Advanced Courses – 51��¥

Proteolysis: at the interface between health and disease

Carolyn Elliss — Tue, 16 Jan 2024 12:58:02 +0000

Protease research has witnessed a substantial expansion; on one hand, genome sequencing has unveiled numerous new proteases, while on the other hand, the swift development of innovative technologies like quantitative proteomics and in vivo imaging have shed light on the physiological context of these proteases. These advancements have facilitated the discovery of physiological substrates and significantly enhanced our understanding of protease functions in diverse biological contexts. This 51��¥ Workshop aims to address current advancements, challenges, and expansion in the field of proteases, protein inhibitors, and their physiological and pathological control mechanisms. The workshop will cover various sections dedicated to proteases, protease inhibitors, regulation, and proteolytic control, with a focus on their role in diseases and novel therapeutic approaches, bringing together established and emerging scientists from around the world to discuss the current status and future trends in this exciting research field.

Event website under preparation.

Les Houches–Telluride workshop on protein dynamics

Carolyn Elliss — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 14:18:56 +0000

The field of structural biology has been undergoing profound changes over the past few years, including the growing recognition of macromolecular dynamics being of paramount importance. Processes such as enzymatic turnover, protein transport and folding via biomolecular machinery, or the translocation of small molecules across biological membranes, fundamentally involve the sampling of multiple conformations of the proteins involved, i.e. dynamics. Moreover, the realization that many proteins are functional despite lacking a well-defined 3D structure, i.e. so-called intrinsically disordered proteins, has challenged our view of the structure–function relationship. Thus, in order to understand biological processes, it is instrumental to decipher the motions of proteins. The 51��¥ Advanced Course ‘Les Houches– Telluride Workshop on Protein Dynamics’ is a forum for presenting and discussing results from the application of state-of-the-art experimental (including, but not limited to optical, NMR and neutron spectroscopies, time-resolved X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy and scattering methods) and computational and theoretical approaches to studying equilibrium and out-of-equilibrium protein dynamics.

5th international conference on the long and the short of non-coding RNAs

Carolyn Elliss — Wed, 03 Jan 2024 10:35:55 +0000

Close to 40% of human genes encode long and small non-coding RNA, many of which are conserved throughout evolution. They perform many essential functions in germ and somatic cells, ranging from the suppression of retrotransposons to fine-tuning gene expression. Yet the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes remain incompletely understood. The goal of this meeting is two-fold. One is to review recent advances in studying non-coding RNA biology, from biosynthesis to function. The second is to discuss the use of therapeutic non-coding RNAs (including antisense, small interfering, and CRISPR RNAs) as tools to correct faulty gene expression in human disease.

Image courtesy of the National Human Genome Research Institute.

Redox biochemistry: cellular responses and disease relevance

Carolyn Elliss — Wed, 20 Dec 2023 09:26:37 +0000

While reactive oxygen species (ROS) were previously widely regarded as mere metabolic by-products, they have now been recognized as important mediators in cellular signalling cascades. It is now accepted that ROS are important in homeostatic signalling events. However, excessive activities of ROS and oxidative damage to lipids, proteins and DNA have been linked to pathologies and therefore oxidative stress is still considered to be a leading player in the pathophysiology of multiple diseases and ageing. This 51��¥ Advanced Lecture Course on “Redox biochemistry: cellular responses and disease relevance” will focus on recent developments in this exciting field of redox biology.

Membranes, lipids and proteins in organelle biogenesis

Carolyn Elliss — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 16:57:50 +0000

This Joint 51��¥/EMBO Lecture Course is an excellent platform and opportunity for graduate students and young postdoctoral scientists from academia (and possibly industry) to acquire an integrated overview of the structure, function and biogenesis of biological membranes and their components, to gain more insight in the possibilities offered by different disciplines and to discuss and learn about the multiple approaches, techniques and specialties in membrane research as well as to discuss modern-day challenges of the academic world with different experts in these fields. The past (18) courses have learned that the convivial atmosphere of this course stimulates excellent interactions between all course participants, also in part thanks to the location of the course.

Image: Artistic adaptation of the transferrin receptor localized in the ER and Golgi. This picture is a single time point of a spatial 3D high resolution movie obtained using the lattice light sheet microscope (yellow is closest and purple is farthest). Courtesy of the Kirchhausen lab.

Metals in biology: their importance and tools to study them

Carolyn Elliss — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 12:20:12 +0000

Metal ions play key roles in biology. More than 40% of all enzymes require metals for their activity, and metals are essential for the structure and function of nucleic acids. Conditions such as anaemia or hemochromatosis show that too much or too little of a single metal leads to disease. Metal-containing compounds provide diagnostic tools such as the gadolinium-based MRI contrast agents, or are pollutants such as the arsenic generated by biological leaching. This Advanced Course provides competence in this broad range of disciplines with integrated multi-disciplinary training that combines advanced theoretical knowledge with hands-on practical experiments.

Molecular mechanisms of ageing and regeneration: from hydra to humans

Carolyn Elliss — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 14:00:02 +0000

The Joint 51��¥/EMBO Lecture Course ‘Molecular mechanisms of ageing and regeneration: from hydra to humans’ is part of a series of Summer Schools with a 50-year tradition on the wonderful island of Spetses, Greece. It brings together leaders in the fields of ageing and regeneration with early-stage researchers, i.e. PhD students and postdocs. The meeting combines lectures, discussion groups, poster sessions, tutorials under the olive trees or on the beach, and common dinners. The intense nature of the course creates a familiar and inspiring atmosphere and fosters interactions between participants and speakers. It thus creates a unique training and networking opportunity.

5th Danube Conference on Epigenetics

Carolyn Elliss — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 10:40:50 +0000

After last year’s success, the 51��¥ Advanced Lecture Course: Danube Conference on Epigenetics will return in 2024 for the 5th time. The conference will bring together scientists to discuss a range of topics in the field of epigenetics: from transcriptional regulation, through chromatin modifications, nuclear architecture, transgenerational inheritance and metabolism to DNA methylation. Lectures by leading experts in the field will be followed by poster sessions in a relaxed atmosphere. In addition, this year’s program will again feature a dedicated hands-on session on “How to write better scientific papers”, with a specific focus on data visualization. After the exciting sessions, evenings will be shared with new and old friends during social events, ideal for interacting one-on-one with invited speakers. If you wish to immerse yourself in the full spectrum of epigenetics in a friendly atmosphere, then join us in Budapest between 28–31 October 2024!

Protein Termini 2024: from insight to impact

Carolyn Elliss — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 12:05:26 +0000

The past decade has seen a broad increase in the understanding that protein function is regulated by co- and post-translational modification of their N- and C-termini. Active research in this field is expanding, including in mechanistic understanding of protein modification, in technologies for examining protein termini and in identification of routes by which protein terminal modifications can be exploited for beneficial purposes. This 51��¥ Workshop will bring together established expertise in the field with new contributors, and will highlight the opportunities to capitalize on knowledge of protein termini for translation into novel methodologies, therapeutics and agri-tech solutions. Session topics will include ‘Structural and biochemical characterization of protein termini’, ‘New insights into N-terminal processing’, ‘Protein C-termini’, ‘Advances in methodology’, ‘Physiological impact of protein terminal modification’ and ‘Exploiting protein termini’.

Functional imaging of cellular dynamics

Carolyn Elliss — Tue, 07 Nov 2023 12:18:09 +0000

The ability of cells to perceive and correctly respond to their environment is the basis of development, tissue repair, and immunity as well as normal tissue homeostasis. Errors in the interplay, dynamics or localization of the involved molecules are responsible for many diseases such as cancer, autoimmunity and diabetes. By increasing the understanding of the complex interplay between these various components and their dynamics over time the related diseases can be treated more effectively. Because of the recent technological revolution in advanced light microscopy (i.e. functional imaging of molecules, development of caged compounds and biosensors) it is now possible to directly monitor the dynamics of (single) molecules in living cells. Several new microscopy techniques are ideally suited for studying cellular signals but their application remains limited because most biologists have never been introduced to these technologies.This 6-day 51��¥ Practical Course on advanced microscopy for experienced graduate students, postdocs and lab technicians integrates theoretical lectures with hands-on experiments and practical experience. National and international experts in the field of microscopy will give an overview of “state-of-the-art” imaging techniques and applications in biological research. The practicals will focus at the functional imaging techniques FRAP, FCS, FLIM, FRET & Optogenetics. In addition two (advanced) data analysis sessions for ImageJ will be included.