FASEB Summer Research Conference on Biological Methylation

描述（由申请人提供）：本提案要求为2006年6月24日至29日在佛蒙特州萨克斯顿河的佛蒙特学院举行的“生物甲基化”会议提供部分资金。这将是在美国实验生物学学会联合会（FASEB）的主持下举行的第七届关于这一主题的两年一次的会议。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal requests partial funding for a conference on "Biological Methylation" to be held from June 24 - 29, 2006, at the Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, Vermont. This will be the 7th biennial conference on this topic, which is held under the auspices of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB). "Biological Methylation" is unique in its integrative treatment of S-adenosyl-L-methionine (AdoMet)- dependent methyltransferases, biological processes affected by methylation, and AdoMet metabolism. New methyltransferase enzymes and methyl-accepting substrates are being identified at accelerating rates through the application of modern genomic, proteomic and bioinformatics approaches. Substrates for the methyltransferases now include DNA, RNAs, a wide range of proteins, lipids and a large number of small organic molecules. Because of the increasingly recognized importance of DNA and chromatin methylation in the control of gene expression and chromosomal stability, approximately 70% of the meeting's sessions deal with these, and closely related medical topics, especially carcinogenesis. Other sessions deal with small molecule methylation, structural studies of methyltransferases, and fundamental biochemical and cellular processes related to AdoMet metabolism. This conference is attended by a diverse group of junior and senior scientists from a range of academic and research institutions. A major goal of the meeting is to promote interaction between scientists studying methylation reactions at the molecular, cellular and physiological levels. The conference format includes nine plenary sessions (35 invited speakers), two mid-afternoon "Recent Advances" minisymposia (for which 12 speakers will be selected from submitted abstracts), and two late-afternoon poster sessions. Ample time will be provided for the 120 -150 expected participants to socialize and interact on an informal basis.