At the Crossroads of Understanding the Maturation and Transport of Proteins/Peptides and the Therapeutic Applications of Post-Translational Modulation

Twenty years on from the first Gordon Conference in this series, the 2014 meeting will focus on the most recent, innovative and interdisciplinary research on the molecular and cellular events in the secretory pathway. Special emphasis will be placed on post-translational processing of proteins and peptides. These include protein folding events in the endoplasmic reticulum, all post-translational processing steps like endo/exoproteolysis and amino/carboxy-terminal modifications, intra-Golgi and post-Golgi sorting events, mechanisms of vesicle biogenesis and membrane trafficking, and molecular mechanisms of regulated and constitutive secretion. The significance of these processes to homeostasis and pathology are studied in animal models and in human patients using a variety of biochemical, cellular, proteomic and behavioral analysis. Another important dimension is therapeutic interventions in diseases whose underlying basis relates to protein processing or trafficking (e.g. hypercholesterolemia, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, bacterial toxin activation and viral glycoprotein maturation).

The Conference will bring together investigators at the forefront of their research field and will provide many opportunities for junior scientists to present their work and exchange ideas with leaders in the field. In addition to regular talks, a group of poster presenters will be selected to give short oral presentations. The collegial and inter-disciplinary atmosphere of this Conference, with lively and constructive discussion sessions as well as opportunities for informal gatherings in the afternoons and evenings, provides an excellent opportunity for scientists from different disciplines to develop collaborations.