Advances in microscopy have seen the advent of super resolution imaging, mapping single molecules down to <8 nm resolution compared with conventional light microscopy that achieves only ~250 nm. This Hot Topic Event will provide an interdisciplinary forum covering new technological developments, wider-scale applications, and potential commercialization of super resolution imaging.

Topics

• Single molecule studies at the plasma membrane
• Super resolution imaging in 3D
• 'Working small' in vivo
• Future directions and applications of super-resolution imaging

This year, Max F. Perutz, the Austrian Nobel Prize winner after whom our laboratories are named, would have turned 100. On this occasion, the Max F. Perutz Laboratories (MFPL) of the University of Vienna and the Medical University of Vienna would like to invite you to the symposium "Crossing Frontiers in Life Sciences".Â

For the event, we have invited 14 highly renowned scientists, as well as 10 MFPL researchers to talk about structural biology, cell signaling, bioinformatics, RNA biology, and chromosome dynamics. A poster session will give PhDs and Postdocs of MFPL the opportunity to present their research. The talk and poster sessions as well as the conference dinner will be a great chance for scientists to network and exchange their ideas.

Molecular simulation techniques have never been as accessible and as valuable to biologists as to-day. The EMBO practical course will give an overview of state of the art molecular simulation methods used for analysis and prediction of bio-molecular structure, dynamics, and function.

The focus will be on methods providing atomic detail, such as quantum mechanics, molecular mechanics/dynamics and Brownian dynamics, permitting simulations on different temporal and spatial scales. In addition, the course will provide an introduction to protein homology modeling, macromolecular electrostatics, protein-ligand docking, structure-based drug design, data fitting to obtain macromolecular structures, as well as programming techniques.

The 5th Murnau Conference will be dedicated to Signal Transduction as a focus topic, represented in three scientific sessions.

The conference will cover the following topics, each session will involve 2-3 invited keynote lectures. Session lectures will be partly selected from submitted abstracts:

The Murnau Conference on Structural Biology is the biannual meeting of the study group Structural Biology of the German Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (GBM).

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Structural Biology has been chosen as the theme for the Latin American summit. Under the auspices of UNESCO and the IUCr, the summit meeting intends to provide a forum for stimulating the application of crystallography to complex biological phenomena. The meeting will consist of a series of scientific presentations by invited scientists from the region and will serve as a showcase for the progress which has been made in protein crystallography and related subjects over the course of the last 25 years. The relatively small number of participants (around 100) should guarantee a friendly environment conducive to discussing the scientific future of the region and specifically the contribution that crystallography can make to that future. It is hoped to have representatives from Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela and Mexico amongst others. The importance of creating greater integration with the wider scientific community will be emphasized by the participation of world-class Latin American scientists who have had successful careers outside of the region as well as by the opening lecture to be given by Nobel Laureate Ada Yonath.

Scope and objectives

2014 has been designated the International Year of Crystallography (IYCr2014) under the auspices of UNESCO and the International Union of Crystallography. The major objectives of the IYCr2014 are:

• To increase public awareness of the science of crystallography and how it underpins most technological developments in our modern society;
• To inspire young people through public exhibitions, conferences and hands-on demonstrations in schools;
• To illustrate the universality of science;
• To intensify the programme Crystallography in Africa and create similar programmes in Asia and Latin America;
• To foster international collaboration between scientists worldwide, especially Northâ€"South cooperation;
• To promote education and research in crystallography and its links to other sciences;
• To involve the large synchrotron and neutron radiation facilities worldwide in the celebrations of IYCr2014, including the SESAME project set up under UNESCO auspices.

• Workshop 1: High-Resolution RIXS and NanoARPES
• Workshop II: Coherent X-ray Scattering
• Workshop III: Applications of Synchrotron Radiation to Structural Biology
• Workshop IV X-ray Nano-analysis on Condensed Matter Physics and Materials Science

The Advanced Workshop is organized by the Abdus Salam International centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP).

The objective of this Workshop is to expose the participants to the methodologies used to solve macromolecular structures, using synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction and scattering techniques. Structural biology is an interdisciplinary research area, requiring expertises from both the life sciences and the physical sciences, so it is often difficult to educate and train young scientists with the necessary breath of experience. The Workshop is meant to provide a comprehensive overview of the state of the art in the fields of macromolecular crystallography and small-angle X-ray scattering, and aims to bridge the gap between physics and biology by covering the entire process, starting from the gene to obtain the atomic structure. A few practical sessions will provide thestudents with some hands-on experience in some of the subjects covered by the lectures

This event is part of a joint initiative between ICTP, IAEA, Elettra and SESAME, the Middle East Synchrotron Radiation facility in Jordan.

Topics will include:

• Protein production
  
• Crystallization
  
• MX data collection and processing
• MX structure determination
• Refinement
• Model building
• SAXS data collection and structure determination
  
• Complementary techniques.

Hands-on sessions will include:

• Crystallization
• Synchrotron data collection
  
• Data processing
• Refinement Model building

Participation:

2014 Topics

Biomacromolecular complexes and assemblies (protein-RNA/DNA complexes, e.g., viruses, ribosomes; quaternary protein structures; DNA, proteins, polyelectrolytes). The lecturers will describe related problems and discuss approaches to solutions, e.g.:

• spectroscopies (NMR, EPR, FTIR, Raman, MS…)
• microscopies (AFM, fluorescence techniques, tweezers…)
• diffraction methods
• computational solutions, modeling and simulations

Lecturers

• Nenad Ban, ETH, Zürich, Switzerland: Protein structure & function; X-ray diffraction
  • Ribosomes and their functional complexes
  • Beyond the prokaryotic ribosome
• Jasna Brujic, NYU, New York, USA: Soft matter, statistical physics; single molecule experiments-AFM
  • Emulsions and packing
  • Single-molecule AFM studies
• Mario Cindrić, RuÄ'er BoÅ¡ković Institute
  • Mass Spectrometry for protein sequencing
• Yves Engelborghs, KU Leuven, Belgium: Fluorescence microscopy and spectroscopy
  • Time resolved fluorescence spectroscopy of proteins
  • Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy : an elegant way to study molecular interactions.
• Helmut Grubmueller (COST lecturer), MPI-BPC, Göttingen, Germany: Theoretical and Computational Biophysics
  • Forces and Conformational Dynamics in Biomolecular Nanomachines 1,2
• Jané Kondev, Brandeis University, USA
  • Chromosome Folding in Cells
  • Transcriptional Regulation
• Pierre-Emmanuel Milhiet, Centre de Biochimie Structurale, Montpellier, France: High-performance AFM, membrane proteins imaging
  • Near field microscopies in structural biology
    
  • AFM imaging in the field of biological membranes
  • New developments in Bio-AFM imaging
• Lennart Nilsson, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden: Molecular modeling, nucleic acids, peptides and their interactions
• Chris Oostenbrink, UNRLF, Vienna, Austria: Structure and dynamics of biomolecules; modeling
  • Ensembles and sampling, leading to molecular dynamics simulations
  • Structure refinement using molecular dynamics simulations (NMR observables)
  • Calculation of free energies from molecular simulation
• Frances Separovic, University of Melbourne, Australia: NMR and Structural Studies of Membrane-Active Peptides
  • Solid-state NMR of membrane-active peptides
  • Membrane interactions of antimicrobial and amyloid peptides
• Ana-Sunčana Smith, RuÄ'er BoÅ¡ković Institute & Uni Erlangen-Nürnberg Germany: Membranes and vesicles, cell adhesion
  • Membranes, from self assembly to rafts 1,2,3
• Holger Stark, MPI-BPC, Göttingen, Germany: Protein structure& function; cryoEM
  • Introduction into single particle cryo-EM
  • High-resolution structure determination of macromolecular complexes by cryo-EM
• Heinz-Jürgen Steinhoff (COST lecturer), University of Osnabrück, Germany: Macromolecular Structure, EPR
  • Principles of site-directed spin labeling EPR
  • Site-directed spin labeling EPR of biomacromolecules, complexes and assemblies
• Antonio Å iber, Institute of physics, Zagreb, Croatia: Physics of viruses
  • Physics of viruses: electrostatics, elasticity and DNA condensation in viruses 1,2,3
• Iva Tolić, RuÄ'er BoÅ¡ković Institute & MPI-CBG, Dresden, Germany & RBI, Zagreb: Physics of cells, fluorescence-microscopy
  • Microtubules and motor proteins 1, 2
• Anthony Watts, Department of Biochemistry, Oxford, UK: Protein structure& function; solid state NMR
  • Principles of solid state NMR for the study of biomolecules
  • Solid state NMR for structural studies of large integral membrane proteins
  • Receptor dynamics and structure in membranes resolved using solid state NMR
• Bojan Žagrović, MFPL, Vienna, Austria: Computational Biophysics of Macromolecules
  • More dynamic than we think? On conformational averaging in structural biology 1, 2
  • Protein-RNA interactions and the origin of the genetic code

Program Committee

• Dr. Sanja Tomić RuÄ'er BoÅ¡ković Institute, Zagreb, Croatia (chair)
• Dr. Fraser MacMillan, CM1306 COST Action Chair, University of East-Anglia, UK
• Prof. Ana-Sunčana Smith Uni Erlangen-Nürnberg Germany, Germany
• Dr. Antonio Å iber Institute of Physics, Zagreb, Croatia
• Dr. Iva Tolić MPI-CBG, Dresden, Germany
• Prof. Bojan Žagrović Max F. Perutz Laboratories GmbH, Laboratory of Computational Biophysics Department of Structural and Computational Biology, Campus Vienna, Austria

ObjectivesÂ

The process of curing a disease starts with identifying its target protein that is considered a building block in a wide range of pharmacological applications. With the three-dimensional structures of both the target protein and the appropriate medicinal compounds, extensive information can be combined to help developing better drugs. X-ray crystallography comprises the most important technique for determining the 3D-structures, and it plays a major role to identify the active conformation adopted by a protein excluding the inactive one(s). This symposium focuses on the powerful contribution of Crystallography in the field of Pharmacology, by shedding light on the basic concepts and approaches.

Programme

9:00-9:30 Registration

9:30â€"10:00 Opening Session

10:00â€"11:00 Prof. Dr Karimat El-Sayed, Quality Control in Pharmaceuticals Industry

11:00â€"12:00 Prof. Dr Adel Girgis, Chemical Synthesis of Medicinal Drugs

12:00â€"13:00 Break

13:00â€"14:00 Dr Gihan S. Kamel, Diseaseâ€"related Proteins: CloserLook With Crystallography Eyes

14:00â€"15:00 Dr Nasser Saad, Methods and Advantages of Computer Aided Drug Design

15:00â€"16:00 Closing Session and Recommendations

AIMYoung scientists studying membrane phenomena may be bewildered by the wide range of biophysical techniques which are currently used to study their properties. The aim of the course is to provide participants with a solid grounding in biophysical techniques so that they will not only be able to understand the literature in their area better, but will also be able to decide for themselves the advantages and disadvantages of applying particular methods in their research. Expert advice on specific problems will also be available. In addition, the course is an excellent networking opportunity. Students will meet some prominent biophysicists in the membranes field, and other young scientists from all over Europe, in an attractive and convivial environment.

EBSA COURSE

EBSA is continuing its Advanced Courses on Biophysics, and due to popular demand, this is third of the series is focussing on Membrane Biophysics and Lipid Protein Interactions. This 5-day Advanced course is for PhD students, post-docs and young scientists. The registration includes full accommodation (housing and meals) and is heavily subsidised by EBSA to ensure widest possible participation. The number of Participants is limited to 60. EBSA also supports the 12th Greta Pifat International School of Biophysics.

COURSE FORMAT

Morning : the course will consist of plenary lectures by specialists in the field of membrane biophysics using most methodologies as applied to membranes (NMR, X-rays, AFM, Electron Microscopy, Fluorescence, Calorimetry, IR & Raman, Molecular Dynamics, etc.). Afternoon : Cases studies will be presented by teachers to small groups of participants to ensure maximum involvement of all participants. Round table discussions, where participants will also present their ongoing work and for which they may need advice from specialists, will follow.

Probing the Biology: Chemistry Interface from Molecules to Ecosystems

One carbon (C1) metabolism plays a central role in microbial metabolism and global biogeochemical cycles. Key molecules of C1 metabolism include methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and methanol, coenzyme-bound one-carbon moieties (e.g., methyl-corrinoids), as well as organic compounds without carbon-carbon bonds such as dimethyl sulfide. Many of them (e.g., methane) are important energy sources, some (e.g., carbon dioxide and methane) are potent greenhouse gases, and others (e.g., dichloromethane) are toxic chemicals used industrially in large quantities. The conference spans natural and synthetic systems under oxic and anoxic conditions at scales from molecules to ecosystems. There is an emphasis on the molecular aspects of autotrophic microbes, methanogens, methylotrophs, methanotrophs, and acetogens. Participants will hear the latest cutting-edge research on microbial C1 metabolism, the role of these reactions in biogeochemical cycles, and current approaches to engineer microbes and biochemical pathways for societal applications. These applications include the production of biofuels and the remediation of environmental contamination.

The conference program will feature talks from a mix of junior and senior investigators. Complementary perspectives will be provided by leaders in biochemistry, general microbiology, molecular biology, structural biology, microbial ecology, and systems and synthetic biology. The meeting will also feature dynamic and interactive poster sessions. Selected poster presenters will be invited to give short talks in appropriate sessions. The GRC format, with extensive discussion sessions and informal gatherings in the afternoons and evenings, and the collegial nature of this long running meeting provides an ideal setting for researchers from different fields and generations to exchange ideas, brainstorm and discuss cross-disciplinary collaboration.

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The Molecular Basis of Excitability and Disease

The 2014 Gordon Research Conference on Ion Channels will continue the long tradition of bring together leading researchers to share unpublished, cutting-edge biomedical research focused on the proteins responsible for ion transport. The 2014 scientific program will cover all aspects of ion channel biology and biophysics, including the structure and regulation of ion channels, protein biogenesis and trafficking and integrated aspects of ion channels in physiological function. Invited Speakers have been selected to ensure a diverse set of topics, channels and presenters. All participants are asked to submit an abstract for presentation in the poster session and approximately ten short talks will be chosen from the abstracts. We strongly encourage graduate students and post-doctoral fellows to apply to both the 2014 Ion channels GRC and to the GRS held immediately before the meeting. Selected abstracts from these early-career investigators will be chosen for presentation in a short 2 minute "Data Blitz", a very popular feature at the 2012 GRC.Â

Understanding Intrinsically Disordered Regions (IDRs) at Different Scales: From Single Molecules to Complex Systems

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The 2014 Gordon Conference on Intrinsically Disordered Proteins (IDPs) will present cutting-edge research aimed at understanding the role of disordered regions: from studies on single molecules to complex systems and from research that investigates changes that happen at the millisecond time-scale to the evolutionary time-scale.

The conference will feature a wide range of topics involving Intrinsically Disordered Regions (IDRs) that will be of interest to biophysicists, biochemists, computational, evolutionary and structural biologists, molecular geneticists, and cell biologists. The session topics have been carefully chosen to highlight exciting new science in the last couple of years including (a) breakthroughs in peptide motif biology, (b) emerging views on how disordered regions mediate the formation of functional and non-functional aggregates, reversible assemblies and phase transitions, (c) state-of-the-art experimental approaches to investigate the structure, function and dynamics of IDRs, (d) emerging methods to exploit IDRs for therapeutic applications and synthetic biology, (d) new concepts in evolutionary, molecular, and systems biology that describe how IDRs rewire interaction networks, and are able to link genotype to phenotype through their highly dynamic structural ensembles and (e) the future directions of the "unstructural" biology field. The conference also has an underlying theme that will highlight how IDRs are involved in human diseases.

The conference will bring together a collection of investigators who are at the forefront of their respective field, and will provide ample opportunities for interdisciplinary interaction that will catalyze the cross-fertilization of ideas, and provide a chance for junior scientists and graduate students to present their work. The session chairs promise to orchestrate lively discussions. The collegial atmosphere of this conference, with programmed discussion sessions as well as opportunities for informal gatherings in the afternoons and evenings, provides an avenue for scientists from different disciplines to brainstorm and promotes cross-disciplinary collaborations in the various research areas represented. There will be a poster competition judged by a committee of experts. Two awards will be given to graduate students whose posters are deemed to be the best by the committee. The new location for this conference is scenic, convenient, and promises to be an excellent setting for numerous informal interactions.

For the first time in the meeting series, a Gordon Research Seminar (GRS) will precede the conference. The Intrinsically Disordered Proteins GRS is designed to further facilitate the participation of graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Planned by and for the trainees, it will provide an opportunity for our junior researchers to present seminars and posters in a supportive, interactive environment. It will act as an important springboard for the development of the future thought leaders in the field.

This conference will highlight the pervasiveness of IDPs in biology and enhance our understanding of their dynamic structure and function. We therefore warmly welcome you to participate, experience and enjoy the IDP GRC 2014.

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