<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

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

Bruker

Thermo Fisher Scientific

<p><strong>Research and quality assurance labs often must analyze materials on the micro level.</strong></p>
<p>Combining optical microscopy with vibrational spectroscopy can provide a holistic view of the structure and functional relationship of the material and can be used for identifying foreign materials and defects.</p>
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<p><strong>Presenter:</strong> Suja Sukumaran (Senior Application Scientist, Thermo Fisher Scientific)</p>
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<p>Dr. Suja Sukumaran obtained her Ph.D. in Biophysics from JW Goethe University, Germany. Currently, she is an applications scientist at Thermo Fisher Scientific. Suja has worked in the field of spectroscopy for over 17 years. Her FTIR application expertise spans many industries including polymer/chemical, pharmaceutical, forensics, semiconductor, and food industries.</p>
</blockquote>


Thermo Scientific: Sweating the Small Stuff - Spectroscopy on the Micro Scale

Sweating the Small Stuff - Spectroscopy on the Micro Scale

Combining optical microscopy with vibrational spectroscopy can provide a holistic view of the structure and functional relationship of the material.

Sweating the Small Stuff

<div><div><div><div><p><strong>This webinar is aimed at the packaging industry, or more precisely, specialists involved in packaging in the food industry. In a first hands-on session, our host will first present two samples and then analyze them together with the audience.&nbsp;</strong></p><p>First, we will look for an EVOH layer in a multi-layer packaging film and then we will check the influence of the adhesive in a cold weld on a candy bar packaging. After that, the utility of FT-IR will be further illustrated briefly by other use-cases, before we continue with the question and answer session.</p><h5><strong>What you will learn about:</strong></h5></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><ul><li>FT-IR microscopy in packaging failure analysis</li><li>Multi-layer polymer films and very thin layers (EVOH)</li><li>Behavior of adhesives in complex matrices</li><li>Troubleshooting of food packaging</li></ul><h5><strong>What is the goal of the webinar:</strong></h5></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><ul><li>Demonstrate the utility of FT-IR microscopy</li><li>Showcase the importance of unbiased data</li><li>Highlight the unique advantages of IR imaging</li></ul><h5><strong>We will discuss:</strong></h5></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><ul><li>Application example: Multilayer-Film with EVOH layer smaller than 2 µm</li><li>Application example: Cold weld seal on a candy bar wrapper</li><li>Further application examples from packaging materials</li></ul><h5><strong>Who should attend:</strong></h5></div></div></div></div></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><ul><li>Research experts in food packaging development</li><li>QC specialists for food packaging</li><li>Polymer experts and researchers</li></ul><blockquote><p><strong>Presenter: </strong>Eric Klein, Bruker Optics (Sales &amp; Application / Compact Systems &amp; Micro Analysis)</p><p>Eric Klein started as an application specialist at Bruker in 2009 and has since taken on a leading role as solution expert in failure and root cause analysis using FT-IR microscopy. He has presented multiple webinars on the topic and likes to engage with the audience in Q&amp;A sessions.</p></blockquote></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

Bruker: Troubleshooting Food Packaging Materials by µ-FT-IR

Troubleshooting Food Packaging Materials by µ-FT-IR

This webinar shows how FT-IR microscopy supports the food packaging industry by analyzing multilayer films, adhesives, and solving common packaging issues.

<div><div data-g-name="OverviewStage"><div><div><div><strong>No matter where you look, functional surfaces are part of your life. Whether it's your morning shave, the paint on your car or the anti-fingerprint coating on your cell phone - specially engineered surfaces play a central role in almost everything!</strong></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><p>In this webinar, our surface analysis expert Eric Klein will take you to his lab and work through typical examples of industrial surface analysis. We will show you the step by step analysis and troubleshooting of:</p><ul><li>Treated quality razor blades for consumers</li><li>Painted sheet metal from the automotive sector</li><li>Contaminated sheet metal before refinement</li><li>DLC coated tools and equipment&nbsp;</li><li>Cleanliness check of soldering and bonding pads</li></ul><h5><strong>You will learn about:</strong></h5></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><ul><li>How to elucidate the causes of surface damages</li><li>Which experimental technique should be used for certain samples types</li><li>Proper experimental procedure using FT-IR microscopy and imaging</li><li>The value of FT-IR in process troubleshooting and industrial QC</li></ul><h5><strong>We will cover the basics of:</strong></h5><ul><li>Surface Analysis and Troubleshooting</li><li>Infrared (FT-IR) Microscopy and Imaging</li><li>FT-IR Sampling Techniques</li></ul><h5><strong>Who should attend:</strong></h5></div><div><div><div><div><div><div><ul><li>Automotive QA/QC Specialists</li><li>Coating Experts and Surface Refiners</li><li>Industrial Manufacturers and Material Researchers</li><li>Analytical Service Laboratories</li></ul><blockquote><p><strong>Presenter: &nbsp;</strong>Eric Klein, Bruker Optics (Sales &amp; Application / Compact Systems &amp; Micro Analysis)</p><p>Eric Klein started as an application specialist at Bruker in 2009 and has since taken on a leading role as solution expert in failure and root cause analysis using FT-IR microscopy. He has presented multiple webinars on the topic and likes to engage with the audience in Q&amp;A sessions.</p></blockquote></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

Bruker: How to Utilize FT-IR for the Analysis of Coatings, Surface Treatments and Technical Cleanliness

How to Utilize FT-IR for the Analysis of Coatings, Surface Treatments and Technical Cleanliness.

In this webinar, our surface analysis expert Eric Klein will take you to his lab and work through typical examples of industrial surface analysis. 

Using FT-IR for Coatings, Surface Treatments & Cleanliness

<p><strong>LUMOS II ushers in a new era in FT-IR Microscopy.</strong></p><blockquote><p><strong>Presenter: &nbsp;</strong>Dr. Tom Tague (Applications Manager and Chair of the Safety Committee Bruker Corporation)</p><div><p>Dr. Tom Tague is the Applications Manager (FTIR and Raman products) and Chair of the Safety Committee for Bruker Corporation. He is also a member of the Visiting Advisory Committee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the Advisory Board of Amplified Sciences. Dr. Tague received his Ph.D. from the University of Utah in Physical Chemistry and his B.S. in Chemistry, from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He conducted his postdoctoral research at the University of Virginia working with professor Lester Andrews. He is a member of the American Chemical Society, the Society for Applied Spectroscopy, the American Physical Society, and the Optical Society of America. Dr. Tague is active in developing new methods and instrumentation with the goal of improving the sensitivity and detection limits of spectroscopy related applications. Dr. Tague has more than 80 publications and 5 patents.</p></div></blockquote>

Bruker: The State-of-the-Art in Infrared Microscopy

The State-of-the-Art in Infrared Microscopy

LUMOS II ushers in a new era in FT-IR Microscopy.

<div><div><div><p><strong>Due to the systematic shrinking of the size of devices in the semiconductor industry, characterizing nanoscale surface contaminations in interconnects and circuitries has become a pivotal issue in test and failure analysis. Continuous development in process technology/engineering has led to the fabrication of semiconductor devices with sub-µm feature resolution, which in turn demands high-resolution analytical tools for proper characterization.&nbsp;</strong></p><p>Nanoscale AFM-IR spectroscopy is a non-destructive chemical analysis method that takes advantage of the nanoscale capabilities of AFM and outputs easy-to-understand, FTIR-like spectra. As described by the presenters, the advantages of nanoscale AFM-IR can be leveraged in the semiconductor industry in many ways, like for chemical characterization of organic contaminants, nano-patterned metal/low-k dielectrics, and directed self-assembly of block copolymers.</p></div></div></div><div><div><blockquote><ul><li><a data-g-name="CallToAction" data-protectable="" data-tracking="{&quot;classification&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;webinarDate&quot;:1587340800000,&quot;onWebinar&quot;:true,&quot;external&quot;:false}" target="_self"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.bruker.com/en/news-and-events/webinars/2020/two-complementary-nanoscale-ir-techniques-photothermal-afm-ir-and-s-snom.html"><strong>watch part 1: Two Complementary Nanoscale IR Techniques: Photothermal AFM-IR and s-SNOM&nbsp;</strong></a></a></li><li><a data-g-name="CallToAction" data-protectable="" data-tracking="{&quot;classification&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;webinarDate&quot;:1587340800000,&quot;onWebinar&quot;:true,&quot;external&quot;:false}" target="_self"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.bruker.com/en/news-and-events/webinars/2020/online-demo-of-the-nanoir3-system-photothermal-afm-ir.html"><strong>watch part 2: Online Demo of the nanoIR3 System - Photothermal AFM-IR&nbsp;</strong></a></a></li><li><a data-g-name="CallToAction" data-protectable="" data-tracking="{&quot;classification&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;webinarDate&quot;:1587340800000,&quot;onWebinar&quot;:true,&quot;external&quot;:false}" target="_self"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.bruker.com/en/news-and-events/webinars/2020/chemical-characterization-of-heterogenous-polymeric-materials-on-the-nanoscale-using-photothermal-afm-ir.html"><strong>watch part 3: Chemical Characterization of Heterogenous Polymeric Materials on the Nanoscale Using Photothermal AFM-IR&nbsp;</strong></a></a></li><li><a data-g-name="CallToAction" data-protectable="" data-tracking="{&quot;classification&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;webinarDate&quot;:1587340800000,&quot;onWebinar&quot;:true,&quot;external&quot;:false}" target="_self"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.bruker.com/en/news-and-events/webinars/2020/2d-material-characterization-using-photothermal-afm-ir-and-s-snom.html"><strong>watch part 5: 2D Material Characterization Using Photothermal AFM-IR and s-SNOM&nbsp;</strong></a></a></li></ul></blockquote></div></div>

Bruker: Nanoscale AFM-IR Spectroscopy and Imaging for Failure Analysis of Electronic Devices

Nanoscale AFM-IR Spectroscopy and Imaging for Failure Analysis of Electronic Devices

Characterizing nanometer-scale features in semiconductor devices using nanoIR spectroscopy

Nanoscale AFM-IR for Failure Analysis of Electronics

<div><p><span style="letter-spacing:0.0px;"><strong>This webinar will show you the analysis of two standard samples in failure analysis and troubleshooting with the LUMOS II.&nbsp;</strong></span></p><p>Our application specialist Eric Klein skips lengthy PowerPoint presentations and welcomes you directly to our demo lab for a hands-on instrument session. After 20 minutes of analyzing typical samples, Eric will answer your questions about using µ-FT-IR in your daily QC and failure analysis for at least 30 minutes.</p><p><strong>About the samples:</strong></p><ul><li>The first sample is a typical customer complaint which was returned due to an unknown contaminant on the products surface.</li><li>The second sample is is a product contamination found during quality control. It is analyzed to understand the contamination route and prevent recurrence.</li></ul><p><strong>Content of webinar:</strong></p><ul><li>Measurement two typical µ-FT-IR samples</li><li>Detection and identification of unknown contaminants</li><li>Q&amp;A session on failure analysis by FT-IR</li></ul><p><strong>What you'll learn:</strong></p><ul><li>How to FT-IR microscopy is used to analyze contaminations.</li><li>How to apply the LUMOS II FT-IR microscope</li><li>How to evaluate using OPUS software</li></ul><blockquote><p><strong>Presenter: </strong>Eric Klein&nbsp;</p><p>Eric Klein has been with Bruker for 10 years and started out as an application scientist. During this time, he has acquired a great deal of expertise in infrared microscopy and, as a product manager, played a leading role in the development of LUMOS II. The session will be moderated.</p></blockquote></div>

Bruker: About Failure Analysis, Customer Complaints and Troubleshooting

About Failure Analysis, Customer Complaints and Troubleshooting

This webinar will show you the analysis of two standard samples in failure analysis and troubleshooting with the LUMOS II. 

Failure Analysis, Complaints & Troubleshooting Insights

<div><p><strong>Photothermal AFM-IR can provide nanoscale chemical information with highly resolved IR spectra, that directly correlate to FTIR transmission spectroscopy. This webinar covers numerous AFM-IR applications in the field of life sciences, illustrating broad applicability for samples from tissue to single protein fibrils. The speaker also discusses issues, challenges, and potentials of correlative measurements.</strong></p><p><strong>Some of the samples and applications presented include:</strong></p><ul><li>Lipids bodies stored in microorganisms</li><li>Abnormal accumulations in kidney biopsy</li><li>Penetration of nanocarriers in tissue or model cell lines</li><li>Protein nano-assemblies structures</li></ul><p><strong>The speaker discusses the new experimental approaches developed to solve problems encountered during these studies, and the efforts to overcome technical constraints imposed by the system itself, such as:</strong></p><ul><li>Configuration of illumination</li><li>Sensitivity</li><li>Soft-sample damage</li></ul></div>

Bruker: Photothermal AFM-IR Spectroscopy and Imaging for Life Science

Photothermal AFM-IR Spectroscopy and Imaging for Life Science

This webinar explores AFM-IR applications in life sciences, showing its wide use from tissue samples to single protein fibrils.

Photothermal AFM-IR for Life Science Spectroscopy & Imaging

<div><p><strong>During this webinar, the speaker considers how photothermal AFM-IR can benefit the polymer characterization applications of:</strong></p><ul><li>Multilayer films</li><li>Polymer blends/block copolymers</li><li>Organic photovoltaics</li></ul><div><div><div><p>This webinar covers numerous academia and industry applications in the field of polymer characterization. To illustrate the broad applicability, select examples are discussed in detail, ranging from phase separation in polymer blends/block copolymers and reverse engineering in multilayer films to fibers and thin film characterization. This webinar shows how photothermal AFM-IR provides nanoscale chemical information with highly resolved IR spectra that directly correlate to FT-IR transmission spectroscopy.</p></div></div></div><div><div><blockquote><ul><li><a data-g-name="CallToAction" data-protectable="" data-tracking="{&quot;classification&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;webinarDate&quot;:1586649600000,&quot;onWebinar&quot;:true,&quot;external&quot;:false}" target="_self"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.bruker.com/en/news-and-events/webinars/2020/two-complementary-nanoscale-ir-techniques-photothermal-afm-ir-and-s-snom.html"><strong>watch part 1: Two Complementary Nanoscale IR Techniques: Photothermal AFM-IR and s-SNOM&nbsp;</strong></a></a></li><li><a data-g-name="CallToAction" data-protectable="" data-tracking="{&quot;classification&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;webinarDate&quot;:1586649600000,&quot;onWebinar&quot;:true,&quot;external&quot;:false}" target="_self"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.bruker.com/en/news-and-events/webinars/2020/online-demo-of-the-nanoir3-system-photothermal-afm-ir.html"><strong>watch part 2: Online Demo of the nanoIR3 System - Photothermal AFM-IR&nbsp;</strong></a></a></li><li><a data-g-name="CallToAction" data-protectable="" data-tracking="{&quot;classification&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;webinarDate&quot;:1586649600000,&quot;onWebinar&quot;:true,&quot;external&quot;:false}" target="_self"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.bruker.com/en/news-and-events/webinars/2020/nanoscale-afm-ir-spectroscopy-and-imaging-for-failure-analysis-of-electronic-devices.html"><strong>watch part 4: Nanoscale AFM-IR Spectroscopy and Imaging for Failure Analysis of Electronic Devices&nbsp;</strong></a></a></li><li><a data-g-name="CallToAction" data-protectable="" data-tracking="{&quot;classification&quot;:&quot;default&quot;,&quot;webinarDate&quot;:1586649600000,&quot;onWebinar&quot;:true,&quot;external&quot;:false}" target="_self"><a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.bruker.com/en/news-and-events/webinars/2020/2d-material-characterization-using-photothermal-afm-ir-and-s-snom.html"><strong>watch part 5: 2D Material Characterization Using Photothermal AFM-IR and s-SNOM&nbsp;</strong></a></a></li></ul></blockquote></div></div></div>

Bruker: Chemical Characterization of Heterogenous Polymeric Materials on the Nanoscale Using Photothermal AFM-IR

Chemical Characterization of Heterogenous Polymeric Materials on the Nanoscale Using Photothermal AFM-IR

This webinar covers numerous academia and industry applications in the field of polymer characterization. 

ICPMS webinars focusing on Microscopy - page 9