Michael Trakselis
@trakselis.bsky.social
#Traklab PI studying DNA replication and DNA repair mechanisms. Genome Instability @Baylor Director of Graduate Affairs Chemistry & Biochemistry #soccerdad
Pinned
Michael Trakselis
@trakselis.bsky.social
· Nov 13
With all the new activity here, its time to reintroduce the #Traklab at Baylor. We are a diverse group of scientists studying the molecular, structural, genetic, biological, and enzymatic mechanisms of DNA replication and repair processes. Would love to connect with y'all! #replication #repair 🧬
Reposted by Michael Trakselis
Interested in inherited chromosomal instability syndromes and DNA repair? We are looking for an enthusiastic person to join the Stewart lab at the University of Birmingham as a senior technician. Please checkout the job advert: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPH515/senior-research-technician
Senior Research Technician at University of Birmingham
An academic position as a Senior Research Technician is being advertised on jobs.ac.uk. Click now to find more details and explore additional academic job opportunities.
www.jobs.ac.uk
November 6, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Interested in inherited chromosomal instability syndromes and DNA repair? We are looking for an enthusiastic person to join the Stewart lab at the University of Birmingham as a senior technician. Please checkout the job advert: www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DPH515/senior-research-technician
Reposted by Michael Trakselis
Want to know how homologous recombination defects are caused upon loss of BRCA2? Check out our recent efforts in uncovering this phenomenon just out in Science!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
FIGNL1 inhibits homologous recombination in BRCA2 deficient cells by dissociating RAD51 filaments
Homologous recombination (HR) deficiency upon Breast Cancer Gene 2 (BRCA2) loss arises from defects in the formation of RAD51 nucleoprotein filaments. We demonstrate that loss of the anti-recombinase ...
www.science.org
October 30, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Want to know how homologous recombination defects are caused upon loss of BRCA2? Check out our recent efforts in uncovering this phenomenon just out in Science!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Michael Trakselis
Among the anti-recombinases, FIGNL1 rules them all. So much that inactivating it brings BRCA2-deficient cells to life. Who is responsible for RAD51 loading without BRCA2/FIGNL1, check out the paper to find out! Great collaboration with @raychaudhurilab.bsky.social
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
October 30, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Among the anti-recombinases, FIGNL1 rules them all. So much that inactivating it brings BRCA2-deficient cells to life. Who is responsible for RAD51 loading without BRCA2/FIGNL1, check out the paper to find out! Great collaboration with @raychaudhurilab.bsky.social
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Michael Trakselis
Our paper in Science is out! @souravagrawal.bsky.social, @rlynn.bsky.social, @susvirkar.bsky.social, and the rest of the team show human RPA is a telomerase processivity factor essential for telomere maintenance. This reshapes our thinking about telomerase regulation. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Human RPA is an essential telomerase processivity factor for maintaining telomeres
Telomerase counteracts telomere shortening by repeatedly adding DNA repeats to chromosome ends. We identified the replication protein A (RPA) heterotrimer as a telomerase processivity factor critical ...
www.science.org
October 30, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Our paper in Science is out! @souravagrawal.bsky.social, @rlynn.bsky.social, @susvirkar.bsky.social, and the rest of the team show human RPA is a telomerase processivity factor essential for telomere maintenance. This reshapes our thinking about telomerase regulation. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Happy to share a new publication on Mechanistic Coupling of Enzyme Activities at the Replisome in JBC. We #Traklab compare and contrast strategies used across organisms to coordinate the many enzymatic processes that occur during DNA replication. Hope it is helpful. doi.org/10.1016/j.jb...
October 24, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Happy to share a new publication on Mechanistic Coupling of Enzyme Activities at the Replisome in JBC. We #Traklab compare and contrast strategies used across organisms to coordinate the many enzymatic processes that occur during DNA replication. Hope it is helpful. doi.org/10.1016/j.jb...
Reposted by Michael Trakselis
For ASBMB 2026, each meeting day will have a "theme" organized by session chairs. This theme "Racing the clock: Molecular Mechanisms of Aging" will feature Meng Wang as the keynote and is co-organized by Dan Jarosz @jaroszlab.bsky.social (?) and Roz Anderson.
Plenary speaker spotlight ✨ Meng Wang (@bcmhouston.bsky.social / @hhmi.org) at #ASBMB26: “Racing the clock: Molecular mechanisms of aging.”
➡️Dive into the biochemical basis of aging, from metabolism to the genome: ow.ly/68i150X37Pm.
#MakeItPossibble #AgingResearch #FutureOfScience
➡️Dive into the biochemical basis of aging, from metabolism to the genome: ow.ly/68i150X37Pm.
#MakeItPossibble #AgingResearch #FutureOfScience
October 20, 2025 at 2:24 PM
For ASBMB 2026, each meeting day will have a "theme" organized by session chairs. This theme "Racing the clock: Molecular Mechanisms of Aging" will feature Meng Wang as the keynote and is co-organized by Dan Jarosz @jaroszlab.bsky.social (?) and Roz Anderson.
New #Traklab publication in @narjournal.bsky.social "Residues in the little finger domain of the Y-family Dpo4 DNA polymerase communicate to restrict synthesis past 8-oxoguanine lesions" academic.oup.com/nar/article/...
Residues in the little finger domain of the Y-family Dpo4 DNA polymerase communicate to restrict synthesis past 8-oxoguanine lesions
Abstract. Endogenous reactive oxygen species are responsible for abundant 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoG) lesion formation in all three domains of life.
academic.oup.com
October 17, 2025 at 7:35 PM
New #Traklab publication in @narjournal.bsky.social "Residues in the little finger domain of the Y-family Dpo4 DNA polymerase communicate to restrict synthesis past 8-oxoguanine lesions" academic.oup.com/nar/article/...
Reposted by Michael Trakselis
Things are at a standstill with the govt shutdown, the year has been one of 'constant chaos' at the NIH — & the worst may be yet to come folks said on my panel
Read a recap of our talk w/ @jeremymberg.bsky.social @malar0ne.bsky.social & Eric Green here
www.statnews.com/2025/10/16/f...
Read a recap of our talk w/ @jeremymberg.bsky.social @malar0ne.bsky.social & Eric Green here
www.statnews.com/2025/10/16/f...
Former NIH leaders lament ‘constant chaos’ at the agency, and caution it’s not over
“It's been like living in a washing machine, it's been constant chaos,” former NIH official Jeremy Berg said at the #STATSummit
www.statnews.com
October 16, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Things are at a standstill with the govt shutdown, the year has been one of 'constant chaos' at the NIH — & the worst may be yet to come folks said on my panel
Read a recap of our talk w/ @jeremymberg.bsky.social @malar0ne.bsky.social & Eric Green here
www.statnews.com/2025/10/16/f...
Read a recap of our talk w/ @jeremymberg.bsky.social @malar0ne.bsky.social & Eric Green here
www.statnews.com/2025/10/16/f...
My scientific grandfather. What a gentleman scientist. RIP
It is with great sadness that the University shares the news of the death of Professor Sir John Gurdon, founder of the @gurdoninstitute.bsky.social
Read our tribute to the visionary Nobel Laureate and watch an interview from 2012, just after he won: https://bit.ly/4mM8o3r
Read our tribute to the visionary Nobel Laureate and watch an interview from 2012, just after he won: https://bit.ly/4mM8o3r
October 8, 2025 at 1:27 AM
My scientific grandfather. What a gentleman scientist. RIP
Reposted by Michael Trakselis
I feel like this photo of masked, armed men pepper spraying a pastor protecting his community is going to be a defining picture of this moment in America for a long, long time.
October 7, 2025 at 11:29 PM
I feel like this photo of masked, armed men pepper spraying a pastor protecting his community is going to be a defining picture of this moment in America for a long, long time.
Reposted by Michael Trakselis
It is with great sadness that the University shares the news of the death of Professor Sir John Gurdon, founder of the @gurdoninstitute.bsky.social
Read our tribute to the visionary Nobel Laureate and watch an interview from 2012, just after he won: https://bit.ly/4mM8o3r
Read our tribute to the visionary Nobel Laureate and watch an interview from 2012, just after he won: https://bit.ly/4mM8o3r
October 7, 2025 at 5:49 PM
It is with great sadness that the University shares the news of the death of Professor Sir John Gurdon, founder of the @gurdoninstitute.bsky.social
Read our tribute to the visionary Nobel Laureate and watch an interview from 2012, just after he won: https://bit.ly/4mM8o3r
Read our tribute to the visionary Nobel Laureate and watch an interview from 2012, just after he won: https://bit.ly/4mM8o3r
Reposted by Michael Trakselis
"You couldn’t stop me from pursuing science. . . . It was just part of who I am." - Mona Minkara. cen.acs.org/physical-che... #chemsky 🧪
Mona Minkara uncovers patterns in how our lungs interact with airborne viruses
The 2025 Trailblazers guest editor uses computational models to study lung chemistry while building resources that help blind scientists succeed
cen.acs.org
September 27, 2025 at 7:51 PM
"You couldn’t stop me from pursuing science. . . . It was just part of who I am." - Mona Minkara. cen.acs.org/physical-che... #chemsky 🧪
Reposted by Michael Trakselis
Continuing efforts to hurt the research pipeline, the very late NSF GFRP solicitation no longer allows 2nd year PhD students to apply. Lots of these students chose not to apply last year because they were told they would have a better change once in their thesis lab www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
www.nsf.gov
September 26, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Continuing efforts to hurt the research pipeline, the very late NSF GFRP solicitation no longer allows 2nd year PhD students to apply. Lots of these students chose not to apply last year because they were told they would have a better change once in their thesis lab www.nsf.gov/funding/oppo...
Reposted by Michael Trakselis
Frequent user of epitope tags? Try ours!
IPI epitope tag antibodies & plasmids are now available through our partner @addgene.bsky.social!
buff.ly/YEuZDIp
IPI epitope tag antibodies & plasmids are now available through our partner @addgene.bsky.social!
buff.ly/YEuZDIp
Epitope tag antibody collection
Epitope tags are short amino acid sequences fused to a protein’s N- or C-terminus. When paired with an antibody that specifically recognizes this sequence, epit
buff.ly
September 23, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Frequent user of epitope tags? Try ours!
IPI epitope tag antibodies & plasmids are now available through our partner @addgene.bsky.social!
buff.ly/YEuZDIp
IPI epitope tag antibodies & plasmids are now available through our partner @addgene.bsky.social!
buff.ly/YEuZDIp
Reposted by Michael Trakselis
A frenzy of grantmaking in August has the NIH seemingly on pace to spend its entire $47 billion budget by the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30
www.statnews.com/2025/09/12/n...
www.statnews.com/2025/09/12/n...
After lagging far behind, NIH now seems on pace to spend its entire $47 billion budget by Sept. 30
A frenzy of grantmaking in August has the NIH seemingly on pace to spend its entire $47 billion budget by the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30
www.statnews.com
September 12, 2025 at 4:14 PM
A frenzy of grantmaking in August has the NIH seemingly on pace to spend its entire $47 billion budget by the end of the fiscal year on Sept. 30
www.statnews.com/2025/09/12/n...
www.statnews.com/2025/09/12/n...
Reposted by Michael Trakselis
shocking to read over and over the stories of close colleagues who can't run their lab anymore. I know Karen well and it's heartbreaking. Also #PIinthelab! www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
Harvard’s research is shrinking amid the Trump administration’s freeze
Even if grants at Harvard are suddenly restored, there is deep-rooted uncertainty about the damage already done and the future of basic science research in the U.S.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 25, 2025 at 7:42 PM
shocking to read over and over the stories of close colleagues who can't run their lab anymore. I know Karen well and it's heartbreaking. Also #PIinthelab! www.washingtonpost.com/education/20...
Heading to #FallACS2025. Check out the #TOXI program. Some great talks and award sessions. See you soon! @sturlalab.bsky.social @laurakiessling.bsky.social @acs.org
August 13, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Heading to #FallACS2025. Check out the #TOXI program. Some great talks and award sessions. See you soon! @sturlalab.bsky.social @laurakiessling.bsky.social @acs.org
Reposted by Michael Trakselis
DO NOT GIVE UP!
Our advocacy is working.
A key Senate committee has indicated that it will reject Trump’s proposed cuts to science agencies including NASA and the NSF.
Keep speaking up and calling your electeds 🗣️🗣️🗣️
Our advocacy is working.
A key Senate committee has indicated that it will reject Trump’s proposed cuts to science agencies including NASA and the NSF.
Keep speaking up and calling your electeds 🗣️🗣️🗣️
July 11, 2025 at 7:03 PM
DO NOT GIVE UP!
Our advocacy is working.
A key Senate committee has indicated that it will reject Trump’s proposed cuts to science agencies including NASA and the NSF.
Keep speaking up and calling your electeds 🗣️🗣️🗣️
Our advocacy is working.
A key Senate committee has indicated that it will reject Trump’s proposed cuts to science agencies including NASA and the NSF.
Keep speaking up and calling your electeds 🗣️🗣️🗣️
Reposted by Michael Trakselis
What an incredible few days it’s been with the amazing #Nucleic25 participants! 🌟
We can’t wait to celebrate all together at the Gala Dinner this evening! 🎉
We can’t wait to celebrate all together at the Gala Dinner this evening! 🎉
July 6, 2025 at 7:53 AM
What an incredible few days it’s been with the amazing #Nucleic25 participants! 🌟
We can’t wait to celebrate all together at the Gala Dinner this evening! 🎉
We can’t wait to celebrate all together at the Gala Dinner this evening! 🎉
Reposted by Michael Trakselis
Check out this new review (with animations, natch) of mechanisms of licensing origins of DNA replication - a wonderful (and continuing!) collaboration with Bruce Stillman @cshlnews.bsky.social and John Diffley @crick.ac.uk! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
July 2, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Check out this new review (with animations, natch) of mechanisms of licensing origins of DNA replication - a wonderful (and continuing!) collaboration with Bruce Stillman @cshlnews.bsky.social and John Diffley @crick.ac.uk! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Michael Trakselis
Hundreds of National Science Foundation staffers turned out for a group photograph to celebrate the besieged agency’s 75th anniversary—despite efforts by NSF officials to prevent the picture from being taken. scim.ag/4jcGpIt
Is a photo subversive? NSF staff overcome obstacles to 75th anniversary portrait
Management tried to quash outpouring of support for beleaguered agency
scim.ag
May 23, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Hundreds of National Science Foundation staffers turned out for a group photograph to celebrate the besieged agency’s 75th anniversary—despite efforts by NSF officials to prevent the picture from being taken. scim.ag/4jcGpIt
Reposted by Michael Trakselis
Northwestern has not received any NIH funds since March. No written communication about why or what can be done. Thank you Ben Singer for raising awareness at #ATS2025
May 18, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Northwestern has not received any NIH funds since March. No written communication about why or what can be done. Thank you Ben Singer for raising awareness at #ATS2025
This PhD candidate scientist/Mom is analyzing data and putting together her conference talk like a boss! 💪 #Traklab #AcademicMom
May 15, 2025 at 6:20 PM
This PhD candidate scientist/Mom is analyzing data and putting together her conference talk like a boss! 💪 #Traklab #AcademicMom
Reposted by Michael Trakselis
HAPPY 75th, NSF!
We’re celebrating this milestone by highlighting some of NSF’s most transformative accomplishments—innovations that have shaped our world and continue to drive progress in health, technology, the environment, and beyond.
Read on 🧵(1/11):
We’re celebrating this milestone by highlighting some of NSF’s most transformative accomplishments—innovations that have shaped our world and continue to drive progress in health, technology, the environment, and beyond.
Read on 🧵(1/11):
May 10, 2025 at 8:19 PM
HAPPY 75th, NSF!
We’re celebrating this milestone by highlighting some of NSF’s most transformative accomplishments—innovations that have shaped our world and continue to drive progress in health, technology, the environment, and beyond.
Read on 🧵(1/11):
We’re celebrating this milestone by highlighting some of NSF’s most transformative accomplishments—innovations that have shaped our world and continue to drive progress in health, technology, the environment, and beyond.
Read on 🧵(1/11):