Florian Hoffmann, PhD
@fthoffmann
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Ph.D. Candidate at Columbia University | @sternberglab | CRISPR genome engineering and transposons
New York, NY
Joined December 2019
Excited to share my last major PhD work from the @SternbergLab. We discovered a mechanism that initiates transcription at programmable sites, without requiring promoter sequences - a novel mode of transcription regulation in bacteria.
New pre-print(s) from the Sternberg Lab in collaboration with @LeifuChangLab! We uncover an unprecedented molecular mechanism of CRISPR-Cas12f-like proteins, which drive RNA-guided transcription independently of canonical promoter motifs. Full story here:
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In parallel to our RNA-guided transcription biology story, we collaborated with @LeifuChangLab and determined how Cas12f interacts with a Sigma factor to recruit RNA polymerase. See their thread on the magnificent dCas12f-Sigma-RNAP structure below:.
Our new preprint is live! In collaboration with @SternbergLab, we determined the cryo-EM structure of a dCas12f-σE-RNAP complex from F. taeanensis, revealing an RNA-guided transcription mechanism that bypasses canonical promoter motifs.
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RT @SternbergLab: Know the feeling when two things look similar, and yet turn out to be quite different? Seems like defense-associated reve….
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RT @stephentang23: Thrilled, and also in a bit of disbelief, to see our paper featured on the cover of @ScienceMagazine! "Finding Neo" wasn….
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Huge congratulations to the most brilliant scientist I‘ve met so far - @shsternberg. Hard to come across a more dedicated PI and mentor - I can‘t even imagine the amazing discoveries this will enable you and the whole @SternbergLab to make in the future! 🧬 🎉.
⭐️ Big news! HHMI is investing $300+ million in 26 new #HHMIInvestigators from 19 US institutions. These top scientists will drive groundbreaking research in diverse fields, from neuroscience to immunology to structural biology & beyond. Welcome to HHMI!.
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Preprint alert 🚨 from the @SternbergLab ‘De novo gene synthesis by an antiviral reverse transcriptase’: new central-dogma-expanding work led by @stephentang23 is now online! You won’t want to miss this thread:.
I am delighted to share the newest work from the @SternbergLab, in which we discover RNA-templated gene creation as a mechanism of antiviral immunity. This is a story for anyone who loves molecular biology, and one that repeatedly left us in disbelief.
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Not a single week without a new paper from the @SternbergLab: led by bioinformatics star @TannerWiegand . Bacteria use ancestral CRISPR-Cas genes as transcription factors!#crispr. Emergence of RNA-guided transcription factors via domestication of transposon-encoded TnpB nucleases.
New pre-print from the Sternberg Lab! Transposon-encoded nucleases (TnpB/IscB) gave rise to the CRISPR-associated proteins (Cas9 and Cas12), but were TnpB-like proteins domesticated for other functions? 𝙔𝙀𝙎!!
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Watch out for this pre-Thanksgiving treat from @SternbergLab @shsternberg, led by Rimantė Žedaveinytė. Check out her thread below! It’s now online @biorxivpreprint.
We’re beyond excited to share the newest pre-print from the Sternberg Lab! You thought all bacterial transposons (aka IS elements) were simple? Think again…🤓1/6.
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New paper on CRISPR-associated transposons (type V-K) from our lab is now out @ScienceMagazine! @jerrintgeorge describes how to make this CAST system extremely specific. Exciting times @shsternberg @SternbergLab 🧬.
Thrilled to share our work on how type V-K CRISPR-associated transposases (CASTs) select their target sites, now published in @ScienceMagazine!. .In this study, we've enhanced the accuracy of type V-K CASTs up to 99%.🧵 on the bioRxiv version below:.
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RT @davidrliu: In a major milestone for science, for medicine, and for patients, the world’s first CRISPR drug has been approved in the UK.….
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RT @shsternberg: We're hiring! Join the Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics department here at Columbia, in wonderful NYC, and pursue you….
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RT @shsternberg: Thrilled to see our latest work published this week, on the essential roles of IscB/TnpB -- ancestral homologs of Cas9/Cas….
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New paper from our lab @shsternberg, led by Chance Meers Ph.D., is now online @Nature! We explored the ancestors of the genome editors Cas9 and Cas12 (IscB & TnpB) and their importance for transposon spread. Fortunate to be part of this team!.
Nature research paper: Transposon-encoded nucleases use guide RNAs to promote their selfish spread
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What a blast we had at @ColumbiaCMBS’s first off-site retreat post C.! Great science presented by the PhD students, community building & fun activities in an unforgettable Gatsby setting. Thank you for making this possible @Columbia! What a start for the new first year PhDs.
We had a wonderful time at our 2023 CMBS retreat! Fantastic talks and posters presented by our students made for fun scientific conversations. Thanks to the student and faculty organizers for putting together a great event! @ColumbiaMed @ColumbiaGSAS .🎥 credits to @fthoffmann
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RT @shsternberg: What a day! We had such a blast sharing our science with middle-schoolers in Long Island, at the inaugural Cutting-Edge Sc….
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New preprint from our lab by @jerrintgeorge is out now! An amazing story on type V-K CRISPR-associated transposon (CAST) target selection mechanisms & optimization for 90+% on-target genome editing.
We are super excited to share our work unraveling the mechanistic intricacies of target site selection by type V-K CRISPR-associated transposases now available as a preprint on bioRxiv!🧬.1/16.
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A day for the history books: Double-strand break-free genome editing in human cells using CRISPR-associated transposases: now out @NatureBiotech. Congrats George, Rebeca and the whole team from @SternbergLab @shsternberg! 🧬.
George & Rebeca here for the Sternberg Lab's inaugural tweet! We are excited to describe the reconstitution of CRISPR-associated transposases (CASTs) in human cells for programmable DSB-free insertion of large DNA cargo at genomic loci @NatureBiotech🧬 1/8.
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New pre-print from our lab on Cas9 & Cas12 ancestors IscB & TnpB is out - check out .@sanjana_pesari's thread below! Congrats Chance & team! So happy I could be part of this!.
Great news - our lab's latest manuscript is out on bioRxiv!.Led by postdoc Chance Meers, we discovered that RNA-guided DNA cleavage by transposon-encoded nucleases arose to facilitate the pervasive spread and inheritance of transposons. 🧵: (1/6)
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RT @thealexbanks: OpenAI just launched GPT-4. It leaves ChatGPT in the dust. Here's everything you need to know:
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