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The symposia
that will be presented at the 2008 meeting are:
Probing Metabolic Integration with Modern and Traditional Approaches
(Mon 6/2 2:30-5:00 PM, Room 157A)
Convened by D. Downs and M. E. Lidstrom
Presenters: D. Downs, M. E. Lidstrom, E. F. DeLong, K. Hillesland
The avalanche of genomic data available is allowing us to consider networks and complex systems as a model for study. We present in this session examples of different efforts to address the famntastic complexity of metabolism on both cellular and community scale. The talks in this session will emphasize the value of addressing metabolism with an integrated perspective. The complexity of the metabolic network in cells has made deciphering metabolic connections and their response to perturbations a difficult enterprise. There is a clear need for a deeper knowledge of metabolic integration at the single cell level. Such knowledge is critical for dissecting the complex interplay that occurs in microbial communities, and for gaining insights into the evolution of occupants of specific environmental niches. The powerful combination of traditional and global ‘omics’ approaches (e.g., transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, genomics, fluxomics, etc) to metabolic integration has revealed unforeseen, exciting and unexpected new aspects of metabolism. This session will focus on some of these results, highlighting advances in understanding how a cell, and on another level a community, works as a dynamic, complex system.
Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to:
- Identify metabolic integration as a multidimensional approach used by microbes to adapt, evolve, and persist in diverse environmental niches.
- Learn how the use of genetic and omics approaches leads to detailed mechanistic understanding of cell function.
- Recognize that a solid knowledge of metabolic integration is critical if we want to manipulate single cells and microbial communities for the benefit of society.
The Kid in the Candy Store: The Evolving Physiology of Obligate Intracellular Bacterial Pathogens and Endosymbionts(Tue
6/3 8:00-10:30 AM, Room 157A)
Convened by J. P. Audia
Presenters: J. P. Audia, S. Aksoy, N. Greishaber, J. J. Martinez, J. E. Samuel
The advent of genomics has provided much insight into the mechanisms by which obligate intracellular organisms have adapted to this fascinating lifestyle. These organisms represent important model systems to study the evolution of the minimal genetic complement required to survive in their particular niche. Many obligate intracellular organisms have evolved to rely on an intricate interplay between transport of key host cell metabolites and de novo biosynthetic pathways to fuel metabolism. In addition, these organisms have evolved strategies to modify their host cell environment to facilitate growth. In some cases these interactions are parasitic in nature and in others, mutualistic. The goal of this symposium is to provide a sampling of the physiology and regulation of five obligate intracellular organisms and highlight the use of bioinformatics in gaining a better understanding of adaptation to growth exclusively in eukaryotic cytosol.
Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to:
- Recognize the importance of genomic and bioinformatics in understanding the physiology and metabolism of obligate intracellular bacteria.
- Discuss physiology and gene regulation as it relates to medically important pathogenic organisms and, in particular, agents classified as relevant to bioterrorism.
- Summarize the different strategies evolved by intracellular organisms to exploit the unique aspects of their particular niche ranging from growth in acidified vacuoles to growth directly in cytosol.
Novel Respiratory Processes in Bacteria and Archaea: Metals, Minerals and Electrodes (Tue 6/3 2:30-5:00 PM, Room 157A)
Convened by J. A. Gralnick and D. Bond
Presenters: J. F. Holden, G. Reguera, D. Bond, J. A. Gralnick, D. Richardson
Microbes dominate and mediate nearly all geochemical transformations taking place on our planet. Microorganisms catalyzing these reactions provide a promising future in biotechnology for novel biocatalysis, bioremediation and bioenergy. Moreover, new work aimed at understanding how these processes work at the molecular level is providing insights into fundamental physiological processes of environmental microorganisms, and is setting the stage for future metabolic engineering towards these biotechnology goals. This is an important area of microbial physiology, which is now gaining attention from many fields. Speakers in this session will discuss respiratory metal transformation processes from two main bacterial model systems: Geobacter and Shewanella, in addition to the archeon Pyrobaculum.
Mining Microbial Genomes for Natural Product Discoveryr (Wed 6/4 8:00-10:30 AM, Room 107A)
Convened by M. G. Thomas and W. W. Metcalf
Presenters: M. G. Thomas, C. Walsh, B. S. Moore, D. Cane, and W. W. Metcalf
This symposium will focus on how genomic approaches are driving the discovery of new natural products. Traditionally, the discovery of natural products relied on screening the culture of a microorganism for a biological activity of interest. While this approach has been successful, one of the surprising findings from genome sequencing is that the traditional approach vastly underestimated the natural product-producing potential of many microorganisms. Thus, genomic approaches to natural product discovery are complementing the traditional approach. The speakers in this symposium will discuss mining sequenced genomes for previously unknown natural products, using genome mining and scanning to identify new precursors for metabolic engineering of natural product biosynthesis, and screening the genomes of cultured and uncultured microorganisms for genes indicative of biosynthetic gene clusters of important classes of antibiotics. The expertise in this session will integrate bioinformatics, metagenomics, physiology, enzymology, and chemistry in the context of natural product discovery.
Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to:
- Describe the importance of taking new approaches to natural product discovery
- Recognize the enormous untapped natural product potential in many microorganisms.
- Apply the genomic approaches discussed for the analysis of any microorganism of interest.
Insertion, Folding, Assembly and Quality Control of Membrane Proteins (Thurs 6/5 8:00-10:30 AM, Room 160A)
Convened by R. E. Dalbey and F. Duong
Presenters: R. E. Dalbey, F. Duong, W. R. Skach, D. Daley, and K. Ito
This session will concentrate on the latest findings in this area, which are especially exciting in light of the recently solved structure of the Sec translocon. Recent advances have been made in the membrane biogenesis of proteins in bacteria that are inserted by the Sec and YidC pathway. The mechanism by which the Sec channel opens and closes during the protein translocation process in being elucidated in addition to how the Sec machinery recognizes the transmembrane domains of proteins. The role of the YidC and the Sec complexes in the folding of membrane proteins will be discussed. In addition, progress is being made in the understanding the pathway by which polypeptides are assembled within multisubunit membrane protein complexes and in understanding the quality control mechanism to check whether membrane proteins are correctly folded. The session will be of special interest to scientists focusing on membranes, the bacterial cell surface, protein export, quality control, and biotechnology. It will be helpful for attendees to have a background in biology, biochemistry and microbiology.
Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to:
- Identify the translocation and insertion machineries employed to insert proteins into the membrane
- Discuss the dynamic events that take place within the Sec translocon that allow release of the inserting membrane protein hydrophobic segments into the lipid bilayer
- Describe different techniques used to study membrane insertion, transmembrane domain interactions and assembly of membrane proteins; and
- List the proteases involved in the degradation of misfolded and misassembled membrane proteins.
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