2014 Ligand Recognition and Molecular Gating Gordon Research Conference

描述（由申请人提供）：2014年3月23日至3月28日，戈登配体识别和分子门控研究会议将在加州文图拉举行，会议旨在分享离子通道功能机制的最新知识；g蛋白偶联受体和溶质转运体。具体来说，会议的目标是增加我们对完整膜蛋白如何结合或识别配体（离子、小分子、蛋白质）的理解，以及结合如何引发构象变化，从而导致配体在膜上的运输、通道的门控或信号的传递。将强调结合高分辨率结构数据与功能和动态信息来理解机制。由于膜蛋白新的高分辨率结构正以越来越快的速度得到解决，这次会议是及时的。此外，研究受体、通道和转运体动力学的新方法正在发展，并改变了我们理解功能机制的方式。本次会议涵盖的领域与人类健康高度相关：在许多其他过程中，通道、转运体和gpcr是神经系统中细胞信号传导的最基本分子底物。了解这些蛋白质的基本机制将有助于更好地了解癫痫、高血压、吸收不良综合征、囊性纤维化等疾病的正常功能，并有助于开发新的和改进的治疗药物。这次会议汇集了由于研究三种不同类型的膜蛋白而不经常见面的科学家。然而，它们从相互作用中获益巨大，因为蛋白质具有共同的机制原理。该计划将有大约40位演讲者，在膜蛋白研究和方法开发领域的知名领导者以及有前途的年轻研究者。9场会议将讨论膜转运体、离子通道、gpcr以及特定的线粒体和细菌功能的结构、动力学和机制。戈登配体识别和分子门控研究会议将通过汇集该领域一些最重要的科学家来展示和比较结果，讨论新的想法，并建立合作，从而刺激膜蛋白研究领域的进展。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Gordon Research Conference on Ligand Recognition and Molecular Gating will be held from March 23 to March 28, 2014, in Ventura, CA. The conference aims to share the latest knowledge on the functional mechanisms of ion channels; G-protein coupled receptors, and solute transporters. Specifically, the goal of the conference is to increase our understanding of how integral membrane proteins bind or recognize ligands (ions, small molecules, proteins), and how binding elicits conformational changes that lead to transport of the ligands across the membrane, the gating of channels, or the transmission of signals. There will be an emphasis on combining high-resolution structural data with functional and dynamical information to understand mechanisms. The conference is timely because new high-resolution structures of membrane proteins are solved at increasingly rapid pace. In addition, new methods to study the dynamics of the receptors, channels and transporters are being developed and transform the way we understand functional mechanisms. The fields covered in this conference are highly related to human health: channels, transporters and GPCRs are the most fundamental molecular substrates of cellular signaling in the nervous system, among a host of other processes. Understanding the fundamental mechanisms of these proteins will lead to better understanding of normal function, of diseases like epilepsy, hypertension, malabsorption syndromes, cystic fibrosis, and to development of new and improved therapeutic agents. The conference brings together scientists who do not consistently meet because they work on three different classes of membrane proteins. However, they benefit tremendously from interacting because the proteins share common mechanistic principles. The program will have about 40 speakers, well-established leaders in the field of membrane protein research and method development as well as promising young investigators. Nine sessions will address structure, dynamics and mechanism of membrane transporters, ion channels, GPCRs, and specific mitochondrial and bacterial functions. The Gordon Research Conference on Ligand Recognition and Molecular Gating will stimulate advances in this area of membrane protein research by bringing together some of the foremost scientists in this community to present and compare results, discuss new ideas, and establish collaborations.