Collins Lab

Retrotransposons, nucleolar biology, and more! @berkeleyMCB

(account run by trainees)

[SheqLab @ShechnerLab]

Beyond thrilled to present our O-MAP—now *published* @naturemethods (!!!)

O-MAP is a powerful new method for biochemically "dissecting" the subcellular microenvironment around an RNA of interest, using off-the-shelf parts and standard manipulations. 🧵
https://t.co/gBGsQ6dBs9

[Akanksha Thawani, PhD @AkankshaThawani]

Vertebrate retrotransposons are the future of gene therapy. But how do they insert their genes? 🔥🔥

Thrilled to present part 2 of my postdoctoral work with @NogalesLab @CollinsRNPLab @berkeleyMCB where we investigate this using #CryoEM and transgene insertion in 🧪 and cells!

[Collins Lab @CollinsRNPLab]

Hot off the presses!! How does R2 achieve its *exquisite* site specificity? Check out our new study led by former undergrad turned technician @rosajylee, now a PhD student @StanfordMed.
https://t.co/Kw67aqBsTb

[Collins Lab @CollinsRNPLab]

Of course we have to highlight the human behind the science! Anthony is a fifth year grad student in @berkeleyMCB. He is said to delight in the narcissistic love that retroelement proteins have for their own RNAs. We love you Anthony!!!

[Collins Lab @CollinsRNPLab]

Classical biochemistry will never die!

We are ecstatic to share this work published in @NAR_open by graduate student Anthony @arodz_var that expands our understanding of RNA requirements for binding and TPRT by the R2 retroelement.

A thread :
https://t.co/PdHCmCoIaX

[Collins Lab @CollinsRNPLab]

This work, combined with pre-existing knowledge of R2 biology, furthers our understanding of retroelement protein-RNA specificity. Additionally, it informs the design of retroelements as alternative tools for gene delivery.

[Collins Lab @CollinsRNPLab]

News and views on our R2 PRINT story!

[Nature Biotechnology @NatureBiotech]

A retrotransposon for site-specific gene transfer #NBTNV https://t.co/sROwHvZPl8

[Collins Lab @CollinsRNPLab]

Check out this exciting Berkeley News article by @bobthesciguy about our work!

https://t.co/Se6ddNyaAQ

[Nature Biotechnology @NatureBiotech]

Harnessing eukaryotic retroelement proteins for transgene insertion into human safe-harbor loci - @CollinsRNPLab https://t.co/3A3ImqKvuK

[Kelly Nguyen @KellyTHD_Nguyen]

Groundbreaking study by the @CollinsRNPLab demonstrating the use of R2 proteins from multiple species for genome editing!

[Collins Lab @CollinsRNPLab]

@KellyTHD_Nguyen Thanks Kelly!!

[Collins Lab @CollinsRNPLab]

Great thread from our bioinformatics expert, Connor!

[Connor Horton @connorh_sci]

Today starts a new era of genome engineering!

We use RNA-only delivery to safely and efficiently deliver genes of interest to the human genome! @CollinsRNPLab @berkeleyMCB

A thread 🧵:

https://t.co/ztmBAeVcbP

[Collins Lab @CollinsRNPLab]

This work took many years and many people to bring to fruition. We've come a long way from 1% GFP positive cells in October 2021!

[Collins Lab @CollinsRNPLab]

Bird bird bird, bird is the word!

Is the secret to safe gene addition a retroelement in birds?

We repurposed the avian R2 element to insert transgenes into human cells (and more!) using RNA-only delivery 🪶

a thread 🧵
https://t.co/vY1HXvumoA

[Collins Lab @CollinsRNPLab]

PRINT is a complementary approach to existing methods for genome editing and we hope it provides new avenues for personalized medicine.