<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

Thermo Fisher Scientific

In this webinar we provide an introduction to the new patented Emission Suppression Technology (EST) for the Thermo Scientific Argus VI Static Vacuum Mass Spectrometer.
EST revolutionizes noble gas isotope ratio mass spectrometry by switching off ionization during sample introduction, removing the trade-off between precision and equilibration time.
We will demonstrate how by pausing sample consumption, EST allows measurements to be made on properly equilibrated samples, resulting in dramatic improvements in both the accuracy and precision of noble gas isotope ratios. We explain the potential that this technology has for dramatically boosting signal sensitivity through modification of prep benches and sample introduction methods.
Key Learnings:
<ul>
<li>What is EST and how does it work?
</li>
<li>Impact of EST on Ar-Ar dating
</li>
<li>The future of NG-MS with EST
</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Lionnel Mounier (IRMS Business Development Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
A polar glaciologist and palaeoclimatologist by training, Lionnel has been working with isotopes for 38 years including 34 years in the commercialization of isotope ratio mass spectrometers (IRMS) and notably noble gas isotope ratio mass spectrometers (NG IRMS).
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Presenter: Issaku Kohl (Product Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
</blockquote>
<blockquote>
Issaku manages the gas IRMS, noble gas MS and Orbitrap Exploris Isotope Solutions product lines at Thermo Fisher Scientific. He is an Isotope Geo- and Cosmochemist by training and he draws on years of experience in traditional and advanced stable gas isotope applications in Earth sciences. With this background, he is now driving the development of the gas isotope MS product portfolio.
</blockquote>

Thermo Scientific: Emission Suppression Technology: Revolutionizing noble gas mass spectrometry

Emission Suppression Technology: Revolutionizing noble gas mass spectrometry

Introduction to the new patented Emission Suppression Technology (EST).

EST: : Revolutionizing noble gas mass spectrometry

To reconstruct the evolution of the Earth and life over geologic timescales, scientists need accurate and precise analytical methods with high sample throughput.
Using elemental abundances and isotopic ratios of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur and hydrogen, key information can be unlocked from geoscience samples. By attending this webinar, you will get an introduction to the answers provided by geosciences samples and why scientists use elemental analysis and IRMS to find those answers.
<blockquote>
Presenter: Dr. Eva Stueeken (Lecturer, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of St Andrews)
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Eva obtained a BSc in Geosciences &amp; Astrophysics at Jacobs University in Bremen, Germany, in 2004 and a PhD in Geochemistry and Astrobiology at the University of Washington in Seattle, USA, in 2014. Under a NASA postdoctoral fellowship, she then moved to the University of California Riverside, USA, for two-and-a-half years before joining the University of St Andrews in Scotland, UK, as an independent research fellow in 2017. In 2020, she took up at lecturer position in geochemistry at the University of St Andrews. Eva’s research focuses on the evolution of biogeochemical cycles over Earth history. She combines field geology with geochemical analyses and experiments to reconstruct past life and environments and to investigate linkages between volcanic processes and Earth’s biosphere. Abundances and isotopic ratios of carbon, nitrogen, sulfur and hydrogen – the main ingredients for life – are one of her major analytical tools. Examples of current projects include the storage of nitrogen in continental crust, the production of organic matter in lightning reactions, and the impact of ore-forming fluids on past oceans. Eva is currently supervising two PhD students and has published numerous publications in international journals.
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Thermo Scientific: Unlocking Information from Geological Samples with Carbon, Nitrogen, Sulfur and Hydrogen

Unlocking Information from Geological Samples with Carbon, Nitrogen, Sulfur and Hydrogen

Introduction to the answers provided by geosciences samples and why scientists use elemental analysis and IRMS to find those answers.

Unlocking Information from Geological Samples with Carbon

We present the first nitrogen isotopic and trace element analyses from during a “Snowball Earth” glaciation, and suggest they indicate oxidative continental weathering and mildly oxygenated marine waters.
Specifically, we measured three sections of the Ghaub formation, which is the Marinoan glacial unit in northern Namibia. The Marinoan is the second of two Cryogenian Snowball Earth glaciations.
In all sections, we analyzed δ15N values and redox sensitive trace elements, including U, V, and Mo. All measured units are from a marginal marine environment. Two sections are synglacial; one composed of detritial siliciclastics and one of detrital carbonate, both with a minor clay fraction. The third section was deposited during the terminal deglaciation and is comformably overlain by the basal Ediacarab Keilberg cap dolostone.
Trace element data demonstrate two key observations. First, the presence of trace elements in a marine setting is consistent with delivery from the continents via oxic weathering. Active weathering occurred on the continents during Snowball Earth. Secondly, enrichments are consistent with mildly oxygenated subglacial ocean waters.
δ15N values from both synglacial sections range from +1 to +3‰, consistent with small but persistent volumes of oxygenated water. Most dissolved N was NH4+ from N-fixing (δ15N =0‰), with small reservoirs of NO3-. Denitrification of NO3- enriched the oceanic N isotopes a few per mil. An increase in oxygenated water during the deglaciation was accompanied by increased NO3- and denitrification, causing δ15N values to increase to near modern levels. Deglacial values are thus more enriched, between +3 to +5‰.
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Presenter: Dr. Ben Johnson (Assistant Professor, Iowa State University)
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Ben is a geologist and geochemist with broad interests that span Earth History and Earth System Science. He uses a variety of rock archives, including chemical sediments, glacial tills, and igneous rocks as records of the interactions between life, the oceans, the atmosphere, and the solid Earth over deep time. He uses field work, analytical and isotope geochemistry, and numerical modeling to investigate deep time questions about Earth history. He is also interested in astrobiology and planetary science!
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Thermo Scientific: Oxygen and Nitrogen Under the Ice: Trace Elements and δ15N Evidence for Oxic Weathering and Oxygenated Waters During the Snowball Earth Marinoan Glaciation, Ghaub Formation, Namibia

Oxygen and Nitrogen Under the Ice: Trace Elements and δ15N Evidence for Oxic Weathering and Oxygenated Waters During the Snowball Earth Marinoan Glaciation, Ghaub Formation, Namibia

The first nitrogen isotopic and trace element analyses from during a “Snowball Earth” glaciation, and suggest they indicate oxidative continental weathering.

Oxygen and Nitrogen Under the Ice: Trace Elements and δ15N

Uranium-lead geochronology provides valuable insight into the timing and rates of various geological processes throughout Earth’s history.
Isotope dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry is the most precise and accurate technique for U-Pb geochronology. This technique is generally applied to single zircon crystals or crystal fragments yielding small amounts of Pb (typically &lt; 100 pg) and U (approximately 1 ng) following separation by chromatographic techniques in a very clean environment. Precise and accurate analysis of such small samples requires sensitive ion detection systems.
For higher spatial resolution, in-situ analysis by laser ablation ICP-MS is the preferred method allowing routine, high sample throughput U-Pb dating. For challenging zircons with low U and Pb content, high sensitivity is crucial.
The combination of U-Pb with the Lu-Hf chronometer in zircon is a very powerful and commonly used tool in the geosciences for investigating the processes that control crust-mantle evolution and their timing. Laser ablation multicollector ICP-MS enables determination of high precision in-situ Lu-Hf data required for reliable interpretation.
This webinar highlights the latest advances in U-Pb and Lu-Hf analysis of zircons by Isotope Dilution TIMS, as well as in-situ laser ablation sector field, single collector and multicollector ICP-MS, with a focus on optimizing methodologies using recent development such as the Thermo Scientific™ 1013 Ω Amplifier Technology™ and the Jet Interface.
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Presenter: Dr. Laura Bracciali (Application Manager, IOMS, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
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After receiving her Ph.D. in Earth Sciences from the University of Pisa, Laura took post-doctoral research positions at the Italian Antarctic Research Program, the British Geological Survey, and Lancaster University. Before joining Thermo Fisher Scientific in 2020 as Product Specialist, Laura was manager of the LA U-(Th)-Pb Geochronology Division at Stellenbosch University.
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Presenter: Dr. Grant Craig (Application Manager, IOMS, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
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From Scotland, Grant undertook a Ph.D. at Loughborough University, in collaboration with the UK’s NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory, on the analysis of sub-micron sized uranium oxide particles by LA-ICP-MS. Grant joined Thermo Fisher Scientific as a post-doctoral researcher within the EU ITN &quot;IsoNose,&quot; and is currently the Application Manager for MC-ICP-MS.
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Presenter: Dr. Hauke Vollstaedt (Product and Application Manager, IOMS, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
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Hauke received his Ph.D. at the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel. At the University of Bern, he continued researching in the field of non-traditional stable isotopes by measuring Se isotope composition in meteorites and lunar rocks. Since 2017, Hauke has been working at Thermo Fisher Scientific as Application and Product Manager TIMS, MC-ICP-MS, and HR-ICP-MS.
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Thermo Scientific: Optimizing Methodologies in U-Pb and Lu-Hf Analysis of Zircons using TIMS, MC-ICP-MS and HR-ICP-MS

Optimizing Methodologies in U-Pb and Lu-Hf Analysis of Zircons using TIMS, MC-ICP-MS and HR-ICP-MS

Latest advances in U-Pb and Lu-Hf analysis of zircons by Isotope Dilution TIMS, as well as in-situ laser ablation sector field, single collector.

Optimizing Methodologies in U-Pb and Lu-Hf Analysis

The beverage industry suffers from fraudulent activities that include incorrect labeling of products and adulteration, which has a significant impact on consumer safety, brand names, and reputation.
Stable isotope measurements can differentiate between beverage samples that otherwise share identical chemical composition. This differentiation is given by the isotope fingerprints. The isotope fingerprint in beverage products is region- or process-specific, which means that products can be differentiated based on geographical region (e.g. wine or tequila ), agricultural sources (e.g. whiskey), and brewing processes (e.g. sake). Fraudulent practices such as mislabeling, sugar addition, or watering of wines and spirits can be unraveled.
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Presenter: Mario Tuthorn (Product Marketing Manager, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
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After completing his PhD in Isotope Biogeochemistry at the University of Bayreuth, Germany, Mario joined Thermo Fisher Scientific in Bremen in 2016 as an application specialist for the Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry portfolio, developing applications and methods for compound specific isotope analysis in a variety of fields by using gas and liquid chromatography. Since 2019, Mario has taken on the Product Marketing Manager role for gas isotope ratio MS and organic elemental analyzer instrumentation, focusing on product positioning and marketing activities.
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Thermo Scientific: Beverage Fraud Prevention using Isotope Fingerprints

Beverage Fraud Prevention using Isotope Fingerprints

The beverage industry suffers from fraudulent activities that include incorrect labeling of products and adulteration.

Isotope fingerprints of nitrogen, carbon and sulfur are a powerful tool to interpret the diet, movement, and mobility of populations in archaeology and ecology studies. Typical sample materials are bone collagen or dentine. The challenge for sequential δ15N, δ13C and δ34S analysis of such samples is driven by extremely low concentration of sulfur (typically &lt;0.3 weight % S), and the samples are often rare and size limited.
This presentation will describe how we have optimized our Thermo Scientific EA IsoLink System with the new High Performance Kit for sulfur analysis to allow for high precision and accuracy NCS analysis. 
Here we will focus on hardware optimization and instrument maintenance to reduce SO2 carry-over, and the High Sensitivity Method setup that allows for SO2 pre-concentration.
What you will learn:
<ul>
<li>Introduction to the elemental analyzer workflow</li>
<li>System hardware optimization via High Performance Kit for sulfur analysis</li>
<li>High Sensitivity Method setup for NCS analysis</li>
<li>Analysis setup and data evaluation using Thermo Scientific Qtegra ISDS Software</li>
<li>Maintenance procedures for the EA IsoLink IRMS system</li>
</ul>
Who should join:
<ul>
<li>Scientists and chemists interested in elemental analysis </li>
<li>Lab managers and analysts that have analytical challenges in CNS elemental analysis of collagen samples or similar</li>
<li>Research laboratories that want to learn about expending their analytical capabilities</li>
</ul>
Can&#39;t join at this time? Register anyway to receive a link to the recording to watch at your convenience
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Presenter: Dr. Meike Fischer (Product Specialist, EA-IRMS, Thermo Fisher Scientific)
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After completing her PhD at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research, in collaboration with the Geoscience Center Göttingen, Germany, Meike joined Thermo Fisher Scientific, Bremen in 2021 as a Product Evaluation Specialist and supported development of the new software for gas IRMS – Thermo Scientific Qtegra ISDS Software. Since 2022 Meike has taken on a Product Specialist role focusing on elemental analyzer instrumentation and gas equilibration analysis, developing applications and methods for isotope analysis in a variety of fields.
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Thermo Fisher Scientific: Improved EA-IRMS NCS workflow for archaeology and ecology applications

Improved EA-IRMS NCS workflow for archaeology and ecology applications

Optimized Thermo Scientific EA IsoLink System with the new High Performance Kit for sulfur analysis to allow for high precision and accuracy NCS analysis.

EA-IRMS NCS for archaeology and ecology applications

<div><div container-id="cq-colctrl-lt0" comp-id="A1"><div>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent industrial fluorinated compounds harmful to human and ecosystem health. PFAS contamination is a significant environmental issue, with these substances found globally, from tap water to remote locations. Identifying PFAS sources is challenging due to diverse manufacturing processes and environmental pathways.While stable isotopic analysis has been applied to study the source and fate of micropollutants in the environment in the past, recent developments in Thermo Scientific Orbitrap-based isotope ratio mass spectrometry (Orbitrap-IRMS) have unlocked a unique opportunity for more comprehensive isotopic approach to study source apportionment and track degradation of PFAS.Join our experts in exploring how Orbitrap-IRMS overcomes challenges of classical PFAS isotopic characterization and provides a framework for studying PFAS source apportionment both in controlled settings and in the environment.<h5>Webinar highlights:</h5><ul><li>Understanding isotopic analysis: why and how stable isotopic analyses are used to study the source and fate of micropollutants in the environment</li><li>Benefits of Orbitrap-IRMS: how Orbitrap-based IRMS technology allows deriving intramolecular isotopic information faster and with less sample</li><li>Isotope fingerprinting of PFAS: Newly developed method for determining the stable carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) of PFOA</li><li>Source apportionment framework: δ13C of PFOA allow separating multiple lots of the PFOA from one supplier from one another</li></ul>Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the future of PFAS source apportionment. Register now!<blockquote>Presenter: Dr. Paul K. Wojtal (Postdoctoral Scholar, Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina Wilmington)Paul is a graduate of Brown University (Sc.B. in Chemistry, 2016) and the University of Miami (Ph.D. in Oceanography, 2024). His undergraduate thesis and Ph.D. dissertation both employed classical isotopic analysis techniques to study environmental problems. In his postdoctoral research, he has transitioned to using the Orbitrap-IRMS platform to study PFAS in a wide range of environments.Presenter: Dr. Brett Davidheiser (IRMS Application Scientist, Thermo Fisher Scientific)Brett has a wide experience in isotope ratio mass spectrometry from his PhD at the University of Glasgow, running a stable isotope lab at CU Boulder, to his work at Thermo Fisher Scientific as applications scientist. He is currently involved in helping new users come up to speed with Thermo Scientific Orbitrap Exploris Isotope Solutions for natural abundance isotope ratio analysis.</blockquote></div></div></div>

Thermo Fisher Scientific: Differentiating PFAS sources using Orbitrap-IRMS

Differentiating PFAS sources using Orbitrap-IRMS

Learn how Orbitrap-IRMS advances PFAS isotopic analysis, enabling precise source apportionment and degradation studies with improved isotope fingerprinting.

ICPMS webinars focusing on IRMS - page 1