UW–Madison Department of Biochemistry
@uwbiochem.bsky.social
Official Bluesky account of the world-renowned biochemistry research & teaching department at UW–Madison.
Join us on February 9 for Biochemistry Colloquium with Sara Nowinski @vai.org. The Nowinski Lab is working to understand mitochondria in detail, focusing on the mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis pathway. More info: today.wisc.edu/events/view/...
Biochemistry Colloquium: Sara Nowinski | UW–Madison Events Calendar
today.wisc.edu
February 4, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Join us on February 9 for Biochemistry Colloquium with Sara Nowinski @vai.org. The Nowinski Lab is working to understand mitochondria in detail, focusing on the mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis pathway. More info: today.wisc.edu/events/view/...
Join us for Sarah Evert's Ph.D. thesis defense on February 5! Evert's research in the Raman Lab explored the function of a bacteriophage receptor binding protein. Learn more: ipib.wisc.edu/2026/01/15/i...
IPiB Thesis Defense February 5, 2026: Sarah Evert
Evert’s research in the Raman Lab explored the function of a bacteriophage receptor binding protein.
ipib.wisc.edu
February 2, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Join us for Sarah Evert's Ph.D. thesis defense on February 5! Evert's research in the Raman Lab explored the function of a bacteriophage receptor binding protein. Learn more: ipib.wisc.edu/2026/01/15/i...
Designing a space-bound experiment requires researchers to stick to specific materials in a limited amount of space. Learn how the Raman Lab designed an experiment fit for space travel, to investigate how bacteria and phages change in space: www.youtube.com/watch?v=j94C...
Space Phages
YouTube video by UW-Madison Department of Biochemistry
www.youtube.com
January 21, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Designing a space-bound experiment requires researchers to stick to specific materials in a limited amount of space. Learn how the Raman Lab designed an experiment fit for space travel, to investigate how bacteria and phages change in space: www.youtube.com/watch?v=j94C...
Join us for Rahul Vivek's Ph.D. thesis defense on January 28! Vivek's research in the Butcher Lab investigated the interaction between poly(UG) RNA and a protein implicated in multiple neurodegenerative disorders. Learn more: ipib.wisc.edu/2026/01/16/i...
IPiB Thesis Defense January 28, 2026: Rahul Vivek
Vivek’s research in the Butcher Lab investigated the interaction between poly(UG) RNA and a protein implicated in multiple neurodegenerative disorders.
ipib.wisc.edu
January 20, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Join us for Rahul Vivek's Ph.D. thesis defense on January 28! Vivek's research in the Butcher Lab investigated the interaction between poly(UG) RNA and a protein implicated in multiple neurodegenerative disorders. Learn more: ipib.wisc.edu/2026/01/16/i...
Reposted by UW–Madison Department of Biochemistry
In 2020, researchers in Raman Lab launched bacteria and phages into space. Now, those microbes have returned to Madison with hints at how space travel may impact the gut microbiome and clues about how to treat antibiotic-resistant infections on Earth. news.wisc.edu/microbes-mut...
Microbes mutated in space hint at biomedical benefits to humans on Earth
Researchers are interested in studying effects on the gut microbiome and antibiotic-resistant infections.
news.wisc.edu
January 13, 2026 at 7:45 PM
In 2020, researchers in Raman Lab launched bacteria and phages into space. Now, those microbes have returned to Madison with hints at how space travel may impact the gut microbiome and clues about how to treat antibiotic-resistant infections on Earth. news.wisc.edu/microbes-mut...
In 2020, researchers in Raman Lab launched bacteria and phages into space. Now, those microbes have returned to Madison with hints at how space travel may impact the gut microbiome and clues about how to treat antibiotic-resistant infections on Earth. news.wisc.edu/microbes-mut...
Microbes mutated in space hint at biomedical benefits to humans on Earth
Researchers are interested in studying effects on the gut microbiome and antibiotic-resistant infections.
news.wisc.edu
January 13, 2026 at 7:45 PM
In 2020, researchers in Raman Lab launched bacteria and phages into space. Now, those microbes have returned to Madison with hints at how space travel may impact the gut microbiome and clues about how to treat antibiotic-resistant infections on Earth. news.wisc.edu/microbes-mut...
Reposted by UW–Madison Department of Biochemistry
Sierra's paper is out! Thanks to our collaborators @danglab.bsky.social & Melissa Jurica's lab! Also to the Evans Foundation for funding1
A Yeast-Based High-Throughput Screening Platform for the Discovery of Novel pre-mRNA Splicing Modulators | ACS Chemical Biology pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
A Yeast-Based High-Throughput Screening Platform for the Discovery of Novel pre-mRNA Splicing Modulators | ACS Chemical Biology pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
A Yeast-Based High-Throughput Screening Platform for the Discovery of Novel pre-mRNA Splicing Modulators
Pre-mRNA splicing is a core process in eukaryotic gene expression, and splicing dysregulation has been linked to various diseases. However, very few small molecules have been discovered that can modul...
pubs.acs.org
January 12, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Sierra's paper is out! Thanks to our collaborators @danglab.bsky.social & Melissa Jurica's lab! Also to the Evans Foundation for funding1
A Yeast-Based High-Throughput Screening Platform for the Discovery of Novel pre-mRNA Splicing Modulators | ACS Chemical Biology pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
A Yeast-Based High-Throughput Screening Platform for the Discovery of Novel pre-mRNA Splicing Modulators | ACS Chemical Biology pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
Reposted by UW–Madison Department of Biochemistry
New in ACS SynBio: led by Dennis Bolshakov, we used the awesome power of yeast to define how expression levels, noise, and sequence program the dynamics of synthetic protein waves, allowing us to genetically encode new cellular timescales stable over generations!
pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
December 17, 2025 at 3:24 PM
New in ACS SynBio: led by Dennis Bolshakov, we used the awesome power of yeast to define how expression levels, noise, and sequence program the dynamics of synthetic protein waves, allowing us to genetically encode new cellular timescales stable over generations!
pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
pubs.acs.org/doi/full/10....
Reposted by UW–Madison Department of Biochemistry
New preprint! We found that the flavin-dependent halogenase RebH catalyzes sequence-tolerant Trp bromination in peptides 🧪https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.17.694899v1
December 21, 2025 at 3:58 AM
New preprint! We found that the flavin-dependent halogenase RebH catalyzes sequence-tolerant Trp bromination in peptides 🧪https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.17.694899v1
Wei Wei, who joined @uwbiochem.bsky.social's faculty this summer, is among 13 new and early-career faculty selected as STRIDE scholars by the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research Pathway Program. Learn more: biochem.wisc.edu/2025/11/21/w...
Wei Selected as STRIDE Scholar
Wei's research explores fundamental questions about how what we eat affects our health.
biochem.wisc.edu
December 4, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Wei Wei, who joined @uwbiochem.bsky.social's faculty this summer, is among 13 new and early-career faculty selected as STRIDE scholars by the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research Pathway Program. Learn more: biochem.wisc.edu/2025/11/21/w...
Join us on Monday, Dec. 8 for Biochemistry Colloquium with Eric Greene. The Greene Lab @columbiauniversity.bsky.social studies homologous-recombination-associated proteins using in-vitro and in-vivo biochemical techniques. More info: today.wisc.edu/events/view/...
Biochemistry Colloquium: Eric Greene | UW–Madison Events Calendar
today.wisc.edu
December 3, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Join us on Monday, Dec. 8 for Biochemistry Colloquium with Eric Greene. The Greene Lab @columbiauniversity.bsky.social studies homologous-recombination-associated proteins using in-vitro and in-vivo biochemical techniques. More info: today.wisc.edu/events/view/...
Reposted by UW–Madison Department of Biochemistry
New from the Butcher Lab—defining the RNA binding mechanism of TDP-43. Happy to have played a small part in this amazing work!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
TDP-43 controls RNA structure through high affinity lattice interactions
TDP-43 is an RNA binding protein implicated in neurodegenerative disease. TDP-43 binds to GU dinucleotide repeats, which are highly abundant sequences in human RNA. Here we show TDP- 43 has one of the...
www.biorxiv.org
November 29, 2025 at 12:14 AM
New from the Butcher Lab—defining the RNA binding mechanism of TDP-43. Happy to have played a small part in this amazing work!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Join us for Ross Soens' PhD thesis defense on Friday, Dec 5! Soens' research in the Coon Lab explored post-translational modifications, and modifications made during translation, to proteins. More info: ipib.wisc.edu/2025/11/17/i...
IPiB Thesis Defense December 5, 2025: Ross Soens
Soens’s research in the Coon Lab explored post-translational modifications to proteins in mammalian cells.
ipib.wisc.edu
December 2, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Join us for Ross Soens' PhD thesis defense on Friday, Dec 5! Soens' research in the Coon Lab explored post-translational modifications, and modifications made during translation, to proteins. More info: ipib.wisc.edu/2025/11/17/i...
Reposted by UW–Madison Department of Biochemistry
A new herbicide system from Paige Henning, Benjamin Minkoff and Michael Sussman uses a natural plant peptide, SPH, to suppress and kill a wide variety of weeds. @uwbiochem.bsky.social #WisconsinInnovates
Ecofriendly herbicide offers targeted weed control
A new herbicide system from Paige Henning, postdoctoral researcher in the Center for Genomic Science Innovation; scientist Benjamin Minkoff; and Michael Sussman, professor of biochemistry, uses a natural plant peptide, SPH, to suppress and kill a wide variety of weeds. SPH targets a receptor found in nearly all plant species, giving it broad activity. The researchers showed that removing this receptor from crops makes them resistant to SPH, enabling selective weed control. The result is an ecofriendly herbicide that could simplify farming and reduce environmental impact.
youtu.be
November 28, 2025 at 4:07 PM
A new herbicide system from Paige Henning, Benjamin Minkoff and Michael Sussman uses a natural plant peptide, SPH, to suppress and kill a wide variety of weeds. @uwbiochem.bsky.social #WisconsinInnovates
Join us on Monday Dec. 1 for Biochemistry Colloquium with Brandt Eichman @vanderbilt.edu. The Eichman Lab investigates the molecular details of how proteins repair damaged DNA and maintain integrity of the genome during replication. More info: today.wisc.edu/events/view/...
Biochemistry Colloquium: Brandt Eichman | UW–Madison Events Calendar
today.wisc.edu
November 25, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Join us on Monday Dec. 1 for Biochemistry Colloquium with Brandt Eichman @vanderbilt.edu. The Eichman Lab investigates the molecular details of how proteins repair damaged DNA and maintain integrity of the genome during replication. More info: today.wisc.edu/events/view/...
Reposted by UW–Madison Department of Biochemistry
As an experiment to combat/come-to-terms-with AI use in homework assignments, I'm incorporating arts and crafts. Here a student used Lucky Charms for an exercise on the prochirality of citrate.
November 23, 2025 at 5:11 PM
As an experiment to combat/come-to-terms-with AI use in homework assignments, I'm incorporating arts and crafts. Here a student used Lucky Charms for an exercise on the prochirality of citrate.
Join us for David Rivera-Kohr's PhD thesis defense on Tuesday, Nov. 25! Rivera-Kohr's research in the Brian Fox Lab explores biochemical mechanisms used to degrade waste products and convert municipal waste into biofuel. More info: ipib.wisc.edu/2025/10/15/i...
IPiB Thesis Defense November 25, 2025: David Rivera-Kohr
Rivera-Kohr’s research in the Fox Lab explored biochemical mechanisms to degrade and repurpose waste products.
ipib.wisc.edu
November 24, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Join us for David Rivera-Kohr's PhD thesis defense on Tuesday, Nov. 25! Rivera-Kohr's research in the Brian Fox Lab explores biochemical mechanisms used to degrade waste products and convert municipal waste into biofuel. More info: ipib.wisc.edu/2025/10/15/i...
Reposted by UW–Madison Department of Biochemistry
Our newest #WisconsinIngenuity essay explores how @uwmadison.bsky.social and Stellenbosch University are co-creating solutions to urgent challenges, from epidemic surveillance to sustainable materials. #WARF100 @uwbiochem.bsky.social
Science without borders: How Wisconsin and Stellenbosch are redefining collaboration
The most urgent scientific questions of our time—from global health to climate resilience—cross every border. They demand collaborations that unite different strengths, perspectives and environments.
www.warf.org
November 20, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Our newest #WisconsinIngenuity essay explores how @uwmadison.bsky.social and Stellenbosch University are co-creating solutions to urgent challenges, from epidemic surveillance to sustainable materials. #WARF100 @uwbiochem.bsky.social
Reposted by UW–Madison Department of Biochemistry
How do cells adapt morphology to function? In a 🔥 preprint by @zjmaggiexu.bsky.social , with @dudinlab.bsky.social and @amyweeks.bsky.social , we identify a self-organizing single-cell morphology circuit that optimizes the feeding trap structure of the suctorian P. collini. 🧵 tinyurl.com/4k8nv926
November 18, 2025 at 4:15 PM
How do cells adapt morphology to function? In a 🔥 preprint by @zjmaggiexu.bsky.social , with @dudinlab.bsky.social and @amyweeks.bsky.social , we identify a self-organizing single-cell morphology circuit that optimizes the feeding trap structure of the suctorian P. collini. 🧵 tinyurl.com/4k8nv926
Reposted by UW–Madison Department of Biochemistry
Vatsan Raman develops technologies at the intersection of biochemistry, microbiology, computation and engineering to understand biomolecular and cellular systems. #WARF100 @uwchancellor.bsky.social @uwbiochem.bsky.social https://www.warf.org/commercialize/uw-madison-inventor-profiles/raman/
November 18, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Vatsan Raman develops technologies at the intersection of biochemistry, microbiology, computation and engineering to understand biomolecular and cellular systems. #WARF100 @uwchancellor.bsky.social @uwbiochem.bsky.social https://www.warf.org/commercialize/uw-madison-inventor-profiles/raman/
Reposted by UW–Madison Department of Biochemistry
What happens when two top universities unite to tackle global challenges? In our latest #WisconsinIngenuity essay, Brian Fox & Tulio de Oliveira explore how @uwmadison.bsky.social & Stellenbosch University connect research, training & innovation across continents. #WARF100 @uwbiochem.bsky.social
Science without borders: How Wisconsin and Stellenbosch are redefining collaboration
The most urgent scientific questions of our time—from global health to climate resilience—cross every border. They demand collaborations that unite different strengths, perspectives and environments.
www.warf.org
November 17, 2025 at 7:42 PM
What happens when two top universities unite to tackle global challenges? In our latest #WisconsinIngenuity essay, Brian Fox & Tulio de Oliveira explore how @uwmadison.bsky.social & Stellenbosch University connect research, training & innovation across continents. #WARF100 @uwbiochem.bsky.social
Join us for Rohith Rajasekaran's (@born2raisecell.bsky.social) PhD thesis defense on Friday, Nov. 21! Rajasekaran's research was completed in the Coyle Lab (@cellraiser.bsky.social). More info: today.wisc.edu/events/view/...
IPiB Thesis Review: Rohith Rajasekaran | UW–Madison Events Calendar
today.wisc.edu
November 17, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Join us for Rohith Rajasekaran's (@born2raisecell.bsky.social) PhD thesis defense on Friday, Nov. 21! Rajasekaran's research was completed in the Coyle Lab (@cellraiser.bsky.social). More info: today.wisc.edu/events/view/...
In July 2026, Department Chair Brian Fox will begin a six month fellowship at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study. As a Fellow, Fox will bring his knowledge of enzyme function and structure to enhance capabilities for pandemic preparedness. Read more: biochem.wisc.edu/2025/11/06/f...
Fox Receives Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study Fellowship
Fox's residency at STIAS will combine their expertise in genome sequencing with his knowledge of enzyme function and AlphaFold structure prediction.
biochem.wisc.edu
November 13, 2025 at 5:18 PM
In July 2026, Department Chair Brian Fox will begin a six month fellowship at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study. As a Fellow, Fox will bring his knowledge of enzyme function and structure to enhance capabilities for pandemic preparedness. Read more: biochem.wisc.edu/2025/11/06/f...
Join us on Monday, Nov. 17 for the Paul Bertics Memorial Lecture, presented by William N. Pappano. Pappano is an alumnus of the Department of Biomolecular Chemistry and works at AbbVie. More info: today.wisc.edu/events/view/...
Biochemistry Colloquium & Bertics Lecture: William Pappano | UW–Madison Events Calendar
today.wisc.edu
November 12, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Join us on Monday, Nov. 17 for the Paul Bertics Memorial Lecture, presented by William N. Pappano. Pappano is an alumnus of the Department of Biomolecular Chemistry and works at AbbVie. More info: today.wisc.edu/events/view/...
In immunocompromised people, fungal infections can result in serious illness and even death. New research from @uwmadisonrna.bsky.social's group suggests a promising avenue for treating harmful infections by inhibiting pre-mRNA splicing. Read more: biochem.wisc.edu/2025/11/04/r...
Research Follow-up: Preventing Fungal Infections
New research from the Hoskins and Hull Labs points to a promising new avenue for treating harmful fungal infections.
biochem.wisc.edu
November 10, 2025 at 2:32 PM
In immunocompromised people, fungal infections can result in serious illness and even death. New research from @uwmadisonrna.bsky.social's group suggests a promising avenue for treating harmful infections by inhibiting pre-mRNA splicing. Read more: biochem.wisc.edu/2025/11/04/r...