LUMICKS

Exciting to see the C-Trap in the hands of talented researchers like Spencer! 🎉

SMBio 2025 Nordics - Symposium - LUMICKS We are excited to share that we are organizing the SMBio 2025 Nordics, aimed at bringing together our current and future Nordic C-trap users for two days of engaging discussions and networking. Follow...

🛎️ SMBio Nordics abstract deadline postponed to August 8

Allowing for some (well-deserved) offline time of the single-molecule community during the Nordic summer, the organisation of SMBio 2025 Nordics decided to delay the abstract deadline with ~2 weeks until August 8. Submit here: bit.ly/4l3Sxgx

SMBio 2025 Nordics - Symposium - LUMICKS We are excited to share that we are organizing the SMBio 2025 Nordics, aimed at bringing together our current and future Nordic C-trap users for two days of engaging discussions and networking. Follow...

Final day (!) to register for SMBio Nordics symposium, where top researchers of Northern Europe will come together to talk breakthrough single-molecule science: lumicks.com/event/symposium/smbio-nordics-2025

Colorful mockup of the C-Trap reference kit for optical tweezers experiments by LUMICKS

Speed up C-Trap user training, assay troubleshooting or performance verification 👉 try the new C-Trap Reference Kit.

The kit provides standardized and validated reagents for a complete DNA-protein binding assay, incl. data analysis with reference values.

Find the protocol & more: bit.ly/4mcXuUM

Mockup of the DNA Repeat assembly kit

The new DNA Repeat Assembly kit can deliver C-Trap users with the next increase in throughput, leading to statistically relevant results in a fraction of the time required.

👉 Find the DNA Repeat Assembly kit and the application note, including proof-of-concept data, in our store: bit.ly/3GSMBZ8

When long DNA tethers made of more than 50 repeats of a plasmid with LacO sequence were incubated with ATTO 565-LacI in the C-Trap, the results were unprecedented for such an experiment: we acquired thousands of individual binding events within a time frame as short as 2 hours!

During the first step, fast intermolecular ligation of the sequence of interest leads to the assembly of linear DNA constructs made up of multiple DNA repeats. Then, a proprietary DNA adaptor containing 5 biotin moieties is added to the mix to allow ligation of the biotinylated adaptor to the ends of the linear DNA constructs. The result is a mix of biotinylated linear DNA with a distribution of different lengths and numbers of DNA repeats. Finally, the mix is flowed into the C-Trap, where two streptavidin-coated beads trapped in the optical tweezers are maneuvered to selectively tether the longest biotinylated DNA constructs with the highest number of DNA repeats. The optimized adaptors enable fast tethering and ensure high stability of the formed tethers, enabling long data acquisition sessions.

First, intermolecular ligation of the sequence of interest leads to the assembly of linear DNA constructs with multiple DNA repeats.

Second, a proprietary DNA adaptor containing 5 biotin moieties is added to the mix and the biotinylated adaptor ligates to the ends of the linear DNA constructs.

Get up to 50x data throughput for C-Trap experiments. 👇

A new high-throughput method, called DNA repeat assembly, enables researchers to quickly build long DNA constructs (up to 100 kb) made of many repeats of a DNA sequence of interest.

🤝 SMBio 2025 Nordics is co-organized with Ian Hickson (Center for Chromosome Stability, Københavns Universitet - University of Copenhagen) and Poul Martin Bendix (Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen).

SMBio 2025 Nordics - Symposium - LUMICKS We are excited to share that we are organizing the SMBio 2025 Nordics, aimed at bringing together our current and future Nordic C-trap users for two days of engaging discussions and networking. Follow...

This flyer highlights some of the single-molecule experts joining in the conversation: Fredrik Westerlund, Signe Mathiasen, @biophysk.bsky.social and @palconh.bsky.social

👉 Find the full speakers list and preliminary agenda here: lumicks.com/event/symposium/smbio-nordics-2025

For the first time, we're bringing the SMBio conference focusing on breakthrough single-molecule research to the Nordics! In the pleasurable Copenhagen, this 2-day event brings together experts in single-molecule approaches to biology to share their research, connect, and exchange ideas.

LUMICKS Symposium: SMBio 2025 Nordics. 4-5 September, 2025. Location: Big Bio Nordhavn, Copenhagen. Highlighted speakers: Fredrik Westerlund, Chalmers University of Technology Gothenburg - Signe Mathiasen, University of Copenhagen - Kasia Tych, University of Groningen - Pablo Alcon, Aarhus University. Register now! Abstract deadline on 25 July.

Abstract deadline for the SMBio 2025 Nordics is approaching soon! Register with the link --> lumicks.com/event/symposium/smbio-nordics-2025

KorB switching from DNA-sliding clamp to repressor mediates long-range gene silencing in a multi-drug resistance plasmid - Nature Microbiology Structural and single-molecule analyses show the CTPase, KorB, is a sliding DNA clamp that interacts with a clamp-locking protein KorA to inhibit gene expression over distances of more than 1 kb in th...

The premiere observation with dynamic single-molecule technology fills a gap in our understanding of long-range gene control in bacteria, with potential implications for antibiotic resistance.

Read the full study: www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Using the LUMICKS C-Trap, researchers were able to directly observe KorB sliding along DNA to reach distant promoter sites, and how KorA switches KorB’s behavior from sliding to stalling, effectively silencing gene expression.

KorB gene silencing mechanism has been studied for decades, but has resulted in conflicting models. Traditional methods failed to uncover the precise mechanism of how KorB was able to bind regions far from promoters and repress transcription.

🧬 In a new study, researchers from Fernando Moreno ’s group observed KorB sliding to distant sites & stalling via KorA which directly visualizes the process of long-range repression.

This is the first time this regulatory mechanism has been visualized at the single-molecule level.

Exciting Single-Molecule Mini Symposium and C-Trap Launch event at @uniregensburg.bsky.social! If you're nearby, don't miss it! 🧬🧑‍🏫🎉 @caliskanlab.bsky.social @curiousdina.bsky.social @beliulab.bsky.social

Great to see the C-Trap now part of your lab at @uniregensburg.bsky.social! We can’t wait to see the amazing data and RNA research coming out of it!

Single-molecule and RNA enthiusiastics nearby, don’t miss the upcoming Single-Molecule Mini Symposium & C-Trap Launch event! 🎉

Parallel cleaning and measurement dramatically increases C-Trap throughput without compromising reproducibility.

Early adopters call it a "game changer" and say "they couldn't live without it" as it significantly accelerates their workflow.

More info + quote request here: bit.ly/3TuwUKn

This unlocks true back-to-back experiments. Cleaning does not require the full instrument, so you can progress to the next project immediately.

This can mean not needing to wait until the next morning for your experiment, or more easily finding the slot to acquire data for ad hoc experiments (2/3)

Rendering in blue and purple hues of the double microfluidics module of the C-Trap.

There's a new double microfluidics module available for C-Trap users. What does it bring you?

👉 Having two independent microfluidics modules maximizes data acquisition time by enabling flow-cell cleaning in parallel with experimental execution. (1/3)

LUMICKS’ latest biotech innovation seems like a call from the future, but it may change how researchers find cancer cures. | SoftBank Investment Advisers LUMICKS’ latest biotech innovation seems like a call from the future, but it may change how researchers find cancer cures. The company’s C-TRAP tool is best described as two laser beams that can stret...

“It’s really a bit of science fiction.”

In his latest interview with #SoftBankVisionFund, LUMICKS CEO Hugo de Wit shares how we're equipping researchers to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind cancer and other diseases.

www.linkedin.com/posts/softba...

Flyer with the copy: "Join our next webinar, Tuesday July 8 - C-Trap Accelerator Suite, with Product Managers Adalberto Cortessi and Bas Groen. Register now."

New for C-Trap users: the Accelerator Suite is here!
7 upgrades across hardware, software & kits to make your experiments faster, easier & more reproducible.

🎙️ Join our launch webinar to learn more + ask your questions live!
🔗 Register: www.lumicks.com/event/webina...

Golden Gate meets C-Trap: A powerful combination for unprecedented molecular insights - Application Note - LUMICKS Category: DNA-Binding proteins | Access our application note titled 'Golden Gate meets C-Trap: A powerful combination for unprecedented molecular insights' .

New technology app note 👉 bit.ly/44JH0xe

Golden Gate technology: seamlessly ligate DNA fragments in any order into one backbone and test multiple target sequences in a single C-Trap experiment. This enables assays like DNA sequence-specific looping and boosts sequence-screening workflow speed 🐇.

SMBio is coming to the Nordics! This flyer image says "LUMICKS symposia: SMBio 202 Nordics, 4 - 5 September 2025 in Copenhagen". Selected speakers shown are Barbara van Loon (Dept. of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU Trondheim), Hilde Loge Nilsen (Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo), Pol Martin Bendix (Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen) and Ian Hickson (Center for Chromosome Stability, University of Copenhagen). Register now! Abstract deadline on 25 July.

🎆 SMBio is coming to Copenhagen! Join us for the 1st Nordics SMBio 2025 on Sept 4-5, focused on single-molecule research and optical manipulation of biological structures.

Connect, collaborate, and grow your network. Register by July 25 - spots are limited! Discover all here: bit.ly/4l3Sxgx

Congratulations to C-Trap users @hymanlab.bsky.social and colleagues for their newest publication, showcasing a lot of spectacular data!

Live webinar: A protein-DNA surface hydrogel mechanically protects the cell nucles. Thursday, June 26 (4:00 PM - GMT+2) - Alexander von Appen, PhD (Group Leader, MPI-CBG)

Coming Thursday: Dr. Alexander von Appen (MPI-CBG) will share groundbreaking research showing how a protein-DNA hydrogel forms a protective hydrogel at the nuclear envelope, visualized and tested by cryo-ET and optical tweezers. Join us this Thursday, June 26 at 4PM (GMT+2) for a deep dive!

YouTube video by The Rockefeller University The Rockefeller Scientist: Shixin Liu, Ph.D.

Great profile video of a great and inspiring single-molecule lab, congratulations @rockefelleruniv.bsky.social for featuring science and scientists like Shixin Liu: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpDe...

A protein-DNA surface hydrogel mechanically protects the cell nucleus https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.05.21.655270v1

Flyer copy: join our next webinar - a protein-DNA surface hydrogen mechanically protects the cell nucleus by Alexander von Appen, PhD (Group leader at Max Planck Insitute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden). Date: Thursday, June 26 at 40:00 PM (GMT+2). Register now...

How does the nuclear envelope protect the genome under stress?

Dr Alexander von Appen team saw that DNA + proteins form a co-condensate that reinforces the nucleus under force.

🧬 Join Dr Von Appen in the next webinar to learn how this hydrogel protects DNA!
📅 June 26 | 🕓 4PM
🔗 bit.ly/4dAJRLT