Transcriptional Regulation by Chromatin and RNA Polymerase II
Overview
LOCATION: Granlibakken Conference Center and Lodge, Tahoe City, Calif.
DATE: Sept. 30 - Oct. 4, 2010
ORGANIZER: Ali Shilatifard, Stowers Institute for Medical Research
KEYNOTE: Robert E. Kingston, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School
Dr. Ali Shilatifard
KEY DEADLINE
Aug. 1, 2010 -- Registration and Abstract Submissions Deadline
Compete for two $1,000 "Best Poster Awards"
Meeting Summary
This meeting is supported by generous contributions from:
Eukaryotic DNA is several meters long and must be packaged into chromatin in a way that enables the RNA Polymerase II (Pol II) machinery to access the genes. We still possess only rudimentary knowledge of the packaging of the genome and how the transcriptional machinery and its regulatory factors interact with the gene-coding sequences. Yet, this process underlies all gene expression, which is fundamental to development and differentiation. Eukaryotic RNA Polymerase II (RNA Pol II), chromatin, and its posttranslational modifications play a pivotal role in regulating gene expression. Our genome encodes more than 30,000 distinct proteins. A central challenge to current research is to determine how the synthesis of messenger RNA from such a large number of diverse protein-coding genes by RNA Polymerase II is coordinated, resulting in proper development and cellular regulation. Given the implications of defining the molecular mechanisms of gene expression by chromatin and RNA Pol II, and its impact on our understanding of cellular development and disease pathogenesis, ASBMB is bringing together investigators from variously related areas of research for a focused meeting titled, "Transcriptional Regulation by Chromatin and RNA Polymerase II."
The keynote speaker for this meeting, Dr. Robert E. Kingston of Harvard Medical School, will discuss his recent findings regarding the molecular machinery required for proper transcriptional silencing by the ATP-dependent remodeling complexes and by complexes in the Polycomb-group (PcG) of proteins. The meeting sessions will cover the recent findings in the areas of transcriptional initiation, elongation, and termination and the role of RNA Pol II, its C-terminal domain (CTD) and the associated factors in this process.
The diverse role of chromatin and/chromosomes, their interacting proteins and posttranslational modifications, and their numerous transcriptional properties and their role in development will also be a major subject of this meeting. To see the list of meeting speakers and presentation titles, please view the program.