FASEB SRC on Biological Methylation: From DNA and Histones to Disease

本申请寻求对2012年美国实验生物学学会联合会（FASEB）夏季研究会议“生物甲基化：从DNA和组蛋白到疾病”的部分支持。这将是第十届关于这一主题的两年一度的会议，将于2012年8月12日至17日在斯诺马斯的Silvertree酒店举行。“生物甲基化”会议在历史上采取了独特的方法，综合报道了酶学，功能和S-腺苷甲硫氨酸依赖性甲基化的识别及其对不同生物过程和疾病的影响。在过去的16年里，该会议特别关注与DNA和组蛋白甲基化有关的主题，以及这些表观遗传修饰在发育和疾病中的作用。表观遗传重编程领域的最新进展，涉及在发育和疾病期间重新设置DNA和组蛋白甲基化模式，以及全面评估DNA甲基化和组蛋白甲基化的基因组规模技术的演变，使该领域处于现代生物学的前沿。会议的一个主要焦点将是表观遗传（DNA，组蛋白）甲基化对基因表达和基因组稳定性的影响，以及甲基化失调对人类疾病的贡献。本次会议的新内容或重点是强调表观遗传“重编程”、DNA去甲基化的作用、环境对表观基因组的影响以及组蛋白/DNA甲基化研究领域的新进展。其他会议将涉及DNA和蛋白质甲基转移酶/脱甲基酶的结构和功能，以及非组蛋白的翻译后甲基化，这已成为一个令人兴奋的新的研究领域，在信号转导，转录调节和DNA损伤反应中起着重要作用。我们打算让与会者拥有不同的专业知识，这样与会者就有机会相互交流，以进一步加深我们对甲基化的理解，以及如何在治疗上操纵甲基转移酶和去甲基化酶来治疗人类疾病，如神经系统疾病和癌症。生物甲基化会议由来自美国和国外广泛的学术和研究机构的初级和高级科学家组成的多元化团体参加。会议的一个主要目标是促进初级科学家（博士后研究员、研究生、新研究员）和更资深的既定研究员之间的互动。为此目的，我们将包括一个题为“会见专家”的会议-这是一个非正式的场所，旨在使年轻科学家有机会会见该领域的领导人，讨论科学和网络问题。会议形式包括八次全体会议（48位特邀演讲者），两次“最新进展”小型研讨会（由从提交的摘要中选出的12位演讲者组成），一次研讨会和两次海报会议。将为预计的120-150名与会者提供充足的时间，使他们能够在非正式的基础上进行社交和互动。 公共卫生相关性：DNA和蛋白质等细胞大分子经常被称为“甲基化”的小化学标签修饰。这种修饰在决定基因组如何包装和阅读以及蛋白质如何共同发挥细胞功能方面发挥着重要作用。甲基化模式在发育过程中受到严格控制，表观遗传甲基化的改变有助于人类疾病，特别是癌症。该提案要求为题为“生物甲基化：从DNA和组蛋白到疾病”的会议提供部分资金。大约150名科学家将参加协调，交流和传播有关控制表观遗传甲基化的潜在机制的信息，并探索甲基化失调对人类疾病的贡献。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This application seeks partial support for the 2012 Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Summer Research Conference on "Biological Methylation: From DNA and Histones to Disease". This will be the tenth biennial conference on this topic and will be held from August 12-17, 2012 at the Silvertree Hotel in Snowmass, CO. The "Biological Methylation" conference has historically taken a unique approach in its integrative coverage of the enzymology, function, and recognition of S-adenosylmethionine-dependent methylation and its influence on diverse biological processes and disease. Over the last sixteen years, this meeting has evolved a particular focus on topics relating to DNA and histone methylation, and the role of these epigenetic modifications in development and disease. Recent advances in the areas of epigenetic reprogramming, which involves the resetting of DNA and histone methylation patterns during development and disease, and the evolution of genome-scale technologies to comprehensively evaluate DNA methylation and histone methylation have put this field at the forefront of modern biology. A major focus of the conference will be the influence of epigenetic (DNA, histone) methylation on gene expression and genome stability, and the contribution of dysregulated methylation to human diseases. New or highlighted in this meeting is an emphasis on epigenetic 'reprogramming', the role of DNA demethylation, environmental influences on the epigenome, and new advances in the field in studying histone/DNA methylation. Other sessions will deal with the structure and function of DNA and protein methyltransferases/demethylases, and the post-translational methylation of non-histone proteins, which has emerged as an exciting new area of study, with central roles in signal transduction, the regulation of transcription and the DNA damage response. We intend to have diverse expertise of the meeting's attendees such that the participants have the opportunity to interact with one another to further advance our understanding of methylation and how methyltransferases and demethylases may be manipulated therapeutically to treat human diseases such as neurological diseases and cancer. The Biological Methylation Conference is attended by a diverse group of junior and senior scientists from a wide range of academic and research institutions in the US and abroad. A major objective of the meeting is to promote interaction between junior scientists (postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, starting investigators) and more senior established investigators. Toward this end, we are including a session entitled "Meet the Experts" - an informal venue designed to permit young scientists an opportunity to meet leaders in the field to talk science and network. The conference format includes eight plenary sessions (48 invited speakers), two "Recent Advances" minisymposia (consisting of 12 speakers selected from submitted abstracts), one Workshop, and two poster sessions. Ample time will be provided for the 120-150 expected participants to socialize and to interact on an informal basis. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: Cellular macromolecules such as DNA and proteins are frequently modified with a small chemical tag called 'methylation'. This modification plays a fundamental role in determining how the genome is packaged and read, and how proteins act together to carry out cellular functions. Patterns of methylation are strictly controlled during development and alterations in epigenetic methylation contribute to human disease, particularly cancer. The proposal requests partial funding for a conference entitled "Biological Methylation: From DNA and Histones to Disease". Approximately 150 scientists will attend to coordinate, exchange, and disseminate information on the underlying mechanisms controlling epigenetic methylation and to explore the contribution of dysregulated methylation to human disease.