From bacteria to eukaryotes, cells have evolved a remarkable battery of enzymes to deal with the mechanical and topological challenges presented by nucleic acid production, processing and maintenance. A clear view of the biology of the genetic material requires a molecular understanding of how these enzymes function. Such an understanding will enhance our ability to manipulate genome structure and gene expression. The theme of this meeting revolves around the mechanisms of these enzymes, with particular emphasis on research that integrates structural, biochemical, biophysical and computational approaches. With recent technological advances in imaging (i.e., single-molecule and cryo-electron microscopies), we expect to witness a flourish of key biological systems to be characterised with unprecedented detail.
This meeting will cover many of the molecular mechanisms by which large macromolecular machines carry out a diverse range of nucleic acid processes including DNA replication and repair, gene transcription and regulation, RNA processing and splicing, translation, nucleic acids structures and chromatin structure and epigenetic mechanisms. The meeting will also explore new quantitative techniques as well as theoretical approaches.
Invited speakers include: – Keynote speaker – John Diffley, The Francis Crick Institute (UK) – Keynote speaker – Rachel Green, Johns Hopkins University (USA) – Biochemical Society’s 2021 International Award winner – Brandt Eichman, Vandberbilt University (USA)
Oral communication slots are available at this meeting. All attendees, particularly researchers in the early stages of their career, are invited to submit a poster abstract for consideration as an oral communication. You can submit your abstract here.
Please note that Harden Conferences are ‘fully residential only’ retreat-style conferences to encourage networking and discussion outside of the lectures. As such, all registration fees include onsite accommodation and it is not possible to offer a registration fee without accommodation.
There are a variety of Biochemical Society, NVBMB and SEBBM bursaries available for this meeting. Click here to find out more.
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This EMBO workshop is organised by Dr N.Vastenhow, Dr Harrison, Dr O’Carroll, and Dr Tachibana.
About the workshop:
Life for all sexually reproducing species commences with the generation of a totipotent embryo with a unique transcriptional program. This process requires the gradual handover of developmental control from maternally provided mRNAs and proteins to products of the zygotic genome. This maternal-to-zygotic transition (MZT) is accompanied by epigenetic reprogramming, 3D chromatin reorganization, changes in chromatin accessibility, dynamic regulation of non-coding and coding RNA, as well as transcriptional activation of genes and transposons from a repressed state. Pioneer transcription factors required for zygotic genome activation (ZGA) and developmental progression beyond the MZT have been identified in Drosophila but essential regulators of genome awakening remain unidentified in most organisms. The revolution in single-cell approaches may close this gap and will facilitate answering mechanistic questions in early embryos across species. Therefore, the major objective of this meeting is to advance the mechanistic understanding of ZGA and the MZT. To achieve this, this EMBO Workshop will bring together both established scientists and young researchers working on diverse organisms and in different disciplines, ranging from development and transcription to structural biology, with a shared interest in the earliest stages of life.
Organized every two years, the SIB days are the internal scientific conference and community event of the SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics.
Its ambition? To give a voice to its 80 groups across Switzerland, through a diversity of bioinformatics topics, and to offer its 800 SIB Members and Employees many opportunities for learning and discussion about each other’s research and activities in a friendly atmosphere.
