2011-2013 Metals in Biology GRC and Bioinorganic GRS

描述(由申请者提供)：本提案申请资助2011-2013年1月至2月的生物金属戈登研究会议(MIB GRC)和2011-2013年2月的相关生物无机化学研究生研究研讨会(GRS)。MIB GRC提供了讨论生物无机化学前沿研究的主要论坛。它是该领域的核心会议，是一种“旗舰会议”，以85%的绩效评级(2008年数据)领先于GRC，尽管自1962年以来一直保持着超额认购。GRS成立于1996年，目的是为研究生和博士后提供一个论坛，让他们参加与MIB GRC重叠的会议(为期一晚)，但也是独立运行的。这种组织结构确保了学生和博士后与领先的研究人员互动，同时发展他们自己的社区意识，为该领域未来的领导者提供了一种手段。两天半的GRS是由年轻的研究人员在相关GRC的领先科学家的支持下组织的。这两次会议的一个中心主题是需要了解金属离子在不同生物系统中发挥的关键作用。具体地说，金属离子对超过三分之一的酶的功能至关重要，并参与了许多重要的生物合成途径，包括电化学到化学能的转换，以及抗生素、DNA、神经递质、类固醇、白三烯和激素的生物合成。关于金属酶功能的分子水平的细节出现在化学、生物学和物理学的界面上的多个相辅相成的研究领域。彻底了解矿物生物化学对于开发潜在的诊断工具和治疗阿尔茨海默氏症、帕金森氏症和癌症等疾病的药物靶点至关重要。在戈登研究会议独特的形式的正式讲座和非正式互动中讨论这些问题，有效地传播了该领域研究前沿的发现知识，促进了合作，并提高了该领域的凝聚力，尽管它具有高度的多学科性质。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): This proposal requests funds to support the Metals in Biology Gordon Research Conference (MIB GRC) in Jan-Feb, 2011-2013, and the associated Graduate Research Seminar in Bioinorganic Chemistry (GRS) in February, 2011-2013. The MIB GRC provides the principal forum for the discussion of research at the forefront of bioinorganic chemistry. It is the core meeting for the field, is a 'flagship', leading GRC with an 85% performance rating (2008 data), and is consistently oversubscribed even though it has met consistently since 1962. The GRS was established in 1996 in order to provide a forum for graduate students and postdocs to participate in a meeting that overlaps with the "parent" MIB GRC (for one evening), yet also runs independently. This organizational structure ensures that the students and postdocs interact with leading researchers while developing their own sense of community, providing a means for future leaders of the field to emerge. The two and a half day GRS is organized by young investigators with the support of leading scientists from the associated GRC. A central theme of both meetings is the need to understand the critical role that metal ions play in diverse biological systems. Specifically, metal ions are critical for the function of over one third of all enzymes, and are involved in a number of important biosynthetic pathways including the conversion of electrochemical to chemical energy, and the biosynthesis of antibiotics, DNA, neurotransmitters, steroids, leukotrienes, and hormones. The molecular-level details regarding metalloenzyme function emerge from multiple complementary lines of study, at the interface of chemistry, biology, and physics. A thorough understanding of metallobiochemistry is critical to the development of potential diagnostic tools and drug targets for the treatment of diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and cancer. Discussion of these issues in formal lectures and informal interactions in the unique Gordon Research Conference format effectively disseminates knowledge of discoveries at the forefront of research in the field, fosters collaborations, and improves the cohesiveness of the field, notwithstanding its highly multidisciplinary nature.