13th International Symposium on Flavins and Flavoproteins to be held August 29-September 4, 1999 at the University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany

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9900534ClaiborneThe area of flavins and flavoproteins is a broad, but clearly andsimply defined one. It covers all aspects of work pertaining to thechemistry and biology of compounds based on the isoalloxazine nucleusand on a very few closely related structures. Because of theextraordinary versatility of flavin as a prosthetic group and itsinvolvement in a variety of important biological oxidation and reductionprocesses, this area continues to expand rapidly. Interest in flavinsranges from theoretical chemistry to medical aspects. The 13thInternational Symposium on Flavins and Flavoproteins is atthe University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany, August 29-September 4,1999, as one of a series which has been organized at 3-year intervalssince 1965. The last symposium was held in Calgary, Alberta in 1996.Because of the continued and increasing pace of research in this area,it is important that regularly scheduled meetings be held. Reviewlectures will cover the entire field and the meeting should bringtogether scientists from all over the world from a wide variety ofdisciplines, and promote valuable discussion and exchange ofinformation. In addition, it should serve the purposes of keepingexisting workers fully up to date with all aspects of the subject and ofinitiating young investigators into this important area of research.Riboflavin (vitamin B2) is an essential nutrient in humans; thebiochemical basis for this requirement can be explained by the fact thatriboflavin derivatives (FMN and FAD, as abbreviated) serve as essentialcoenzymes for a large number of chemical processes important in humanmetabolism and nutrition. In many cases the corresponding flavo-enzymesare involved in the conversion of chemical energy from foodstuffs,directly or indirectly, into ATP, which is the cellular form of storedenergy required for essential biochemical functions. Therefore thestudy of flavins and flavoproteins has direct consequences for humanphysiology and since 1965, researchers from the U.S. and around the worldhave convened every three years to share and discuss their latestfindings in flavin and flavoprotein research. In 1999 the 13thInternational Symposium on Flavins and Flavoproteins is inKonstanz, Germany; the funds provided by this NSF award are usedspecifically to assist young investigators (primarily Ph.D. students andpost-graduate fellows) from the U.S. in attending this conference.