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Oliver Beckstein [he/him]

@orbeckst.bsky.social

597 followers 194 following 33 posts

Computational biophysicists at Arizona State University; MDAnalysis (@MDAnalysis.bsky.social) developer. Opinions my own. Research Group: becksteinlab.physics.asu.edu MDAnalysis: www.mdanalysis.org

Posts Replies Media

Oliver Beckstein [he/him] @orbeckst.bsky.social · 04/08/2026

New paper on SLC10 (bile acid) transporters. Based on a 9-TM prokaryotic protein, ASBT_LB (same topology as mammalian ASBT) we show standard alternating access outward facing and inward conformations with a curious proteo-lipidic binding site for bile acids authors.elsevier.com/sd/article/S...

Cross section through the ASBT_LB transporter protein in a membrane in its outward facing conformation. The extracellular side is at the top and the substrate binding site is accessible from the extracellular side but not the intracellular side. A deoxycholate molecule (DCA) is bound and the binding site is also exposed to the lipid membrane, forming a proteo-lipidic site. The membrane is shown simplified as a density (in yellow). DCA is colored by its contacts with protein (green) and lipids (yellow), showing that its carboxylate group is anchored to a conserved Threonine residue while the bulky sterol rings are in contact with lipids. The protein is shown as a translucent surface (green) that shows the two bound Na+ ions.

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Oliver Beckstein [he/him] @orbeckst.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

We just had an inspiring #ASU commencement ceremony!

Dr Harrison Ford, ASU commencement speaker.

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Oliver Beckstein [he/him] @orbeckst.bsky.social · 23/02/2026

At #bps2026 : I loved the special acknowledgement of the @rcsbpdb.bsky.social and the MANY researchers who generated the experimental macromolecular structures that made it possible to build AI models for structure prediction.

Slide thanking the protein databank and all the researchers who contributed structures.

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Oliver Beckstein [he/him] @orbeckst.bsky.social · 22/02/2026

I’m at the BPS2026 meeting @biophysicalsoc.bsky.social in San Francisco. Find me to talk science or if you want some @mdanalysis.bsky.social stickers.

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Oliver Beckstein [he/him] @orbeckst.bsky.social · 16/07/2025

Come to the @mdanalysis.bsky.social User Group Meeting at Arizona State University in November. See www.mdanalysis.org/2025/07/15/u... for our keynote speakers and more updates. Great opportunity for junior researchers to present their work and to network with the MDAnalysis community.

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Oliver Beckstein [he/him] @orbeckst.bsky.social · 12/11/2023

Getting some work done with @aimsduke.bsky.social at the wonderful Cocoa Cinnamon Café.

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Oliver Beckstein [he/him] @orbeckst.bsky.social · 20/10/2023

spudda (2012 - 2023/sunsetting) RAID server with ~40 TB capacity. CPU 12 = 2x Xeon E5-2620 0 @ 2.00GHz This machine has been very stable for >10 years but earlier this year we had to exchange the motherboard and it is now being sunset. The other RAID servers (yamsolo and princesstator won)...

"Spudda": Jabba the hut with plastic ears and nose, reminiscent of a Mr Potatohead

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Oliver Beckstein [he/him] @orbeckst.bsky.social · 20/10/2023

frywalker (2012 - present) CPU 16 cores (2xIntel Xeon E5-2665 2.4 MHz, 8 cores) NVIDIA GTX980 (started with NVIDIA GTX680 and was upgraded)

Frywalker (Mr Potatohead as Luke Skywalker)

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Oliver Beckstein [he/him] @orbeckst.bsky.social · 20/10/2023

Let's start with some quality content: A history of workstations in my research group. darthtater (2003 - 2019) 2x8 CPUs Intel Xeon E5420 Harpertown 2.5GHz, later upgraded with a NVIDIA GTX 680 (built around ~2008 when Liz and I needed additional cores for DIMS-MD simulations, moved to ASU)

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