<div>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.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.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.</div><div><h3>Interview with Filipa Oliveira: Pioneering tubular MXenes for supercapacitor energy storage</h3><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"><h5>Congratulations on receiving the JUNIOR STAR grant. What does this achievement mean for you and how will it influence your next steps?</h5>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.<h5>Why are tubular MXenes so innovative for energy storage?</h5>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.<h5>How did your scientific interest lead you to this field?</h5>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.<h5>What challenges have you encountered?</h5>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.<h5>What motivates you most about working at UCT Prague?</h5>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.<h5>How do&nbsp;you see your professional development going in the future?</h5>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.<h5>You are looking for new team members. What kind of students or scientists do&nbsp;you need?</h5>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.<h3>Interview with Stella Gonsales: Catalysis as a&nbsp;key to polymer recycling</h3><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"><h5>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?</h5>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.<h5>Could you explain your research in layperson’s&nbsp;terms?</h5>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.<h5>What makes the JUNIOR STAR grant particularly important for your research and career development?</h5>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.<h5>What collaborations support your research?</h5>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.<h5>What advice would you give young scientists aiming to succeed?</h5>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.<h5>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?</h5>Wichterle’<s>’</s>s&nbsp;innovative spirit motivates me to push creative boundaries and pursue novel solutions in sustainable chemistry.<h5>What are your visions for the future?</h5>I&nbsp;aim to build a&nbsp;research group that advances sustainable polymer recycling, contributing to environmental responsibility and the circular economy.<h5>You are recruiting people for your team. What skills do&nbsp;they need to have?</h5>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.</div>

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

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.The TITAN Themis microscope 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 the most powerful commercially available electron microscopes; 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."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," explains Jan Michalička, guarantor of the TITAN microscope. "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." For better understanding, he adds a comparison: "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." 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.<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">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. "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," says Jan Michalička.<h4>The additional installation of a corrector at the CEITEC laboratory is unique worldwide</h4>Correctors of optical defects in electromagnetic lenses are an exceptional technology 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. “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,” adds Jan Michalička.<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">The additional installation of a corrector is unique 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. "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," 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. "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."<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"><h4>New spectrometer will enable scientists to see more</h4>The second and equally important upgrade to the TITAN microscope is the installation of the latest generation GIF Continuum HR electron energy loss spectrometer by Gatan. 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.<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">An essential part of the spectrometer are the state-of-the-art K3 and Stela cameras, which can directly detect and count individual electrons. At the same time, these cameras are extremely fast and their sensors capture data without noise. "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," says Jan Michalička.<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">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. "The device is fully prepared for advanced experiments and the use of modern software tools, including artificial intelligence," adds Vojtěch Uhlíř, head of the Nanomagnetism and Spintronics research group at CEITEC BUT and one of the TERAFIT project investigators, highlighting the advantages of the spectrometer.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. “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.” 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/">CzechNanoLab</a>, agrees with him, adding that the device can now contribute to scientific knowledge on a global scale. “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.”<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"><blockquote>Do you want to know more? Read the <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">expert version</a> of this article.</blockquote>

Upgrade of TITAN transmission electron microscope ranks CEITEC among elite laboratories

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 Nature Chemical Biology.<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"><div>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.In their study, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cahova.group.uochb.cz/en">Dr. Hana Cahová</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.The work was significantly shaped by Valentina Serianni from Hana Cahová’s team, who demonstrated the ability of dinucleoside polyphosphates to initiate gene transcription, and by Jana Škerlová, 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.Hana Cahová adds: “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.”<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"><div>Cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) was central to the project. This part of the work was led by Dr. Tomáš Kouba, one of the authors of the study. “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,” he explains.Last year, IOCB Prague opened a new <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://cryoem.group.uochb.cz/en">cryo-EM center</a> 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.<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"><blockquote><h4>The Original article</h4><h4><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41589-025-02134-5">Molecular insight into 5′ RNA capping with NpnNs by bacterial RNA polymerase</a></h4>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;Nat. Chem. Biol. 21 (2026)<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><h6>licensed under <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">CC-BY 4.0</a></h6></blockquote><h4>Abstract</h4>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 Thermus thermophilus. 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.</div></div>

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

Article

Scientists

Science and research

Video

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

NenoVision

Bruker

SelectScience

Hydrogen is one of the most promising energy carriers that can enable a low-carbon economy.
In this webinar, Maria Lyubimova, Hydrogen business development manager, HORIBA France, will discuss solutions for the full development and manufacturing lifecycle that are enabling a global adoption of hydrogen technologies.
Gain insight into how HORIBA is providing innovative development tools to help accelerate the adoption of hydrogen technologies. These tools allow engineers, researchers, and scientists to address tomorrow’s challenges and to improve performance, quality, and cost. Furthermore, explore HORIBA’s large panel of techniques such as Raman, fluorescence, glow discharge, particle size, ICP, AFM, ellipsometry, C/S and O/N/H analyzers, and impedance spectroscopy.
Key learning objectives
<ul>
<li>Learn more about the qualification of raw materials
</li>
<li>Understand cell and stack components research and development
</li>
<li>Learn more about the validation of processed materials
</li>
</ul>
Who should attend?
<ul>
<li>Scientists and engineers conducting R&amp;D on cells and components like bi-polar plates, gas diffusion layers, and membrane electrode assemblies for electrolysis.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Maria Lyubimova (Hydrogen business development manager, HORIBA France)
</blockquote>

SelectScience: Testing and measurement solutions for hydrogen technologies

Testing and measurement solutions for hydrogen technologies

Solutions for the full development and manufacturing lifecycle that are enabling a global adoption of hydrogen technologies.

Battery materials are key to revolutionizing energy storage technologies, making it crucial to explore their characteristics at macro and nanoscale levels. Join us for an webinar as we delve into the world of battery materials analysis.
Webinar Highlights:
Understanding batteries inside out: Characterizing batteries and their individual components (cathodes, electrolytes, anodes, and SEI) is indispensable for the development of advanced energy storage solutions. Explore how degradation processes transform these components during cycling and gain a profound insight into the mechanisms influencing battery lifetime and performance. We will explain and demonstrate how multiple techniques, such as SEM, EDX, and AFM, bring significant benefits for battery materials characterization.
During the webinar, you will learn:
<ul>
<li>Key challenges in the characterization of batteries and their components and how AFM-in-SEM technology resolves them.
</li>
<li>Efficient sample preparation workflow of extremely air-sensitive battery samples, their cross-sectioning, and sample transfer to integrated AFM/SEM/EDX instrument.
</li>
<li>Application examples of in-situ correlative microscopy analysis of various cathode materials (NCM, NCA) in pristine and cycled stages. We will demonstrate how AFM-in-SEM is used to understand the degradation process inside the cathodes.
</li>
</ul>
Why Attend?
<ul>
<li>Gain insights into the critical challenges of battery materials characterization.
</li>
<li>Learn how AFM-in-SEM technology can address these challenges effectively.
</li>
<li>Discover efficient sample preparation techniques for air-sensitive battery materials.
</li>
<li>Explore application examples of in-situ correlative microscopy.
</li>
<li>Understand the role of AFM-in-SEM in deciphering cathode degradation processes.
</li>
</ul>
The expected duration is about 45 minutes. The invitations with the link to live streaming will be sent after the registration. The webinar is entirely free.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Tomáš Kazda (Chairman of Czech Battery Cluster and Associate Professor at BUT)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Jan Neuman (CEO &amp; Co-founder at NenoVision)
</blockquote>

NenoVision: Unlocking the Secrets of Battery Materials: A Dive into AFM-in-SEM Characterization

Unlocking the Secrets of Battery Materials: A Dive into AFM-in-SEM Characterization

Secrets of Battery Materials: A Dive into AFM-in-SEM

Flipping the standard SPM tip-sample configuration
Reverse tip sample (RTS) scanning probe microscopy (SPM) was recently introduced by our guest speakers. RTS SPM overcomes the single-tip barrier of traditional SPM by flipping the conventional tip and sample positions, using a sample on a tipless cantilever and a vast tip array integrated into a nanofabricated probe chip.
Join us to hear about:
<ul>
<li>Nanofabrication of probe chips</li>
<li>Sample preparation</li>
<li>Measurements and applications</li>
</ul>
Guest Speaker Abstract
We recently introduced the Reverse Tip Sample Scanning Probe Microscopy (RTS SPM) concept to overcome the single-tip barrier of the traditional SPM approach. This fresh perspective essentially flips the conventional tip-sample positions, placing the sample on a tipless cantilever and the tip on the sample stage, which is now a part of a vast tip array integrated into a nanofabricated probe chip. The standout feature of this arrangement is the ability to change tips seamlessly. During operations in RTS configuration the sample, mounted on the tipless cantilever, scans one of the thousands of tips present on the probe chip. When a tip wears out, the operator can quickly switch to a new one by just repositioning the cantilever onto an adjacent fresh tip, which takes merely seconds to complete. As such, the RTS configuration greatly boosts the data collection efficiency in application spaces where there is a need for frequent tip replacements and opens the door for further developments of the SPM technology.
After a comprehensive introduction of the RTS SPM concept, we will cover some of the crucial aspects mainly focusing on:
<ul>
<li>Nanofabrication of probe chips: We’ll present a dry etching process for fabricating high-quality Si probe chips, which features a novel tip sharpening step. We also touch on the application of metal and diamond coatings on these Si probe chips.</li>
<li>Sample preparation: We’ll share the dependable workflows we developed for routinely preparing RTS SPM samples by focused ion beam (FIB) and FIB-less approaches. These time-efficient procedures yield RTS samples with excellent electrical contacts and mechanical stability.</li>
<li>Measurements and applications: We’ll explore the diverse applications of RTS SPM such as statistical multi-tip studies, RTS Scalpel SPM, electrical tomography and more.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Nemanja Peric, Ph.D. (SPM Researcher, imec, Belgium)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Nemanja Peric received his PhD degree from the University of Lille (France) while working at the Institut d’électronique de microélectronique et de nanotechnologie (IEMN/CNRS). After a short postdoctoral research period at IEMN, Nemanja joined imec in Leuven (Belgium) where he is currently working as an SPM researcher. His interests and expertise involve mainly AFM and STM.
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Pieter Lagrain (Engineer, imec, Belgium)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Pieter Lagrain received a master degree in chemistry from KU Leuven (Belgium). He joined afterwards imec as an engineer for nanoelectronics device analysis. His interest and expertise mainly involve FIB, TEM and SPM.
</blockquote>

Bruker: Reverse Tip Sample (RTS) Scanning Probe Microscopy

Reverse Tip Sample (RTS) Scanning Probe Microscopy

Hear about nanofabrication of probe chips, sample preparation, measurements and applications.

As we all know, the need for efficient and sustainable energy storage solutions has never been greater. With the increasing demand for electric vehicles, and storage of renewable energy, the battery industry together with academic institutes are constantly evolving and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.Bruker is at the forefront of this innovation, providing cutting-edge technologies and solutions for battery research and manufacturing. In this webinar, we will explore the latest developments in Bruker's technology and how they can be applied to optimize battery performance, reduce costs, and accelerate the path towards a cleaner energy future.Join our 75 minutes experts discussion as they dive into the fascinating world of batteries and discover how Bruker is shaping the future of it.Key Learning Topics:<ul><li>You will learn about a complete portfolio of technologies applied to battery research and production, including AFM, NMR, EPR, MS, FTIR, XRD, XRF, XRM, RAMAN, EDS and EBSD. These technologies represent the excellence of Bruker's analytical tools and are complementary in their applications. They are used in various ways to help researchers and manufacturers understand how batteries work, how they can be improved, and how they can be produced and recycled more efficiently.</li></ul>Who Should Attend?<ul><li>Battery manufacturers</li><li>Research and development organizations</li><li>Academic institutions</li><li>Material science organizations</li><li>Electrochemical and analytical chemistry organizations</li><li>Testing laboratories involved in battery research and development.</li><li>Government agencies involved in renewable energy and sustainability.</li><li>Investors interested in the battery market.</li><li>Battery technology experts and engineers</li></ul><blockquote>Presenter: Andrea Steck Ph.D. (Principal Scientist - Bruker BioSpin (Ettlingen, Germany))Andrea Steck joined BBIO Germany in 2010 to perform contract services, then stepped into food profiling development, acted as Quality Manager (ISO-17025), and now is responsible for supporting, developing, and driving AIC-DEV projects as Principal Scientist.Andrea holds a PhD in Chemistry (TU Munich). She gained extensive experience in NMR pulse sequence development and structure elucidation (Berne, Switzerland), and in leading an analytical (NMR/MS/IR) laboratory in big pharmaceutical industry (Vienna, Austria). She then joined Bruker Austria as Manager Pursuant to Trade Law, responsible for contract services and customer acquisition.Presenter: Hugues Guérault (Application Manager – Bruker Advanced X-Ray Solutions (Karlsruhe, Germany))Hugues Guérault joined Bruker in 2002 as Application Scientist. He is now leading Bruker AXS application team and manages worldwide the activities of the application laboratories for equipment demonstrations and customer training.Hugues holds a PhD in Material Science from Le Mans University (France) and made a post-doc at the University of Leuven (Belgium). Overall, he has acquired more than 25 years of experience in material characterization using X-ray diffraction.Presenter: Peter De Wolf, PhD (Sr. Director AFM Technology Development &amp; Applications, Bruker Nano Surfaces &amp; Metrology, Santa Barbara, CA, USA)Joined Bruker after obtaining Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from the University Leuven &amp; IMEC, Belgium in 1998 focused on the development of novel AFM characterization methods. Author and co-author of over 40 publications related to property characterization using AFM, and co-inventor of several AFM methods. In his role, Peter is responsible for developing, driving, and leveraging new technology and applications for Bruker’s AFM Instrumentation.Presenter: Ph.D. Bob Galvin, FRSC (Vice President BAMS, Bruker Daltonics, London, UK)Bob Galvin obtained his PhD using mass spectrometry to investigate novel catalytic reactions and since then has always been involved in this technology. &nbsp;He joined Bruker eleven years ago and has held a number of executive positions during this period.Presenter: Rebecca Keller (Scientific Content Creator – Bruker Scientific LLC (Billerica, MA, USA))Rebecca joined Bruker Scientific in 2022 to support scientific content creation for applied markets as well as research and academia. Thanks to her extensive experience in crafting content for chemistry e-learning platforms, she excels at presenting complex ideas with exceptional clarity and precision.Rebecca graduated in Chemistry at the University of Oregon in 2019 and has since sought to improve scientific communication by producing content across multiple platforms.Presenter: Michele Gironda (Head of Global Segment Management – Bruker Nano Analytics (Berlin, Germany))Michele Gironda joined Bruker in 2017 when Bruker acquired XGLab where he was Director Sales and Marketing. He is now our Head of Global Market Segment Management in the Nano Analytics Division. In his role Michele manages worldwide activities for the key strategic market segments in cooperation with sales, marketing, application and product managers.Michele holds a Master Degree in Engineering obtained with his studies in Politecnico di Milano (Italy) and Universitat Politecnica de la Catalunya in Barcelona (Spain).</blockquote>

Bruker: Shaping the future of batteries: Bruker technologies across the entire value chain

Shaping the future of batteries: Bruker technologies across the entire value chain

Join our 75 minutes experts discussion as they dive into the fascinating world of batteries and discover how Bruker is shaping the future of it.

Bruker technologies - Shaping future of batteries

A broad range of techniques (such as XRD, AFM, XRM etc.) can be used to shed light on the working of energy storage materials, among which FT-IR enables time-resolved in-situ monitoring of (electro)chemical processes, e.g. in a lab-level battery model system.&nbsp;The combination of FT-IR spectroscopy with electrochemistry offers insight in the material activity and reaction process on a molecular level in addition to the electrochemical response of the system.<blockquote>Presenter: &nbsp;Dr. Sergey Shilov (North America Product Manager, Science Business Unit, Bruker Optics)Dr. Sergey V. Shilov is a Product Manager for North America at Bruker Optics. Sergey joined Bruker in 2001. He is responsible for the support and development of new applications for the Bruker research FTIR systems. He received his Ph.D. in 1992 from the Russian Academy of Sciences in Polymer Physics and his M.S. from St. Petersburg State University (Russia) in Physics in 1986. Alexander Von Humboldt Foundation (Germany) awarded him a research fellowship in 1996. Sergey published 37 papers in peer-reviewed journals. His research interests include time-resolved FTIR spectroscopy, surface science, polymer, and life-science applications.&nbsp;</blockquote>

Bruker: IR Spot on green energy, battery research and CO2 reduction

IR Spot on green energy, battery research and CO2 reduction

<div>This webinar introduces scattering scanning nearfield optical microscopy (s-SNOM), which provides&nbsp;information about the complex optical properties of the nanoscale region of a sample under a metallized tip that nanofocuses optical radiation. Recent developments in novel methods, advanced light sources, and refined instrumentation have made s-SNOM more valuable and accessible.Capabilities for s-SNOM are available on Bruker’s <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.bruker.com/en/products-and-solutions/infrared-and-raman/nanoscale-infrared-spectrometers/anasys-nanoir3-s.html">nanoIR3-s</a> and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.bruker.com/en/products-and-solutions/infrared-and-raman/nanoscale-infrared-spectrometers/anasys-nanoir3-s-broadband.html">nanoIR3-s Broadband</a> platforms, and the technique itself was developed in collaboration with the webinar’s guest speaker, Professor Markus Raschke, Dept. of Physics/JILA, University of Colorado.After a thorough and illustrative introduction to the method, Prof. Raschke presents his research efforts towards using s-SNOM, this new dimension in optical nanoprobe imaging, to access the functional properties of materials and systems including electronic materials, energy materials, nano-biomaterials, quantum systems, and more.Following Prof. Raschke’s comprehensive presentation, he answers questions from the audience covering topics from the maximum sensitivity level of s-SNOM to the use of complementary AFM techniques with s-SNOM.&nbsp;</div>

Bruker: Recent Advancements in Infrared Nano-imaging with Nano-FTIR Spectroscopy

Recent Advancements in Infrared Nano-imaging with Nano-FTIR Spectroscopy

Learn how s-SNOM advances understanding of the functional properties of materials

Advances in Infrared Nano-imaging with Nano-FTIR

Join us and special guest speaker Dr. Upnishad Sharma, ETH Zurich, for this webinar on the AI-Assisted Analysis of the Nanomechanical Properties of Biological Samples in a Multi-Compartment Environment using AFM.Recent developments have greatly extended the functionality of atomic force microscopes (AFM) to enable high resolution imaging and nanomechanical analysis in multiwell cell culture plates. This greatly extends the range, speed, and versatility of experiments possible, increases throughput and productivity, and generates statistically relevant datasets.Discover next-generation capabilities:<ul><li>Autonomous AI-guided operation and advanced machine-learning capabilities for the automated identification and measurement of sample features</li><li>Seamless integration with advanced optical microscopy</li><li>Study living cells, tissues, 3d cell structures, and organoids under near-native conditions</li></ul>Dr. Upnishad Sharma, a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Prof. Daniel Mueller, will speak on investigating integrin-mediated mechanosensing in the extracellular matrix (ECM) using AFM-based Single-Cell Force Spectroscopy (SCFS).Don’t miss the LIVE demonstration, where we will perform nanomechanical AFM measurements using the new CellWizard Stage.<h4>Program - Wednesday, May 21st, 2025</h4>17:00 AM CEST | 8:00 AM PDT | 11:00 EDT<h5>17:00 Welcome &amp; Introduction</h5><ul><li>Oilibhe Pabsch, Scientific Affairs Manager, Bruker BioAFM</li></ul><h5>17:05 Dissecting Integrin-Mediated ECM-Sensing using AFM-based SCFS</h5><ul><li>Dr. Upnishad Sharma, Dpt. of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Switzerland</li></ul><h5>17:35 LIVE Demonstration: CellWizard Stage and NanoWizard V BioAFM</h5><ul><li>Dr. André Körnig, Senior Applications Scientist, Bruker BioAFM 17:50 Q&amp;A</li></ul><h5>18:00 Closing</h5><blockquote>Presenter: Dr. Upnishad Sharma (Lab Group Prof. Daniel Mueller, ETH Zurich, Switzerland)Dr. Upnishad Sharma, a Postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Prof. Daniel Mueller at the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, completed his PhD at ETH Zurich in 2024 and Masters in Life Sciences between University of Mumbai and EMBL-Rome in 2018. Previously, he worked in the field of epigenetics and cell biology. Currently, his interests lie in the biophysical aspects of integrin mediated mechanotransduction during development and disease).Presenter: Oilibhe Pabsch (Scientific Affairs Manager, Bruker BioAFM)Presenter: Dr. André Körnig (Senior Applications Scientist, Bruker BioAFM)</blockquote>

Bruker: AI-Assisted Nanomechanical AFM Analysis in a Multi-Compartment Environment

AI-Assisted Nanomechanical AFM Analysis in a Multi-Compartment Environment

Webinar on the AI-Assisted Analysis of the Nanomechanical Properties of Biological Samples in a Multi-Compartment Environment using AFM.