Cytoskeletal Diversification Across the Domains of Life

Across biological systems, the cytoskeleton, comprising filament-forming and associated proteins, plays a central role in cellular organization, morphogenesis, cell division, trafficking, and other dynamic events. The 2022 Plant and Microbial Cytoskeleton GRC will explore the diversity of the cytoskeleton and associated machineries in plants, fungi, bacteria, archaea, protists, and other microbes. Invited speakers will discuss cytoskeletal biology in a multitude of walled organisms, enabling comparisons across diverse species to discern fundamental principles of cell shape determination, growth, and cell division. Inclusion of other non-walled eukaryotic microbes and archaea will contribute to the breadth of cytoskeletal diversity discussed and provide stimulating perspectives on the evolution of cytoskeletal function. The 2022 meeting aims to leverage diverse systems, questions, and approaches to stimulate and inspire attendees to see connections across fields and organisms.

As always, the Plant and Microbial Cytoskeleton GRC brings together geneticists, biochemists, imaging specialists, structural biologists, and physicists for a collaborative and interdisciplinary discussion of the cytoskeleton. Presentations will include cutting-edge approaches including high-resolution imaging, computational modeling, and in vitro reconstitution of dynamic cytoskeletal processes. The program will comprise approximately 25 talks from invited speakers, an additional 20 short talks selected from submitted abstracts, and lively poster sessions. Ample free time in the afternoons and evenings will be included to promote networking, brainstorming, and other informal interactions among attendees.