The RNA Transcript, January 24, 2022
News
Yan Zhang Lab publishes a research paper in Molecular Cell
Cas11 enables genome engineering in human cells with compact CRISPR-Cas3. Researchers from the Yan Zhang Lab in the Department of Biological Chemistry developed novel miniature CRISPR-Cas3 gene editors for targeted large-scale genome manipulation in human cells. They also discovered a "hidden" bacterial internal translation product, Cas11, as a previously overlooked but essential component of the CRISPR-Cas3 machinery from bacteria species like Neisseria Lactamica. In human cells, Cas11 serves as the key enabler to implement a set of evolutionarily divergent CRISPR-Cas3 editors with favorable features including high efficiency, distinct PAM preferences, ease of manufacturing as ribonucleoprotein complexes, etc. Findings from this paper pave the way for applying CRISPR-Cas3 to dissect regulatory elements and structural variants impacting human diseases.

Ph.D. student Renke Tan and master's student Ryan Krueger are the paper’s first authors. Drs. Yan Zhang and Zhonggang Hou are the corresponding authors. Link to paper
The upcoming 8th Annual RNA Institute Symposium hosted by the RNA Institute at University at Albany, State University of New York will be held on March 17 -18, 2022. This 2022 symposium will adapt a hybrid model with Day 1 being a in-person event including a poster session and Day 2 will be completely virtual.

Keynote lectures will be delivered by Joan Steitz, Sterling Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale School of Medicine and by Eric Sontheimer, Professor in the RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School.
The abstract submission is now open. Please share this flyer containing the links to registration to the event, abstract form, and abstract submission.

The deadline for abstract submission is Jan 31, 2022
U-M Regenerative Medicine Grand Challenge
Short talks identifying clinical problems and emerging technologies, followed by breakout sessions to identify opportunities (registration)

Monday, January 24, 2022
----1:00 - 6:30 pm via Zoom
Tuesday, January 25, 2022
----9:00 - 11:30 am via Zoom
HMS Initiative for RNA Medicine Seminar
"Self-replicating RNA as a vector for vaccines and cancer immunotherapy"
Darrell Irvine, PhD, HHMI Investigator, MIT

Tuesday, January 25, 2022
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Zoom link (passcode: 770277)
U-M Biological Chemistry / 711 Graduate Seminar
"A Novel Magnetic Tweezer Approach Allows for the Mechanistic Study of Ded1 Helicase Activity"
David Beier (mentor: Sarah Keane)

Thursday, January 27, 2022
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM
2903 THSL (hybrid, passcode: 711)
U-M Oral Dissertation Defense
“Investigating the Proliferation-Quiescence Decision in Tissues and in Cancer Cells”
Ajai Pulianmackal, Buttita lab

Monday, January 31, 2022
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
BSB 4222
U-M Center for RNA Biomedicine, Faculty Candidate Seminar
“The scanning mechanism of mRNA translation initiation in humans”
MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology

Monday, January 31, 2022
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
BSRB, ABC Seminar rooms (hybrid)
Co-hosted by the Department of Biological Chemistry and the Program in Biophysics

Our members' publications are available through Altmetrics. Queries are currently available: CRISPR, microRNA, molecule, RNA, RNA therapeutics, transcriptome, and translation. Below are recent highlights.
An anionic ligand snap-locks a long-range interaction in a magnesium-folded riboswitch
Rajeev Yadav, Julia R. Widom, Adrien Chauvier & Nils G. Walter Nat. Commun. 13, 207. Full text with supplement in pdf format. 10.1038/s41467-021-27827-y

Results reveal how the anionic fluoride ion cooperates with the magnesium-associated RNA to govern regulation of downstream genes needed for fluoride detoxification of the cell.
To share your news and comments, please contact Martina Jerant