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“Who needs cells when you can build proteins in a tube?” Apparently, Nature wanted to know too.
I spoke with science writer Amber Dance about cell-free translation systems and why the choice of lysate matters when the aim is not simply to produce protein, but to study translation and RNA regulation.
The Nature Technology & tools feature discusses our work on human cell-free translation systems, our dual-centrifugation approach for lysate preparation, and even a rather painful 3-year lesson from rabbit reticulocyte lysates.
Many thanks to Amber for the interesting conversation and for putting our work into the broader picture of where cell-free biology is heading.
Disclaimer: I do need cells, I wouldn't be posting without them :)
Press release on NT-2 mycotoxin
Our work on human cell-free translation screening, NT-2 and ribosome dormancy was featured in the University of Bern press release and picked up by Swiss and international media.
The story highlights how a fungal toxin from Fusarium species can block human ribosomes — the cell’s “protein factories” — and push them into an inactive, sleeping-like state.
Indicative links
• University of Bern press release
• Nau.ch
Our textbook will be from September 2028 in all Greek schools!
For the past four years, I’ve been part of the author team behind a new biology textbook series for Greek high schools. This is the first volume selected for nationwide adoption.
A free download link is available (in Greek).
Peer-reviewed comment and mini review on three new studies (Arpa et al. 2026; Kurscheidt et al. 2026; Modena et al. 2026) which found that the physiological endonucleolytic activity initiating the degradation of the nonsense mRNA is exerted by acomposite catalytic site of two proteins.
The Swiss National SRF News provided a concise, accessible and to-the-point podcast of our research at the University of Bern.
Winning the lecturer of the year award of the Biology department at the University of Bern definitely made my day! The University has been very supportive of this effort, as much of my inspiration comes from my CAS in Tertiary education teaching at the Centre of Continuous Education of the University.
Media Release "New strategy against coronaviruses" by the University of Bern on a recent paper by the lab of Evangelos D. Karousis with first author Emilie Bäumlin.
Image: Adrian Bothe
Text: Liselotte Selter
From structuring courses to resolving conflicts or guiding students more clearly, the CAS in Higher Education Teaching (Uni Bern) has had a real impact.
It's not every day that we get to share a stage with someone who has played a pivotal role in our lives. I was thrilled to share the stage with my former biology teacher to discuss the journey from student to lecturer. Thank you, Nota Lazaraki, for inspiring, guiding and teaching me how to teach without even realising it.
Preparing my habilitation allowed me to reflect on my research and teaching over the past decade, but more importantly, to appreciate the incredible contributions of the students, colleagues, and mentors I’ve been fortunate to work with.
Kandersteg has been the hub for the NCCR RNA & Disease workshops for most of the last 9 years. Collaborations and friendships were made, posters were drugged on ice streets, and future plans and dreams were made on frozen slopes. Those RNA days have left their mark.
Our findings on how the SARS-CoV-2 inhibits cellular translation were highlighted in a short documentary, “NO DENIAL”, presented at the 3rd Global Science Film Festival. The movie highlights the importance of collaboration between scientists and the media to combat misinformation. It was produced by a team of researchers from the University of Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Bern
Invited from the greek national television to present the contribution of basic research to the fight against viral diseases.
Science is more fun when you share it, and this is why we had a blast at the "Nacht der Forschung", an exciting research outreach event organised by the University of Bern
Invited speaker from the Nanopore community event. Presented how we created a catalog of mRNAs targeted by nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) in human cells.
Invited speaker from the Nanopore community to describe how we apply Nanopore sequencing to study mRNA degradation in human cells.
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