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Jens Schmidt

@jenscs83.bsky.social
829 followers 932 following 124 posts

Cancer Biologist, Husband, Father. Interested in Genomic Integrity, Telomeres, Autophagy, and Single Molecule Microscopy. www.theschmidtlab.com

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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Absolutely! Big quality of life increase!
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Please reach out via email (schmi706@msu.edu) if you are interested or if you have any questions. Please share with your trainees who are looking for postdoctoral positions. 5/5
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Our lab in the Institute of Quantitative Health Science and Engineering at Michigan State University (iq.msu.edu) offers a highly supportive research environment as well as state of the art lab space, equipment, and facilities. In addition, cost of living is low and there is very little traffic! 4/5
iq.msu.edu
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
We have a strong track record of mentoring postdoctoral fellows in the lab, who have successfully competed for fellowships including the K99/R00 award, published exciting first author papers, and have transitioned into independent faculty positions in the United States. 3/5
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Using an available collection of human cancer cell lines expressing HaloTagged HR factors from their endogenous loci, the goal is to study the dynamic recruitment of the HR factors to DNA breaks, determine repair kinetics, and to analyze competition with the NHEJ pathway in living cells. 2/5
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
We are recruiting a postdoctoral fellow to study DNA damage repair via the homologous recombination pathway using quantitative cell biology approaches. The position will be initially supported for two years by the MSU Research Foundation Postdoctoral Scholars program. Please share! 1/5
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Jim Hurley @jimhurley.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
The ULK1 complex triggers autophagy on membranes, but with no typical membrane binding domains, how does it get there? See the answer in a brilliant collective effort out now in Science Advances: www.science.org/doi/10.1126/....
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Evgeny Kvon @evgenykvon.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
“Super-enhancer hubs are rare, nonspecific, and neither necessary nor sufficient for transcriptional bursting” www.cell.com/cell-genomic...
cell.com
Single-cell 3D genome imaging shows super-enhancer hubs are rare, nonspecific, and neither necessary nor sufficient for transcriptional bursting
Super-enhancers have been proposed to cluster in the nucleus when compared to other genomic elements. Le et al. found that super-enhancer clustering was rare and driven by non-specific interactions. P...
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Genes & Development @genesdev.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
RESEARCH PAPER: SMARCAL1 is a candidate therapeutic target for ALT-positive tumors By Taglialatela et al., and Alberto Ciccia ➡️ genesdev.cshlp.org/content/40/15-16… Alberto Ciccia Angelo Taglialatela Columbia University #cancer #telomere #cancertherapy
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bioRxivpreprint @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Sequential division of labor between PAXX and XLF drives NHEJ synaptic complex stability and maturation www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/20…
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Well that didn't age well :)!
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Molecular Cell @cp-molcell.bsky.social · 24/06/2026
Online Now: A dynamic RNA hub facilitates activation-induced cytidine deaminase recruitment to the immunoglobulin heavy-chain locus Online now:
dlvr.it
A dynamic RNA hub facilitates activation-induced cytidine deaminase recruitment to the immunoglobulin heavy-chain locus
Mikhova et al. used live-cell single-molecule imaging to track the nuclear dynamics of AID and switch region transcription in B cells undergoing class switch recombination and discovered an RNA hub formed by tethered nascent transcripts that facilitates the recruitment and retention of AID at the IgH locus.
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
We are looking to hire 2 postdoctoral fellows to study the molecular mechanisms underlying class switch recombination using advanced single-molecule imaging techniques in living B Cells. The positions are fully funded and will build on our findings published today in Molecular Cell. Please Share!
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
This work was made possible by the relentless efforts of Mariia Mikhova and the B cell and CSR magicians in Dr. Kefei Yu’s lab, who made all cell lines used in this study. 12/12
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Altogether, we propose a model in which the specific binding of AID to switch region RNAs and the formation of the large RNA hub by nascent switch region transcripts, specifically recruits AID to the IgH locus to facilitate class switch recombination. 11/n
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Finally, we combined the RNA and protein imaging modalities to analyze AID binding to the IgH locus. AID binding events are rare and last 40 seconds on average, which should allow a single AID to deaminate a substantial number of cytosines. 10/n
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
This change in AID dynamics is completely dependent on the presence of switch region transcripts, which is consistent with AID binding to the switch region RNA. 9/n
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Next, we analyze AID trafficking in the nucleus at the single-molecule level. Our experiments demonstrate that the rate of AID diffusion is reduced over the course of CSR and dynamic properties of slowly diffusing AID molecules matches those of mobile switch region transcripts. 8/n
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Surprisingly, we found that the Sa switch region is rapidly transcribed (~2.5 kb/min), which suggests that R-loop formation is very transient and does not impact transcription or maybe does not occur at all!!? 7/n
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
The switch regions are highly repetitive and have a G-rich on the non-template strand, i.e. textbook examples of R-loop forming sequences. To test whether R-loop formation impedes or stalls transcription across the switch regions, we inserted PP7 and MS2 arrays flanking the Sa switch region. 6/n
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
We also identified mobile switch region transcripts that diffused through the nucleus of the B cells and were able to re-associate with the actively transcribed IgH locus. 5/n
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
To analyze switch regions transcription in real time we introduced PP7 and MS2 stem loop arrays in various locations in the IgH locus and detected bright transcriptional signals which reflect 10s of nascent switch region transcripts associated with the IgH locus forming a large RNA hub. 4/n
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
DNA break induction requires switch region transcription and the recruitment of the cytidine deaminase AID. How switch region transcription leads to the almost exclusive recruitment of AID to the IgH locus was unclear. 3/n
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
CSR is a large scale intrachromosomal deletion that leads to the expression of different antibody isotypes (IgG, IgA, etc.). This deletion requires specific induction of DNA breaks in highly repetitive switch regions that precede the antibody isotype coding regions. 2/n
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/06/2026
Out today in Molecular Cell! Lead by Mariia Mikhova and in collaboration with Kefei Yu’s lab @msumgi.bsky.social we dug into the molecular mechanism of class switch recombination in B cells using simultaneous RNA and protein single-molecule imaging. 1/n www.cell.com/molecular-ce...
cell.com
A dynamic RNA hub facilitates activation-induced cytidine deaminase recruitment to the immunoglobulin heavy-chain locus
Mikhova et al. used live-cell single-molecule imaging to track the nuclear dynamics of AID and switch region transcription in B cells undergoing class switch recombination and discovered an RNA hub fo...
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Anders Sejr Hansen @andersshansen.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
(1/n) Very excited to share tri-lab collab (Mirny & Zechner) led by Harvey, Henrik & Jack: Q: How do enhancers & promoters interact in space (contact vs. action-at-a-distance) and time (stable vs. transient)? A: Transient E-P contact (~25-42 nm lasting ~10-20 sec): www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Also love the extremely detailed methods section you provided!
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Love it!
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
Really cool!! Can't wait to dig into this paper. @andersshansen.bsky.social Would love to be able to check out the movies, but it seems like they are not included in the bioRxiv supplemental materials?
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 21/06/2026
Football is a game where two teams kick the ball around for 90 minutes and in the end Germany wins!
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Matthew Taliaferro @jmtali.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
New paper! How do RNAs "know" where to go inside a cell? We dug into the sequence elements that route RNAs to the right place. It turns out that, in mammals, they're surprisingly massive (>200 nt), multipartite, and wonderfully complicated. 🧵
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
Our lab is located at the Institute of Quantitative Health Sciences and Engineering at Michigan State University. We have state of the art facilities, a highly supportive research environment, and the area is very affordable without any traffic :)!!
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 11/06/2026
I am looking to recruit 2 postdoctoral fellows to the lab to work on a recently funded project focused on class switch recombination in B cells. If you are interested in immunology, gene expression, and RNA and protein single molecule imaging, please reach out (schmi706@msu.edu). Please share!
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Alberto Ciccia @albertociccia.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Excited to finally share our preprint on mapping the genetic interaction network of the DNA damage response with combinatorial knockout screens led by Sam Hayward, Alina Vaitsiankova, and Tomas Lama-Diaz! www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
biorxiv.org
Mapping the genetic landscape of the DNA damage response with Cas12a-based combinatorial knockout screens
The DNA damage response (DDR) is a complex network of cellular pathways that ensures the faithful maintenance of our genomes upon a wide array of genomic insults. To elucidate the functional architect...
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Yes. In German soccer clubs 51% must be held by individual members to maintain fan control!
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Carlo Barnaba 🇮🇹🇲🇽 @barnabalab.bsky.social · 06/06/2026
🔥PREPRINT🔥: Metformin Redirects Autophagy from Bulk Turnover to Mitochondrial Clearance. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... This truly was a team effort. @kupharmchem.bsky.social
biorxiv.org
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
If it is a round trip your delta is 0!!
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 22/03/2026
Currywurst must be served on a cart board plate and you are missing the mayo on the fries!!
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Di Jiang @dijiang319.bsky.social · 19/02/2026
@science.org Evolution of error correction through a need for speed | Science #evolution 🧬🔬 www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
science.org
Evolution of error correction through a need for speed
Kinetic proofreading is a class of error-correcting mechanisms in biology that expend energy to avoid mistakes during replication, transcription, and translation. Proofreading is typically assumed to ...
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
This work was made possible by the relentless efforts of Mariia Mikhova and the B cell and CSR magicians in Dr. Kefei Yu’s lab, who made all cell lines used in this study. 12/12
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Altogether, we propose a model in which the specific binding of AID to switch region RNAs and the formation of the large RNA hub by nascent switch region transcripts, specifically recruits AID to the IgH locus to facilitate class switch recombination. 11/n
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Finally, we combined the RNA and protein imaging modalities to analyze AID binding to the IgH locus. AID binding events are rare and last 40 seconds on average, which should allow a single AID to deaminate a substantial number of cytosines. 10/n
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
This change in AID dynamics is completely dependent on the presence of switch region transcripts, which is consistent with AID binding to the switch region RNA. 9/n
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Next, we analyze AID trafficking in the nucleus at the single-molecule level. Our experiments demonstrate that the rate of AID diffusion is reduced over the course of CSR and dynamic properties of slowly diffusing AID molecules matches those of mobile switch region transcripts. 8/n
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
Surprisingly, we found that the Sa switch region is rapidly transcribed (~2.5 kb/min), which suggests that R-loop formation is very transient and does not impact transcription or maybe does not occur at all!!? 7/n
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
The switch regions are highly repetitive and have a G-rich on the non-template strand, i.e. textbook examples of R-loop forming sequences. To test whether R-loop formation impedes or stalls transcription across the switch regions, we inserted PP7 and MS2 arrays flanking the Sa switch region. 6/n
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
We also identified mobile switch region transcripts that diffused through the nucleus of the B cells and were able to re-associate with the actively transcribed IgH locus. 5/n
100
Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
To analyze switch regions transcription in real time we introduced PP7 and MS2 stem loop arrays in various locations in the IgH locus and detected bright transcriptional signals which reflect 10s of nascent switch region transcripts associated with the IgH locus forming a large RNA hub. 4/n
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
DNA break induction requires switch region transcription and the recruitment of the cytidine deaminase AID. How switch region transcription leads to the almost exclusive recruitment of AID to the IgH locus was unclear. 3/n
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Jens Schmidt @jenscs83.bsky.social · 23/01/2026
CSR is a large scale intrachromosomal deletion that leads to the expression of different antibody isotypes (IgG, IgA, etc.). This deletion requires specific induction of DNA breaks in highly repetitive switch regions that precede the antibody isotype coding regions. 2/n
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