Typas Lab

How does a single methyl group activate bacterial defence? Our new preprint, led by @pspatharas.bsky.social in collaboration with the group of @matthiaswilmanns.bsky.social, explains how a single DNA methylation event activates large retron assemblies. www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

9/11 Across the homologues we examined, RcaTs that form tetramers or larger assemblies are toxic and occupy distinct phylogenetic clades from non-toxic, dimeric RcaTs. This links differences in toxicity to an intrinsic protein property: the capacity to oligomerise.

7/11 Together, our findings support a model in which methylation promotes msDNA disengagement, exposing the previously occluded dimer–dimer interface. This allows RcaT tetramerisation and activation, coupled to retron complex disassembly.

6/11 All these assemblies form through the same dimer–dimer interface (a), which was occluded in the intact retron complex. Mutations that disrupt this interface abolish RcaT toxicity (b), showing that assembly beyond a dimer is essential for its activity.

5/11 We next examined RcaT after release. It forms tetramers consisting of two stacked dimers, with additional dimers stacking to form higher-order oligomers.

4/11 In these assemblies, RcaT directly contacts the msDNA methylation site (a). Methylation promotes complex disassembly and partial release of RcaT (b).

3/11 Our cryo-EM structure reveals RcaT encased as an inactive dimer within a four-component core retron complex that can further assemble into filaments.

1/1 How does a single methyl group activate bacterial defence? In my PhD work with @matthiaswilmanns.bsky.social and @typaslab.bsky.social, we reveal how this tiny DNA modification triggers retron disassembly and toxin activation. Now on bioRxiv: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

How do gut bacteria cope with both proteolytic stress and phage attack? 🧵👇 Our latest preprint is live! Ulcerative colitis (UC) creates a distinct gut environment: protease activity rises, the virome shifts, and phages expand. #Microbiome #Bacteriophages #IBD www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

Thanks to additional funding, the registration fees for #EMBLBorkMemorial have been set at a reduced rate. This symposium will reflect on Peer Bork's past achievements and explore future directions of fields such as protein biology and more. Submit your abstract by 10 Nov: s.embl.org/pbs27-01-bl

EMBL scientists uncovered new interactions between molecular machines directly inside cells. With cryo-ET, they gleaned new aspects of bacterial protein production, transport, and folding in cells – and a new way to analyse ‘communities’ of molecular machines. www.embl.org/news/science...

Alessio Yang @alessioyang.bsky.social (from @typaslab.bsky.social ) on Phages carry multiple triggers and blockers against bacterial defence systems #Retrons toxin-antitoxin systems as phage defense #EMBOBacNet #PhageSky

We are hiring! Start at a #MaxPlanckInstitute with your own independent Max Planck Research Group. This position is equivalent to a W2 Professorship at a German university, or Associate Professor internationally. 🔗Apply until October 14th! www.mpg.de/career/max-p... #ScienceCareer #MPRG #TenureTrack

Congratulations, Julia Mahamid! The EMBL scientist has been elected to Leopoldina, the German National Academy of Sciences, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the field of structural cell biology. Learn more: www.embl.org/news/awards-...

At the start of 2026, EMBL lost long-serving colleague and Interim Director General Peer Bork. Join us in commemorating Peer and his legacy at the #EMBLBorkMemorial. Submit your abstract by 10 November: s.embl.org/pbs27-01-bl

Recruitment for the EMBL International PhD Programme is officially open! 📣 At EMBL, we train young scientists to become skilled and creative future leaders in academia, industry and other sectors. Start your career in the life sciences with us! 🔎 Read more and apply here: bit.ly/4x9Edss

Join the EMBL Gut Microbe Function meeting to share your research and connect with leading microbiome scientists. Submit your abstract by 15 September for the chance to present your work in Heidelberg or virtually, 8 – 10 December 2026. www.embl.org/about/info/c...

Do you want to be part of the community advancing microbiome research? 🧪 Submit your abstract by 15 Sep for the opportunity to present your work at #EMBLGutMicrobeFunction: s.embl.org/gmd26-01-bl Date: 8–10 Dec 2026 EMBL Heidelberg and Virtual Learn more from scientific organiser Lisa Maier.

So happy to share that this work is finally out, now in @nature.com! Lots of new goodies since preprint so plz check it out (old thread below). Giant thank you to everybody involved + all @savitski-lab.bsky.social and @typaslab.bsky.social lab members 🙏🙏🙏 @embl.org nature.com/articles/s41...

Nature research paper: Pervasive phosphorylation by phage T7 kinase disarms bacterial defences go.nature.com/4qvUWnZ

1/5 How much phosphorylation can a single kinase deposit? In our new study with @typaslab.bsky.social out in @nature.com, phage T7's kinase (T7K) modifies almost all the E. coli proteome + more densely than all ~500 kinases do our own proteomes 🤯 www.nature.com/articles/s41...

A single phage enzyme can target thousands of bacterial proteins, shutting down host defences, a new EMBL study shows. The study provides novel insights into bacteria-virus interactions and opens up new possibilities for bioengineering for phage therapy. www.embl.org/news/science...

Join us at EMBL Heidelberg from 8–10 Dec 2026 for the conference “Gut Microbe Function” and explore the latest advances in the field. Submit your abstract, register, and join the discussion! 📝Abstract deadline 15 Sep 2026 📍On-site registration deadline 27 Oct 2026 www.embl.org/about/info/c...

Behind every great scientist is a great community! @lisamaierlab.bsky.social, EMBL's 2026 John Kendrew Award recipient, reflects on how mentorship and support at EMBL shaped her journey into pioneering microbiome research. Read more about her journey 👉 www.embl.org/news/people-...

Led by Lucas Ustick, who has a longer write-up here: www.linkedin.com/posts/lucas-... Preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... (5/5)

New preprint from the lab! "Planetary structure and drivers of diazotroph communities reveal key reservoirs of nitrogen-fixation potential" Nitrogen fixation is scattered right across the prokaryotic tree — but it's heterotrophs, not cyanobacteria, that dominate the potential. 🧵

Cannot be more excited about the lineup for the inaugural Function of Evolving Systems GRC conference I am co-organizing with the amazing Joy Bergelson. Less than a month away: August 9 - 14, 2026. Still a few spots left! And do check out the amazing list of speakers: www.grc.org/function-of-...

Exciting upcoming EMBL Conference: Unlocking the Functional Diversity of Gut Microbiomes. 8–10 Dec 2026, EMBL Heidelberg & online. For researchers interested in gene function, microbial diversity, host–microbe interactions, and microbiome research. Save the date, submit an abstract, and register!

New EMBL-led research identifies a robust gut microbiome signature linked to colorectal cancer, consistent across populations, sequencing methods & age groups — detectable even in early-stage disease and tied to lower dietary fibre intake. www.embl.org/news/science...

Very excited to share our new paper out in Nature. Congrats to Xiaoqian (Annie) Yu and all the coauthors. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Out Now! In silico typing maps the natural diversity of Escherichia coli transporter-dependent capsules #MicroSky