Rna Molecular Biology News | The Huck Institutes (en-US)

Credit: Dani Zemba / Penn State. All Rights Reserved.

Jul 01, 2025

Lab Bench to Commercialization program broadens its scope

Eberly College of Science seed grant program to shift emphasis to earlier development of research, focusing on societal impact and career readiness.

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The activation of Protein Kinase A (PKA) is a critical part in how the body responds to stress and starvation. Using a variety of imaging and biochemical techniques, a team of researchers from Penn State has revealed how the metabolic cycle that activates PKA resets itself between stressful events. Credit: Varun Venkatakrishnan/Anand Lab / Penn State. Creative Commons

May 29, 2025

Resetting the fight-or-flight response

New study reveals mechanism responsible for resetting key molecular cycle involved in response to stress and starvation.

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Mar 14, 2025

Plant biologist awarded the Masatoshi Nei Innovation Prize in Biology

Sarah Assmann, Waller Professor of Plant Biology at Penn State, has been awarded the Masatoshi Nei Innovation Prize in Biology. The award was established through a generous gift from Masatoshi Nei, professor emeritus of biology at Penn State; Laura Carnell, professor of biology at Temple University; and Nei’s wife, Nobuko Nei. The prize is intended to recognize a preeminent scientist who is on the faculty at Penn State, is an innovator in their field, and has achieved outstanding scientific research and leadership in the biological sciences.

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The novel Cleavage High-throughput Assay (CHiTA) developed at Penn State provides a scarless method to characterize thousands of diverse small self-cleaving RNA enzymes, called twister ribozymes, in a single experiment. The image shows 2D models of some of the tested ribozymes that had imperfections in their helical and loop elements but were still active, demonstrating that twister ribozyme's ability to self-cleave is tolerant of these slight structural imperfections. Credit: Lauren McKinley and Philip Bevilacqua / Penn State. Creative Commons

Nov 06, 2024

Testing thousands of RNA enzymes helps find first ‘twister ribozyme’ in mammals

A new method, developed by Penn State researchers, can test the activity of thousands of predicted ribozymes in a single experiment.

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Oct 31, 2024

Huck researchers reflect on the 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

This month, the Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to three scientists credited with historic breakthroughs surrounding proteins and their structures. Three Huck researchers working on similar challenges chime in with their thoughts.

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Brianna Hnath, left, is doctoral candidate in biomedical engineering at Penn State and co-author of the study. Credit: Courtesy of the Dokholyan lab / Penn State. Creative Commons

Oct 14, 2024

Toxic protein may contribute to ALS development

New study elucidates the physiological processes that may contribute to ALS development and identifies a potential therapeutic target

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May 21, 2024

Heard on campus: RNA expert Sara Rouhanifard

Scientists from prominent U.S. research institutions, including Sara Rouhanifard, assistant professor in the bioengineering department at Northeastern University, gathered recently at Penn State University Park for the inaugural Center for RNA Molecular Biology symposium, a one-day conference that brought together experts from varied fields around topics ranging from RNA chemistry to computational biology.

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Feb 15, 2024

Lab Bench to Commercialization 2024 grant recipients announced

Four projects led by researchers in the Penn State Eberly College of Science have been selected to receive Lab Bench to Commercialization (LB2C) grants in 2024

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Oct 25, 2023

Biochemist selected as Innovation Fund investigator by Pew Charitable Trusts

Katsuhiko Murakami, professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Penn State, has been selected as a member of the 2023 class of Innovation Fund investigators by the Pew Charitable Trusts.

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Apr 20, 2023

Grad Students in Huck Labs Win Awards for Innovative Research

Two graduate students—one in the Huck's Neuroscience program and the other in the Eberly College of Science's BMMB program—have been named recipients of an award available to those working in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology labs. Both PIs are also part of the Huck.

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