Agnes Noy

Agnes Noy research account: Professor at the University of York. DNA, biophysics, modelling, supercoiling, and much more. Active in @agnesnoy.bsky.social

[Agnes Noy @ANoyLab]

How do DNA duplexes recognize and pair with each other?
Thomas Catley, @VVBerrelleza, @alicepyne and myself present the first direct visualization of DNA-DNA pairing mediated by divalent cations, confirming the decade-old DNA zipper model!
https://t.co/2Fs5ZZXGyw

[Agnes Noy @ANoyLab]

We are thrilled that our DNA zipping story have been selected as one of September’s best science images by Nature!
Published by NAR with Thomas Catley, Victor Manuel Velasco Berrelleza and Alice Pyne

https://t.co/94i44iDh6l

[ScienceAlert @ScienceAlert]

A molecular mystery comes into focus. https://t.co/SAcFxQsONS

#ScienceNews #ScienceAlert #ScienceDiscoveries #StayCurious

[The Star, Sheffield @SheffieldStar]

Decades-old DNA mystery solved after strands are captured zipping together for the first time https://t.co/5TMOB8gEan

[Science News @ScienceNews]

Researchers used a record player–like microscope to see DNA pairing for the first time. https://t.co/onqUcbCjZE

[Science News @ScienceNews]

The work adds insight to the process in which cells pair up chromosomes before divvying DNA into eggs or sperm.

https://t.co/onqUcbCjZE

[Science News @ScienceNews]

How DNA strands meet to divvy up chromosomes was a longtime mystery.

https://t.co/onqUcbCjZE

[Agnes Noy @ANoyLab]

Thanks for sharing our work! See below a movie done by computer simulations capturing the #DNAzipping
https://t.co/Nf2WomZxyr

[Prof. Ahmed Omer Alnajjar @alnajjar_ahmed]

🧬 For the first time, scientists have directly captured DNA molecules “zipping” together.

Positively charged metal ions appear to act as tiny molecular bridges, helping negatively charged DNA helices overcome repulsion and align with remarkable precision.

A fascinating look at one of biology’s fundamental molecular interactions.

https://t.co/95xPC6PGK5

[Agnes Noy @ANoyLab]

Happy to see that our work is being divulged! 🙂The original work: https://t.co/XwKo3VDBli

[Tom Marvolo Riddle @tom_riddle2025]

Scientists have discovered how DNA molecules overcome their natural electrical repulsion to pair together. Tiny metal ions act as molecular bridges, supporting a 20-year-old “DNA zipper” theory and offering new clues about cancer and biotechnology.

[Tom Marvolo Riddle @tom_riddle2025]

Scientists have discovered how DNA molecules overcome their natural electrical repulsion to pair together. Tiny metal ions act as molecular bridges, supporting a 20-year-old “DNA zipper” theory and offering new clues about cancer and biotechnology.

[Agnes Noy @ANoyLab]

By combining high-resolution AFM with all-atom MD simulations, we observe groove-to-groove alignment between the 2 DNA duplexes mediated by ionic bridges
https://t.co/2qnrqMLdRp

[Agnes Noy @ANoyLab]

How do DNA duplexes recognize and pair with each other?
Thomas Catley, @VVBerrelleza, @alicepyne and myself present the first direct visualization of DNA-DNA pairing mediated by divalent cations, confirming the decade-old DNA zipper model!
https://t.co/2Fs5ZZXGyw

[Steve Quinn @Steve_Quinn_Lab]

Congrats to @JamiesonH - our latest @PhysLifeYork work dissecting the structural landscape of the Rep Helicase is now in Nucleic Acids Research! Huge team effort! @Craggs_Lab @AllisonHSquires @ANoyLab @BPSIYork @mahmoud @DrM_Abdelhamid @Single_Mole
👇
https://t.co/6bhd3mRmDf

[Agnes Noy @ANoyLab]

Come to York and fight antimicrobial resistance with Daniel Cole, @dghilarov and Inspiralis Ltd.
MRC DiMeN Doctoral Training Partnership: Computational Drug Discovery Targeting DNA Gyrase to Tackle Antimicrobial Resistance at University of York on https://t.co/tTCCSf6HjA

[Agnes Noy @ANoyLab]

Overall, HU binds DNA in a multi-step process: electrostatic interactions build up gradually until the protein locks onto its target site. This prevents HU from sticking to random DNA along the way.

[Agnes Noy @ANoyLab]

Check our latest publication in #JACSAu @ACSPublications with @ElliotWChan and @BPSIYork where we describe how the bacterial protein HU binds DNA at atomic resolution. Thanks to @EPSRC and @N8CIR and @hecbiosim for computational resources. See more👇https://t.co/OWgl9rJpK7

[Agnes Noy @ANoyLab]

The switch to high-affinity HU–DNA binding happens only at the target site, helped by DNA’s own flexibility. It suggests a concerted mechanism, bridging the gap between “induced fit” and “conformational selection.”

[Kunal Rai @krai171009]

Gave my first talk at the @UniOfYork Grateful to @BPSIYork & @ANoyLab for the opportunity, and to my supervisor @joshiphy for his constant support. It was a truly enriching experience to share my work and interact with such inspiring researchers. Also thnks to @SonamRagha77827

[MDDB @mddbEU]

📢 Our article calling for a #FAIR database for #MolecularDynamics simulation data has now been peer-reviewed and published in @naturemethods

📖 Read it here: https://t.co/2VXy3pgepZ

📝 Support the statement: https://t.co/7vp58TPy1A

#MDDB #FAIRdata #collaboration