Ralf Jansen
@ralfjansen.bsky.social
PhD student in the Brennecke lab (@juliusbrennecke.bsky.social) at IMBA (@imbavienna.bsky.social), Vienna
Interested in transcription and RNA export.
http://www.oeaw.ac.at/imba/research/julius-brennecke
Interested in transcription and RNA export.
http://www.oeaw.ac.at/imba/research/julius-brennecke
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
Very excited to share our new preprint: “A pseudohelicase-centered complex couples assembly-dependent RNA cleavage to poly(UG)ylation”! 🎉 Want to know more? 🧵👇 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
September 8, 2026 at 8:25 PM
Very excited to share our new preprint: “A pseudohelicase-centered complex couples assembly-dependent RNA cleavage to poly(UG)ylation”! 🎉 Want to know more? 🧵👇 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
Very happy to see our Nature Reviews Genetics article on programmed DNA elimination across eukaryotes out! A fantastic collective effort with an amazing group of colleagues, born from inspiring discussions at the Fondation des Treilles.
rdcu.be/tmvKgsPZNhBa
@laurarossevo.bsky.social
rdcu.be/tmvKgsPZNhBa
@laurarossevo.bsky.social
September 8, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Very happy to see our Nature Reviews Genetics article on programmed DNA elimination across eukaryotes out! A fantastic collective effort with an amazing group of colleagues, born from inspiring discussions at the Fondation des Treilles.
rdcu.be/tmvKgsPZNhBa
@laurarossevo.bsky.social
rdcu.be/tmvKgsPZNhBa
@laurarossevo.bsky.social
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
We are recruiting a PhD student 🥼🙋
Topic: how germ cells bend gene expression dogmas
Fly genetics + proteomics + genomics. Fully funded.
Aarhus University 🇩🇰
info on the project and how to apply👇
mbg.au.dk/en/peter-and...
I'd really appreciate it if you'd help spread the word.
Thanks
Topic: how germ cells bend gene expression dogmas
Fly genetics + proteomics + genomics. Fully funded.
Aarhus University 🇩🇰
info on the project and how to apply👇
mbg.au.dk/en/peter-and...
I'd really appreciate it if you'd help spread the word.
Thanks
September 8, 2026 at 3:57 PM
We are recruiting a PhD student 🥼🙋
Topic: how germ cells bend gene expression dogmas
Fly genetics + proteomics + genomics. Fully funded.
Aarhus University 🇩🇰
info on the project and how to apply👇
mbg.au.dk/en/peter-and...
I'd really appreciate it if you'd help spread the word.
Thanks
Topic: how germ cells bend gene expression dogmas
Fly genetics + proteomics + genomics. Fully funded.
Aarhus University 🇩🇰
info on the project and how to apply👇
mbg.au.dk/en/peter-and...
I'd really appreciate it if you'd help spread the word.
Thanks
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
Finally - the 🧵!
So, the piRNA pathway defends the animal germline from transposons. But most of what we know comes from narrow developmental windows like late oogenesis, where it's easiest to study.
We asked if the pathway is the same across development.
It is not!
/+
So, the piRNA pathway defends the animal germline from transposons. But most of what we know comes from narrow developmental windows like late oogenesis, where it's easiest to study.
We asked if the pathway is the same across development.
It is not!
/+
We watched piRNAs and transposons across development, saw them dance tightly and wrote a paper about it.
It's so cool to see it online and we will make a thread about it all very soon. Stay tuned :-)
It's so cool to see it online and we will make a thread about it all very soon. Stay tuned :-)
A developmental switch in the piRNA pathway ensures stage-specific transposon silencing https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.28.747770v1
September 2, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Finally - the 🧵!
So, the piRNA pathway defends the animal germline from transposons. But most of what we know comes from narrow developmental windows like late oogenesis, where it's easiest to study.
We asked if the pathway is the same across development.
It is not!
/+
So, the piRNA pathway defends the animal germline from transposons. But most of what we know comes from narrow developmental windows like late oogenesis, where it's easiest to study.
We asked if the pathway is the same across development.
It is not!
/+
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
We watched piRNAs and transposons across development, saw them dance tightly and wrote a paper about it.
It's so cool to see it online and we will make a thread about it all very soon. Stay tuned :-)
It's so cool to see it online and we will make a thread about it all very soon. Stay tuned :-)
A developmental switch in the piRNA pathway ensures stage-specific transposon silencing https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.08.28.747770v1
August 29, 2026 at 5:09 PM
We watched piRNAs and transposons across development, saw them dance tightly and wrote a paper about it.
It's so cool to see it online and we will make a thread about it all very soon. Stay tuned :-)
It's so cool to see it online and we will make a thread about it all very soon. Stay tuned :-)
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
I am truly grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this exciting project revealing that CIP2A tetramerization via its C-terminus is required for DNA repair in mitosis.
Very pleased to share this new study: In a truly collaborative effort with the lab of Pim Huis in 't Veld @huis.bsky.social, we combined biochemistry with cell biological and genomic approaches to uncover how CIP2A works in mitotic DNA repair.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
CIP2A tetramerization is required for mitotic DNA repair
DNA lesions that persist in mitosis threaten genome stability. These lesions recruit TOPBP1-CIP2A, a complex crucial to tether and process damaged DNA on mitotic chromosomes. Importantly, CIP2A is syn...
www.biorxiv.org
August 24, 2026 at 4:30 PM
I am truly grateful for the opportunity to contribute to this exciting project revealing that CIP2A tetramerization via its C-terminus is required for DNA repair in mitosis.
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
Super cool to see the result of our collaborative work with @heick.bsky.social 's lab finally out! Shaped through many discussions with @abugai.bsky.social, @lorenzoana.bsky.social
& @max2max.bsky.social, @juliusbrennecke.bsky.social & Clemens, trying to decipher LENG8's secrets!
& @max2max.bsky.social, @juliusbrennecke.bsky.social & Clemens, trying to decipher LENG8's secrets!
Now published! We investigated how polyadenylated RNAs are targeted for decay in the human nucleus. www.nature.com/articles/s41... (1/5)
June 22, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Super cool to see the result of our collaborative work with @heick.bsky.social 's lab finally out! Shaped through many discussions with @abugai.bsky.social, @lorenzoana.bsky.social
& @max2max.bsky.social, @juliusbrennecke.bsky.social & Clemens, trying to decipher LENG8's secrets!
& @max2max.bsky.social, @juliusbrennecke.bsky.social & Clemens, trying to decipher LENG8's secrets!
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
Now published! We investigated how polyadenylated RNAs are targeted for decay in the human nucleus. www.nature.com/articles/s41... (1/5)
June 18, 2026 at 8:08 AM
Now published! We investigated how polyadenylated RNAs are targeted for decay in the human nucleus. www.nature.com/articles/s41... (1/5)
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
The labs of Julius Brennecke and Clemens Plaschka reveal a molecular decision point that determines whether RNA molecules are exported for use or targeted for destruction. Now published in Nature: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
June 17, 2026 at 4:10 PM
The labs of Julius Brennecke and Clemens Plaschka reveal a molecular decision point that determines whether RNA molecules are exported for use or targeted for destruction. Now published in Nature: www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
Unis rufen zu Demos gegen Kürzungen auf‼️
Die Unis befürchten Einsparungen von einer Mrd. Euro im #Budget. Rektorensprecherin Brigitte Hütter sprach bei einer Pressekonferenz von einem "Supergau" für Unis, Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft. Rektor Schütze sprach von enormen Schaden für die Reputation. ⤵️
Die Unis befürchten Einsparungen von einer Mrd. Euro im #Budget. Rektorensprecherin Brigitte Hütter sprach bei einer Pressekonferenz von einem "Supergau" für Unis, Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft. Rektor Schütze sprach von enormen Schaden für die Reputation. ⤵️
Budget - Unis rufen zu Demos gegen Kürzungen auf
Rektor Schütze:
www.univie.ac.at
May 20, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Unis rufen zu Demos gegen Kürzungen auf‼️
Die Unis befürchten Einsparungen von einer Mrd. Euro im #Budget. Rektorensprecherin Brigitte Hütter sprach bei einer Pressekonferenz von einem "Supergau" für Unis, Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft. Rektor Schütze sprach von enormen Schaden für die Reputation. ⤵️
Die Unis befürchten Einsparungen von einer Mrd. Euro im #Budget. Rektorensprecherin Brigitte Hütter sprach bei einer Pressekonferenz von einem "Supergau" für Unis, Wirtschaft und Gesellschaft. Rektor Schütze sprach von enormen Schaden für die Reputation. ⤵️
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
Thrilled to see my main PhD work out on bioRxiv! Huge thanks to @arburga.bsky.social and my wonderful labmates, collaborators, colleagues and friends @imbavienna.bsky.social @viennabiocenter.bsky.social for a detailed breakdown see below 👇
🧬 New research from the Burga lab! We took a closer look at a rogue selfish protein and caught evolution in the act of turning something old into something radically new 💡 (a.k.a. neofunctionalization) @imbavienna.bsky.social
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Curious? Here’s a breakdown:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...
Curious? Here’s a breakdown:
May 18, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Thrilled to see my main PhD work out on bioRxiv! Huge thanks to @arburga.bsky.social and my wonderful labmates, collaborators, colleagues and friends @imbavienna.bsky.social @viennabiocenter.bsky.social for a detailed breakdown see below 👇
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
Join us at our special anniversary Symposium on RNA biology at the @vbcscitraining.bsky.social campus! We promise 3 days of interesting science, discussions and hopefully new ideas and learnings for everyone - plus a symposium dinner at the Vienna city hall!
📣 Registration is open for the 20th Microsymposium on RNA Biology!
Join in at the Vienna BioCenter for three days of cutting-edge science, discussion & networking.
📅 17-19 June 2026
🧬 Poster abstract deadline: 19 May
Info & registration: www.oeaw.ac.at/imba/seminar...
Join in at the Vienna BioCenter for three days of cutting-edge science, discussion & networking.
📅 17-19 June 2026
🧬 Poster abstract deadline: 19 May
Info & registration: www.oeaw.ac.at/imba/seminar...
May 13, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Join us at our special anniversary Symposium on RNA biology at the @vbcscitraining.bsky.social campus! We promise 3 days of interesting science, discussions and hopefully new ideas and learnings for everyone - plus a symposium dinner at the Vienna city hall!
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
I'm super happy to finally see the paper published ! Check out the full story here: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
May 6, 2026 at 10:28 AM
I'm super happy to finally see the paper published ! Check out the full story here: link.springer.com/article/10.1...
The work of my colleague Baptiste Rafanel is now published.
Retrovirus insertions in host transcripts trigger de novo piRNA immunity:
Kirsten-André Senti, @juliusbrennecke.bsky.social et al investigate the 20th-century invasion of D. melanogaster by iERV Tirant to reveal piRNA-pathway evolution in response to new threats
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Kirsten-André Senti, @juliusbrennecke.bsky.social et al investigate the 20th-century invasion of D. melanogaster by iERV Tirant to reveal piRNA-pathway evolution in response to new threats
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Retrovirus insertions in host transcripts trigger de novo piRNA immunity - The EMBO Journal
How host organisms adapt their defense systems to newly invading transposable elements remains poorly understood. Here, we show how Drosophila melanogaster acquired PIWI-interacting RNA (piRNA)-mediat...
link.springer.com
May 4, 2026 at 7:49 PM
The work of my colleague Baptiste Rafanel is now published.
Five years after a short rotation in the Peters lab, I’m happy to see this cool story spearheaded by Gordana Wutz finally published.
🧬 Inside the cell nucleus, two meters of DNA are folded into shape by cohesin—a protein complex that forms DNA loops. But how is this process controlled?
Our Peters’ lab and collaborators have discovered how cells put the brakes on DNA loop formation: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Our Peters’ lab and collaborators have discovered how cells put the brakes on DNA loop formation: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
May 4, 2026 at 6:07 PM
Five years after a short rotation in the Peters lab, I’m happy to see this cool story spearheaded by Gordana Wutz finally published.
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
Our latest publication is now out at Genome Biology!
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
We uncover a unique association between a H3K27me3 reader complex and active transcription.
A thread with our key findings: (1/8)
#TEsky #Polycomb #transcription #smallRNAs
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
We uncover a unique association between a H3K27me3 reader complex and active transcription.
A thread with our key findings: (1/8)
#TEsky #Polycomb #transcription #smallRNAs
A H3K27me3 reader complex couples H3K27me3 accumulation to nascent transcription of transposable elements in Paramecium - Genome Biology
Background The ability to deposit histone H3K27-trimethyl (me3) marks is essential for transcriptional repression by Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2). This is largely attributed to Polycomb repres...
link.springer.com
April 8, 2026 at 12:21 PM
Our latest publication is now out at Genome Biology!
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
We uncover a unique association between a H3K27me3 reader complex and active transcription.
A thread with our key findings: (1/8)
#TEsky #Polycomb #transcription #smallRNAs
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
We uncover a unique association between a H3K27me3 reader complex and active transcription.
A thread with our key findings: (1/8)
#TEsky #Polycomb #transcription #smallRNAs
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
Germ cells have their own versions of core transcription factors and fertility depends on them.
We're hiring a PhD student to figure out how! 📢
Fly genetics + proteomics + genomics. Fully funded.
Aarhus University 🇩🇰
Deadline May 1 👇
Please share with anyone who might be interested!
We're hiring a PhD student to figure out how! 📢
Fly genetics + proteomics + genomics. Fully funded.
Aarhus University 🇩🇰
Deadline May 1 👇
Please share with anyone who might be interested!
phd.nat.au.dk
April 1, 2026 at 7:51 AM
Germ cells have their own versions of core transcription factors and fertility depends on them.
We're hiring a PhD student to figure out how! 📢
Fly genetics + proteomics + genomics. Fully funded.
Aarhus University 🇩🇰
Deadline May 1 👇
Please share with anyone who might be interested!
We're hiring a PhD student to figure out how! 📢
Fly genetics + proteomics + genomics. Fully funded.
Aarhus University 🇩🇰
Deadline May 1 👇
Please share with anyone who might be interested!
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
A consortium of group leaders from IMP, IMBA (Vienna BioCenter) and ISTA has been awarded an FWF Emerging Fields grant to study how germ cells safeguard and pass on genetic information across generations.
March 9, 2026 at 10:30 AM
A consortium of group leaders from IMP, IMBA (Vienna BioCenter) and ISTA has been awarded an FWF Emerging Fields grant to study how germ cells safeguard and pass on genetic information across generations.
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
as always, beautiful mechanistic dissection by @86dominik.bsky.social @juliusbrennecke.bsky.social lab, taking advantage of genetics and genomics to get decisive insights into piRNAs! surprising how instructive U content is for piRNA biogenesis, but it makes total sense, the system is very clever! 🪰
How does the piRNA pathway solve the self vs. non-self problem? 🧬
Since piRNAs come from single-stranded RNA, how does the cell choose the right ones? For years, "piRNA clusters" were seen as THE privileged source. But are they really special and earmarked for biogenesis? (1/19)
Since piRNAs come from single-stranded RNA, how does the cell choose the right ones? For years, "piRNA clusters" were seen as THE privileged source. But are they really special and earmarked for biogenesis? (1/19)
A Naïve RNA Sampling Core Enables Adaptive piRNA Specificity Against Transposable Elements https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.07.704324v1
February 17, 2026 at 11:37 PM
as always, beautiful mechanistic dissection by @86dominik.bsky.social @juliusbrennecke.bsky.social lab, taking advantage of genetics and genomics to get decisive insights into piRNAs! surprising how instructive U content is for piRNA biogenesis, but it makes total sense, the system is very clever! 🪰
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
The demystification of piRNA clusters
if you wonder how cells generate piRNAs specifically against transposons & you are looking for a weekend read
check out @86dominik.bsky.social's opus magna (or Dominik's great thread)
a shared project with the one and only Rippei Hayashi, lab alumnus & friend
if you wonder how cells generate piRNAs specifically against transposons & you are looking for a weekend read
check out @86dominik.bsky.social's opus magna (or Dominik's great thread)
a shared project with the one and only Rippei Hayashi, lab alumnus & friend
How does the piRNA pathway solve the self vs. non-self problem? 🧬
Since piRNAs come from single-stranded RNA, how does the cell choose the right ones? For years, "piRNA clusters" were seen as THE privileged source. But are they really special and earmarked for biogenesis? (1/19)
Since piRNAs come from single-stranded RNA, how does the cell choose the right ones? For years, "piRNA clusters" were seen as THE privileged source. But are they really special and earmarked for biogenesis? (1/19)
A Naïve RNA Sampling Core Enables Adaptive piRNA Specificity Against Transposable Elements https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.07.704324v1
February 13, 2026 at 8:39 PM
The demystification of piRNA clusters
if you wonder how cells generate piRNAs specifically against transposons & you are looking for a weekend read
check out @86dominik.bsky.social's opus magna (or Dominik's great thread)
a shared project with the one and only Rippei Hayashi, lab alumnus & friend
if you wonder how cells generate piRNAs specifically against transposons & you are looking for a weekend read
check out @86dominik.bsky.social's opus magna (or Dominik's great thread)
a shared project with the one and only Rippei Hayashi, lab alumnus & friend
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
How does the piRNA pathway solve the self vs. non-self problem? 🧬
Since piRNAs come from single-stranded RNA, how does the cell choose the right ones? For years, "piRNA clusters" were seen as THE privileged source. But are they really special and earmarked for biogenesis? (1/19)
Since piRNAs come from single-stranded RNA, how does the cell choose the right ones? For years, "piRNA clusters" were seen as THE privileged source. But are they really special and earmarked for biogenesis? (1/19)
A Naïve RNA Sampling Core Enables Adaptive piRNA Specificity Against Transposable Elements https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.07.704324v1
February 13, 2026 at 3:11 PM
How does the piRNA pathway solve the self vs. non-self problem? 🧬
Since piRNAs come from single-stranded RNA, how does the cell choose the right ones? For years, "piRNA clusters" were seen as THE privileged source. But are they really special and earmarked for biogenesis? (1/19)
Since piRNAs come from single-stranded RNA, how does the cell choose the right ones? For years, "piRNA clusters" were seen as THE privileged source. But are they really special and earmarked for biogenesis? (1/19)
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
Ulrich’s research will help advance our understanding of RNA biology & gene regulation, as well as how these mechanisms might be altered during viral infections & other diseases.
@hohmannulrich.bsky.social comes from the @impvienna.bsky.social / @imbavienna.bsky.social
www.imb.de/about-imb/ne...
@hohmannulrich.bsky.social comes from the @impvienna.bsky.social / @imbavienna.bsky.social
www.imb.de/about-imb/ne...
February 9, 2026 at 11:14 AM
Ulrich’s research will help advance our understanding of RNA biology & gene regulation, as well as how these mechanisms might be altered during viral infections & other diseases.
@hohmannulrich.bsky.social comes from the @impvienna.bsky.social / @imbavienna.bsky.social
www.imb.de/about-imb/ne...
@hohmannulrich.bsky.social comes from the @impvienna.bsky.social / @imbavienna.bsky.social
www.imb.de/about-imb/ne...
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
@lorenzoorts.bsky.social previously worked as a postdoctoral fellow at @impvienna.bsky.social in Austria. She will establish a new lab at IMB to investigate how mRNA translation is activated in the early embryo. Welcome to IMB Laura! 💐
Read more here: www.imb.de/about-imb/ne...
Read more here: www.imb.de/about-imb/ne...
February 6, 2026 at 2:27 PM
@lorenzoorts.bsky.social previously worked as a postdoctoral fellow at @impvienna.bsky.social in Austria. She will establish a new lab at IMB to investigate how mRNA translation is activated in the early embryo. Welcome to IMB Laura! 💐
Read more here: www.imb.de/about-imb/ne...
Read more here: www.imb.de/about-imb/ne...
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
Happy to see our study out! We define the sequence determinants for miRNA-target interactions in flies and provide a foundation for improving computational prediction of miRNA-mediated regulation in Drosophila.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#miRNA, @natcomms.nature.com, @rti-umasschan.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#miRNA, @natcomms.nature.com, @rti-umasschan.bsky.social
Biochemical principles of miRNA targeting in flies - Nature Communications
MicroRNAs guide Argonaute proteins to repress gene expression. Here, the authors define the binding rules for five Drosophila miRNAs, showing a narrow preference for canonical seed sites and identifyi...
www.nature.com
February 6, 2026 at 8:39 AM
Happy to see our study out! We define the sequence determinants for miRNA-target interactions in flies and provide a foundation for improving computational prediction of miRNA-mediated regulation in Drosophila.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#miRNA, @natcomms.nature.com, @rti-umasschan.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
#miRNA, @natcomms.nature.com, @rti-umasschan.bsky.social
Reposted by Ralf Jansen
I’m happy to share the main result of my PhD, which you can find on bioRxiv www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6.... If you are interested in learning about a new way to perform DNA-PAINT multiplexing, which we call Combi-PAINT, or if you are interested in the study of mRNA conformation, keep reading! 1/10
January 26, 2026 at 11:31 AM
I’m happy to share the main result of my PhD, which you can find on bioRxiv www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6.... If you are interested in learning about a new way to perform DNA-PAINT multiplexing, which we call Combi-PAINT, or if you are interested in the study of mRNA conformation, keep reading! 1/10