2005 Elastin and Elastic Fibers Gordon Conference

描述（由申请人提供）：近年来，对弹性纤维的研究急剧增加，最近有许多关于弹性蛋白原、原纤维蛋白和相关蛋白质的组装、结构和功能的重大发现，弹性纤维在发育和其他生物过程中的作用，它们在生物材料和组织工程中的效用，以及它们如何影响疾病（如COPD）的功能基因组学见解。弹性蛋白酶的新生物学效应主要通过基因靶向阐明，包括炎症和宿主对肿瘤进展和微生物的防御。重要的新见解包括：赖氨酰氧化酶和fibulin基因家族在弹性纤维形成中的关键作用。详细的结构-功能和组装分析的蛋白质分子，微纤维和弹性纤维。弹性纤维分子和受体与细胞基质通讯的分子基础。微纤维在TGF-β家族生长因子储存和靶向中的作用。遗传性弹性纤维疾病的基因型-表型测定。弹性纤维分子在弹性组织工程和修复中的应用。本申请要求资金支持将于2005年7月31日至8月5日举行的第十四届弹性蛋白和弹性纤维戈登研究会议，该会议将汇集基础科学家和临床医生，促进弹性蛋白和微纤维的分子/细胞生物学、生物化学、生物合成、组装和病理生物学方面的数据交换，并作为国际研究这些不寻常的和关键的结缔组织组装的主要刺激因素。会议将交流令人兴奋的新见解，并激发来自不同学科的与会者之间的讨论。这种相互影响是激发新的洞察力和信息浪潮的最有效方式。与过去几年一样，这些个人互动将导致新的合作研究，并刺激弹性纤维研究的新途径。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Research on elastic fibers has increased dramatically in recent years, with many major recent findings on the assembly, structure and function of tropoelastin, fibrillins and associated proteins, the role of elastic fibers in development and other biological processes, their utility in biomaterials and tissue engineering, and functional genomic insights into how they influence diseases such as COPD. New biological effects of elastases, elucidated largely through gene targeting, include inflammation and host defense against tumor progression and microbes. Important new insights include: Delineation of critical roles for lysyl oxidase and fibulin gene families in elastic fiber formation. Detailed structure-function and assembly analysis of fibrillin molecules, microfibrils and elastic fibers. Molecular basis of cell-matrix communications with elastic fiber molecules and receptors. Role of microfibrils in TGF-beta family growth factor storage and targeting. Genotype-phenotype determination in heritable elastic fiber disorders. Exploitation of elastic fiber molecules in engineering and repair of elastic tissues. This application requests funds to support the fourteenth Gordon Research Conference on Elastin and Elastic Fibers to be held from July 31 - August 5, 2005, which will bring together basic scientists and clinicians, facilitate exchange of data on the molecular/ cell biology, biochemistry, biosynthesis, assembly, and pathobiology of elastin and microfibrils, and act as a major stimulus for international research into these unusual and critical connective tissue assemblies. The Conference will communicate exciting new insights and stimulate discussion among participants from different disciplines. This cross-pollination is a most effective way of stimulating new waves of insight and information. As in past years, these personal interactions will result in new collaborative studies and stimulate novel avenues of elastic fiber investigation.