Sarah Keane

Mine in this week’s @newyorker.com

If you’re around @biophysicalsoc.bsky.social 2026 and looking for some cool RNA-protein work related to microRNA biogenesis, stop by my poster today at 1:45 and I’ll tell you about some of my near-complete work with @keanelab.bsky.social! #BPS2026

Bernard-Glickman Professorship elevates UNCG psychology  - University Advancement UNC Greensboro psychology professor Dr. Susan Keane, the holder of the Candace Bernard and Robert Glickman Distinguished Professorship, says she can make a stronger impact because of the generosity of...

New press about my mom, Prof. Susan Keane @uncg.edu and the impact of her work with Dream Camp, Right Track, and other mentoring in the Psychology Department. Very proud of the work she has done and luck to have her as a role model!

YouTube video by Bruce Springsteen Bruce Springsteen - Streets Of Minneapolis (Official Audio)

I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good.

Stay free

Color photograph of Joan Steitz (Joan Argetsinger Steitz), the distinguished American molecular biologist and biochemist renowned for her groundbreaking discoveries in RNA biology, including the identification of small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs) essential to RNA splicing. She is pictured in a close-up portrait within a laboratory or research setting, smiling warmly and directly at the camera with an engaging, approachable expression that conveys enthusiasm and expertise. Steitz has gray hair pulled back, striking blue eyes, and is wearing large, elaborate dangling earrings adorned with purple gemstones and metallic accents. She is dressed in a rich purple blouse. The softly blurred background includes scientific elements such as lab benches, equipment, monitors, charts, and partial signage, evoking the environment of her long career at Yale University where she served as Sterling Professor of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry. #JoanSteitz #MolecularBiology #WomenInScience #Biochemistry #RNA

Biochemist/molecular biologist Joan Steitz was born #OTD in 1941.

She (& team) figured out how our cells read/use genetic instructions to make proteins. A key person who helped crack the code on RNA—the molecule that acts like a messenger between DNA & and the proteins our bodies need. #WomenInSTEM

Tom Cech to Davos: RNA research is 'still a big deal' The Nobel laureate and CU Boulder professor, recently ranked #1 globally for RNA research, will speak at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos,

www.colorado.edu/today/2026/0...

See you soon!

NMR data processing, visualization, analysis and structure calculation with NMRFx Communications Chemistry, Published online: 05 December 2025; doi:10.1038/s42004-025-01812-8NMR spectroscopy’s effectiveness across scientific disciplines hinges on robust computational tools for data analysis. Here, the authors introduce NMRFx, a software that enhances data processing and visualization, demonstrating its utility through diverse case studies, including protein, RNA, natural product, and metabolomics analyses.

Just out: NMR data processing, visualization, analysis and structure calculation with NMRFx

all raw and processed data are also freely available doi.org/10.7302/5det...

A practical guide to RNA NMR spectral analysis for undergraduate students Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is a powerful analytical tool that can be used to determine the structures of both small organic molecules and large biomacromolecules. Many undergraduate...

I'm also late in posting this work, but really proud of Megan @mnwestwood.bsky.social, Sydney, and Jocelyn for their contributions to making RNA NMR spectroscopy more accessible for novice learners! Check out their preprint here: chemrxiv.org/engage/chemr...

Congratulations are in order!! Cade @chembiocade.bsky.social received the Sokol, Margaret and Herman, Fellowship in the Chemical Sciences and Antigone was selected as a departmental nominee for the Rackham-wide outstanding GSI award!

Congratulations to postbac Sydney Steele for receiving a poster award at the Rustbelt RNA meeting last weekend!

Integrated in silico and experimental screening identifies novel ligands that target precursor microRNA-31 at the dicer cleavage site MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression and the dysregulation in mature miRNA levels has been implicated in a wide variety of diseases. In particular, altered levels of mature microRNA-31…

🔓Explore recent #OpenAccess work by @keanelab.bsky.social and colleagues where they describe a virtual screening approach to explore the druggability of the precursor structure of microRNA-31👀

pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2025/md/d5md00553a

📍 @umich.edu 🧪

Wonderful news!! Congratulations!!

Congratulations to the lab for placing 1st for the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts unit in the 2025 Freezer Challenge! A big thanks to Antigone and @chembiocade.bsky.social for leading the lab in sustainable practices.

Work funded by #NIH, #RCSA, and #Pew

Integrated in silico and experimental screening identifies novel ligands that target precursor microRNA-31 at the dicer cleavage site MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression and the dysregulation in mature miRNA levels has been implicated in a wide variety of diseases. In particular, altered levels of mature microRNA-31 (miR-31)...

Grace then applied this virtual screening pipeline to pre-miR-31. Here, she screened an NCI database and experimentally validated in silico hits. She then conducted a structure similarity search on the validated hits and found a more potent binder!

Structure guided discovery of small molecule ligands targeting the oncomiR-1 NPSL2 hairpin - Scientific Reports Scientific Reports - Structure guided discovery of small molecule ligands targeting the oncomiR-1 NPSL2 hairpin

Grace developed a virtual screening approach focused on cavities identified in the (NPSL2) RNA structure. She then validated screening "hits" experimentally.
Importantly, this approach is broadly applicable to any RNA with a known 3D structure.

Two papers from Grace's thesis have been published! Our journey into the world of small molecule RNA targeting.

And another poster award! This one to Antigone, who presented at the Karle Symposium today!!

Congratulations are in order! Two members of the lab, Moriah (a @NSF funded D-RISE high school student) and Diane (a UM undergrad) were awarded poster prizes at the URAN|UM symposium today!

I am (optimistically) looking for a postdoc with solution state biomolecular NMR expertise to join our group. I can provide access to high-end instrumentation and technical assistance via our membership at the New York Structural Biology Center. #nmr #academicsky #postdoc

Structural Features Within Precursor microRNA-20a Regulate Dicer-TRBP Processing MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression of target messenger (m) RNAs. To maintain proper miR…

Glad to see this work out in its final form! Congrats to the team!

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Learn more about how Eterna puzzles are being used for RNA education and outreach at the middle school, high school, and college level in the latest RCSB PDB newsletter. 🧬 🧪
cdn.rcsb.org/rcsb-pdb/gen...

Congrats Qi!!

Integrated in silico and experimental screening identifies novel ligands that target precursor microRNA-31 at the Dicer cleavage site MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate gene expression and the dysregulation in mature miRNA levels has been implicated in a wide variety of diseases. In particular, altered levels of mature microRNA-31 (miR-31)...

Grace's manuscript describing a combined virtual/experimental screening approach for identifying small molecule ligands that bind pre-miR-31 is online!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

2nd defense of the summer! Congratulations to Dr. Aldrex Munsayac! It has been a pleasure to work with and learn from you!

Consolidated 3-Fold Isotopic Lens for Probing RNAs Undesired scalar and dipolar couplings are two major interactions that complicate structural and dynamic studies in solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Recent developments in site-...

ACS Bio & Med Chem Au (open) Consolidated 3-Fold Isotopic Lens for Probing RNAs, Solomon K. Attionu, Lukasz T. Olenginski, Frances P. Stump, Theodore K. Dayie* pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/... #NMRchat 🧲

Great news!! Congratulations!!!

Please join the chorus of voices, including my own, in support of the talented, hardworking and dedicated scientists and staff at NIH. They serve their country by deploying their training and skills to improve the health and quality of life of all Americans 🙏 🇺🇸