Sam Usher
@smusher.bsky.social
Scientist. Electrophysiology, unnatural amino acids, playing at protein design.
Reposted by Sam Usher
Really enjoyed chatting to The Athletic on the (lack of) impact of 'overhead conditions' in cricket:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...
A pleasure meeting @nallum.bsky.social too, who approached the problem from a different perspective, but firmly joins the 'Look Down, Not Up' brigade
#cricket
www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...
A pleasure meeting @nallum.bsky.social too, who approached the problem from a different perspective, but firmly joins the 'Look Down, Not Up' brigade
#cricket
The science of swing bowling: Do overhead conditions really make a difference?
Traditional thinking dictates that the cricket ball will swing under cloud cover, but data suggests the reality is rather different
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:06 AM
Really enjoyed chatting to The Athletic on the (lack of) impact of 'overhead conditions' in cricket:
www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...
A pleasure meeting @nallum.bsky.social too, who approached the problem from a different perspective, but firmly joins the 'Look Down, Not Up' brigade
#cricket
www.nytimes.com/athletic/675...
A pleasure meeting @nallum.bsky.social too, who approached the problem from a different perspective, but firmly joins the 'Look Down, Not Up' brigade
#cricket
Reposted by Sam Usher
Westminster is still on X and either oblivious or simply doesn’t care that it has become a toxic information environment.
Apropos of nothing, I really do think UK journalists and politicians need some reminding that mass deportation of LEGAL immigrants, particularly those with permanent status, is far more extreme than even Trump's America and would basically place Britain completely on its own among democracies.
October 19, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Westminster is still on X and either oblivious or simply doesn’t care that it has become a toxic information environment.
Reposted by Sam Usher
After years in making, I am glad to be able to share our attempt on establishing a framework for combined functional and computational assessment of variant pathogenicity in the sodium leak channel NALCN:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
September 17, 2025 at 3:30 PM
After years in making, I am glad to be able to share our attempt on establishing a framework for combined functional and computational assessment of variant pathogenicity in the sodium leak channel NALCN:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Sam Usher
Some late-stage Test match thoughts from me on some of the cold adages in cricket, why we shouldn't always trust them, and how to actually think about 'overheads':
swingdoctor.substack.com/p/look-up-no...
#cricket #ENGvsIND
swingdoctor.substack.com/p/look-up-no...
#cricket #ENGvsIND
'Look Up, Not Down' - The Cost of Trusting Clichés
A discussion of overhead conditions, inefficient decision making, and the advantages of breaking away from status quo thinking
swingdoctor.substack.com
July 27, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Some late-stage Test match thoughts from me on some of the cold adages in cricket, why we shouldn't always trust them, and how to actually think about 'overheads':
swingdoctor.substack.com/p/look-up-no...
#cricket #ENGvsIND
swingdoctor.substack.com/p/look-up-no...
#cricket #ENGvsIND
Reposted by Sam Usher
Nobody is commenting on this little nugget from Fig 1?
July 18, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Nobody is commenting on this little nugget from Fig 1?
Reposted by Sam Usher
“It’s the company that matters!”
This is certainly true for acid-sensing ion channel 1a, whose function is modulated by the presence of monocarboxylate transporter 1
All was made possible by the drive & curiosity of the fantastic @mette-h-poulsen.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
This is certainly true for acid-sensing ion channel 1a, whose function is modulated by the presence of monocarboxylate transporter 1
All was made possible by the drive & curiosity of the fantastic @mette-h-poulsen.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
July 6, 2025 at 10:02 AM
“It’s the company that matters!”
This is certainly true for acid-sensing ion channel 1a, whose function is modulated by the presence of monocarboxylate transporter 1
All was made possible by the drive & curiosity of the fantastic @mette-h-poulsen.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
This is certainly true for acid-sensing ion channel 1a, whose function is modulated by the presence of monocarboxylate transporter 1
All was made possible by the drive & curiosity of the fantastic @mette-h-poulsen.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
Reposted by Sam Usher
The 3rd Berlin Single Molecule Biophysics Course will run from 8th to 12th September at the HU-Berlin, Institute of Biology.
Learn about single channels, single molecule TIRF, theory and analysis. Apply by 7th July at bsmbc@icloud.com. Fee waivers and bursaries available.
! Please share widely !
Learn about single channels, single molecule TIRF, theory and analysis. Apply by 7th July at bsmbc@icloud.com. Fee waivers and bursaries available.
! Please share widely !
June 26, 2025 at 8:29 AM
Reposted by Sam Usher
Please check out our new high-affinity split-HaloTag for live-cell protein labeling www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Congratulations to Yin-Hsi Lin!
Congratulations to Yin-Hsi Lin!
www.biorxiv.org
June 16, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Please check out our new high-affinity split-HaloTag for live-cell protein labeling www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Congratulations to Yin-Hsi Lin!
Congratulations to Yin-Hsi Lin!
Reposted by Sam Usher
#PNS2025 has already been excellent, but it's a smidge better now with our hDRG proteomics officially out in PAIN partway through the conference.
Full skydive to come tomorrow.
journals.lww.com/pain/fulltex...
Full skydive to come tomorrow.
journals.lww.com/pain/fulltex...
Multi-omic integration with human dorsal root ganglia... : PAIN
glia (hDRG) and peripheral nerve tissue into the expanding omics framework of the PNS. Using data-independent acquisition (DIA) mass spectrometry, we characterized a comprehensive proteomic profile, v...
journals.lww.com
May 19, 2025 at 9:33 PM
#PNS2025 has already been excellent, but it's a smidge better now with our hDRG proteomics officially out in PAIN partway through the conference.
Full skydive to come tomorrow.
journals.lww.com/pain/fulltex...
Full skydive to come tomorrow.
journals.lww.com/pain/fulltex...
Reposted by Sam Usher
YouTube version of the Good Areas pod is also now up if you'd prefer to look at my rosy cheeks while listening to some swing bowling chat!
I could have titled the latest podcast:
Everything You Have Ever Wanted to Know about the swinging ball in cricket with @aab1871.bsky.social
If you love swing bowling, this is the episode for you.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQTD...
Everything You Have Ever Wanted to Know about the swinging ball in cricket with @aab1871.bsky.social
If you love swing bowling, this is the episode for you.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQTD...
Cricket's Hawk Tuah Boy Aaron Briggs | Red Inker Cricket Podcast
YouTube video by Good Areas Live
www.youtube.com
April 25, 2025 at 10:42 AM
YouTube version of the Good Areas pod is also now up if you'd prefer to look at my rosy cheeks while listening to some swing bowling chat!
Reposted by Sam Usher
Stellar line up for our protein design conference. Copenhagen, Sept 1-4, 2025. 10 days to abstract deadline. Get applying! benzon-foundation.dk/benzon-sympo...
Benzon Symposium no. 69 - Protein structure prediction and design in biology and pharmacology - Benzon Foundation
Radisson Collection Hotel, Copenhagen, September 1-4, 2025 Organizers: Kresten Lindorff-Larsen, Birthe B. Kragelund, Joseph M. Rogers, Amelie Stein,Anders Krogh, Wouter Boomsma and Hanne Mørck Nielsen...
benzon-foundation.dk
March 20, 2025 at 10:18 AM
Stellar line up for our protein design conference. Copenhagen, Sept 1-4, 2025. 10 days to abstract deadline. Get applying! benzon-foundation.dk/benzon-sympo...
Reposted by Sam Usher
Our latest paper on the sodium leak channel NALCN complex is now online. We found that the neuronal SNARE proteins syntaxin 1A and SNAP25 inhibit sodium leak currents both in heterologous systems and in neurons!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
March 14, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Our latest paper on the sodium leak channel NALCN complex is now online. We found that the neuronal SNARE proteins syntaxin 1A and SNAP25 inhibit sodium leak currents both in heterologous systems and in neurons!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Sam Usher
We're happy to announce the call for applications for the next Electronics for Neuroscience workshop organised by Cambridge Open Lab! This workshop is intended to provide you with theoretical and practical knowledge of electronics, from basics to 🧠 experiments!
nenckiopenlab.org/electronics-...
nenckiopenlab.org/electronics-...
Nencki Open Lab
We are happy to announce the next Cambridge Open Lab Workshop, organised with support from FENS! Basic knowledge in electronics is a necessary prerequisite for every neuroscientist. You will need i…
nenckiopenlab.org
March 11, 2025 at 11:29 AM
We're happy to announce the call for applications for the next Electronics for Neuroscience workshop organised by Cambridge Open Lab! This workshop is intended to provide you with theoretical and practical knowledge of electronics, from basics to 🧠 experiments!
nenckiopenlab.org/electronics-...
nenckiopenlab.org/electronics-...
Reposted by Sam Usher
Hey #chemsky and beyond, with all that is going on, I am curious what expensive, high margin molecules we could provide to the community for free. What things do you use all the time, cost way too much, and would make a difference? Alexa Fluor 488 NHS? Other dyes? Other molecule?
March 1, 2025 at 1:57 PM
Hey #chemsky and beyond, with all that is going on, I am curious what expensive, high margin molecules we could provide to the community for free. What things do you use all the time, cost way too much, and would make a difference? Alexa Fluor 488 NHS? Other dyes? Other molecule?
Reposted by Sam Usher
Have a read of our new article now out in Neuron!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
We used Cryo EM, electrophysiology and MD simulations to determine the structure of S-(+)-Ketamine at its most pharmacologically important NMDA receptor subtype, and show the basis for DQP subtype selectivity!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
We used Cryo EM, electrophysiology and MD simulations to determine the structure of S-(+)-Ketamine at its most pharmacologically important NMDA receptor subtype, and show the basis for DQP subtype selectivity!
Structural basis for channel gating and blockade in tri-heteromeric GluN1-2B-2D NMDA receptor
Discrete activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) subtypes by glutamate and the co-agonist glycine is fundamental to neuroplasticity. A dis…
www.sciencedirect.com
February 14, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Have a read of our new article now out in Neuron!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
We used Cryo EM, electrophysiology and MD simulations to determine the structure of S-(+)-Ketamine at its most pharmacologically important NMDA receptor subtype, and show the basis for DQP subtype selectivity!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
We used Cryo EM, electrophysiology and MD simulations to determine the structure of S-(+)-Ketamine at its most pharmacologically important NMDA receptor subtype, and show the basis for DQP subtype selectivity!
Reposted by Sam Usher
I am extremely happy to share this new @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social, which after a long wait updates our previous preprint.
Thanks to main drivers @bgless.bsky.social and @benjaminsb.bsky.social as well as all involved colleagues and collaborators!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Thanks to main drivers @bgless.bsky.social and @benjaminsb.bsky.social as well as all involved colleagues and collaborators!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
January 31, 2025 at 9:58 AM
I am extremely happy to share this new @biorxivpreprint.bsky.social, which after a long wait updates our previous preprint.
Thanks to main drivers @bgless.bsky.social and @benjaminsb.bsky.social as well as all involved colleagues and collaborators!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Thanks to main drivers @bgless.bsky.social and @benjaminsb.bsky.social as well as all involved colleagues and collaborators!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Sam Usher
We have an exciting PhD position available. In collaboration with researchers @scripps.edu, we will investigate bacterial communication within the gut microbiome for potential health benefits, using chemical tools.
Deadline 9 February, see 👇
candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationI...
Deadline 9 February, see 👇
candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationI...
PhD fellowship in Chemical Microbiology at Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology
Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen We are offering a three-year PhD fellowship in Chemical Microbiology commencing 1 May 2025
candidate.hr-manager.net
January 21, 2025 at 7:34 AM
We have an exciting PhD position available. In collaboration with researchers @scripps.edu, we will investigate bacterial communication within the gut microbiome for potential health benefits, using chemical tools.
Deadline 9 February, see 👇
candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationI...
Deadline 9 February, see 👇
candidate.hr-manager.net/ApplicationI...
Reposted by Sam Usher
The Channels, Receptors & Transporters Subgroup of the @biophysicalsoc.bsky.social is excited to announce the final program for our 2025 Symposium. Please join us on Feb 15 to hear from @willowcoyote.bsky.social @drcontrexin.bsky.social @corrylab.bsky.social and others 👇Thanks to our sponsors!
January 19, 2025 at 11:02 PM
The Channels, Receptors & Transporters Subgroup of the @biophysicalsoc.bsky.social is excited to announce the final program for our 2025 Symposium. Please join us on Feb 15 to hear from @willowcoyote.bsky.social @drcontrexin.bsky.social @corrylab.bsky.social and others 👇Thanks to our sponsors!
Reposted by Sam Usher
Eugenics, statistical hubris, and unknowable unknowns in human genetics www.wiringthebrain.com/2025/01/euge...
Eugenics, statistical hubris, and unknowable unknowns in human genetics
A new paper just out in Nature , by Peter Visscher and colleagues (including bio-ethicist Julian Salvulescu) explores the idea of polygenic...
www.wiringthebrain.com
January 13, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Eugenics, statistical hubris, and unknowable unknowns in human genetics www.wiringthebrain.com/2025/01/euge...
Reposted by Sam Usher
Super excited to finally share PANCS-Binders: our group's decade-long quest to accelerate protein binder discovery.
TLDR: PANCS-binders is fast (2 days), cheap (pennies), has extremely high fidelity (low false positive and negatives), and high-throughput.
1/n
TLDR: PANCS-binders is fast (2 days), cheap (pennies), has extremely high fidelity (low false positive and negatives), and high-throughput.
1/n
While everyone esle has been concentrating on generative binder design, this group has demonstrated screening libraries in vivo! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
#biosky
#biosky
High-throughput protein binder discovery by rapid in vivo selection
Proteins that selectively bind to a target of interest are foundational components of research pipelines, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Current immunization-based, display-based, and computational ap...
www.biorxiv.org
January 7, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Super excited to finally share PANCS-Binders: our group's decade-long quest to accelerate protein binder discovery.
TLDR: PANCS-binders is fast (2 days), cheap (pennies), has extremely high fidelity (low false positive and negatives), and high-throughput.
1/n
TLDR: PANCS-binders is fast (2 days), cheap (pennies), has extremely high fidelity (low false positive and negatives), and high-throughput.
1/n
Reposted by Sam Usher
Thinking about the time @amypalmerzinc.bsky.social and I got to see a tube of ORIGINAL GFP from Shimomura at Woods Hole and it STILL fluoresces after 30+ years. What a cool piece of history :)
December 28, 2024 at 4:31 PM
Thinking about the time @amypalmerzinc.bsky.social and I got to see a tube of ORIGINAL GFP from Shimomura at Woods Hole and it STILL fluoresces after 30+ years. What a cool piece of history :)
Reposted by Sam Usher
I’m not sure how @elife.bsky.social will collect this community feedback but from my side I can say that whether or not eLIFE has an IF does not influence whether I submit there or not (I have published with and will continue to publish with eLIFE)
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
December 18, 2024 at 11:21 AM
I’m not sure how @elife.bsky.social will collect this community feedback but from my side I can say that whether or not eLIFE has an IF does not influence whether I submit there or not (I have published with and will continue to publish with eLIFE)
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by Sam Usher
Could one envision a synthetic receptor technology that is fully programmable, able to detect diverse extracellular antigens – both soluble and cell-attached – and convert that recognition into a wide range of intracellular responses, from gene expression and real-time fluorescence to modulation..
December 4, 2024 at 4:05 PM
Could one envision a synthetic receptor technology that is fully programmable, able to detect diverse extracellular antigens – both soluble and cell-attached – and convert that recognition into a wide range of intracellular responses, from gene expression and real-time fluorescence to modulation..
Reposted by Sam Usher
Nice work from Tao Liu lab on engineering novel fluorescent proteins using a rotor-based fluorogenic noncanonical amino acid www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Designing artificial fluorescent proteins and biosensors by genetically encoding molecular rotor-based amino acids - Nature Chemistry
The toolbox of artificial fluorescent proteins can be expanded by engineering mimics of the molecular rotor-based fluorophore found in the green fluorescent protein (GFP) into diverse protein scaffold...
www.nature.com
November 30, 2024 at 1:47 PM
Nice work from Tao Liu lab on engineering novel fluorescent proteins using a rotor-based fluorogenic noncanonical amino acid www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Sam Usher
Can we design allosteric modulators that change a GPCR's preferred G protein? Yes!💥
BAMs at the GPCR-transducer interface change G protein subtype selectivity in predictable ways, enabling rational drug design.
The lab's 1st preprint! Check it out! 🧪💊🧠🟦https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.11.20.624209
🧵👇
BAMs at the GPCR-transducer interface change G protein subtype selectivity in predictable ways, enabling rational drug design.
The lab's 1st preprint! Check it out! 🧪💊🧠🟦https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.11.20.624209
🧵👇
Design of allosteric modulators that change GPCR G protein subtype selectivity
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), the largest family of drug targets, can signal through 16 subtypes of Gα proteins. Biased compounds that selectively activate therapy-relevant pathways promise to ...
doi.org
November 22, 2024 at 4:09 PM
Can we design allosteric modulators that change a GPCR's preferred G protein? Yes!💥
BAMs at the GPCR-transducer interface change G protein subtype selectivity in predictable ways, enabling rational drug design.
The lab's 1st preprint! Check it out! 🧪💊🧠🟦https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.11.20.624209
🧵👇
BAMs at the GPCR-transducer interface change G protein subtype selectivity in predictable ways, enabling rational drug design.
The lab's 1st preprint! Check it out! 🧪💊🧠🟦https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.11.20.624209
🧵👇