iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Sternberg Lab @sternberglab.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

1/13 — New pre-print from the Sternberg Lab in collaboration with Leifu Chang's Lab! TnpB nucleases have repeatedly given rise to TldRs, nuclease-dead RNA-guided transcription factors. Here we define the biological role of one TldR clade in its native host. Story: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

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Sternberg Lab @sternberglab.bsky.social · 01/09/2026

Just published! IStrons are a unique class of transposable elements that pack three distinct functions in one nucleotide sequence. In this work, we used pooled library mutagenesis and high-throughput sequencing to systematically map the sequence and structural features that govern these functions.

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Nucleic Acids Research @narjournal.bsky.social · 28/08/2026

Congratulations to Edan Mortman and @sternberglab.bsky.social @shsternberg.bsky.social on this fascinating and important achievement! 🎉 Your work provides a compelling look at how selfish genetic elements balance their own propagation with the survival of their host. @columbiauniversity.bsky.social

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Jean-Michel Ané @jeanmichelane.bsky.social · 14/07/2026

Several faculty openings in cell and community synthetic biology at @uwmadison.bsky.social Some are at any level, so consider it for yourself and tell colleagues/stusdents. Great colleagues, state-of-the-art facilities, a great place to live and succeed in science! bact.wisc.edu/bacteriology...

bact.wisc.edu

Bacteriology is Hiring!

Bioeconomy Assistant Professor The Department of Bacteriology is seeking applicants at the Assistant Professor level to launch a research program in the New Bioeconomy. Applicants may be interested in...

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Sternberg Lab @sternberglab.bsky.social · 03/08/2026

Out now! In collaboration with Hiroshi Nishimasu's lab, we uncover how a dual reverse transcriptase immune system builds double-stranded DNA from both RNA and protein templates. www.cell.com/cell/abstrac... Previous thread for the preprint: bsky.app/profile/ster...

cell.com

Coordinated RNA- and protein-templated synthesis of double-stranded DNA by a dual reverse transcriptase immune system

Bacterial reverse transcriptases defend against viruses, yet how their DNA products stop infection remains unknown. Bacteriophage inhibition of a host recombination enzyme activates the DRT3 defense s...

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Sternberg Lab @sternberglab.bsky.social · 09/07/2026

1/11 New preprint from the Sternberg lab in collaboration with the Fernández lab! We are excited to share our structure-function study of DRT10, a bacterial defense-associated reverse transcriptase that synthesizes long tandem-repeat DNA.🧵 Read the full story here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

biorxiv.org

Mechanism of tandem-repeat DNA synthesis by an antiviral reverse transcriptase

Defense-associated reverse transcriptases (DRTs) employ DNA synthesis to protect bacteria against phage infection[1][1],[2][2]. We previously showed that DRT10, a tripartite system comprising an RT, a...

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Sternberg Lab @sternberglab.bsky.social · 21/05/2026

1/8 🚨 New preprint from the @sternberglab.bsky.social & @martinjinek.bsky.social labs! CRISPR-associated transposases (CASTs) insert large DNA cargoes at precise genomic locations — no double-strand breaks needed.

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Sternberg Lab @sternberglab.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

1/9 New preprint from the Sternberg Lab in collaboration with the Nishimasu Lab! We uncover how the DRT3 antiphage immune system pairs two reverse transcriptases, one RNA-templated and one protein-templated, to build a double-stranded DNA effector. doi.org/10.64898/202...

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Sternberg Lab @sternberglab.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

New preprint from the Sternberg lab! We used pooled oligonucleotide library mutagenesis + high-throughput sequencing to systematically dissect the molecular determinants of IStron transposition, RNA-guided DNA cleavage, and self-splicing. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

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Sternberg Lab @sternberglab.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Out now! In collaboration with Leifu Chang, we uncover the molecular and structural underpinnings of CRISPR-Cas12f-like RNA-guided transcription systems! Links to the published articles: tinyurl.com/55kpavet tinyurl.com/sk6djwx3 Previous thread for the preprint: bsky.app/profile/did:...

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Sternberg Lab @sternberglab.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

1/9 Metagenomics lets us read microbiomes in nature without cultivation, but writing (editing) them in their native context is still a major challenge. Meet MetaEdit: a platform for pathway-scale metagenomic editing inside the gut microbiome. science.org/doi/10.1126/...

science.org

Metagenomic editing of commensal bacteria in vivo using CRISPR-associated transposases

Although metagenomic sequencing has revealed a rich microbial biodiversity in the mammalian gut, methods to genetically alter specific species in the microbiome are highly limited. Here, we introduce ...

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Harry Low’s Lab @lowlab.bsky.social · 04/11/2025

Please RT. Post-doc opportunity alert! 💥 closing 10th December.. Come join our team (www.thelowlab.org) at Imperial, London, working on the structure and mechanism of bacterial secretion systems. For more details and to apply please see www.imperial.ac.uk/jobs/search-...

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Sternberg Lab @sternberglab.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

1/10 Genome maintenance by telomerase is a fundamental process in nearly all eukaryotes. But where does it come from? Today, we report the discovery of telomerase homologs in a family of antiviral RTs, revealing an unexpected evolutionary origin in bacteria. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

biorxiv.org

Antiviral reverse transcriptases reveal the evolutionary origin of telomerase

Defense-associated reverse transcriptases (DRTs) employ diverse and distinctive mechanisms of cDNA synthesis to protect bacteria against viral infection. However, much of DRT family diversity remains ...

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Sternberg Lab @sternberglab.bsky.social · 24/07/2025

1/16 New pre-print from the Sternberg Lab! We uncover how temperate phages can use RNA-guided transcription factors to remodel the flagellar composition of their bacterial host and enhance their fitness. Find the preprint and full story here: tinyurl.com/mshwjd77

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Broad Institute @broadinstitute.org · 24/06/2025

Gene editing pioneer David Liu discusses baby K.J. Muldoon, the first person treated with a customized gene editing therapy, what made K.J.'s treatment possible, and how on-demand treatments for rare genetic diseases could one day become routine. #GeneEditing #Science

broadinstitute.org

Q&A: One scientist’s bold vision to make on-demand treatments routine for life-threatening rare genetic diseases

Broad core member and gene editing pioneer David Liu describes a framework that could enable the treatment of 1,000 patients with personalized gene editing therapies by 2030.

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Molly Gale (Gale-Hammell Lab) @mollygale.bsky.social · 16/06/2025

🧬🌽 Happy Transposon Day! 🌽🧬 Today we celebrate the birthday of Barbara McClintock - scientist extraordinaire and discoverer of jumping genes. Still the only woman to have an unshared Nobel Prize in the biomedical sciences #TransposonDay2025

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François Rousset @francoisrousset.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Nature invented CRISPRa way before scientists did 🤩 Awesome work by the @sternberglab.bsky.social Looking forward to seeing cool applications coming out of this !

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Gianluca Prezza @gprezza.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Did you think you needed a promoter for CRISPRa? Think again!

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Sternberg Lab @sternberglab.bsky.social · 11/06/2025

1/10 New pre-print(s) from the Sternberg Lab in collaboration with Leifu Chang's Lab! We uncover the unprecedented molecular mechanism of CRISPR-Cas12f-like proteins, which drive RNA-guided transcription independently of canonical promoter motifs. Full story here: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

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Addgene @addgene.bsky.social · 10/06/2025

Did you see the recent buzz about evoCAST, a new CRISPR-transposon tool that can insert entire genes into human cells? We've got a quick explainer on how CASTs work and how evoCAST improves on them! @isaacwitte.bsky.social @sternberglab.bsky.social blog.addgene.org/cas...

blog.addgene.org

CASTing Off for New Shores in Human Genome Editing

This post describes evoCAST, a new CRISPR-associated transposase tools optimized for genetic editing in human cells.

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Sternberg Lab @sternberglab.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

We're thrilled to share the published version of our DRT9 story, online today @nature.com! Congratulations to all authors! www.nature.com/articles/s41...

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Sternberg Lab @sternberglab.bsky.social · 19/05/2025

"..one of the biggest challenges right now for evoCAST, and other large DNA editing tools under development, is delivery. 'How do we actually get these tools and their payloads into the cells or tissues of interest?'” www.cuimc.columbia.edu/news/sternbe...

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Isaac Witte @isaacwitte.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

Excited to introduce evoCAST: a platform for efficient, programmable gene integration in human cells. This work, a close collab between my PhD lab (Liu group) and @sternberglab.bsky.social, has been such a fun journey to help lead. Huge thanks to all contributors! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...

science.org

Programmable gene insertion in human cells with a laboratory-evolved CRISPR-associated transposase

Programmable gene integration in human cells has the potential to enable mutation-agnostic treatments for loss-of-function genetic diseases and facilitate many applications in the life sciences. CRISP...

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Sternberg Lab @sternberglab.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

1/10 Today in @science.org in collaboration with the Liu group we report the development of a laboratory-evolved CRISPR-associated transposase (evoCAST) that supports therapeutically relevant levels of RNA-programmable gene insertion in human cells. drive.google.com/file/d/1I-Ub...

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Cedric Feschotte @cedricfeschotte.bsky.social · 30/04/2025

💥🥳 At long last, our latest paper is out! Gag proteins of endogenous retroviruses are required for zebrafish development www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/... Led heroically by Sylvia Chang & @jonowells.bsky.social A study which has changed the way I think of #transposons! No less! 🧵 1/n

pnas.org

Gag proteins encoded by endogenous retroviruses are required for zebrafish development | PNAS

Transposable elements (TEs) make up the bulk of eukaryotic genomes and examples abound of TE-derived sequences repurposed for organismal function. ...

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Kevin Davies @kevinadavies.bsky.social · 05/05/2025

Join GEN on June 11 for: "The State of CRISPR & Genome Editing" virtual summit. Guests include: Feng Zhang, @urnov.bsky.social , @juliemakani.bsky.social @nevillesanjana.bsky.social; Alexis Komor & Nicole Gaudelli, and Beth Shapiro Registration is free! webinars.liebertpub.com/e/the-state-...

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Sahar Melamed @saharmelamed.bsky.social · 24/04/2025

One of my students pointed me to this great podcast that gives an overview of phage history! #PhageSky open.spotify.com/episode/4XTa...

open.spotify.com

Bacteriophages

In Our Time · Episode

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Sternberg Lab @sternberglab.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

We've been fortunate to celebrate a few wins in the lab recently. Dr. George Lampe received the Columbia Dean’s Award and Henry Le was awarded a Soros Fellowship. Cheers and congratulations to you both!!

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Sternberg Lab @sternberglab.bsky.social · 26/03/2025

Hello BlueSky! Inaugural post here from the Sternberg Lab. We're excited to share our latest work, in which we teamed up with the @WiedenheftLab to study how DRT9 reverse transcriptases provide antiviral immunity. Here’s what we found: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

biorxiv.org

Protein-primed DNA homopolymer synthesis by an antiviral reverse transcriptase

Bacteria defend themselves from viral predation using diverse immune systems, many of which sense and target foreign DNA for degradation. Defense-associated reverse transcriptase (DRT) systems provide...

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