In a study that we recently published in Science, we show how DNA-binding proteins can slide on the DNA sequence in search of their targets without getting held up unnecessarily on unspecific DNA. The result explains how LacI and other transcription factors can be both accurate and fast when turning on and off their target genes.

Let's bring the year 2021 to a happy conclusion. Send some love to your friends and family and make some time for well-deserved rest; maybe it's time to brush up on your knitting...

In a recent publication in Nature, we show how RecA filaments reduce the dimensionality of homologous recombination search from 3D to 2D, considerably speeding up the DNA repair process.

The MSB program learns about open science and enjoys the autumn in the orchard of Krusenberg

Arvid Gynnå defends his thesis entiteled Bacterial DNA repair and molecular search.

In a recent publication in Nature, we show how transcription factors are trading accuracy for speed when scanning the DNA. Although the transcription factor will frequently miss the target site, it will revisit the sequence enough times to ensure rapid binding

Antibiotic resistance is a global health problem caused by the use and misuse of these drugs. The problem is exacerbated by the lack of new antibiotics and rapid diagnostic methods to identify the bacterial agents and their antibiotic susceptibility. In this project, we will develop diagnostic tools that will prolong the lifespan of existing and future antibiotics by allowing us to use them rationally—i.e. only for bacterial infections and when the bacterium is susceptible.

Emil Marklund defends his thesis entiteled Orientational dynamics of single molecules applied to protein-DNA target search.

Johan Elf is among the 185 scientists that win European Research Council’s Advanced Grant in 2020. In this ERC-funded project, we will determine the dynamic chromosome structure in a living bacterial cell at high spatial and temporal resolution, and investigate outstanding questions about bacterial cell cycle regulation.

SciFest is a science festival with workshops, shows, competitions, research meetings and lectures. The visitors range from curious three-year olds to senior citizens, and as far as we could tell, everybody had very good time.