance genes. While bioengin...

doi.org

1/7 New preprint: we found that Chlamydomonas carries a giant and unexpectedly elaborate chloroplast RNA polymerase with 12 previously unknown subunits, overturning the idea that the complexity of this organellar enzyme emerged during plant terrestrialization! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

The structure of a 2-MDa chloroplast RNA polymerase reveals unexpected evolutionary complexity

Transcription in chloroplasts depends on the Plastid-Encoded RNA polymerase (PEP), a bacterial-derived enzyme whose catalytic core remains encoded by the highly reduced genome inherited from the cyano...

biorxiv.org

Structural basis for multi-subunit DNA-dependent RNA polymerase catalytic activity

Structural basis for multi-subunit DNA-dependent RNA polymerase catalytic activity

In Mueller et al. the authors capture and visualize the native enzyme-substrate (Michaelis) and product complexes of nucleotide addition by bacterial RNA polymerase. Substrate coordination in a transition-state-like conformation, together with highly coordinated water molecules, suggests a positional (entropic) catalytic mechanism involving specific acid-base chemistry.

dlvr.it

Check out our latest work! AlphaFold 3 revealed a transient immune receptor complex that eluded biochemical studies for almost a decade 🤯 We describe a conserved structural logic underlying sensor–helper communication in an NLR immune receptor network 🧵👇

bioRxiv Plant Bio@biorxiv-plants.bsky.social · 3mo ago

A conserved structural logic underlies sensor-helper NLR communication in the NRC immune receptor network https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.05.18.725810v1

An exciting opportunity to join Dr Schreier's new group as a postdoctoral researcher is open for applications until 15 June 2026: www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/po...

Postdoctoral Researcher | John Innes Centre

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Postdoctoral Researcher to join the newly starting Schreier group at the John Innes Centre, working on cutting-edge science in the field of photosynthesis…

jic.ac.uk

NEWS - New group leader to shed light on supercharged photosynthesis We are pleased to announce that Dr Tina Schreier will join the John Innes Centre as a tenure-track Group Leader in July 2026: www.jic.ac.uk/news/new-gro...

So great to see our structure of chlorophyll synthase on bioRxiv! Thanks to amazing collaboration with Anna Wysocka, Felix Morey-Burrows, Andy Hitchcock and Roman Sobotka, and everyone else involved! @UniOsnabrueck @AlgatechTrebon @sheffielduni #cryoEM #photosynthesis #cyano

We're super excited to share MissAlignment: a new ML-based approach to reference-free tilt series alignment, spearheaded by @martenchaillet.bsky.social. We think it's going to make your cryo-ET life a lot better. Preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... Code: github.com/warpem/miss-... 🧶 Thread:

I just published: Leave the red shirt out: Scientists, stop complicating the story Scientists are brilliant at finding details. We are less brilliant at knowing which details to shut up about. medium.com/p/leave-the-...

I am so excited to share our new findings with you! We provide the structural evidence for a direct protein-to-DNA information pathway, showing how a bacterial enzyme 'reads' its own structure to 'write' DNA. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

I love this concept -- plasmid to Cryo structure in a day! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

🌱🚨 Funded PhD for UK students 🇬🇧🌿 Take a look at this Plant BioDesign Doctoral Training Program. Come work with me and @michaelwebster.bsky.social to study plant rubiscos. High throughput biochem at Cambridge and Cryo-EM techniques at the John Innes Centre. www.findaphd.com/phds/project...

Engineering plant rubisco enzymes through high-throughput enzyme assays and cryo-EM (Plant BioDesign Cambridge project) at University of York on FindAPhD.com

PhD Project - Engineering plant rubisco enzymes through high-throughput enzyme assays and cryo-EM (Plant BioDesign Cambridge project) at University of York, listed on FindAPhD.com

findaphd.com

👇

Nature Structural & Molecular Biology@natsmb.nature.com · 9mo ago

New online: AlphaSync is an enhanced AlphaFold structure database synchronized with UniProt

The Wilkinson Lab is open for science! @mskcancercenter.bsky.social 🧬We'll be finding funky new RNA biology, mainly by looking at reverse transcriptases (i.e. the Best Enzymes In The World)🧬 annnd: I'm hiring - come join! Especially postdocs and PhD students - please get in touch (NYC is great)

Wilkinson Lab

We discover and study reverse transcriptases

wilkinsonlab.bio

25 years on from publishing the structure of the bacterial 30S ribosomal subunit, alumni, collaborators & friends of Venki Ramakrishnan’s group joined us for a symposium celebrating the legacy of this work. Read about the event and find photos here: www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/25-years-of-... #LMBNews

Applications are now OPEN for the JIF Rotation PhD Programme This prestigious 4-year #PhD programme trains graduate students in Plant and Microbial Sciences at the JIC, @thesainsburylab.bsky.social and @earlhaminst.bsky.social. 🗓️ Closing date - 13 November 2025 www.jic.ac.uk/training-car...

Rotation biology PhDs | John Innes Centre

Prestigious studentships, for entry in October 2022, this multi-disciplinary PhD programme includes; plant science, microbiology, biological chemistry, applied mathematics…

jic.ac.uk

Chris Russo and Anastasiia Gusach have developed a new method to prepare #cryoEM samples that avoids protein damage during freezing Read more: www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/a-new-method... #LMBResearch

Start independent research at the JIC with us 👇. Really interested in finding those with an interest in structural biology and biochemistry of plants and microbes. Please do get in touch by email if you'd like to know more 👍

John Innes Centre@johninnescentre.bsky.social · 10mo ago

VACANCY - Independent research fellowships leading to tenured positions We’re inviting applications from outstanding researchers who either hold, or wish to apply for, Independent Research Fellowships. APPLICATION DEADLINE: 10 November 2025 Click here to apply: jic.link/Fellows

@UniBasel is setting up a new endowed professorship at the Biozentrum to make fundamental discoveries at the interface between biophysics and climate-relevant environmental biology www.biozentrum.unibas.ch/news/detail/...

New endowed professorship strengthens climate research at the University of Basel

The University of Basel is setting up a new endowed professorship at the Biozentrum to make fundamental discoveries at the interface between biophysics and climate-relevant environmental biology. This...

biozentrum.unibas.ch

Brilliant insight on something that takes a lot of patience to discover, thanks for sharing Oli.

Oli Clarke@olibclarke.bsky.social · 11mo ago

This one is a bit of a departure from the usual and definitely a work in progress! We found that by using ab initio reconstruction at very high res, in very small steps, we could crack some small structures that had eluded us - e.g. 39kDa iPKAc (EMPIAR-10252), below. Read on for details... 1/x

NEWS - Talented early-career researcher receives major @wellcometrust.bsky.social funding The innovative research project of JIC early-career plant scientist, Dr @miguelmontez.bsky.social, has attracted a prestigious funding award from a global health charity. www.jic.ac.uk/news/talente...

Talented early-career researcher receives major Wellcome Trust funding | John Innes Centre

The innovative research project of an early-career plant scientist at the John Innes Centre has attracted a prestigious funding award from a global health charity…

jic.ac.uk

Happy to share a new preprint from the Clarke & Vallese (@fravallese.bsky.social) labs reporting #cryoem structures of two RBC stomatin complexes – with AQP1 & UT-B - continuing the SPFH theme from our recent vault preprint! This was a fun one and has been cooking for a while - read on for more! ⬇️

👉 my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecru... Join us and be part of shaping the future of #plantscience at Oxford as we move to the new Life and Mind Building lifeandmind.web.ox.ac.uk/home (recognised for its potential to change the World edition.cnn.com/2025/01/01/s...) @biology.ox.ac.uk www.biology.ox.ac.uk

VACANCY - We’re currently hiring into two new senior roles: Group Leader in Discovery Plant Sciences: okt.to/tqoasR 🗓️ Closing date: 25 August 2025 ·An Independent Fellowship in Plant-Associated Microbial Interactions: okt.to/fDV0ha 🗓️ Closing date: 5 September 2025

VACANCY - We're looking for a Research Software Engineer to join the Informatics Platform, to solve novel challenges and provide support in bioinformatics and scientific computing. okt.to/gZ487w Closing date - 8 September 2025 Salary - £37,500 to £45,350 Contract - Full-time until 30 March 2027

VACANCY - We’re recruiting for a visionary group leader to lead fundamental research on Discovery Plant Science as part of our vibrant research community Successful candidate will be offered a six-year tenure-track position with the opportunity to apply for tenure: www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/gr...

PRESS RELEASE - Major funding boost to bring world leading researchers to the John Innes Centre We have been awarded an equal share of the new £54 million Global Talent Fund, to attract and support leading researchers and their teams to relocate to the UK: www.jic.ac.uk/press-releas...

VACANCY - We’re seeking an Optical Microscopy Support Specialist to join our Bioimaging Platform, to help train users on light microscopes, collaborate on imaging projects and provide technical support. www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/op... Closing date - 11 August 2025 Contract - Full time, indefinite

Optical Microscopy Support Specialist | John Innes Centre

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Optical Microscopy Support Specialist to join the Bioimaging Platform at the John Innes Centre.

jic.ac.uk

We’re pleased to announce two new vacancies for senior roles at our institute: Group Leader in Discovery Plant Sciences: www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/gr... 🗓️ Closes 25 August Independent Fellowship in Plant-Associated Microbial Interactions: www.jic.ac.uk/vacancies/in... 🗓️ Closes 5 September