Conference Program
 
POLYSACCHARIDES, CHEMISTRY OF

June 5-10, 2005
Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Hong Kong, China

Chair:
Shigenori Kuga

Vice Chair:
Derek G. Gray

The past two occasions of this conference proved the high effectiveness of interaction between researchers of different polysaccharides. The Hong Kong meeting is to round up the hottest topics in chemistry, biology, and technologies of polysaccharides, especially those of cellulose, amylose/starch, and chitin/chitosan.

Special emphasis is set on complexation of polysaccharides with foreign molecules, which can lead to advanced materials such as nanocomposites, drug delivery systems, and biodegradable materials. Also, basic researches on biological synthetic/degrading mechanisms and resulting higher-order structures have much to say about the properties and processing technologies.

Applicants can propose poster presentations. Young scientists, especially, are encouraged to present their ongoing works for obtaining stimulation and novel points of view.

SUNDAY
2:00 pm - 9:00 pmArrival and Check-in
6:00 pmDinner
Shigenori Kuga, Welcome and Opening Comments
7:30 pm - 9:30 pmBiosynthesis
Discussion Leader: Vincent Bulone (Universite Claude Bernard - Lyon I)
7:30 pm - 8:20 pm Steven Ball (University of Lille)
"Evolving semi-crystalline storage polysaccharide biosynthesis in photosynthetic eukaryotes"
8:20 pm - 8:30 pm Discussion
8:30 pm - 9:20 pm Inder Saxena (University of Texas)
"Biosynthesis of cellulose"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pmDiscussion
9:30 pm - 11:00 pmOpening Reception
MONDAY
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
8:30 amConference Photo (Tentative)
9:00 am - 12:30 pmFrom Biosynthesis to Chemical Synthesis
Discussion Leader: Inder Saxena (University of Texas)
9:00 am - 9:40 amNick C. Carpita (Purdue University)
"Protein Components of Biological Synthase Complex of the Grass Mixed-linked (1,3),(1,4)-beta-D-glucan"
9:40 am - 9:50 amDiscussion
9:50 am - 10:30 amVincent Bulone (Universite Claude Bernard - Lyon I)
"Biosynthesis of glucans"
10:30 am - 10:40 amDiscussion
10:40 am - 10:50 am Break / Photo
10:50 am - 11:30 amShin-Ichiro Nishimura (Hokkaido University)
"Rapid Synthesis and Structural Characterization of Glycoconjugates"
11:30 am - 11:40 amDiscussion
11:40 am - 12:20 pmJun-ichi Kadokawa (Kagoshima University)
"Vine-Twining Polymerization: Amylose Twines around Synthetic Polymers to Form Nano-structured Supramolecules"
12:20 pm - 12:30 pmDiscussion
12:30 pmLunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pmFree Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pmPoster Session 1
6:00 pmDinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pmBiodegradation
Discussion Leader: Nick Carpita (Purdue University)
7:30 pm - 8:20 pmClemens Altaner (University of Glasgow)
"Structure of Higher Plant Cellulose"
8:20 pm - 8:30 pm Discussion
8:30 pm - 9:20 pm Masahiro Samejima (The University of Tokyo)
"Diversity of Cellulose Degrading Enzymes in Wood Decay Fungi"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pmDiscussion
TUESDAY
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pmStructure and Mechanics
Discussion Leader: Shinichi Kitamura (Osaka Prefecture University)
9:00 am - 9:50 amYoshiharu Nishiyama (Centre de Recherches sur les Macromolecules Vegetale)
"Crystal Structure and Hydrogen Bonding Mode of Cellulose"
9:50 am - 10:00 amDiscussion
10:00 am - 10:50 amJohn W. Brady (Cornell University)
"Molecular Dynamics Simulations of the Effect of Solvent Structuring on Polysaccharide Conformations in Aqueous Solutions"
10:50 am - 11:00 amDiscussion
11:00 am - 11:10 amBreak
11:10 am - 12:00 pmStephen J. Eichhorn (University of Manchester)
"The Deformation Micromechanics of Cellulose: What Does It Tell us About Structure?"
12:00 pm - 12:10 pmDiscussion
12:30 pmLunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pmFree Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pmPoster Session 2
6:00 pmDinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pmEnzymatic and Chemical Modification
Discussion Leader: Clemens Altaner (University of Glasgow)
7:30 pm - 8:20 pm Harry Brumer (Royal Insitute of Technology)
"Chemo-enzymatic Methods for the Modification of Cellulose-based Materials"
8:20 pm - 8:30 pmDiscussion
8:30 pm - 9:20 pm Antje Potthast (University of Natural Resourses and Applied Life Science Vienna)
"Determination of Oxidised Functionalities in Cellulosics"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pm Discussion
WEDNESDAY
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pmComplex Formation
Discussion Leader: Laurent Heux (Centre de Recherches sur les Macromolecules Vegetale)
9:00 am - 9:50 am Alain Buleon (INRA)
"Complexes of Amylose with Small Molecules Including Lipids, Alcohols or Flavours"
9:50 am - 10:00 amDiscussion
10:00 am - 10:50 am Shinichi Kitamura (Osaka Prefecture University)
"Complex Formation of Novel Amylosic Molecules with Guest Molecules"
10:50 am - 11:00 amDiscussion
11:00 am - 11:20 amBreak
11:20 am - 12:10 pmMasahisa Wada (The University of Tokyo)
"Intercalation of Organic Molecules into Beta-Chitin Crystals"
12:10 pm - 12:20 pmDiscussion
12:30 pmLunch
1:30 pm - 4:00 pmFree Time
4:00 pm - 6:00 pmPoster Session 3
6:00 pmDinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pmColloids and Self-Organization
Discussion Leader: Derek G. Gray (McGill University)
7:30 pm - 8:20 pm Bjorn T. Stokke (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)
"Polyelectrolyte Complexes Involving Semiflexible Polysaccharides: Influence of Electrostatic and Specific Interactions on Structure Formation and Stability"
8:20 pm - 8:30 pm Discussion
8:30 pm - 9:20 pm Laurent Heux (Centre de Recherches sur les Macromolecules Vegetale)
"Self-Organization and Orientation of Cellulose Whiskers in External Fields"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pmDiscussion
THURSDAY
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
9:00 am - 12:30 pmColloids and Materials - 1
Discussion Leader: Saad A. Khan (North Carolina State University)
9:00 am - 9:40 amFrancois Ravenelle (Labopharm Inc.)
"The Role of Starch Retrogradation in Drug Delivery Matrices"
9:40 am - 9:50 amDiscussion
9:50 am - 10:30 am Takuya Kitaoka (Kyushu University)
"Surface Chemistry of Cellulose for Paper Materials"
10:30 am - 10:40 amDiscussion
10:40 am - 10:50 amBreak
10:50 am - 11:30 am Dieter Klemm (Friedrich Schiller University Jena)
"Networks of Bacterial Cellulose and Synthetic Polymers Designed for Biomedical Applications"
11:30 am - 12:20 pmHiroyuki Yano (Kyoto University)
"The Role of Cellulose Microfibril - from Musical Instruments to Optically Transparent Nanocomposites"
12:20 pm - 12:30 pmDiscussion
12:30 pmLunch
1:30 pm - 6:00 pmFree Time
6:00 pmDinner
7:30 pm - 9:30 pmColloids and Materials - 2
Discussion Leader: Dieter Klemm (Friedrich Schiller University Jena)
7:30 pm - 8:20 pm Lina Zhang (Wuhan University)
"Solution Behavior of Cellulose in NaOH/ Urea Aqueous Solution"
8:20 pm - 8:30 pm Discussion
8:30 pm - 9:20 pmSaad A. Khan (North Carolina State University)
"Rheology and Gelation of Cellulose Acetate in Mixed Solvents"
9:20 pm - 9:30 pmDiscussion
9:30 pm - Closing Reception
FRIDAY
7:30 am - 8:30 amBreakfast
9:00 amDepart
Last Updated: August 14, 2006