James Olzmann
@olzmannlab.bsky.social
Professor of Molecular Therapeutics and Metabolic Biology at UC Berkeley; Departments of Molecular & Cell Biology and Nutritional Sciences & Toxicology. Lipid droplets, ferroptosis, ubiquitin, drug development.
Pinned
James Olzmann
@olzmannlab.bsky.social
· Nov 24
I finally joined! I am a professor at UC Berkeley. My lab is interested in the cell biology and therapeutic targeting of lipid homeostasis: lipid droplets, protein & lipid quality control, lipid damage & ferroptosis, and drug discovery. Here is a pic of our group from our summer lab party. 💙
Reposted by James Olzmann
Curious how proteins find their way to #LipidDroplets?
Our bipartite review traces their journey from ER insertion to LD partitioning:
👉 Navigating lipid droplet proteins - part II: Molecular mechanisms of ER-to-LD protein partitioning
#Organelles
#EndoplasmicReticulum
#ER_Literature
Our bipartite review traces their journey from ER insertion to LD partitioning:
👉 Navigating lipid droplet proteins - part II: Molecular mechanisms of ER-to-LD protein partitioning
#Organelles
#EndoplasmicReticulum
#ER_Literature
Navigating lipid droplet proteins – part II: molecular mechanisms underlying ER-to-lipid droplet protein partitioning
Lipid droplets (LDs) originate from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and are unique among cellular organelles, as they consist of a hydrophobic core of neutral lipids that is surrounded by a phospholipi...
portlandpress.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Curious how proteins find their way to #LipidDroplets?
Our bipartite review traces their journey from ER insertion to LD partitioning:
👉 Navigating lipid droplet proteins - part II: Molecular mechanisms of ER-to-LD protein partitioning
#Organelles
#EndoplasmicReticulum
#ER_Literature
Our bipartite review traces their journey from ER insertion to LD partitioning:
👉 Navigating lipid droplet proteins - part II: Molecular mechanisms of ER-to-LD protein partitioning
#Organelles
#EndoplasmicReticulum
#ER_Literature
Reposted by James Olzmann
Excited to share my postdoc work @olzmannlab.bsky.social! We found lipid droplets, the cell’s lipid storage depots, are subject to oxidative damage and are protected by FSP1. Loss of FSP1 triggers droplet peroxidation and cell death, revealing a new layer of lipid quality control!
shorturl.at/B5XYD
shorturl.at/B5XYD
FSP1-mediated lipid droplet quality control prevents neutral lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis - Nature Cell Biology
Lange et al. identify a lipid droplet quality control pathway in which FSP1 safeguards stored neutral lipids from lipid peroxidation, thereby preventing the induction of ferroptosis.
www.nature.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Excited to share my postdoc work @olzmannlab.bsky.social! We found lipid droplets, the cell’s lipid storage depots, are subject to oxidative damage and are protected by FSP1. Loss of FSP1 triggers droplet peroxidation and cell death, revealing a new layer of lipid quality control!
shorturl.at/B5XYD
shorturl.at/B5XYD
Excited to share our study out in @natcellbio.nature.com! Led by @mikelangelipid.bsky.social, we identify the first #LipidDroplet lipid quality control pathway: LD-localized FSP1 protects stored lipids from oxidative damage and prevents LD-initiated #ferroptosis.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
FSP1-mediated lipid droplet quality control prevents neutral lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis - Nature Cell Biology
Lange et al. identify a lipid droplet quality control pathway in which FSP1 safeguards stored neutral lipids from lipid peroxidation, thereby preventing the induction of ferroptosis.
www.nature.com
October 29, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Excited to share our study out in @natcellbio.nature.com! Led by @mikelangelipid.bsky.social, we identify the first #LipidDroplet lipid quality control pathway: LD-localized FSP1 protects stored lipids from oxidative damage and prevents LD-initiated #ferroptosis.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by James Olzmann
Great Endoplasmic Reticulum meeting in Paris organized by the amazing Eric Chevet @ericchevet.bsky.social! It was wonderful to also hang out with James Olzmann @olzmannlab.bsky.social and Rachid Thiam @abdourachidthiam.bsky.social.
October 13, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Great Endoplasmic Reticulum meeting in Paris organized by the amazing Eric Chevet @ericchevet.bsky.social! It was wonderful to also hang out with James Olzmann @olzmannlab.bsky.social and Rachid Thiam @abdourachidthiam.bsky.social.
Reposted by James Olzmann
A giant in molecular biology and virology has passed. RIP David Baltimore.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/s...
David Baltimore, Nobel-Winning Molecular Biologist, Dies at 87
www.nytimes.com
September 8, 2025 at 2:02 AM
A giant in molecular biology and virology has passed. RIP David Baltimore.
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/s...
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/s...
Reposted by James Olzmann
Join us in celebrating the #ASBMB26 Award Winners!
• @abu-remaileh.bsky.social
• Suzanne Barbour
• @bradylabupenn.bsky.social
• George Carman
• Joseph Cotruvo
• Roger Davis
• @rolanddunbrack.bsky.social
• Pamela Mertz
• @olzmannlab.bsky.social
• Kim Orth
• Margaret Phillips
ow.ly/x05f50WSbax
• @abu-remaileh.bsky.social
• Suzanne Barbour
• @bradylabupenn.bsky.social
• George Carman
• Joseph Cotruvo
• Roger Davis
• @rolanddunbrack.bsky.social
• Pamela Mertz
• @olzmannlab.bsky.social
• Kim Orth
• Margaret Phillips
ow.ly/x05f50WSbax
September 5, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Join us in celebrating the #ASBMB26 Award Winners!
• @abu-remaileh.bsky.social
• Suzanne Barbour
• @bradylabupenn.bsky.social
• George Carman
• Joseph Cotruvo
• Roger Davis
• @rolanddunbrack.bsky.social
• Pamela Mertz
• @olzmannlab.bsky.social
• Kim Orth
• Margaret Phillips
ow.ly/x05f50WSbax
• @abu-remaileh.bsky.social
• Suzanne Barbour
• @bradylabupenn.bsky.social
• George Carman
• Joseph Cotruvo
• Roger Davis
• @rolanddunbrack.bsky.social
• Pamela Mertz
• @olzmannlab.bsky.social
• Kim Orth
• Margaret Phillips
ow.ly/x05f50WSbax
Reposted by James Olzmann
Congrats to MCB's James Olzmann @olzmannlab.bsky.social on receiving the ASBMB 2026 Avanti Award in Lipids @asbmb.bsky.social! 👍🎉
September 5, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Congrats to MCB's James Olzmann @olzmannlab.bsky.social on receiving the ASBMB 2026 Avanti Award in Lipids @asbmb.bsky.social! 👍🎉
Humbled and honored to receive the 2026 Avanti Award in Lipids from ASBMB! Grateful to my exceptional lab, mentors, and collaborators for their support and inspiration. Excited to keep pushing the boundaries of lipid biology and therapeutics!
www.asbmb.org/asbmb-today/...
www.asbmb.org/asbmb-today/...
ASBMB names 2026 award winners
Check out their lectures at the annual meeting in March in the Washington, D.C., metro area.
www.asbmb.org
September 5, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Humbled and honored to receive the 2026 Avanti Award in Lipids from ASBMB! Grateful to my exceptional lab, mentors, and collaborators for their support and inspiration. Excited to keep pushing the boundaries of lipid biology and therapeutics!
www.asbmb.org/asbmb-today/...
www.asbmb.org/asbmb-today/...
First day of class @UCBerkeley! Kicked off the day peeking in on the Therapeutic Discovery and Development class taught by @dannomura.bsky.social @robzonculab.bsky.social @urnov.bsky.social!! 🤩🔥!!
August 27, 2025 at 9:46 PM
First day of class @UCBerkeley! Kicked off the day peeking in on the Therapeutic Discovery and Development class taught by @dannomura.bsky.social @robzonculab.bsky.social @urnov.bsky.social!! 🤩🔥!!
First day of class @UCBerkeley! Kicked off the day peeking in on the Therapeutic Discovery and Development class taught by @dannomura.bsky.social @robzonculab.bsky.social @urnov.bsky.social!! 🤩🔥!!
August 27, 2025 at 9:40 PM
First day of class @UCBerkeley! Kicked off the day peeking in on the Therapeutic Discovery and Development class taught by @dannomura.bsky.social @robzonculab.bsky.social @urnov.bsky.social!! 🤩🔥!!
Tenure track position alert! Assistant Professor of Molecular Therapeutics in MCB @UCBerkeley. Apply and come be our colleague! 🎉
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05098
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05098
August 21, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Tenure track position alert! Assistant Professor of Molecular Therapeutics in MCB @UCBerkeley. Apply and come be our colleague! 🎉
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05098
aprecruit.berkeley.edu/JPF05098
Reposted by James Olzmann
Happy to start at Bluesky with a post on our recent manuscript at @nature.com:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Great collaboration with cool scientists such as @theprattgroup.bsky.social, @fedorovalab.bsky.social and many who do not (yet) have a Bluesky account.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Great collaboration with cool scientists such as @theprattgroup.bsky.social, @fedorovalab.bsky.social and many who do not (yet) have a Bluesky account.
Multiple oestradiol functions inhibit ferroptosis and acute kidney injury - Nature
17β-oestradiol establishes an anti-ferroptotic state in female kidney tubules.
www.nature.com
August 19, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Happy to start at Bluesky with a post on our recent manuscript at @nature.com:
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Great collaboration with cool scientists such as @theprattgroup.bsky.social, @fedorovalab.bsky.social and many who do not (yet) have a Bluesky account.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Great collaboration with cool scientists such as @theprattgroup.bsky.social, @fedorovalab.bsky.social and many who do not (yet) have a Bluesky account.
Reposted by James Olzmann
Hot off the presses! Was an honor to team up with Scott Dixon @stanforduniversity.bsky.social on this Nature Cancer review. We reflect on hurdles that have slowed translation of ferroptosis-directed therapies and share ideas on what it will take to bring these therapies to the clinic. rdcu.be/eBbqV
August 18, 2025 at 3:42 PM
Hot off the presses! Was an honor to team up with Scott Dixon @stanforduniversity.bsky.social on this Nature Cancer review. We reflect on hurdles that have slowed translation of ferroptosis-directed therapies and share ideas on what it will take to bring these therapies to the clinic. rdcu.be/eBbqV
Reposted by James Olzmann
Jessalyn Ubellacker @ubellackerlab.bsky.social was honored with a FASEB Journal Early Career Researcher Award at the first FASEB Ferroptosis, Oxidative Stress, and Lipid Metabolism meeting, co-organized by James Olzmann @olzmannlab.bsky.social and Scott Dixon, to support early career researchers.
August 8, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Jessalyn Ubellacker @ubellackerlab.bsky.social was honored with a FASEB Journal Early Career Researcher Award at the first FASEB Ferroptosis, Oxidative Stress, and Lipid Metabolism meeting, co-organized by James Olzmann @olzmannlab.bsky.social and Scott Dixon, to support early career researchers.
Reposted by James Olzmann
Congrats to MCB's Jennifer Doudna @jenniferdoudna.bsky.social on receiving the 2026 ACS Priestley Medal from the @acs.org! 👏🏅
www.acs.org/pressroom/ne...
www.acs.org/pressroom/ne...
August 7, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Congrats to MCB's Jennifer Doudna @jenniferdoudna.bsky.social on receiving the 2026 ACS Priestley Medal from the @acs.org! 👏🏅
www.acs.org/pressroom/ne...
www.acs.org/pressroom/ne...
Reposted by James Olzmann
ICYMI: New Online! Lysosomal membrane homeostasis and its importance in physiology and disease
Lysosomal membrane homeostasis and its importance in physiology and disease
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology, Published online: 04 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41580-025-00873-wLysosomes degrade cellular components, and their membrane is an important signalling hub. Recent insights into the mechanisms that maintain lysosomal membrane homeostasis — including the interplay between membrane damage, repair, lysophagy and lysosome biogenesis — highlight their importance in physiology, in disease and during ageing.
bit.ly
August 7, 2025 at 6:48 PM
ICYMI: New Online! Lysosomal membrane homeostasis and its importance in physiology and disease
Reposted by James Olzmann
This preprint from Helen Sakharova is one of the coolest things to come out of my lab: “Protein language models reveal evolutionary constraints on synonymous codon choice.” Codon choice is a big puzzle in how information is encoded in genomes, and we have a new angle. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Protein language models reveal evolutionary constraints on synonymous codon choice
Evolution has shaped the genetic code, with subtle pressures leading to preferences for some synonymous codons over others. Codons are translated at different speeds by the ribosome, imposing constrai...
www.biorxiv.org
August 7, 2025 at 8:29 AM
This preprint from Helen Sakharova is one of the coolest things to come out of my lab: “Protein language models reveal evolutionary constraints on synonymous codon choice.” Codon choice is a big puzzle in how information is encoded in genomes, and we have a new angle. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
I am honored to be named a 2025 ASCB Fellow! It is a privilege to be part of the ASCB community. ASCB was the first conference I attended as a grad student, and it has always been a welcoming, supportive home. Thank you for this kind recognition! ☺️
www.ascb.org/society-news...
www.ascb.org/society-news...
Fourteen Visionary Scientists Named 2025 ASCB Fellows - ASCB
The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) is proud to announce the election of 14 outstanding scientists as 2025 ASCB Fellows—a prestigious honor recognizing their exceptional contributions to cell...
www.ascb.org
August 7, 2025 at 4:22 PM
I am honored to be named a 2025 ASCB Fellow! It is a privilege to be part of the ASCB community. ASCB was the first conference I attended as a grad student, and it has always been a welcoming, supportive home. Thank you for this kind recognition! ☺️
www.ascb.org/society-news...
www.ascb.org/society-news...
Reposted by James Olzmann
Riboflavin metabolism shapes FSP1-driven ferroptosis resistance https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08.05.668651v1
August 6, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Riboflavin metabolism shapes FSP1-driven ferroptosis resistance https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08.05.668651v1
Reposted by James Olzmann
Vitamin B2 metabolism promotes FSP1 stability to prevent ferroptosis https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08.05.668752v1
August 6, 2025 at 8:30 AM
Vitamin B2 metabolism promotes FSP1 stability to prevent ferroptosis https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08.05.668752v1
Reposted by James Olzmann
🚨Preprint alert 🚨
We identify riboflavin (vitamin B₂) as a key modulator of ferroptosis sensitivity via stabilizing FSP1 & recycling lipid-soluble antioxidants.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1....
pls check @olzmannlab.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#ferroptosis #FSP1 #antioxidants
We identify riboflavin (vitamin B₂) as a key modulator of ferroptosis sensitivity via stabilizing FSP1 & recycling lipid-soluble antioxidants.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1....
pls check @olzmannlab.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#ferroptosis #FSP1 #antioxidants
Riboflavin metabolism shapes FSP1-driven ferroptosis resistance
Membrane protection against oxidative insults is achieved by the concerted action of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) and endogenous lipophilic antioxidants such as ubiquinone and vitamin E. Deficienci...
www.biorxiv.org
August 6, 2025 at 8:38 AM
🚨Preprint alert 🚨
We identify riboflavin (vitamin B₂) as a key modulator of ferroptosis sensitivity via stabilizing FSP1 & recycling lipid-soluble antioxidants.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1....
pls check @olzmannlab.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#ferroptosis #FSP1 #antioxidants
We identify riboflavin (vitamin B₂) as a key modulator of ferroptosis sensitivity via stabilizing FSP1 & recycling lipid-soluble antioxidants.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1....
pls check @olzmannlab.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#ferroptosis #FSP1 #antioxidants
Excited to share our new preprint, led by Kirandeep Deol! 🤩 Genetic screens uncover mechanisms regulating FSP1 abundance in cancer. Vitamin B2 metabolism promotes FSP1 stability via FAD synth / binding, further linking nutrient metabolism to ferroptosis.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Vitamin B2 metabolism promotes FSP1 stability to prevent ferroptosis
Ferroptosis, a regulated form of cell death driven by excessive lipid peroxidation, has emerged as a promising therapeutic target in cancer. Ferroptosis suppressor protein 1 (FSP1) is a critical regul...
www.biorxiv.org
August 6, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Excited to share our new preprint, led by Kirandeep Deol! 🤩 Genetic screens uncover mechanisms regulating FSP1 abundance in cancer. Vitamin B2 metabolism promotes FSP1 stability via FAD synth / binding, further linking nutrient metabolism to ferroptosis.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by James Olzmann
@acs.org is recognizing Jennifer A. Doudna with the Priestley Medal for her discoveries on ribozyme function, the Dicer RNase enzyme, double-stranded RNA processing, and CRISPR gene editing, along with her impactful international science leadership. cen.acs.org/people/award... #chemsky 🧪
Jennifer Doudna is named 2026 Priestley Medalist
The award recognizes the biochemist for discoveries on ribozyme function and CRISPR gene editing, and international science leadership
cen.acs.org
August 2, 2025 at 4:08 PM
@acs.org is recognizing Jennifer A. Doudna with the Priestley Medal for her discoveries on ribozyme function, the Dicer RNase enzyme, double-stranded RNA processing, and CRISPR gene editing, along with her impactful international science leadership. cen.acs.org/people/award... #chemsky 🧪
Reposted by James Olzmann
What a wonderful meeting! Thanks to @olzmannlab.bsky.social and the whole community for being so welcoming.🙏🏻
The first FASEB Ferroptosis conference! ✔️ Thank you to my co-organizer Scott Dixon, our sponsors, and the whole #Ferroptosis community for showing up and making this such a wonderful meeting! 🤩 ❤️
August 2, 2025 at 4:27 AM
What a wonderful meeting! Thanks to @olzmannlab.bsky.social and the whole community for being so welcoming.🙏🏻
The first FASEB Ferroptosis conference! ✔️ Thank you to my co-organizer Scott Dixon, our sponsors, and the whole #Ferroptosis community for showing up and making this such a wonderful meeting! 🤩 ❤️
August 1, 2025 at 6:07 PM
The first FASEB Ferroptosis conference! ✔️ Thank you to my co-organizer Scott Dixon, our sponsors, and the whole #Ferroptosis community for showing up and making this such a wonderful meeting! 🤩 ❤️