Conference: Biological Consequences of Alternatively Structured DNA to be held in Steamboat Springs, CO on July 5th, 2010

会议：选择性结构 DNA 的生物学后果将于 2010 年 7 月 5 日在科罗拉多州斯廷博特斯普林斯举行

• 批准号: 1032343
• 负责人: Susanna Lewis
• 金额: $ 0.7万
• 依托单位: Federation of Amer Societies For Exper Biology
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2010
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2010-06-01 至 2011-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1032343&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Conference; Biological; Consequences; Alternatively; Structured

DNA molecules in a cell usually conform to the popularly described "spiral staircase" double helix structure, which is called "B-form" DNA. However DNA can transiently assume a variety of other shapes that can have deleterious consequences for cells and organisms. Non-B form structures are provoked in largely unknown situations and due to their characteristic instability, are difficult to detect. In some cases, the destructive effects of an alternative DNA structure are suspected only after the fact, when a large-scale genomic change is observed. Barriers to the study of alternatively structured DNA in cells have been so impenetrable that to the present day we lack basic knowledge. Consequently the ways in which alternative DNA structures might influence the aging process or produce genetically inherited defects has attracted little experimental attention. This can be hard to appreciate because the analysis of alternative DNA structures in isolation (outside of a cell) is a well-developed field where creative applications in nano-engineering and medicine are being energetically pursued. The meeting unites researchers from diverse areas of science -such as physics, medicine and molecular biology- who share an interest in alternatively structured DNA. "The Biological Impact of Alternatively Structured DNA" conference thus provides a unique opportunity for synergism, bringing together the questions, methods, and applications of different disciplines to generate fundamental insights into the biology of non-B form DNA."Biological Impact of Alternatively Structured DNA" will take place over a five-day period starting on July 5th, 2010. The meeting was first held in 2008. Then as now, a major goal was to fulfill an educational role. The previous conference seemed to be effective in coalescing interest among scientists and was summarized in a high-profile journal. An increasing number of articles have appeared on the subject of non-B form DNA, and particularly its in vivo effects, which suggests that this topic is coming into its own, and the Conference is especially timely. Some long-standing technical problems are being tackled, and overlooked scientific questions are at long last beginning to be addressed. Significantly, evidence continues to accumulate of non-canonical DNA structures that are involved in human diseases. The 2010 meeting, by highlighting new insights and exciting research, will continue to demonstrate to the scientific community that there are interesting fundamental discoveries yet to be made in this area. Younger investigators have been encouraged to apply, and are impressed by the fact that an entire meeting is dedicated to the biological implications of non-B DNA structures. The conference will demonstrate to the interested early-career scientist that working on a neglected area of DNA metabolism is valid and that a commitment to this area of reasearch will be rewarding. Ultimately basic discoveries fostered by conferences such as this can translate into inventive strategies for diagnoses, amelioration and treatment of disease.

细胞中的DNA分子通常符合通常描述的“螺旋楼梯”双螺旋结构，称为“B型”DNA。然而，DNA可以短暂地呈现出各种其他形状，这些形状可能对细胞和生物体产生有害后果。 非B型结构在很大程度上未知的情况下被激发，并且由于其特征不稳定性，难以检测。在某些情况下，只有在观察到大规模的基因组变化之后，才怀疑替代DNA结构的破坏性影响。研究细胞中DNA结构变化的障碍是如此难以逾越，以至于到今天我们仍然缺乏基本的知识。因此，替代DNA结构可能影响衰老过程或产生遗传缺陷的方式很少引起实验的关注。 这可能很难理解，因为隔离（细胞外）的替代DNA结构分析是一个发展良好的领域，在纳米工程和医学中的创造性应用正在积极追求。这次会议汇集了来自不同科学领域的研究人员--如物理学、医学和分子生物学--他们对交替结构的DNA有着共同的兴趣。因此，“替代结构DNA的生物学影响”会议提供了一个独特的协同作用机会，汇集了不同学科的问题，方法和应用，以产生对非B型DNA生物学的基本见解。“替代结构DNA的生物影响”将于2010年7月5日开始为期五天。 该会议于2008年首次举行。 当时和现在一样，一个主要目标是履行教育作用。 上一次会议似乎有效地凝聚了科学家的兴趣，并在一份备受瞩目的期刊上进行了总结。越来越多的文章出现在非B型DNA的主题，特别是其在体内的影响，这表明这一主题正在进入自己的，会议是特别及时。 一些长期存在的技术问题正在得到解决，被忽视的科学问题终于开始得到解决。 值得注意的是，与人类疾病有关的非规范DNA结构的证据继续积累。 2010年的会议将通过强调新的见解和令人兴奋的研究，继续向科学界表明，在这一领域仍有令人感兴趣的基本发现有待发现。 年轻的研究人员被鼓励申请，并对整个会议致力于非B DNA结构的生物学意义这一事实印象深刻。 该会议将向感兴趣的早期职业科学家证明，在DNA代谢的一个被忽视的领域工作是有效的，并且对这一领域的承诺将是有益的。 最终，像这样的会议所促进的基本发现可以转化为诊断、改善和治疗疾病的创造性策略。