@SzostakLab

The origin of life, the RNA world, and the transition from chemistry to biology

Joined July 2013
  • Tweets49
  • Following28
  • Followers2.1K
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The #RNAWorld hypothesis gets another boost from synthetic biologists. The Hobartner lab makes a methyltransferase #ribozyme, showing how early RNA enzymes could have expanded their own chemical diversity and perhaps methylated other molecules. nature.com/articles/s41586-0…
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Junior Fellow search! 3-year independent position, salary, research funding, and lab space provided. Great transition to tenure track! Work at MGH Molbio and launch your independent lab. Apply by 5pm on November 15, 2020 at: molbio.mgh.harvard.edu/facul…
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Szostak Lab retweeted
Taekjip Ha@taekjip31 Jul 2018
I commisioned a song about our research from a baltimore artist. youtu.be/3DaoG58jQt8

Ha Lab Lyric Video (Prod. Classixs Beats)

Ha Lab Lyric VideoCheck out more of my music here: https://open.s...

youtube.com
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Szostak Lab retweeted
K@strom_kyle20 Oct 2020
Latest in a project started with @NoamPrywes what feels like ages ago. I'm now able to build these things with ease; oligos designed to (on paper) use imine bonds for sequence recognition & information transfer similar to H-bonds in nucleobases. @JOC_OL pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs…

Solid-Phase Synthesis of Sequence-Defined Informational Oligomers

Abstract. Genetic biopolymers utilize defined sequences and monomer-specific molecular recognition to store and transfer information. Synthetic polymers th

pubs.acs.org
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Congratulations @doudna_lab for the Nobel! Fun fact: Jennifer is the first student in our lab to work on RNA. @NobelPrize
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Science thrives on diversity. Efforts to increase gender and racial equity in chemistry should be amplified and celebrated. @angew_chem recent editorial is reprehensible and does not reflect the values we must strive to uphold as a community. Jack is resigning from the board.
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Fully funded PhD studentship in computational chemistry available in my group incl. fees for EU/UK students. Topics: photochemistry of RNA/DNA oligos or prebiotic nonenzymatic RNA/DNA template copying (in collab. with @SzostakLab). E-mail me for more info! Will be advertised soon
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Our new PNAS paper is online - a new twist on the old ligase story that started right here about 3 decades ago... In vitro selection of ribozyme ligases that use prebiotically plausible 2-aminoimidazole–activated substrates pnas.org/content/early/2020/…

In vitro selection of ribozyme ligases that use prebiotically plausible 2-aminoimidazole–activated...

The hypothesized central role of RNA in the origin of life suggests that RNA propagation predated the advent of complex protein enzymes. A critical...

pnas.org
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A new study offers evidence that the first building blocks on Earth may have evolved in a less orderly way than previously thought hrvd.me/earthevolution454t

Study likens Earth's evolution to creation of Frankenstein's monster

The evolution of the first building blocks on Earth may have been messier than previously thought, likening it to the mishmash creation of Frankenstein’s monster.

news.harvard.edu
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Our new @eLife paper is now available online! Congratulations Lijun, great work! elifesciences.org/articles/5…

Non-enzymatic primer extension with strand displacement

Relying on RNA fragments derived from degradation or partial template copying, non-enzymatic primer extension with strand displacement offers a novel and prebiotically plausible approach to RNA...

elifesciences.org
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Latest from the @SzostakLab in @J_A_C_S pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jac…

Prebiotically Plausible “Patching” of RNA Backbone Cleavage through a 3′–5′ Pyrophosphate Linkage

Abstract. Achieving multiple cycles of RNA replication within a model protocell would be a critical step toward demonstrating a path from prebiotic chemist

pubs.acs.org
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Our newest pre-print is out now! Congrats Chris! biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/…

A model for the emergence of RNA from a prebiotically plausible mixture of ribonucleotides,...

The abiotic synthesis of ribonucleotides is thought to have been an essential step towards the emergence of the RNA world. However, it is likely that the prebiotic synthesis of ribonucleotides was...

biorxiv.org
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Szostak lab representing at the MGH mol bio retreat! Yes, Jack’s card reads ‘chick magnet.’ And yes, we’re talking about a very fundamental chicken and egg problem ;) What a fantastic group of people to work with!!
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@Harvard_Origins Consortium member Zoe Todd selected for the cover of @RoySocChem! Collaborative efforts - key! @SzostakLab pubs.rsc.org/en/content/arti…
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Prebiotically Plausible ‘Patching’ of RNA Backbone Cleavage Through a 3′-5′ Pyrophosphate Linkage biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/…

Prebiotically Plausible ‘Patching’ of RNA Backbone Cleavage Through a 3′-5′ Pyrophosphate Linkage

Achieving multiple cycles of RNA replication within a model protocell would be a critical step towards demonstrating a path from prebiotic chemistry to cellular biology. Any model for early life...

biorxiv.org
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Inosine, but none of the 8-oxo-purines, is a plausible component of a primordial version of RNA (Szostak) pnas.org/content/early/2018/…

Inosine, but none of the 8-oxo-purines, is a plausible component of a primordial version of RNA |...

The emergence of primordial RNA-based life would have required the abiotic synthesis of nucleotides, and their participation in nonenzymatic RNA re...

pnas.org
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Szostak Lab retweeted
JoVE
@JoVEJournal15 Feb 2018
Nobel prize winner Dr. Jack Szostak and collaborators present techniques for the preparation, purification, and use of fatty acid-containing liposomes. @SzostakLab @MassGeneralNews ow.ly/EUcd30inHpW
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Congratulations Jennifer Doudna @doudna_lab for receiving the 2018 NAS Award in Chemical Sciences! nasonline.org/programs/award… One of Jennifer's PhD @SzostakLab papers was in Biochemistry pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/bi0…!
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New paper from the @SzostakLab: "Synthesis of a nonhydrolyzable nucleotide phosphoroimidazolide analogue that catalyzes nonenzymatic #RNA primer extension." @J_A_C_S bit.ly/2CcRDtE
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Our new @J_A_C_S paper is out now: pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/jac…
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