iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Mai Tran @tranmai.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

🙏 Huge thanks to our incredible lab and project team. @kgoepfrich.bsky.social, Taniya Chakraborty, @floppleton.bsky.social, Luca Monari, Maja Illig, and Franziska Giessler This work couldn't be done without their support! Looking forward to what’s next!

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Mai Tran @tranmai.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

🌱 Furthermore, RNA origami structures can be genetically programmed to assemble inside cells and perform specific functions — opening new paths for synthetic cytoskeletons, scaffolding, or sensing. Excited to explore new applications and collaborations! 🧬🤝 🧵👇

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Mai Tran @tranmai.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

💻 we built 1 micron RNA origami assemblies for coarse-grained simulation with oxRNA model 📊 the simulations manage to predict the persistence length almost correctly at 3.7 μm (experimental data: 3.4 μm) 📊 the phenotypic transition from nanotubes to nanorings is also elucidated by the simulations 🧵👇

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Mai Tran @tranmai.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

Our RNA nanotubes: ✔️ can be produced in situ and self-assemble inside liposomes ✔️ show tunable stiffness - flexible tubes can bundle at high Mg2+ ✔️ subtle mutations lead to formation of nanorings instead of nanotubes (cover image) ✔️ form membrane cortex and deform membrane 🧵👇

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Mai Tran @tranmai.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

We engineered RNA tiles that fold co-transcriptionally and assemble in situ inside Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUVs) No chemical synthesis needed — just a DNA template, rNTPs building blocks, and T7 polymerase. A new route to building functional, evolvable synthetic cells. 🧵👇

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Mai Tran @tranmai.bsky.social · 26/05/2025

🧬 Thrilled to share that our work is featured on the cover of @natnano.nature.com (May issue)! We genetically encoded RNA origami that self-assembles into cytoskeletal nanotubes inside synthetic cells. 📄 Paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🧵👇

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Reposted by Mai Tran

Erik Poppleton @poppleton.phd · 17/03/2025

In the latest from @kgoepfrich.bsky.social’s group, led by the relentless @tranmai.bsky.social, we expressed RNA origami “cytoskeletons” in vesicles! We were fascinated that small changes in design led to divergent results. Future potential for directed evolution?! 🧬🧪 www.nature.com/articles/s41...

nature.com

Genetic encoding and expression of RNA origami cytoskeletons in synthetic cells - Nature Nanotechnology

This study introduces RNA origami nanotubes as self-assembling cytoskeleton mimics for synthetic cells. Expressed in vesicles from DNA templates, these RNA structures reach micrometre lengths, deform ...

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Mai Tran @tranmai.bsky.social · 20/02/2025

and it affects not only the laundry industry but also my experiments 😢 gotta shock myself with a metal window before work so often in this dry weather 😖

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Reposted by Mai Tran

Eva Bertosin @thedneva.bsky.social · 07/02/2025

I'm happy to share this roadmap towards the synthesis of life! It is the result of one of the best workshops I ever attended, where scientists across biology, chemistry, and physics came together to map out the key challenges to synthesize life. Enjoy! www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

sciencedirect.com

A roadmap toward the synthesis of life

The synthesis of life from non-living matter has captivated and divided scientists for centuries. This bold goal aims at unraveling the fundamental pr…

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Mai Tran @tranmai.bsky.social · 14/02/2025

super nice pack! could I also be added? thank you ☺️

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