Serine proteases in pericellular proteolysis and signaling

Nov. 2–3, 2023
Virtual

• View the program schedule

The 2023 virtual meeting on serine proteases in pericellular proteolysis and signaling continues the tradition of the ASBMB special symposium on membrane-anchored serine proteases with the expanded focus on other related serine proteases that function in the pericellular environment.

The conference traditionally brings together leading researchers from across the globe in the fields of serine proteases and pericellular proteolysis, providing them with a forum to present their latest findings, exchange ideas, demonstrate novel technologies and network to form collaborations.

A major foundation of the conference is providing a comfortable venue for junior investigators at the graduate student and postdoctoral level to discuss their current research, have opportunities to meet with experts in the field and forge new scientific interactions crucial to their career development. We are planning an interactive poster session for Q&A with open access to poster presenters' video recordings throughout the conference to increase the visibility of their work.

With the success of the last meeting, we will continue to meet virtually so that the conference is accessible to students and investigators from around the world and to those from other fields where pericellular proteolysis is implicated.

Areas of focus

Cleavage of proteins in the extracellular environment by proteases, whether anchored to the membrane or tethered by cofactors, plays a key role in the regulation of cell behavior under normal and pathophysiological conditions. Among more than 500 proteolytic enzymes encoded by mammalian genomes, membrane-anchored serine proteases, which are expressed on the cell surface in all major organs, are excellently suited to mediate signal transduction across the plasma membrane and are increasingly being recognized as important regulators of organ development and homeostasis. Equally, unrestrained proteolysis and dysregulation of proteolytic cascades, such the complement system, have been shown to contribute to cell barrier dysfunction, inflammatory, cardiovascular, renal, and respiratory diseases, as well as the progression of cancer. Increasingly, proteases and their cofactors have become attractive therapeutic targets, or the pathological protease activity has been capitalized on for conditionally activated therapeutics.

In addition to the roles of serine proteases in physiological and pathophysiological cellular regulation, the meeting will broadly cover topics including:

• Biosynthesis
• Trafficking and post-translational modifications
• Endogenous and pharmacological inhibitors
• Developmental and other physiological functions
• Mechanisms of dysregulation and pathological consequences
• Molecular mechanisms of protease-mediated signaling
• Novel technologies for better understanding the mechanisms of proteases

Important dates

The ASBMB will send abstract programming notifications to oral and poster presenters including access to the virtual platform and upload instructions on Monday, Sept. 18.