Alexandra Tichy, PhD

Molecular Biologist now solving business problems | sketchnote enthusiast | (she/her) 🇦🇹🇦🇺

[Alexandra Tichy, PhD @AlexMTichy]

My last paper from my PhD is now available as a preprint! We used structures to design better #optogenetic GPCRs (OptoXRs) with improved function. Thank you @haraldjanovjak, @ell92 and @WangLokSo! A tweetorial: https://t.co/Njjgd5sqME

[Alexandra Tichy, PhD @AlexMTichy]

@davidesmailes @ASAPbio_ Hi David, so glad you find the infographic useful! From my side, feel free to print and re-use :) @ASAPbio_ is that all good from your side?

[ASAPbio @ASAPbio_]

The benefits of #preprints, by @AlexMTichy:
- Feedback
- Collaboration
- Scoop protection
- Faster science
- Open access
- Productivity proof
https://t.co/YDSWd2u5IN

[Alexandra Tichy, PhD @AlexMTichy]

@ATJCagan Hi Alex! Big fan of your sketch notes, and these are - as always - fantastic too! Which program do you use to make this 'sketchbook' flick through? That's such a neat way to collate them

[Alexandra Tichy, PhD @AlexMTichy]

@ChristinaGangem @haraldjanovjak @ARMI_Labs @Monash_FMNHS @EMBLAustralia Congrats Christina!! Major achievement!

[Alexandra Tichy, PhD @AlexMTichy]

@DrJulienLegrand @Martino_Lab @ARMI_Labs Amazing, congrats Julien! So well deserved!

[Alexandra Tichy, PhD @AlexMTichy]

For my Austrian science peers: Bain&Company @BainAlerts is visiting @ISTAustria to tell you more about management consulting! After doing a STEM PhD, it's been a fantastic experience working at Bain and I can only recommend it. #altac #postPhd

[ISTAustria @ISTAustria]

Ready, set, brain! Are you curious about #consulting as a #career option for #PhDs beyond academia? Join us at the BRAINPRESENTATION on Dec 1 & learn more from Brain & Company - a world-leading management consulting company!
Register by Nov 17 👉 [email protected].

[Alexandra Tichy, PhD @AlexMTichy]

@FrankAssen @NatImmunol Amazing! Congrats on the great work, and the mesmerizing cover picture. Well deserved!

[jared toettcher @toettch]

Hey twitter world! In anticipation of some good funding news (fingers crossed), I am going to be excitedly looking for trainees (GS and postdoc) interested in synthetic biology & cell/dev biology for projects using some cool gene circuits to record specific cellular states.

[Alexandra Tichy, PhD @AlexMTichy]

If you want to know more about our OptoXR study, including more characterizations or mutations to test our design hypothesis, here again the link to the full paper https://t.co/Njjgd5sqME

[Alexandra Tichy, PhD @AlexMTichy]

In addition, we also used this new design strategy of incorporating G-protein contacts to engineer an improved Opto-A2AR-2.0

[Alexandra Tichy, PhD @AlexMTichy]

We exploited this improved sensitivity and function to see whether we could introduce mutations that should blue-shift the spectral sensitivity. As these mutations affect overall functionatliy, Opto-b2AR-2.0, but not Opto-b2AR, could be successfully blue-shifted

[Alexandra Tichy, PhD @AlexMTichy]

Opto-b2AR-2.0 also showed markedly increased function compared to an earlier Opto-b2ar version (which is based on the previous, and most commonly OptoXR design and "cut sites")

[Alexandra Tichy, PhD @AlexMTichy]

We tested this on b2AR, and found that the resulting Opto-b2AR (we called it Opto-b2AR 2.0) elicited similar responses as wild-type b2AR in our HEK cell model (here shown for cAMP induction, but tested for others too)

[Alexandra Tichy, PhD @AlexMTichy]

To answer this, we turned to structures of GPCRs, in particular those in complex with a G-protein. From these, we looked at which amino acids are important for G-protein binding. We used these "contacts" to decide where to "cut" the GPCRs for OptoXR engineering.

[Alexandra Tichy, PhD @AlexMTichy]

What are OptoXRs? They are chimeras between a light-sensing GPCR (opsin) and a target GPCR, rendering the latter one light sensitive. A key question in their design is "where do you cut", i.e. how do you decide which parts to take from one and which parts from the other GPCR?

[Alexandra Tichy, PhD @AlexMTichy]

@MA_Mouat Thanks for sharing your personal story, Meg. We need to do better as a society

[Alexandra Tichy, PhD @AlexMTichy]

@claudiaraudia @VartakSupriya @Indr23348881 @Tom_Aparicio @lanoliin @allanochola thank you!!

[Alexandra Tichy, PhD @AlexMTichy]

@ChristinaGangem @ASAPbio_ @dopaminator Thank you Christina!!

[Alexandra Tichy, PhD @AlexMTichy]

@EvaGschaider @ASAPbio_ @dopaminator Thanks Eva!