PRRSV, a pig virus costing the pork industry millions of dollars year with no effective antivirals, has a protease with a "zinc finger" that actually binds a [4Fe–4S] cluster, and hijacks the host CIA targeting complex (CIAO1) to get it. New antiviral angle? www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

Another day another impressive honors thesis defense from the Perlstein lab. Congratulations mark - you did great and UCSB is lucky to have you join their PhD program. We will miss you but can’t wait to see what you do next

Congrats Marisa on your successful defense of you “honours” thesis - you are amazing and I cannot wait to see what you do next

Congratulations to Mark Castro - undergraduate in the Perlstein lab - on his NSF graduate research fellowship! UCSB is so lucky to have you as an incoming G1.

1/ How does the cytosolic iron–sulfur cluster assembly (CIA) system identify its dozens of clients? Like any good CIA agent, it uses a secret code🕵️ … and we think we’ve found the decoder. New Perlstein Lab preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

NEW PREPRINT! How does the cytosolic iron-sulfur cluster assembly (CIA) targeting complex (CTC) recruit the FeS carrier Nar1? check out our paper and find out! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

New paper alert! We ID resides of CIA targeting complex that recruit clients - in contradiction to what was predicted from previous studies, we find it is the cia1-cia2 interface, not cia1 on its own, that mediates the interaction. pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...

A Conserved Cia1–Cia2 Interface Mediates Client Recruitment in the Cytosolic Iron–Sulfur Cluster Assembly Pathway

The cytosolic iron–sulfur cluster assembly (CIA) targeting complex maturates over 30 cytosolic and nuclear Fe–S proteins, raising the question of how a single complex recognizes such a diverse set of ...

pubs.acs.org

So, I have been learning about machine learning - if you want to learn with me, see our recently published article! Many thanks to all the trainees who wrote and edited this mammoth of a book chapter and the reviewers for their effort. Check it out! doi.org/10.1002/cpz1...

Getting Started with Machine Learning for Experimental Biochemists and Other Molecular Scientists

Machine learning (ML) is rapidly gaining traction in many areas of experimental molecular science for elucidating relationships and patterns in large or complex data sets. Historically, ML was largel....

doi.org

Thank you to Amit Reddi and Sabeeha Merchant for invitation to speak at your metals-focused symposium at #ASBMB25. I had a great time and learned so much!

Great news: NIH postbac program is recruiting again! If your grad school plans were affected by program cutbacks or admissions freezes this year I highly encourage you to apply, this could be a perfect opportunity. Please repost. www.training.nih.gov/research-tra...

NSF GRFP Awards by the Year: 2021 - 2074 2022 - 2193 2023 - 2555 2024 - 2036 2025 - 1000 Again, these funding cuts will have drastic longterm effects on the scientific future of the US....... @jeremymberg.bsky.social @altnih4science.bsky.social

We are excited to announce our official partnership with @indivisible.org for the National Day of Action on April 5th! Stand Up for Science says: HANDS OFF OUR SCIENCE! #standupforscience #handsoffourscience Find and register for an event near you: handsoff2025.com?utm_source=s...

I am one week late in posting my most sincere congratulations to Jackson Ho - the perlstein lab's newest PhD! He boldly tangled with the cytosolic Fe-S assembly factor Nar1/CIOA3, collecting first evidence for its cluster trafficking function.

So excited to get this work out there! We have been working hard to "crack the CIA code" - more to come soon! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

The Cia1 and Cia2 subunits of the CTC mediate recognition of apo-FeS proteins with a C-terminal targeting complex recognition motif

The cytosolic iron-sulfur cluster assembly (CIA) targeting complex is responsible for maturation of cytosolic and nuclear iron-sulfur enzymes, numbering >30 proteins critical for fundamental processes...

biorxiv.org

Don't miss Anastasiya's talk at #ACSspring2025 yall! it is going to be FANTASTIC! So proud to be (former) PI of this Emergent Leader - watch out world! Lets go!

Standupforscience DC - here for a family thing - here for science

Welcome to the Bluesky account for Stand Up for Science 2025! Keep an eye on this space for updates, event information, and ways to get involved. We can't wait to see everyone #standupforscience2025 on March 7th, both in DC and locations nationwide! #scienceforall #sciencenotsilence

A small positive post in the midst of these uncertain times... The Molecular Biology & Biochemistry department at Wesleyan is hiring a visiting professor for a Sept start date. Come join us and/or share with prospective applicants! wesleyan.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/careers/job/...

Boston University Department of Chemistry is looking for 4 (four!) postdoctoral associate teacher scholars. These mentored teaching and research experiences aim to prepare future faculty ready to step into teaching focused roles. Please repost and apply! academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/29703

Boston University is searching for up to 4 Post-Doctoral Teacher Scholars. These unique positions provide mentored teaching and research experiences to train next generation of professors for PUIs. Please reach out if you want more info! academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/29703

Had a little party today to welcome a new group member- not a bad Friday the 13th!