<div><p><strong>In 2025, two outstanding young female researchers, Drs. Filipa Oliveira and Stella Gonsales, both originally from outside the Czech Republic, received prestigious JUNIOR STAR grants from the Czech Science Foundation (GAČR). JUNIOR STAR enables early career researchers to establish their own independent research groups and significantly advance their scientific careers. Their projects reflect cutting-edge research in materials science and sustainable chemistry, highlighting the international reach and welcoming research environment at UCT Prague.</strong></p><p><strong>Dr. Stella Gonsales is also a&nbsp;laureate of the Dagmar Procházková Fund, which supports promising scientific projects in sustainable and advanced organic chemistry. Another recipient of this grant is Dr.&nbsp;Anna Valunchene, whose research complements UCT Prague’s&nbsp;sustainability goals. This dual funding underlines Stella’s&nbsp;remarkable achievements and the wide scope of innovative research at UCT Prague.</strong></p><p><strong>Both Filipa and Stella are actively looking for motivated students and researchers to join their teams, offering a&nbsp;unique opportunity to work at the forefront of science in a&nbsp;vibrant and supportive environment.</strong></p></div><div><h3><strong>Interview with Filipa Oliveira: Pioneering tubular MXenes for supercapacitor energy storage</strong></h3><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/VSCHT_Praha_V_prestizni_soutezi_GACR_uspely_dve_zahranicni_vedkyne_z_VSCHT_2_da6e538579.jpeg" alt="VŠCHT Prague: JUNIOR STAR Grants at UCT Prague: Two talented women from abroad driving innovation in science: Filipa Oliveira" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_VSCHT_Praha_V_prestizni_soutezi_GACR_uspely_dve_zahranicni_vedkyne_z_VSCHT_2_da6e538579.jpeg 235w," sizes="100vw" width="1500" height="999"></p><h5><strong>Congratulations on receiving the JUNIOR STAR grant. What does this achievement mean for you and how will it influence your next steps?</strong></h5><p>Thank you. It’s&nbsp;a huge achievement to receive this prestigious grant. It gives me the opportunity to establish my own research group here at UCT Prague. The JUNIOR STAR program supports talented young scientists in building their teams and accessing resources. This means I&nbsp;now have the support to focus fully on my research about tubular MXenes and their application in supercapacitors.</p><h5><strong>Why are tubular MXenes so innovative for energy storage?</strong></h5><p>MXenes are a family of 2D materials with a layered, accordion-like structure and known for their excellent electrical conductivity. Our innovation is to produce them with a tubular morphology, combining the high conductivity and redox activity in superior ion-transport tubular architectures. Their open, hollow structure increases surface area, ion diffusion and charge transport. This could translate to faster, more efficient supercapacitors, critical for sustainable energy technologies.</p><h5><strong>How did your scientific interest lead you to this field?</strong></h5><p>Global challenges around green energy made me focus on materials that can improve energy storage. MXenes stood out because changes in the composition and structure can significantly change their properties. I&nbsp;was curious about how tuning different metallic elements in a&nbsp;tubular morphology can impact how MXenes perform and how to optimize them for practical applications.</p><h5><strong>What challenges have you encountered?</strong></h5><p>One major challenge is their stability: MXenes oxidize quickly which deteriorates performance. Another challenge is understanding how synthesis conditions of both MXenes and their precursors (MAX phases) must be adapted to create and preserve tubular morphologies since their synthesis mechanisms differ from conventional MXenes. Additionally, effectively communicating the project in the funding proposal to show to reviewers why I&nbsp;should obtain this funding was also a&nbsp;challenge, but thanks to mentorship and collaboration, I&nbsp;overcame these hurdles.</p><h5><strong>What motivates you most about working at UCT Prague?</strong></h5><p>The support from colleagues and the excellent technical infrastructure make it a&nbsp;great place to work. Also, being a&nbsp;former member of Professor Sofer’s&nbsp;leading group in 2D&nbsp;materials is inspiring and led me to this achievement.</p><h5><strong>How do&nbsp;you see your professional development going in the future?</strong></h5><p>The grant will help me build my own team, acquire equipment, and develop collaborations. My long-term vision is to contribute significantly to sustainable energy solutions and scientific progress both locally and internationally.</p><h5><strong>You are looking for new team members. What kind of students or scientists do&nbsp;you need?</strong></h5><p>We are currently welcoming enthusiastic master's&nbsp;students, PhD candidates, and postdocs who are passionate about materials science and eager to explore new frontiers in MXenes and energy storage. If you love curiosity-driven research and want to be part of a&nbsp;growing international team, we encourage you to join us.</p><h3><strong>Interview with Stella Gonsales: Catalysis as a&nbsp;key to polymer recycling</strong></h3><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/VSCHT_Praha_V_prestizni_soutezi_GACR_uspely_dve_zahranicni_vedkyne_z_VSCHT_3_3d0ded6274.jpeg" alt="VŠCHT Prague: JUNIOR STAR Grants at UCT Prague: Two talented women from abroad driving innovation in science: Stella Gonsales" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_VSCHT_Praha_V_prestizni_soutezi_GACR_uspely_dve_zahranicni_vedkyne_z_VSCHT_3_3d0ded6274.jpeg 233w," sizes="100vw" width="1499" height="1000"></p><h5><strong>Congratulations on your JUNIOR STAR grant and also being awarded the Dagmar Procházková Fund. What does receiving both mean to you and how will they shape your work?</strong></h5><p>Thank you. Both grants are hugely important. The JUNIOR STAR grant allows me to expand my group and resources for research into catalytic recycling of polymers, while the Dagmar Procházková Fund supports complementary projects such as synthesizing new biodegradable polymers. Together, they help tackle the plastic waste problem from multiple scientific angles.</p><h5><strong>Could you explain your research in layperson’s&nbsp;terms?</strong></h5><p>Most plastics have strong carbon-carbon bonds. We insert more cleavable double bonds into polymers that can be broken down by catalytic reactions called olefin metathesis, making recycling on a&nbsp;molecular level more feasible.</p><h5><strong>What makes the JUNIOR STAR grant particularly important for your research and career development?</strong></h5><p>The JUNIOR STAR grant is a&nbsp;prestigious and highly competitive funding opportunity aimed at excellent early-career scientists within eight years of completing a&nbsp;Ph.D. It provides up to 25&nbsp;million CZK over five years, allowing recipients to establish independent research groups and pursue innovative scientific topics. This grant is crucial for building a&nbsp;solid foundation, acquiring necessary equipment, and recruiting talented team members, enabling the pursuit of ambitious projects that can significantly contribute to both the Czech scientific community and global challenges.</p><h5><strong>What collaborations support your research?</strong></h5><p>The collaboration between UCT Prague and the Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry (IOCB) of the Czech Academy of Sciences primarily provides financial and technical support. The cooperation helps with funding, access to advanced equipment, and operational resources needed for running research projects.</p><h5><strong>What advice would you give young scientists aiming to succeed?</strong></h5><p>I&nbsp;encourage thinking outside the box and combining diverse knowledge you acquire during your career to address complex problems that are exciting and relevant to you.</p><h5><strong>Your laboratory bears the name of Otto Wichterle and was ceremonially opened in the presence of Professor Kamil Wichterle. How does Wichterle’s&nbsp;legacy inspire you personally?</strong></h5><p>Wichterle’<s>’</s>s&nbsp;innovative spirit motivates me to push creative boundaries and pursue novel solutions in sustainable chemistry.</p><h5><strong>What are your visions for the future?</strong></h5><p>I&nbsp;aim to build a&nbsp;research group that advances sustainable polymer recycling, contributing to environmental responsibility and the circular economy.</p><h5><strong>You are recruiting people for your team. What skills do&nbsp;they need to have?</strong></h5><p>We are looking for talented Ph.D. students and postdocs experienced in air-sensitive catalysis techniques. If you want to contribute to transformative research in sustainable chemistry and join a&nbsp;dynamic team, this is a&nbsp;great opportunity.</p></div>

JUNIOR STAR Grants at UCT Prague: Two talented women from abroad driving innovation in science

<p><strong>The clean laboratories of the CEITEC Nano research infrastructure at CEITEC Brno University of Technology house a four-meter-tall TITAN transmission electron microscope for researching materials at the atomic level. This scientific device underwent two significant upgrades this year, entailing the addition of two state-of-the-art technologies: an electromagnetic lens aberration corrector for scanning transmission electron microscopy and an electron energy loss spectrometer equipped with cameras featuring today's most sensitive sensors. Thanks to these upgrades, TITAN has become a state-of-the-art device that can only be found in a few of the world's most advanced laboratories in this configuration.</strong></p><p><strong>The TITAN Themis microscope </strong>was manufactured in 2015 by FEI (now Thermo Fisher Scientific) and has been in use at CEITEC BUT since 2016. At the time of its acquisition, it was one of<strong> the most powerful commercially available electron microscopes</strong>; however, it lacked a corrector for optical defects in the lenses that form the narrow electron beam scanning the sample. This meant limited resolution and a lower ability to analyze the chemical composition and physical properties of materials at the atomic level.</p><p><i>"The latest generation S-CORR aberration corrector allows the electron beam to be focused to a size up to twice smaller than an atom, while also providing a higher electron current. This has led to a significant increase in the resolution and analytical capabilities of the microscope,"</i> explains <strong>Jan Michalička</strong>, guarantor of the TITAN microscope. "<i>Thanks to the new corrector, our microscope achieves the world's highest standard in resolution, specifically less than 50 picometers at an acceleration voltage of 300 keV." </i>For better understanding, he adds a comparison: <i>"Imagine the ratio of the size of a golf ball to that of planet Earth. That is exactly the ratio of an atom measuring 100 pm to a golf ball."</i> Thanks to this resolution, scientists are not only able to image individual atoms, but also to determine their chemical nature through further analysis. This is of fundamental importance, for example, for the development of new catalysts for a more environmentally friendly chemical industry.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_Upgrade_transmisniho_elektronoveho_mikroskopu_TITAN_zaradil_CEITEC_mezi_elitni_laboratore_8ebd8d7245.jpg" alt="CEITEC/CEITEC BUT archive: Upgrade of TITAN transmission electron microscope ranks CEITEC among elite laboratories: Differences in resolution before and after the installation of the aberration corrector." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CEITEC_Upgrade_transmisniho_elektronoveho_mikroskopu_TITAN_zaradil_CEITEC_mezi_elitni_laboratore_8ebd8d7245.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="904"></p><p>The new corrector also allows the microscope to achieve high resolution even with low-energy electrons. This is crucial for studying highly sensitive materials such as graphene and other two-dimensional structures, which would be damaged by a stronger electron beam. <i>"Electrons interact strongly with the sample and can damage it at the atomic level, for example, by changing its structure and chemical composition. With the new corrector, we can achieve atomic resolution even at the lowest acceleration voltage of 60 keV, allowing us to study even very sensitive materials in a virtually unchanged state," </i>says Jan Michalička.</p><h4><strong>The additional installation of a corrector at the CEITEC laboratory is unique worldwide</strong></h4><p><strong>Correctors of optical defects in electromagnetic lenses are an exceptional technology</strong> that has completely changed the world of electron microscopy. For a long time, they were considered technically impossible, and the absence of correctors essentially prevented research into the structure and properties of materials at the atomic level. It was not until the 1990s that a group of four scientists – Harald Rose, Max Haider, Knut Urban, and Ondřej Křivánek – succeeded in implementing this technology, for which they received the prestigious Kavli Prize in 2020. <i>“Correctors basically consist of a pair of complex lenses, each containing a series of magnetic multipoles. In the case of the correctors invented by the first three scientists mentioned above, defects are removed by two hexapole lenses. Our new corrector is based on the same concept,”</i> adds Jan Michalička.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_Upgrade_transmisniho_elektronoveho_mikroskopu_TITAN_zaradil_CEITEC_mezi_elitni_laboratore_2_c7e74d8554.jpeg" alt="CEITEC/CEITEC BUT archive: Upgrade of TITAN transmission electron microscope ranks CEITEC among elite laboratories: Delivered aberration corrector prior to installation, with the TITAN microscope in the background." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CEITEC_Upgrade_transmisniho_elektronoveho_mikroskopu_TITAN_zaradil_CEITEC_mezi_elitni_laboratore_2_c7e74d8554.jpeg 117w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="2133"></p><p>The additional installation of a corrector is <strong>unique </strong>in itself nowadays. Similarly complex technologies are usually installed during the manufacture of microscopes in the factory, in this case in the Netherlands. However, in Brno, the microscope was successfully upgraded with a corrector under the limited conditions of the laboratory. The installation of the corrector took about four months and required the dismantling of a large part of the microscope. <i>"With this installation, we basically went back to the time when the four scientists mentioned above placed their prototype corrector on an older microscope, thus improving its performance,"</i> says Jan Michalička with a smile, adding that the most difficult part was the precise adjustment of the corrector and the entire optics of the microscope in order to achieve top parameters. <i>"Even though most things are now controlled by computers, there are only a few people in the world who can install and tune a corrector to the highest level of accuracy. We are therefore extremely pleased to have had such experts at our disposal here."</i></p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_Upgrade_transmisniho_elektronoveho_mikroskopu_TITAN_zaradil_CEITEC_mezi_elitni_laboratore_4_b2cf95fb5c.jpeg" alt="CEITEC/CEITEC BUT archive: Upgrade of TITAN transmission electron microscope ranks CEITEC among elite laboratories: Installation of the aberration corrector – removal of the condenser." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CEITEC_Upgrade_transmisniho_elektronoveho_mikroskopu_TITAN_zaradil_CEITEC_mezi_elitni_laboratore_4_b2cf95fb5c.jpeg 117w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="2133"></p><h4><strong>New spectrometer will enable scientists to see more</strong></h4><p>The second and equally important upgrade to the TITAN microscope is the installation of <strong>the latest generation GIF Continuum HR electron energy loss spectrometer by Gatan</strong>. This is an approximately two-meter-long device installed horizontally under the microscope, whose main component is a magnetic prism that separates the electron beam according to their energy losses. The spectra of these losses provide enormous information about the sample, principally at the atomic level, as they are characteristic of the given state of the atoms, such as the valence arrangement of their electron shell. In combination with the new corrector, the spectra can be used to analyze the chemical bonds, arrangement in the crystal lattice, or the entire range of physical properties of atomic nanostructures down to the level of individual atoms.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_Upgrade_transmisniho_elektronoveho_mikroskopu_TITAN_zaradil_CEITEC_mezi_elitni_laboratore_8_fdab871ef5.jpeg" alt="CEITEC/CEITEC BUT archive: Upgrade of TITAN transmission electron microscope ranks CEITEC among elite laboratories: Installation of the spectrometer beneath the microscope, magnetic prism." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CEITEC_Upgrade_transmisniho_elektronoveho_mikroskopu_TITAN_zaradil_CEITEC_mezi_elitni_laboratore_8_fdab871ef5.jpeg 117w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="2133"></p><p>An essential part of the spectrometer are the <strong>state-of-the-art K3 and Stela cameras</strong>, which can directly detect and count individual electrons. At the same time, these cameras are extremely fast and their sensors capture data without noise. <i>"These features of our cameras are key to measuring sensitive or dynamically changing samples and allow us to obtain information that was previously invisible to electron microscopes,"</i> says Jan Michalička.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_Upgrade_transmisniho_elektronoveho_mikroskopu_TITAN_zaradil_CEITEC_mezi_elitni_laboratore_9_d8b87903f2.jpeg" alt="CEITEC/CEITEC BUT archive: Upgrade of TITAN transmission electron microscope ranks CEITEC among elite laboratories: Installed high-performance spectrometer cameras." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CEITEC_Upgrade_transmisniho_elektronoveho_mikroskopu_TITAN_zaradil_CEITEC_mezi_elitni_laboratore_9_d8b87903f2.jpeg 117w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="2133"></p><p>Last but not least, the spectrometer will open up completely new possibilities for measuring the magnetic properties of atomic structures. The new spectrometer will also be used for such experiments within the project TERAFIT, which financed this upgrade, and which focuses on research into materials for ultra-high capacity, speed, and energy efficiency in information technology. <i>"The device is fully prepared for advanced experiments and the use of modern software tools, including artificial intelligence,"</i> adds <strong>Vojtěch Uhlíř</strong>, head of the <i>Nanomagnetism and Spintronics</i> research group at CEITEC BUT and one of the TERAFIT project investigators, highlighting the advantages of the spectrometer.</p><p>Together with the corrector, the spectrometer represents a breakthrough in the analysis of material properties, and according to Jan Michalička, CEITEC now has one of the most powerful microscopes available. <i>“In modern materials science, for example, in the development of magnetic memories, quantum materials, or 2D structures, it is necessary to see not only atoms, but also their behaviour in real time, including magnetic states. And it is this spectrometer that pushes the boundaries of what we can see and analyze.</i>” Michal Urbánek, head of the CEITEC Nano laboratories and coordinator of the large research infrastructure <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.czechnanolab.cz/"><strong>CzechNanoLab</strong></a>, agrees with him, adding that the device can now contribute to scientific knowledge on a global scale. <i>“Thanks to its integration into the large CzechNanoLab research infrastructure, this state-of-the-art microscope is accessible not only to scientists from CEITEC, but also to other institutions in the Czech Republic and abroad.”</i></p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/CEITEC_Upgrade_transmisniho_elektronoveho_mikroskopu_TITAN_zaradil_CEITEC_mezi_elitni_laboratore_10_7a2b57cc6d.jpeg" alt="CEITEC/CEITEC BUT archive: Upgrade of TITAN transmission electron microscope ranks CEITEC among elite laboratories: Final configuration of the TITAN microscope after installation of the aberration corrector and spectrometer." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_CEITEC_Upgrade_transmisniho_elektronoveho_mikroskopu_TITAN_zaradil_CEITEC_mezi_elitni_laboratore_10_7a2b57cc6d.jpeg 117w," sizes="100vw" width="1600" height="2133"></p><blockquote><p>Do you want to know more? Read the<strong> </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.ceitec.eu/upgrade-of-titan-transmission-electron-microscope-ranks-ceitec-among-elite-laboratories-expert-version/t11696?secret=40ab0267-ec7e-11f0-8f5d-2ed9ab825d4b"><strong>expert version</strong></a><strong> </strong>of this article.</p></blockquote>

Upgrade of TITAN transmission electron microscope ranks CEITEC among elite laboratories

<p><strong>Scientists at IOCB Prague are uncovering new details of gene transcription. They have identified a previously unknown molecular mechanism by which the transcription of genetic information from deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) into ribonucleic acid (RNA) can be initiated. The researchers focused on a specific class of molecules known as alarmones, which are found in cells across a wide range of organisms and whose levels often increase under conditions of cellular stress. The results were published in the prestigious scientific journal </strong><i><strong>Nature Chemical Biology</strong></i><strong>.</strong></p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/UOCHB_Vyzkum_z_UOCHB_odhaluje_dosud_nepoznany_zpusob_prepisu_geneticke_informace_bc2bfffa6c.jpg" alt="IOCB Prague/Tomáš Belloň: Research from IOCB Prague reveals a previously unknown mechanism of genetic transcription: Dr. Hana Cahová, head of the Chemical Biology of Nucleic Acids research group." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_UOCHB_Vyzkum_z_UOCHB_odhaluje_dosud_nepoznany_zpusob_prepisu_geneticke_informace_bc2bfffa6c.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="2000" height="1335"></p><div><p>Molecules of ribonucleic acid can carry a variety of chemical modifications at one end, known as caps. In eukaryotic organisms, including human cells, the best-known cap plays an important role in RNA stability and in regulating its subsequent fate. In recent years, however, it has become clear that alternative, non-canonical RNA caps also exist, although their formation and the mechanisms by which they are attached to RNA remain only partially understood. These include alarmone caps, formed by dinucleoside polyphosphate molecules, that protect cellular RNA at moments when the cell is under threat.</p><p>In their study,<strong> </strong><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cahova.group.uochb.cz/en"><strong>Dr. Hana Cahová</strong></a> and colleagues examined bacterial RNA polymerase and investigated how this enzyme can initiate transcription using dinucleoside polyphosphates (NpNs) instead of the standard RNA building blocks. For the first time, the scientists described, at the atomic level, how RNA bearing an alarmone cap can be generated directly at the initiation of gene transcription. They also observed that NpNs bind through a different type of base pairing than is typically observed.</p><p>The work was significantly shaped by <strong>Valentina Serianni from Hana Cahová’s team</strong>, who demonstrated the ability of dinucleoside polyphosphates to initiate gene transcription, and by <strong>Jana Škerlová</strong>, who focused on the structural analysis of RNA polymerase. Using cryogenic electron microscopy data, she showed how dinucleoside polyphosphate molecules bind within the active site of RNA polymerase – that is, the core of the enzyme where genetic information is transcribed. Together, their findings help to elucidate the processes that accompany the transcription of genetic information from DNA to RNA.</p><p>Hana Cahová adds: <i>“We’re describing something that truly occurs in cells and that we’re now able to observe directly at the level of individual molecules. This allows us to answer fundamental questions about cellular processes, such as how cells adapt to stress. RNA plays a central role in this, as it carries the cascade of information underlying any cellular response – for example, to threatening conditions caused by nutrient deprivation or temperature shock.”</i></p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/UOCHB_Vyzkum_z_UOCHB_odhaluje_dosud_nepoznany_zpusob_prepisu_geneticke_informace_2_0fe88ff9e9.jpg" alt="IOCB Prague/Tomáš Belloň: Research from IOCB Prague reveals a previously unknown mechanism of genetic transcription: Dr. Tomáš Kouba, head of the Cryogenic Electron Microscopy core facility." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_UOCHB_Vyzkum_z_UOCHB_odhaluje_dosud_nepoznany_zpusob_prepisu_geneticke_informace_2_0fe88ff9e9.jpg 234w," sizes="100vw" width="2000" height="1335"></p><div><p>Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) was central to the project. This part of the work was led by<strong> Dr. Tomáš Kouba</strong>, one of the authors of the study. <i>“Cryogenic electron microscopy allows us to freeze biological molecules in a state very close to their natural form and then determine their three-dimensional structure. This makes it possible to look directly into the active centers of enzymes and observe their function down to the atomic level,”</i> he explains.</p><p>Last year, IOCB Prague opened a new <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cryoem.group.uochb.cz/en"><strong>cryo-EM center</strong></a><strong> </strong>that is unique within the Czech research environment. State-of-the-art cryogenic electron microscopes are housed in a specially designed building and enable the study of biological processes with exceptional structural precision.</p><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/UOCHB_Vyzkum_z_UOCHB_odhaluje_dosud_nepoznany_zpusob_prepisu_geneticke_informace_3_4d881e7a58.jpg" alt="IOCB Prague: Research from IOCB Prague reveals a previously unknown mechanism of genetic transcription: This work shows how NpnNs initiate bacterial transcription. Cryo-EM reveals how nucleobases pair with the template: one in canonical and one in reverse Watson–Crick mode, providing a structural basis for their function as non-canonical RNA caps." srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_UOCHB_Vyzkum_z_UOCHB_odhaluje_dosud_nepoznany_zpusob_prepisu_geneticke_informace_3_4d881e7a58.jpg 245w," sizes="100vw" width="2000" height="1077"></p><blockquote><h4><strong>The Original article</strong></h4><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41589-025-02134-5"><strong>Molecular insight into 5′ RNA capping with Np<sub>n</sub>Ns by bacterial RNA polymerase</strong></a></h4><p>Valentina M. Serianni, Jana Škerlová, Anna Knopp Dubánková, Anton Škríba, Hana Šváchová, Tereza Vučková, Anatolij Filimoněnko, Milan Fábry, Pavlína Řezáčová, Tomáš Kouba &amp; Hana Cahova&nbsp;</p><p>Nat. Chem. Biol. 21 (2026)</p><p><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-025-02134-5">https://doi.org/10.1038/s41589-025-02134-5</a></p><h6>licensed under <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"><strong>CC-BY 4.0</strong></a></h6></blockquote><h4><strong>Abstract</strong></h4><p>RNA capped with dinucleoside polyphosphates has been discovered in bacteria and eukaryotes only recently. The likely mechanism of this specific capping involves direct incorporation of dinucleoside polyphosphates by RNA polymerase as noncanonical initiating nucleotides. However, how these compounds bind into the active site of RNA polymerase during transcription initiation is unknown. Here, we explored transcription initiation in vitro, using a series of DNA templates in combination with dinucleoside polyphosphates and model RNA polymerase from <i>Thermus</i> <i>thermophilus</i>. We observed that the transcription start site can vary on the basis of the compatibility of the specific template and dinucleoside polyphosphate. Cryo-electron microscopy structures of transcription initiation complexes with dinucleoside polyphosphates revealed that both nucleobase moieties can pair with the DNA template. The first encoded nucleotide pairs in a canonical Watson–Crick manner, whereas the second nucleobase pairs noncanonically in a reverse Watson–Crick manner. Our work provides a structural explanation of how dinucleoside polyphosphates initiate RNA transcription.</p></div></div>

Research from IOCB Prague reveals a previously unknown mechanism of genetic transcription

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Since its establishment in 2011, CEITEC has quickly developed into a cutting-edge infrastructure for research which performs highly alongside the best institutes in Europe. Among the main priorities of CEITEC are the promotion of a motivating and dynamic international scientific environment, the provision of state-of-the-art research infrastructure, and the policy of open communication and equal opportunities.

CEITEC

The University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague is a natural centre of first-rate study and research in the area of chemistry in Czechia and is one of the country's largest educational and research institutions focused on technical chemistry, chemical and biochemical technologies, material and chemical engineering, food chemistry, and environmental studies.

UCT Prague

The Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IOCB Prague) is a leading scientific institution in the Czech Republic, recognized internationally. Its primary mission is basic research in the fields of chemical biology and medicinal chemistry, organic and material oriented chemistry, chemistry of natural compounds, biochemistry and molecular biology, physical chemistry, theoretical chemistry, and analytical chemistry. 

Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences

Thermo Scientific ARL QUANT’X EDXRF spectrometer

Achieve fast, nondestructive elemental analysis from F (or C*) to Am with the compact ARL QUANT’X EDXRF spectrometer—ideal for major to trace element quantification with minimal prep.

<p><strong>Accomplish the most challenging analytical tasks in research and manufacturing with powerful X-ray fluorescence technology for nondestructive elemental analysis of any sample.&nbsp;</strong></p><p>The <strong>Thermo Scientific ARL QUANT’X EDXRF spectrometer</strong> is a convenient and cost-effective analysis tool delivering major, minor and trace element quantification from F (C*) to Am for a wide range of samples with minimal sample preparation. The ARL QUANT’X offers top performance from light elements to heavy elements, speed and flexibility in a compact benchtop format.</p><h4><strong>Features</strong></h4><h5><strong>Effortless bulk elemental analysis</strong></h5><p><strong>The ARL QUANT’X EDXRF spectrometer provides several advantages:</strong></p><ul><li><strong>Compact.</strong> Small footprint benchtop system fits in busy labs or next to production lines.</li><li><strong>Simple.</strong> User-friendly software for both operators and advanced users.&nbsp;</li><li><strong>Reliable. </strong>Proven components and robust design for highest instrument uptime.</li><li><strong>Versatile. F</strong>lexible sample handling of solids, granules, powders, fused beads, liquids, thin-films and filters.</li><li><strong>Accurate and precise.</strong> Advanced technology components and analytical algorithms deliver wide dynamic range from ppm to 100%.</li></ul><h5><strong>Increase productivity and support faster decision-making</strong></h5><p>Unattended instrument operation enables users to maximize sample throughput and frees up time to focus on other tasks. Our 10 and 20 position auto-changers are designed for batch analysis, which is easily started for an entire tray of samples in the software interface. Share analysis data without delay to a LIMS using the optional TraceCom package, enabling faster decision making in QC and production environments.</p><h5><strong>Effortlessly analyze unknown materials with success</strong></h5><p>New compounds, one-off samples and materials without suitable reference materials are challenging to analyze. With the UniQuant advanced standardless analysis you can obtain reliable elemental composition results within minutes for any sample, including multi-element solids, pressed powder, small samples, liquids or air-filters. UniQuant comes pre-calibrated and ready to use, so everyone can get high-quality results from day one.</p><h5><strong>Highest performance is our standard</strong></h5><p>Accuracy and precision are the foundation for elemental analysis results you can trust. The ARL QUANT’X uses an optimized direct excitation geometry to bring top performance to your lab. Benefit from better sensitivity across the periodic table with the combination of a high power 50W X-ray tube and the latest generation SDD silicon drift detector, for both bulk and small samples.</p><h5><strong>Receive superior service with dedicated support worldwide</strong></h5><p>ARL QUANT’X spectrometers are backed by our global applications and support team. With dedicated support for most countries and regions around the world, our customer support organization is the best in the industry. We offer a full suite of product and customer services tailored to bulk elemental analysis. Let us recommend a support plan or ask us how we can customize services specifically to your requirements.</p><h4><strong>ARL QUANT’X accessories</strong></h4><h5><strong>Sample changer</strong></h5><ul><li>Automated sample carousels enable batch analysis for maximum productivity. Sample changer is compatible with standard powder and liquid cups, pressed pellets, as well as aerosol filters.</li></ul><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_ARL_QUANTX_accessories_Sample_changer_17931e2933.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific: ARL QUANT'X accessories - Sample changer" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_ARL_QUANTX_accessories_Sample_changer_17931e2933.jpg 156w," sizes="100vw" width="800" height="800"></p><h5><strong>Vacuum and/or helium atmosphere</strong></h5><ul><li>Measuring under vacuum improves the sensitivity for light elements in solids; while helium atmosphere is used for measurement of liquids, or to inert the measurement atmosphere for sensitive materials.</li></ul><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_ARL_QUANTX_accessories_Vacuum_and_or_helium_atmosphere_fe0831ae9f.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific: ARL QUANT'X accessories - Vacuum and/or helium atmosphere" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_ARL_QUANTX_accessories_Vacuum_and_or_helium_atmosphere_fe0831ae9f.jpg 156w," sizes="100vw" width="800" height="800"></p><h5><strong>Collimators</strong></h5><ul><li>Available in different sizes to reduce the beam size down to small spot. Used to analyze small samples, such as gemstones, or a specific area on a larger sample.</li></ul><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_ARL_QUANTX_accessories_Collimators_b8464d2bf1.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific: ARL QUANT'X accessories - Collimators" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_ARL_QUANTX_accessories_Collimators_b8464d2bf1.jpg 156w," sizes="100vw" width="800" height="800"></p><h5><strong>Camera</strong></h5><ul><li>Record an image of the samples or use the live view to select the part of the sample that you want to analyze.</li></ul><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_ARL_QUANTX_accessories_Camera_167d3e28d3.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific: ARL QUANT'X accessories - Camera" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_ARL_QUANTX_accessories_Camera_167d3e28d3.jpg 156w," sizes="100vw" width="800" height="800"></p><h5><strong>SDD500G detector</strong></h5><ul><li>The SDD500G silicon drift detector extends the elemental range further, enabling the detection of carbon (C) and significantly improving sensitivity for fluorine (F) and sodium (Na), allowing you to measure e.g. fluorine in cement slag or sodium in milk powder at lower concentration levels.</li></ul><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_ARL_QUANTX_accessories_SDD_500_G_detector_3a0ab3226b.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific: ARL QUANT'X accessories - SDD500G detector" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_ARL_QUANTX_accessories_SDD_500_G_detector_3a0ab3226b.jpg 156w," sizes="100vw" width="800" height="800"></p><h4><strong>ARL QUANT’X applications</strong></h4><p>The ARL QUANT’X EDXRF Spectrometer delivers reliable elemental analysis results in central and contract laboratories, academic institutions as well as the environmental monitoring, RoHS and WEEE screening, chemicals, mining, forensics, food, cement, and metals industries.</p><h4><strong>Thermo Scientific™ ARL™ QUANT’X EDXRF Spectrometer – Configuration Overview</strong></h4><p>The ARL QUANT’X EDXRF Spectrometer is available in three configurations—<strong>Select</strong>, <strong>Ideal</strong>, and <strong>Enhance</strong>—to suit a variety of elemental analysis needs. Below is a comparison of their key features:</p><ul><li><strong>Elemental Range</strong><ul><li><i>Select:</i> Magnesium (Mg) to Uranium (U)</li><li><i>Ideal:</i> Fluorine (F) to Uranium (U)</li><li><i>Enhance:</i> Carbon (C) to Uranium (U)</li></ul></li><li><strong>Atmosphere Options</strong><ul><li><i>Select &amp; Ideal:</i> Air</li><li><i>Enhance:</i> Vacuum or Helium</li></ul></li><li><strong>Detector</strong><ul><li><i>Select &amp; Ideal:</i> SDD500</li><li><i>Enhance:</i> SDD500G</li></ul></li><li><strong>Sample Chamber</strong><ul><li>All configurations include a large chamber with a single-position stage</li></ul></li><li><strong>Liquids Analysis</strong><ul><li><i>Select:</i> Not available</li><li><i>Ideal:</i> Optional with helium atmosphere</li><li><i>Enhance:</i> Yes, using helium</li></ul></li><li><strong>Small Spot Analysis</strong><ul><li><i>Enhance only:</i> Supported via choice of collimators</li></ul></li><li><strong>Sample Viewing</strong><ul><li><i>Enhance only:</i> Equipped with CCD camera</li></ul></li><li><strong>Sample Changers</strong><ul><li><i>Ideal &amp; Enhance:</i> Optional 10- or 20-position sample changers</li></ul></li><li><strong>XL Sample Support</strong><ul><li><i>Ideal:</i> Optional chamber extension</li><li><i>Enhance:</i> Supports samples up to 36 cm in height</li></ul></li><li><strong>Standardless Analysis</strong><ul><li><i>Enhance only:</i> Includes UniQuant™ software</li></ul></li><li><strong>Data Transfer</strong><ul><li>All configurations support TRACEcom interface for LIMS integration</li></ul></li></ul>

Thermo Scientific ARL PERFORM'X Sequential X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer

Solve analytical challenges in a wide range of applications with X-ray fluorescence with sample surface mapping and small spot analysis with Thermo Scientific ARL PERFORM'X Sequential X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer

<p><strong>Solve analytical challenges in a wide range of applications with one comprehensive tool. The Thermo Scientific™ ARL™ PERFORM'X Sequential X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer for advanced materials characterization integrates bulk elemental analysis with mapping and small spot analysis to create a solution that evaluates up to 90 elements in nearly any solid or liquid sample.</strong></p><p>Industries as diverse as metallurgy, petroleum, polymers, mining, glass, cement and refractories as well as labs dealing with geochemistry, materials science, environmental research and forensics will benefit from its performance and versatility.</p><p>With the ARL PERFORM'X spectrometer, analysis of materials in varied sizes, coatings, layers, heterogeneities and inclusions or requiring wide elemental coverage, wide concentration ranges and varied samples matrices is achieved with desired precision and limits of detection.</p><h5><strong>Advanced Technology</strong></h5><ul><li>Digitally mastered gearless goniometer based on Moiré fringe electro-optical technology, for precise and robust angular positioning of all its components.</li><li>Powerful OXSAS software and standard-less Thermo Scientific™ <strong>QuantAS™</strong> and Thermo Scientific™ <strong>UniQuant™ Analysis Packages </strong>provide simple and rapid analysis of totally unknown samples with no standards required.</li><li>Thermo Scientific™ <strong>PetroilQuant™ Pre-calibration program</strong>, capable of quantifying up to 30 elements in a variety of fuels, light and heavy distillates and lubricants both quickly and cost-effectively.</li><li>UCCO technology: Ultra Closely Coupled Optics for highest performance from boron to uranium.</li><li>IQ/OQ &amp; Remote Diagnostics for easy installation and serviceability.</li></ul><h5><strong>Main Features</strong></h5><ul><li>Large library of factory calibrations covering many metals and non-metals applications.</li><li>Material composition mapping and quantification capability.</li><li>Small spot analysis for contamination or defect identification and quantification.</li><li>Industry-leading liquid sample recognition and leak prevention design.</li><li>Wide dynamic range (from sub ppm to 100%) and excellent precision.</li><li>Integrated comprehensive sample changer allows large numbers of different samples to be treated fully automatically in mixed batches.</li><li>Faster analysis cycle time for high throughput lab applications using XY-loader for fully automated sample management.</li><li>Easy, non-destructive sample preparation.</li></ul><h5><strong>Models</strong></h5><ul><li><strong>ARL PERFORM'X 1500W</strong>: Cost effective low-power system, no external water cooling required.</li><li><strong>ARL PERFORM'X 2500</strong>W: High performance mid-power system, no external water cooling required.</li><li><strong>ARL PERFORM'X 4200W</strong>: Highest power system for the most demanding applications.</li></ul><h5><strong>Recommended for</strong></h5><ul><li>Geological and environmental applications.</li><li>Petroleum products, polymers and chemicals.</li><li>Materials science and forensics.</li><li>Major, minor and trace elemental analysis in raw materials, glasses, ceramics and refractories.</li><li>Specialty alloys, metals and ores.</li><li>Mining, minerals and cement.</li></ul><p><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/Thermo_Scientific_ARL_PERFORM_X_Sequential_X_Ray_Fluorescence_Spectrometer_5_6bac427b14.jpg" alt="Thermo Scientific: ARL PERFORM'X Sequential X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer - Application" srcset="https://storage.googleapis.com/labrulez-bucket-strapi-h3hsga3/thumbnail_Thermo_Scientific_ARL_PERFORM_X_Sequential_X_Ray_Fluorescence_Spectrometer_5_6bac427b14.jpg 198w," sizes="100vw" width="547" height="432"></p>

Thermo Scientific ARL OPTIM'X WDXRF Spectrometer

Thermo Scientific™ ARL™ OPTIM'X WDXRF Spectrometer provides all the benefits of wavelength dispersive x-ray fluorescence (WDXRF), one of the most versatile methods for elemental analysis of solids and liquids. 

<p><strong>Meet demanding materials analysis requirements with qualitative and quantitative characterization of all types of conductive and non-conductive unknown samples. The Thermo Scientific™ ARL™ OPTIM'X WDXRF Spectrometer provides all the benefits of wavelength dispersive x-ray fluorescence (WDXRF), one of the most versatile methods for elemental analysis of solids and liquids. The system is available in four preconfigured packages specifically suited for analysis in the petroleum, cement and slags industries or for multi-purpose requirements in analytical laboratories.</strong></p><p>The ARL OPTIM’X WDXRF Spectrometer analyzes elements from carbon to uranium in a wide variety of samples with accuracy, precision and reliability. WDXRF is a standard test method for analytical laboratories (ASTM and ISO norms for example) by virtue of its simplicity, flexibility, affordability and reliability. The cost per analysis is clearly advantageous over many traditional wet chemical and other spectroscopic methods.</p><h5><strong>Advanced Technology</strong></h5><ul><li>Innovative <strong>UCCO technology</strong> (Ultra Closely Coupled Optics) for increased intensity, up to 210% higher than conventional geometry</li><li>Unique compact <strong>SmartGonio device </strong>for sequential analysis</li><li><strong>Optional Multichromators</strong> for faster analysis or better performance on selected elements</li><li><strong>Optional OptiQuant package</strong> provides “standard-less” analysis for up to 73 elements when specific standards are not available, or when samples can only be obtained in small quantities or as irregular shapes</li></ul><h5><strong>Main Features</strong></h5><ul><li>Unique WDXRF platform with sequential and/or simultaneous capabilities</li><li><strong>500W</strong> equivalent analytical performance from 200W X-ray power</li><li><strong>200W </strong>equivalent analytical performance from 50W X-ray power</li><li>Element coverage from carbon to uranium, depending on configuration</li><li>High precision (short term and long term repeatability) thanks to temperature regulation of spectrometer and crystals</li><li><strong>Superior spectral resolution</strong> from low Z elements to heavy elements (∼15 eV at CaKα)</li><li>Stand-alone and autonomous operation without water cooling</li><li><strong>No gas supply required</strong> (depending on the configuration)</li><li><strong>Simple and direct sample introduction</strong></li><li>Automatic analysis of batches with sample changer</li><li>Small footprint</li></ul><p>Many sample types can be analyzed including conductive or non-conductive solids, liquids, loose powders, pressed pellets, fusion beads, pastes, granules and coatings.</p><h5><strong>Recommended for</strong></h5><ul><li>Analysis of alternative fuels and waste incineration products for the cement industry</li><li>Analysis of sulfur (S) and other elements in petroleum products and lubricants, fully compliant with ASTM, ISO and other industrial WDXRF norms</li><li>Major and minor oxides in raw materials such as limestone, sand, bauxite, ceramics, refractories, slags and sinters</li><li>Major and trace elements and contaminants in food and chemical products</li></ul>

Products from category XRF - page 3

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