Florian Hoffmann, PhD

Postdoctoral Scientist @Stanford • Ph.D. @Columbia @sternberglab • @UCL Bichemistry ‘20 • Transposons, microbes, viruses, CRISPR genome engineering

[Florian Hoffmann, PhD @fthoffmann]

Excited to share my last major PhD work from the @SternbergLab. We discovered a mechanism that initiates transcription at programmable sites, without requiring promoter sequences - a novel mode of transcription regulation in bacteria.

[Sternberg Lab @SternbergLab]

New pre-print(s) from the Sternberg Lab in collaboration with @LeifuChangLab! We uncover an unprecedented molecular mechanism of CRISPR-Cas12f-like proteins, which drive RNA-guided transcription independently of canonical promoter motifs.

Full story here: https://t.co/4eCvIxzGD4

[Florian Hoffmann, PhD @fthoffmann]

@OberliSeraina @SternbergLab @Michael__Sch Congrats!! This is beautiful.

[Florian Hoffmann, PhD @fthoffmann]

@HBarsouk @YuTinLin3 @HertzFoundation Congrats!!

[nature @Nature]

Nature research paper: Exapted CRISPR–Cas12f homologues drive RNA-guided transcription

https://t.co/2haPBQFrXV

[nature @Nature]

Nature research paper: Structural basis of RNA-guided transcription by a dCas12f–σE–RNAP complex

https://t.co/apAVwwdsJD

[Florian Hoffmann, PhD @fthoffmann]

Our 2 papers on RNA-guided transcription are now out @Nature. This mechanism re-writes the traditional concept of bacterial transcription and allows RNA transcripts to be generated de novo from potentially any cellular DNA sequence. 🧬 See below for links and thread 🧵

[Sternberg Lab @SternbergLab]

Out now! In collaboration with @LeifuChangLab, we uncover the molecular and structural underpinnings of CRISPR-Cas12f-like RNA-guided transcription systems!
Links to the articles in the following tweet:

[Florian Hoffmann, PhD @fthoffmann]

@jacopo_gab You’re in SF now !?

[Florian Hoffmann, PhD @fthoffmann]

@simone_alma Congrats @simone_alma and team! Cool story!

[Florian Hoffmann, PhD @fthoffmann]

@maxewilkinson @bradyfcress @MSKCancerCenter Congrats on starting your lab, Max!

[Stephen Tang @stephentang23]

Genome maintenance by telomerase is a fundamental process in nearly all eukaryotes. But where does it come from?

Today, we report the discovery of telomerase homologs in a family of antiviral RTs, revealing an unexpected evolutionary origin in bacteria.

https://t.co/OlU6HOLQfK

[Florian Hoffmann, PhD @fthoffmann]

@ben_a_adler Congrats, @ben_a_adler!

[Florian Hoffmann, PhD @fthoffmann]

@wig_r @SternbergLab @LeifuChangLab @wig_r Great question - we haven‘t observed these systems in phage genomes yet.

[Florian Hoffmann, PhD @fthoffmann]

@jacopo_gab @SternbergLab Thank you @jacopo_gab !

[Florian Hoffmann, PhD @fthoffmann]

Excited to share my last major PhD work from the @SternbergLab. We discovered a mechanism that initiates transcription at programmable sites, without requiring promoter sequences - a novel mode of transcription regulation in bacteria.

[Sternberg Lab @SternbergLab]

New pre-print(s) from the Sternberg Lab in collaboration with @LeifuChangLab! We uncover an unprecedented molecular mechanism of CRISPR-Cas12f-like proteins, which drive RNA-guided transcription independently of canonical promoter motifs.

Full story here: https://t.co/4eCvIxzGD4

[Florian Hoffmann, PhD @fthoffmann]

@bradyfcress @SternbergLab Thanks, Brady!

[Florian Hoffmann, PhD @fthoffmann]

In parallel to our RNA-guided transcription biology story, we collaborated with @LeifuChangLab and determined how Cas12f interacts with a Sigma factor to recruit RNA polymerase. See their thread on the magnificent dCas12f-Sigma-RNAP structure below:

[Leifu Chang @LeifuChangLab]

Our new preprint is live! https://t.co/4rrgNiHA27
In collaboration with @SternbergLab, we determined the cryo-EM structure of a dCas12f-σE-RNAP complex from F. taeanensis, revealing an RNA-guided transcription mechanism that bypasses canonical promoter motifs.

[Sternberg Lab @SternbergLab]

Know the feeling when two things look similar, and yet turn out to be quite different? Seems like defense-associated reverse transcriptases will continue to surprise us...

Another thrilling story uncovered in collaboration with @WiedenheftLab! Check it out:

[Florian Hoffmann, PhD @fthoffmann]

@LenaSteckelberg Congrats @LenaSteckelberg & @jgezelle & team!👏

[Stephen Tang @stephentang23]

Thrilled, and also in a bit of disbelief, to see our paper featured on the cover of @ScienceMagazine! "Finding Neo" wasn't easy, but we just kept swimming (read: stared at a sequence of DNA) until the Eureka moment hit.

[Florian Hoffmann, PhD @fthoffmann]

Huge congratulations to the most brilliant scientist I‘ve met so far - @shsternberg. Hard to come across a more dedicated PI and mentor - I can‘t even imagine the amazing discoveries this will enable you and the whole @SternbergLab to make in the future! 🧬 🎉

[Florian Hoffmann, PhD @fthoffmann]

@HannTanja @RNASociety Congrats, Tanja!!