Martin Jonikas

@mjonikas.bsky.social
I'm a scientist studying enhanced photosynthetic CO2 assimilation!
Opinions are my own and do not reflect those of my employer.

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

Now published @PNASNews!
SAGA1 and SAGA2 localize the starch sheath to the pyrenoid in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
https://t.co/RE6xJFEC2O

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

We genetically disconnected starch from the matrix in the algal pyrenoid!

A saga1;saga2 double mutant lacks a pyrenoid starch sheath!

Our model: SAGA1 & SAGA2 locally initiate starch on the pyrenoid surface by enriching starch precursors.

🌞🦠🔬🔌👀

https://t.co/yjBV1nAfDc

[nature @Nature]

The US National Science Foundation (NSF) — a major funder of basic research — has restricted the flow of new research grants to a group of elite universities, Nature has learnt.

https://t.co/dUcCrJh4Dm

[Silvi Rouskin @silvirouskin]

To all scientists immigrants: This is an amazing opportunity. The Vilcek family is super generous and has rewarded many immigrant scientists including Nobel Laureate @kkariko. Hope everyone eligible applies !

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

@hhmi_science's #FreemanHrabowski Scholars
Program offers early career faculty up to $10M over 10 yrs, + salary & benefits. Postdocs can apply too. Opens 11/3! https://t.co/8GsyrLUdq6

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

Congrats, Alex!! Well deserved!

[Princeton MolBio @PrincetonMolBio]

Alexander Ploss, Princeton’s Harry C. Wiess Professor of Life Sciences and Molecular Biology, and the co-director of the Global Health Program, was awarded a 2026 Guggenheim Fellowship in the field of medicine and health. 🥂 https://t.co/F2KsWJLAVK

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

Congrats, @Shan_He_lab and Linnea Lemma!

[Princeton MolBio @PrincetonMolBio]

Today in Nature Cell Biology, a collaborative effort across labs (Jonikas, Wingreen, Brangwynne) at Princeton discovers the key to regulating a biomolecular condensate. Congrats to first authors Shan He and Linnea Lemma! https://t.co/0MBOqKLMrr

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

Now published @NatureCellBio!
Kinase KEY1 controls pyrenoid condensate size throughout the cell cycle by disrupting phase separation interactions
https://t.co/u5UxgXOZtR

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

Algal pyrenoids—condensates that mediate ~1/3 of Earth’s CO2 fixation—change size and number as cells divide. Our data suggest a simple control mechanism: a kinase that continuously ejects material from the condensate! ☀️🌍🔬💧 #Biophysics #Photosynthesis
https://t.co/kT5C14FXXI

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

Congrats to Tori, Micah, Aastha, and @LianyongW!

Grateful to @hhmi_science, @NIH, @NSF, @gatesfoundation, and @FCDOGovUK for supporting the work.

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

We genetically disconnected starch from the matrix in the algal pyrenoid!

A saga1;saga2 double mutant lacks a pyrenoid starch sheath!

Our model: SAGA1 & SAGA2 locally initiate starch on the pyrenoid surface by enriching starch precursors.

🌞🦠🔬🔌👀

https://t.co/yjBV1nAfDc

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

We genetically disconnected starch from the matrix in the algal pyrenoid!

A saga1;saga2 double mutant lacks a pyrenoid starch sheath!

Our model: SAGA1 & SAGA2 locally initiate starch on the pyrenoid surface by enriching starch precursors.

🌞🦠🔬🔌👀

https://t.co/yjBV1nAfDc

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

Nice examples of key discoveries that created industries and were only possible by funding basic exploratory research. https://t.co/eKUPEe6UE7

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

Now published @PlantPhys https://t.co/4IcsohFfM0

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

Excited to share our latest preprint!
Proteomic analysis of the pyrenoid-traversing membranes of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii reveals novel components https://t.co/k8w79anycc

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

Congrats to the team including @Shanhe_PU, @lsquared64, @almcalvo, @lianyongw, @Ashwani_Rai1, @brangwynnelab, and Ned Wingreen! Grateful to @HHMINEWS , @NSF, @DOEScience, @NIH, and @HFSP for supporting this interdisciplinary project.

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

Algal pyrenoids—condensates that mediate ~1/3 of Earth’s CO2 fixation—change size and number as cells divide. Our data suggest a simple control mechanism: a kinase that continuously ejects material from the condensate! ☀️🌍🔬💧 #Biophysics #Photosynthesis
https://t.co/kT5C14FXXI

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

How did the US become the global leader in science and technology? Answer: decades of federal investment in basic research, including through the National Science Foundation and Department of Energy. https://t.co/5gVcHGGxG6

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

Algal pyrenoids—condensates that mediate ~1/3 of Earth’s CO2 fixation—change size and number as cells divide. Our data suggest a simple control mechanism: a kinase that continuously ejects material from the condensate! ☀️🌍🔬💧 #Biophysics #Photosynthesis
https://t.co/kT5C14FXXI

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

Exciting new study from @aburlacot and @Yeh_Lab ! A genome-wide CRISPR screen in diatoms!

[Adrien Burlacot @aburlacot]

📣 📣 Wondering what allow diatoms to grow in the ever-changing environment 🌦️of the ocean🌊?
Check out or latest work where we develop genome-wide CRISPR screen to unravel the genes🧬 critical for diatoms under dynamic light conditions☀️🌥️👇

Spoiler alert: it is (almost) not about NPQ 👀 and CEF is heavily involved 🫣

https://t.co/c7QM5RA5Pm

Amazing collaborative work with @Yeh_Lab
Attached image from @Sarah_Frail

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

Lev’s latest comic strip! For a school project on the properties of matter!

[LevsArt @LevsArt]

Magnet Boy vs. Diamond Boy!

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

I was deeply saddened today to learn of the passing of Steve Long @LongLab. He was a pioneer and an inspiration to so many of us. Find his obituary here: https://t.co/781gR6Sf62

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

Congratulations to the 2025 Gilliam Fellows @HHMINEWS!
https://t.co/1Mfn34Noqv

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

@OlzmannLab Congratulations, @OlzmannLab!

[Martin Jonikas @JonikasLab]

@LevsArt Lev has survived 45 days in “Hardcore Minecraft”! He won’t let me play with him anymore because I’m “such a noob”.