Exploring the World Through the Promega and Eppendorf Family Exchange Program

The Eppendorf Family Exchange program offers a unique opportunity for Promega families to participate in an international exchange initiative designed to bring our global community closer together. Through this program, children of Eppendorf and Promega employees immerse themselves in new cultures, gain language skills, and forge lifelong friendships.

The program began in 2019 during the 40th anniversary of Promega when we received the generous gift of an exchange program from a friend in the industry: Eppendorf. Every year, ten children ages 14-18 have the opportunity to participate in this enriching exchange, experiencing daily life from a new cultural perspective in a different country for two to four weeks. In return, Promega families will host a child from an Eppendorf family.

Continue reading “Exploring the World Through the Promega and Eppendorf Family Exchange Program”

Soft Skills for the Science Lab: Develop Yourself with Promega

Soft-skills such as presentation skills, time management and project management are essential for success in the science lab.

Preparing samples, conducting test series with cell cultures, or writing laboratory reports. Laboratory tasks cover a broad range of activities. Technical assistants support researchers in performing and evaluating experiments or carrying out laboratory tests in the medical field. A lab without them? Hard to imagine. However, it is not just scientific and technical understanding that is important. “Certain soft skills are necessary to be successful in your job. This also applies to the scientific field,” says Anette Leue, Head of Digital Marketing & Communications at Promega GmbH. “The focus is often on technical skills, while personal development is neglected. This inspired us to come up with our ‘Develop Yourself with Promega’ program.”

What is Develop Yourself with Promega?

“Develop Yourself with Promega” is a training series for laboratory personnel, focusing on personal development. It covers topics such as “How do I present my results in an interesting and structured way?” or “What do I need to make my lab more sustainable?” The aim is to expand professional competencies through soft-skill training. “At the beginning, we conducted a survey with our partner, the Life Science Learning Lab (in German Glaesernes Labor) in Berlin, among technical assistants to find out which topics are important to them,” Leue continues. These insights became the starting point for the first four trainings:

  • Green your lab: How can my lab become more sustainable?
  • Presentation training: A few steps to a good presentation
  • Project management in everyday lab work
  • Time management for technical assistants
Continue reading “Soft Skills for the Science Lab: Develop Yourself with Promega”

Unlocking the Secrets of ADP-Ribosylation with Arg-C Ultra Protease, a Key Enzyme for Studying Ester-Linked Protein Modifications 

Post-translational modifications of proteins are critical for proper protein function. Modifications such as phosphorylation/dephosphorylation can act as switches that activate or inactivate proteins in signaling cascades. The addition of specific sugars to membrane proteins on cells are critical for recognition, interaction with the extracellular matrix and other activities. While we know volumes about some types of protein modifications, ADP-ribosylation on aspartate and glutamate residues has been more difficult to study because of the chemical instability of these ester-linked modifications. 

Matić Lab (Eduardo José Longarini and Ivan Matić) recently published a study that explored mono-ADP-ribosylation (ADPr) on aspartate and glutamate residues by the protein PARP1 and its potential reversal by PARG. PARP1 and PARG signaling are central to DNA repair and apoptosis pathways, making them potentially powerful therapeutic targets in cancer or neurodegenerative diseases in which DNA repair processes are often disrupted. 

Continue reading “Unlocking the Secrets of ADP-Ribosylation with Arg-C Ultra Protease, a Key Enzyme for Studying Ester-Linked Protein Modifications “

Don’t Flush Your Kitty Litter! Toxoplasmosis Is a Growing Threat to Sea Otters and Other Marine Mammals

Sea otter in water with an overlay of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts.

Southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis), endangered marine mammals along California’s coastlines, are facing an unexpected threat. The menace comes not from pollution, habitat loss or natural predators, but from a microscopic enemy—Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). This protozoan parasite, typically associated with domestic cats, has found its way into marine ecosystems with sometimes deadly consequences for sea otters. Recently, scientists identified transmission of virulent, atypical strains of T. gondii from terrestrial felids to sea otters along the southern California coast, with lethal consequences (1).

Understanding T. gondii and Its Hosts

T. gondii is a versatile parasite that can infect nearly all warm-blooded animals, including humans and marine mammals. However, the T. gondii lifecycle depends upon felids (e.g., domestic cats and their wild relatives) who serve as definitive hosts. It is in their intestines that the parasite completes its sexual reproductive stage. The resulting oocysts are excreted in the animals’ feces. T. gondii oocysts exhibit remarkable resilience, surviving in soil, freshwater and seawater for extended periods. They are even resistant to standard wastewater treatment processes, which means oocysts in cat waste disposed of by flushing will pass through the treatment plant and be discharged into the environment. ​(2,3).

Oocysts can also be washed from soil contaminated with cat waste and carried via storm drains and rivers into the ocean, dispersing them into coastal waters. Once there, the oocysts settle on kelp or in sediments where they can be picked up by marine invertebrates like snails, mussels and clams. Marine mammals such as sea otters become infected when they consume these contaminated invertebrates. Otters can also ingest oocysts during grooming sessions​ (1,3).

Continue reading “Don’t Flush Your Kitty Litter! Toxoplasmosis Is a Growing Threat to Sea Otters and Other Marine Mammals”

Novel Promega Enzyme Tackles Biggest Challenge in DNA Forensics

On September 25, Promega Research Scientist David Mokry addressed a full audience at the International Symposium on Human Identification. The event brings together people from the forensic DNA industry – criminalists, analysts, lab directors and more – eager to learn about advancements in the field. Over the next 20 minutes, David unveiled a novel enzyme designed to tackle a challenge that has plagued DNA forensics for decades.

Known as “Reduced Stutter Polymerase,” the new enzyme virtually eliminates confounding stutter artifacts in forensic DNA analysis. When incorporated into STR analysis kits, it will dramatically simplify mixed sample deconvolution and help forensic analysts generate accurate profiles of multiple contributors. This technology is the result of years of collaboration between the Genetic Identity R&D Group and the Advanced Technology Group at Promega.

Here’s how they did it, and why it’s so important.

Continue reading “Novel Promega Enzyme Tackles Biggest Challenge in DNA Forensics”

The Role of Bioassays in Testing New Therapeutics for Canine Cancer

Immunoassays are bringing new hope to the treatment of canine cancer.

Every dog owner fears the day they might hear the word “cancer” from their vet. This devastating disease affects not only humans but our canine companions as well. Veterinary scientists and clinicians are now employing the same methods as researchers studying human cancer, bringing the tools of personalized cancer treatment and drug research and development to bear on canine cancer, and in the not-too-distant future the treatment for a dog’s cancer may become as personalized as the bond they share with their owner.

Developing and testing new drugs and therapies is crucial to improving cancer treatments for canines. One of the most powerful tools in the drug development toolbox is the bioassay. Bioassays enable scientists to measure the biological activity of a potential treatment compound to determine if it might be effective as a therapeutic agent. For researchers focused on advancing canine cancer therapies, bioassays are indispensable. They offer precise insights into how new drugs interact with cancer cells and the immune system.

Continue reading “The Role of Bioassays in Testing New Therapeutics for Canine Cancer”

Why Do We Love Being Scared? The Science Behind Horror Movies

Haunted mansion with pointed towers in a foggy, moonlit forest, creating a spooky, eerie atmosphere.

There’s something oddly captivating about watching a film that makes you jump, scream, or better yet—a film that sticks with you long after watching. Millions of people embrace the fear, willingly diving into the dark world of horror movies. But why? What is the appeal of subjecting ourselves to terror? The reasons we watch and enjoy scary movies go far beyond the jump scares—they’re deeply psychological.

For those who find themselves covering their eyes or clutching the nearest pillow, it might be hard to understand. Yet, as the hair-raising month of October ends, many people spent the 31 days leading up to Halloween watching films designed to scare the daylights out of them. In this blog, we explore why people enjoy fear (or why they don’t) and what psychology reveals about the movies that truly terrify us.

Continue reading “Why Do We Love Being Scared? The Science Behind Horror Movies”

Exploring the Respiratory Virus Landscape: Pre-Pandemic Data and Pandemic Preparedness

influenza viruses are part of the worldwide respiratory virus landscape

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, public health researchers and research scientists have sought more urgently to understand the worldwide respiratory virus landscape. The COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to re-evaluate our global public health priorities and activities. Additionally, acute respiratory tract infections are one of the leading causes of illness and death worldwide, particularly in developing countries. To really understand what changed with the pandemic and how we can best respond going forward, we need to understand what the baseline landscape was before the pandemic. Studies using samples that were collected prior to the pandemic are essential to this effort.

Continue reading “Exploring the Respiratory Virus Landscape: Pre-Pandemic Data and Pandemic Preparedness”

Neurons’ Role in FBP2 Regulation

Neuronal extracellular vesicles (NEVs) play a significant role in the communication between neurons and astrocytes, particularly by influencing metabolic processes such as glycolysis and lactate production. NEVs carry signaling molecules that affect the expression, degradation and oligomeric state of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase 2 (Fbp2) in astrocytes, altering their metabolism (1).

Basic Backstory on CNS Architecture
The central nervous system (CNS) is composed of an intricate cellular communications complex, divided generally into neurons and glial cells. Neurons form the electrical signaling network, with dendrites receiving and integrating signals via chemical synapses, and axons, some up to 1 meter in length, rapidly transmitting the signals.

Glial cells, including astrocytes, microglia and other cells, interact with neuronal cells to sustain this network. For example, glial cells regulate synapse formation and provide metabolic support to promote CNS homeostasis. Glial cell dysfunction contributes to most neural diseases and can even drive neurodegenerative processes (2).

What are Neuronal Extracellular Vesicles (NEVs)?
NEVs are formed by neurons via endocytosis and are released into the extracellular space where they interact with astrocytes. These transport vesicles carry a variety of molecules, including proteins and RNA, that influence cellular processes in recipient astrocytes.

NEV and Astrocyte Interactions
Fbp2 is an important enzyme involved in glycogen synthesis that also has nonenzymatic functions, including support of neuronal processes like long-term potentiation (LTP). LTP underlies synaptic strength and plasticity and is important in both learning and memory formation.

Continue reading “Neurons’ Role in FBP2 Regulation”

Third Annual Targeted Protein Degradation Symposium: Embracing the Excitement of Discovery

The third annual Targeted Protein Degradation (TPD) Symposium just wrapped up last month. It was kicked off with Poncho Meisenheimer, VP of Research and Development at Promega, likening the gathering of researchers to “kids in a biology candy store.” This playful analogy captured the vibrant energy and sense of exploration among the attendees, who convened to delve into the future possibilities of proximity-induced degradation. Poncho left attendees with three key questions to consider throughout the symposium:

  1. How can we focus on quantitative measures of cellular events in relevant models?
  2. How do we generate results that serve both human and AI models?
  3. How do we best embrace the excitement of discovery?

Nearly 150 participants from both industry and academia attended the two-day symposium. It was held on September 11th and 12th at Promega’s R&D hub, the Kornberg Center, in Madison, Wisconsin. The event, now in its third year, provided a familiar environment where collaborations flourished, and many attendees rekindled connections forged through previous interactions or partnerships in the field.

Continue reading “Third Annual Targeted Protein Degradation Symposium: Embracing the Excitement of Discovery”