"Fe-S cluster-containing proteins are nearly ubiquitous in nature and are required for many fundamental cellular processes," explains symposium organizer Dr. Elizabeth A. Craig. "As metal centers, Fe-S clusters play a key role in electron transfer or catalysis of reactions that are at the core of metabolism. Fe-S proteins are, in addition, represented within specialized pathways such as photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation. Fe-S cluster proteins also play critical sensing roles as regulators of gene expression."
Despite the importance of Fe-S proteins, the mechanism by which the Fe-S clusters are synthesized and inserted into proteins is poorly understood. However, this is changing. In the last several years proteins have been discovered that function in the biogenesis of Fe-S clusters.
Dr. Craig and the other organizers hope that the four-day symposium will further increase the understanding of how Fe-S clusters are synthesized and inserted into proteins. As well, the 20 symposium speakers will also focus on the role of Fe-S proteins in oxidative stress and disease, novel functions of Fe-S clusters, and the structure of these metal clusters within proteins.
"There is no other meeting that focuses on the role of Fe-S proteins and their biogenesis," notes Dr. Craig. "Importantly, this field is cross-disciplinary by nature and this meeting will bring together biologists and physical scientists to study these important problems. (We hope) to bring this broad field together and exchange ideas, since the physical and biological scientists who work on these proteins have few opportunities to meet."
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Contact: Nicole Kresge
nkresge@asbmb.org
301-634-7415
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
12-Apr-2005