Real-Time DNA Sequencing from Single Polymerase Molecules

Just coming down the line now is this paper in Science on single molecule sequencing using fluorescent bases incorporated by DNA polymerase.  Besides the huge "Wow!" factor, this paper comes out of Pacific Biosciences in Menlo Park, featuring two Block lab alumni, Adrian Fehr and Ravi Dalal.  In addition, I just noticed that the first first-author (as opposed to the six other first authors) is none other than John Eid, one of my contemporaries at U of I, who worked with Enrico Gratton in the Laboratory for Fluorescence Dynamics (now at UC Irvine).

Hola Amigos

I know it's been a while since I rapped at ya, but I wanted to just point out a couple of interesting recent papers.

• Elio Abbondanzieri has struck again, this time with a paper in Science, about shuttling of HIV RT.  I havent' read the paper closely, but the title is reminiscent of the Ha lab work on Rep helicase, in which they also used smFRET to demonstrate shuttling along short oligos.
  
• I spied this paper sitting on a colleague's desk, and perused it briefly.  Another entry in my fetish for single molecule 3D tracking techniques.

Also, apropos of nothing, I thought I'd just point out my new blog, 82 Eateries.  This is a solution to the age-old problem of "where to eat?"  When we don't know where to go, we start driving on El Camino, and stop at the first place we find that we haven't been to yet.  Then we write it up.  It's an experiment in gastronomic geography, if you will.

Postdoc position available in the Muller Lab

Hagar Zohar from the Muller lab at Berkeley contacted me and asked me to post an opening for a postdoc in their lab.  We here at In Singulo aim to please!  Details:

Post-doctoral Position Available: Biochemical synthesis of DNA binding proteins

for single molecule studies

A post-doctoral position is available in the area of single molecule detection of specific DNA-protein complexes using fluorescence microscopy. Protein probes are designed to bind sequence-specifically to target nucleic acid sequences; the ultimate goal is to engineer a microfluidic genotyping tool. Qualified candidates will have expertise in biochemistry and molecular biology including recombinant DNA technology, protein purification, DNA-protein interactions, nucleic acid enzymology, PCR, and related methods. Previous experience in single molecule studies is preferred, though not critical for the position. The primary initial focus will be protein probe design and synthesis; this work will be coupled to on-going efforts on single molecule studies in microfluidic devices. This project is part of a larger collaboration with the Shaqfeh group at Stanford.

This position is available immediately, and will remain open until filled. The initial appointment will be one year; renewal will be subject to mutual agreement and the availability of funds.

Interested candidates should send a letter of application, resume, and the names and contact information of three references to: Professor Susan Muller, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, 94720-1462 or via e-mail (preferred) to muller2[at]berkeley[dot]edu.

People Who Have Too Much Time On Their Hands, Election 2008 Edition

Nanobama.

Stone Cold Cruzin'

I have just been advised that Michael Stone has moved back to the bay area (broadly speaking), and is now on the faculty at Santa Cruz.  Right down the road!