Cell Morphogenesis and Division

How cells adopt specific shapes during cell growth and division are fundamental questions in cell biology that largely remain unanswered. The Gordon Research Conference Meeting on the Plant and Microbial Cytoskeleton focuses on the function and regulation of cytoskeletal elements in plant, fungal, and bacterial cells. These cells share a common feature in that they are encased by an extracellular cell wall that gives these cells their shape. Topics for this meeting include: cell polarity and shape determination, mitosis, cytokinesis, actin and microtubule regulation, motors, membranes, cell wall regulation, cellular mechanics, and evolution of cytoskeletal elements. A major thrust of this meeting will be on how dynamic cytoskeletal elements within the cell shape the cell by regulating construction of the cell wall as well as dictating the placement of the cell division apparatus. This meeting brings together a highly interdisciplinary group of cell biologists, geneticists, imagers, physicists and engineers. Presentations will include cutting edge approaches such as quantitative imaging of dynamic processes in living cells, in vitro reconstitution of biomemetic systems and computational modeling. Consideration of the diverse cell types will stimulate discussion about how systems compare and how they may have evolved. The exciting program will include approximately 30 talks from invited speakers and another 12-15 talks from submitted abstracts, as well as many lively poster sessions. The meeting will provide scientists from all career stages with ample opportunities to present, meet, discuss and brainstorm.