ISSUE 1 (JANUARY) 2013
St Petersburg 2013: 38th FEBS Congress
Mechanisms in Biology
CONTENTS
Contents: Key 2013 FEBS dates:
Fellowships applications deadline Preface 3 1 April and 1 October 2013 (page 7)
The 38th FEBS Congress 4 Advanced Courses applications deadline (for funding of 2014 courses) 1 April 2013 (page 8) FEBS Programmes: updates FEBS Fellowships news 7 Young Scientists’ Forum applications deadline FEBS Advanced Courses 2013 8 1 February 2013 (page 5 )
FEBS Education: recent workshops 11 Congress Bursary applications deadline Other upcoming events 13 10 March 2013 (page 5)
FEBS Community News Congress early registration deadline 5 April 2013 (page 6) National Lectures 14 Hungarian Biochemical Society: 50 years 16 Congress registration deadline Obituary 19 1 June 2013 (page 6)
38th FEBS Congress FEBS Publications 6–11 July 2013 (pages 4–6) FEBS Journal 20 FEBS Letters 22 FEBS Advanced Courses Molecular Oncology 23 February–October 2013 (pages 8–10) (Registration deadlines are well ahead of course dates) FEBS Open Bio 23 Crick Memorial Meeting – 60th Anniversary Scientific Events Calendar 24 of DNA Structure 25 April 2013 (page 13) Career Opportunities 25 Education Workshops and FEBS 3+ Meeting July and autumn 2013 (page 13)
Cover: St Petersburg, Russia, is the interesting location for the 38th FEBS Congress ’Mechanisms in Biology’, taking place from 6th to 11th July 2013. The cover photo shows the ‘Church of the Savior on Blood’, built from 1883 to 1907 in the style of medieval Russian architecture on the site where Tsar Alexander II was assassinated. Read more about the 2013 FEBS Congress on pages 4–7.
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PREFACE Dear Colleagues, ultimately result in a drastic reduction in FEBS’ income – a problem FEBS shares with many other 2012 was a year for FEBS to take stock of its learned societies. governance and finances, and as a result FEBS now A new financial strategy for FEBS is therefore enters 2013 in better shape for achieving long-term needed. FEBS will now try to develop its current contributions to the advancement of molecular financial reserves as an endowment, with future bioscience research and education. income derived largely from that. As a result, FEBS is reassessing and reducing some of its recent high Restructuring of FEBS expenditure levels, with any excess income over FEBS has been an unincorporated charity, which is an expenditure for the next two or three years of outmoded form of governance for a large charity with guaranteed income to be used both to cover its current financial, contractual and legal obligations. During commitments and to build up the endowment. 2012, FEBS updated its structure to become a A key area of FEBS spending that has increased company limited by guarantee (registered company dramatically in recent years is Long-Term Fellowships number 08239097) and registered as a charity (~€2.3 million in 2012), followed by Advanced (registered charity number 1149638) – a model used by Courses (~€0.9 million in 2012). Unfortunately, other significant UK-registered charities such as the these high levels of spending are now unsustainable Biochemical Society. FEBS is still a charity but is and both areas will be making fewer awards in 2013. now a legal entity with financial safeguards. Although clearly regrettable, this is unavoidable if It is important to emphasize that the name, aims FEBS is going to be able to continue to support and activities of FEBS remain unchanged by the biochemistry and molecular biology in the long- restructure. The organization’s overall objective is term. The changes mean that funding in these formally stated as ‘to contribute to and promote the programmes in 2013 and 2014 will need to be advancement of research and education for the focused on the most outstanding applications. public benefit in the sciences of biochemistry and molecular biology and related disciplines…by all FEBS programmes in 2013 suitable means…’. More details on FEBS’ Despite these concerns, there is much for FEBS to objectives, the restructuring and links to FEBS’ be positive about as 2013 begins. Congress funding governing documents can be found on the FEBS is maintained and we look forward to a spectacular website under ‘FEBS as a charity’. and unique event in St Petersburg in July (see pages 4–6). FEBS has an excellent range of Advanced Publishing changes and FEBS finances Courses lined up for the year (pages 8–10), with FEBS has recognized the value of and demand for many bridging pure biochemistry/molecular- open access publishing in the bioscience and wider biology studies and medical/industrial applications community over recent years, and as a result its – and all at exciting locations across Europe. FEBS established journals offer open access publication continues to offer Youth Travel Fund grants for options, and indeed FEBS recently launched the most of these events. Although competition for entirely open access journal FEBS Open Bio. Long-Term Fellowships will become fiercer, the full At the same time, FEBS is very aware of how range of FEBS Fellowships are also still on offer. traditional journal subscription publishing models For Constituent Societies, FEBS will be funding have enabled investment in and development of National Lectures (e.g. see pages 14–15), a FEBS3+ high-quality science publishing by its journals. meeting, and education workshops (see pages 11– Furthermore, as FEBS wholly owns these, this mode 13). All members of the FEBS Executive and other of publishing has generated significant income for Committees (elected to posts by FEBS Council) FEBS to use to support and advance the molecular continue to devote their time and energy to FEBS life sciences cross Europe and further afield, and the bioscience community on a pro bono basis, through research fellowships, conferences, travel with some administrative support only for the grants and so on. The established journals of FEBS busier areas of FEBS work. currently have a strong subscription base, but we On behalf of the FEBS Executive Committee, I must face the reality that the trend towards open wish you all the best in your scientific endeavours in access publishing will continue, and that current 2013. pricing structures for open access publication will Alan Fersht, FEBS Honorary Treasurer
3 FEBS News January 2013
FEBS CONGRESS The 38th FEBS Congress: St Petersburg, 6–11 July 2013
TEN REASONS TO BE PART OF IT
Plenary Lectures 1. The Congress Advisory Board and the Program Aaron Ciechanover (Israel) Committee have built AN OUTSTANDING SCIENTIFIC hallmark proteasomal signal The end of the polyubiquitin chain as the insulators and long ● Pavel Georgiev (Russia) PROGRAM under the motto ‘Mechanisms in Biology’. -distance interactions Chromatin ● Evolutionary perspectives of innate immunity Jules Hoffmann (France) A central attraction is the series of Plenary Lectures Proteases and their control in health and disease ● Robert Huber (Germany) delivered by distinguished speakers, including ten (USA) The molecular basis of eukaryotic transcription ● Roger D. Kornberg Nobel Laureates, and encompassing a wide spectrum (France) Perspectives in chemistry: from supramolecular ● Jean-Marie chemistry Lehn towards adaptive chemistry of ground-breaking achievement in molecular life ● Richard Roberts (USA) methylomes ● Gottfried Schatz (Switzerland) Bacterial science research. science – and what Europe should do for its youngWhat scientists it takes to succeed in The core of the Congress comprises 38 Symposia Szostak (USA) The origin of cellular life and the emergence of Darwinian ● Jack W. chaired by internationally renowned scientists. These evolution ● John E. Walker (UK ) (USA) Lecture to be announced will span all key areas of biochemistry, molecular The chemical logic and enzymatic machinery of natural ● Chris product Walsh assembly lines ● Kurt Wüthrich (USA) biology, biotechnology and related fields, allowing and membrane proteins Structural genomics with soluble ● Ada E. Yonath (Israel) every Congress bonding machine functioning nowadays An ancient chemical participant to stay on top of the latest research in his or her area. Programs are currently being developed with keynote and symposium speakers from Europe, USA, Japan and beyond. To learn more on the scope of topics and lectures, visit the Congress website at http://www.febs- 2013.org/
2. The Congress offers a unique chance to visit ST PETERSBURG, one of the most beautiful European cities, in the high season of the famous WHITE NIGHTS. St Petersburg is located on the delta of the River Neva on a series of islands, and its many waterways have led to the title ‘Venice of the North’. The city is renowned for its culture, beauty, splendour and rich history, with numerous palaces, cathedrals, A White Night view of the Peter-and-Paul Fortress, a small island on the River Neva where museums, monuments and Tsar Peter the Great founded St Petersburg in 1703. parks. As a result of the northerly location of St Petersburg, the nights at the time of the Congress will be barely dark. This time coincides with the international White Nights festival, during which one highlight is the raising of illuminated drawbridges across the River Neva.
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FEBS CONGRESS
3. The Congress will be preceded by the 13th FEBS YOUNG SCIENTISTS’ FORUM (YSF). This event provides an excellent opportunity for young scientists from across the FEBS area to get together, present their scientificresults, and critically discuss novel ideas, trends and features, achievements and hypotheses. Grants for over 100 of the most outstanding young scientists will cover accommodation and participation in both the YSF and the FEBS Congress. For more details go to the YSF section of the Congress website. The YSF application deadline is 1 February 2013.
4. The Congress will bring together distinguished 5. Be inspired by RUSSIAN researchers and young scientists from academic NOBEL LAUREATES: St Petersburg institutions and industry across the fields of is an alma mater for them. Ivan biochemistry, molecular biology and related disciplines, Pavlov (conditioned reflex), Ilia and from Europe and beyond – providing an EXCELLENT Mechnikov (phagocytosis), FORUM FOR INTERNATIONAL SCIENTIFIC EXCHANGE. Nikolay Semenov (chemical Alongside the plenary lectures and symposia, poster transformation) and Peter sessions at the 38th FEBS Congress will offer a great Kapitza (low-temperature physics) worked here, and opportunity for presentation of research results and the father of the periodic table of elements, Dmitry sharing of novel ideas, and will be enhanced by guided Mendeleev, was a Professor at St Petersburg University. poster tours. In the Congress venue, the poster area is The physicist Professor Zhores Alferov, one of the latest adjacent to the exhibition hall, with displays of Russian Nobel Laureates, is among the Congress equipment, products and services of exhibitors and organizers. sponsors. Tea and coffee served in the same area will To learn more about Russian Nobel Laureates and help provide a pleasant and relaxing backdrop for about Alfred Nobel, the Nobel Prize founder, join the continued informal discussion in small groups of those ’Nobels in St Petersburg’ Congress Tour. interested in a specific subject. 7. As a complement to the core 6. In addition to its financial scientific program, FEBS will be support for participants of the organizing workshops on topics of Young Scientists’ Forum at the more general interest to students, Congress, FEBS will also be researchers and educators. supporting the attendance of up to A special SCIENCE & SOCIETY 300 young scientists through FEBS SESSION is devoted to the emerging CONGRESS BURSARIES. area of personalized cancer Candidates should be PhD students or junior post- medicine; an EDUCATION doctoral fellows (within 5 years of completion of a PhD) WORKSHOP will look at molecular and under 35 years of age, and present a life sciences education for the needs communication at the Congress as a first author. Full of industry; and WOMEN IN SCIENCE EVENTS will eligibility criteria and other details are given in the include a lunch, a seminar on career issues, and Bursaries section of the Congress website. The bursary presentation of the 2013 FEBS/EMBO Women in application deadline is 10 March 2013. Science Award.
8. RUSSIAN BALLET has played an important part in the cultural life of St Petersburg, and will feature in the 38th FEBS Congress Opening Ceremony. For those who are interested, there is also the chance to join a unique excursion to Mariinsky Theatre, one of the oldest in Russia and at various times in the past the place of work for composers Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky, and renowned dancers including Vaslav Nijinsky, Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov. 5 FEBS News January 2013
FEBS CONGRESS
documents from the Congress Secretariat to accompany The Congress Organizers have arranged FREE ENTRY 9. their visa application after registration. VISAs and pre-booked A VARIETY OF HOTELS to For accommodation at the Congress, participants can facilitate particpants’ arrangements for the Congress. choose from hotels ranging from budget to luxury, as Most foreign visitors would need a Russian entry visa listed in the accommodation section of the Congress to travel to St Petersburg, but special instructions have website. The main Congress hotel, Park Inn by Radisson been issued to all Russian Embassies/Consulates, so that Pribaltiyskaya, gives wonderful views of the Gulf of Congress participants can apply for an entry visa to Finland and is also conveniently located near the Russia free of charge. Participants will receive Congress venue: LENEXPO Congress Center.
10. There is a rich program of CONGRESS TOURS available for Congress participants, from a traditional city bus tour to special interest trips and tours further afield. For details, go to the Social Program section of the Congress website. For example, there are tours to the nearby imperial palaces and parks of Peterhof and Tsarskoye Selo – among St Petersburg’s greatest visitor attractions. By contrast, a tour to the Shuvalovka folk village offers a step back in time to peasant houses and traditional Russian crafts. All Congress participants are invited to an exclusive guided excursion to the majesticHermitage Museum at night – it will open its doors for Congress participants only for a rare opportunity to enjoy masterpieces of European art and imperial interiors in a quiet atmosphere without crowds of people.
(top) Winter Palace and Palace Square with Alexander Column – White Night view; (bottom) Peterhof, a grand summer palace of Peter the Great, inspired by Versailles and other European palaces.
WELCOME TO ST PETERSBURG! From the Russian Society of Biochemistry Marina Tretyak Program Committee Secretary http://www.febs-2013.org [email protected]
KEY CONGRESS DATES Congress: 6–11 July 2013
Online Registration: opens 5 January 2013 Congress Bursary Application deadline: 10 March 2013 Abstract Submission deadline: 15 April 2013 Early Registration deadline: 5 April 2013 Regular Registration deadline: 1 June 2013 KEY YSF DATES Young Scientists’ Forum (YSF): 3–6 July 2013
YSF Application deadline: 1 February 2013 6 FEBS News January 2013 FEBS PROGRAMMES: UPDATES
FEBS Fellowships news The number of FEBS Fellowships awarded in deadline is nevertheless anticipated in 2014. Despite recent years has increased markedly, and in 2012 the cutbacks in the award of new Fellowships, the total FEBS Fellowship expenditure was over €2.8 standards expected from FEBS Fellows for the million, with the majority of that arising from the award of extensions of Long-Term Fellowships into ~70 post-doctoral scientists supported as Long- a second and third year of research will remain as Term Fellows in host laboratories across the FEBS before for existing and new FEBS Fellows. area during the year. As explained in the Preface of Return-To-Europe Fellowships (awarded for 2 this issue of FEBS News (page 3), in the light of an years to support outstanding postdoctoral scientists anticipated fall in income from its journals, FEBS is returning to the European area) are also becoming now downsizing its Fellowships programme, and increasingly competitive. In 2012 there were 18 particularly the awarding of new Long-Term eligible applications, of which two were awarded. Fellowships, where FEBS is committed to stipends This scheme was added to the FEBS Fellowships for up to 3 years. Nevertheless, the full range of portfolio in 2008 on a trial basis and was due for Fellowships continues to be offered by FEBS, with assessment by FEBS Council in 2012. It has passed new funding in 2013 to be focused on the most this initial scrutiny and will now continue for another outstanding applications. two years before re-examination in 2014. In 2012, applications for Long-Term Fellowships In 2013, the FEBS Fellowships Committee (awarded for 1 year in the first instance and expects to award 10 new Long-Term plus Return- renewable for up to 3 years) continued to increase To-Europe Fellowships (in total), 25 Short-Term (up 42% compared with 2008). In the spring call of Fellowships, 4 Collaborative Experimental 2012 there were 86 applications and six were Scholarships for Central & Eastern Europe, and 4 awarded (7%), whereas in the autumn call of 2012 Summer Fellowships. There will be two calls for the number of eligible applications was 133 but the Long-Term and Return-to-Europe Fellowships number to be awarded has been decreased to no (April 1 and October 1). Summer Fellowships more than four (3%). These figures are significantly applications are also due by April 1, while those for down on the success rate of around 16% before Short-Term and Collaborative Experimental 2012. The Fellowships Committee is seeking co- Scholarships can arrive throughout the year. funding support for its Fellowships Programme Vicente Rubio from 2014, but a single (autumn) applications Chair, FEBS Fellowships Committee
An Overview of FEBS Fellowships Pre-doctoral Fellowships Post-doctoral Fellowships • FEBS Summer Fellowships: awarded to promising • FEBS Long-Term Fellowships: awarded to support graduate students in a FEBS country wishing to gain long-term visits for scientific collaboration or advanced practical scientific experience in an institution located training; originally granted for 1 year and may be in another country within the FEBS area. renewed for a further year up to a maximum of 3 years.
FEBS Long-Term Fellows are eligible for the • FEBS Collaborative Experimental Scholarships for FEBS Distinguished Young Investigator Award for Central and Eastern Europe: awarded to PhD students excellence in research, and FEBS Fellowship from Central and Eastern Europe to support experimental Follow-up Research Fund grants towards research work in a laboratory in Western Europe; usually for 2 or costs on return to work in their country of origin. 3 months. • FEBS Return-to-Europe Fellowships: awarded to Pre-/post-doctoral Fellowships support outstanding scientists who left the European • FEBS Short-Term Fellowships: awarded to post- area for post-doctoral training elsewhere but now wish doctoral researchers or advanced pre-doctoral students to return to Europe for a post-doctoral positionwith a for the purpose of scientific collaboration, advanced view to pursuing an independent research career; training or employment of techniques not available at granted for 2 years. the candidates’ usual place of work; usually for up to 2
months. For full details, see the Fellowships section of the FEBS website.
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FEBS PROGRAMMES: UPDATES
FEBS Advanced Courses 2013 2013 Advanced Courses In 2013, FEBS is providing financial support for an extensive range of courses and meetings on contemporary topics in biochemistry, molecular biology and related biosciences, taking place at attractive locations throughout Europe. The full list of events – spanning Advanced Lecture Courses, Practical Courses, Workshops, Joint FEBS/EMBO Lecture Courses, Joint FEBS/ Biochemical Society events, and Special Meetings – is set out over the following pages. As well as providing updates on the latest research, and excellent opportunities for collaborations and networking, most events have a strong educational emphasis and are particularly valuable for early-career post-doctoral scientists and PhD students. A limited number of FEBS Youth Travel Fund grants are available for most courses to assist attendance of young scientists. Further details are available from the individual course websites or course organizers.
News for prospective organizers of future courses Applications to organize future FEBS courses are invited from all scientists who have an international reputation and merits in teaching, and who are keen to distribute the knowledge of their field to young people starting their careers in science. Full guidelines about submitting an application can be Past FEBS Advanced Courses, bringing together experts and found on the Courses section of the FEBS website. young scientists working in specific fields. The three courses Differently from previous years, and reflecting the pictured have new gatherings in 2013: (from top) cancer signal transduction, Spetses (J. Bos); matrix pathobiology, need to reduce the recent high levels of signaling and targets, Kos (N. Karamanos); and expenditure on FEBS Advanced Courses (see fungal pathogens, La Colle-sur-Loup (C. d’Enfert). Preface, page 3), we will have only one call in 2013, and so the applications deadline for funding of FEBS Advanced Lecture Courses 2014 courses has been shifted to 1 April 2013. FEBS is seeking to extend its cooperation with HFP2013: Molecular mechanisms of host– other societies and organizations in the life sciences pathogen interactions and virulence in human for the joint organization of meetings, as in the fungal pathogens ‘Joint FEBS/EMBO Lecture Courses’. In addition, La Colle-sur-Loup, France; May 25–31, 2013 co-funding/sponsorship of FEBS events by other Course website: www.pasteur.fr/hfp2013 relevant funding bodies, commercial organizations The course has been designed to provide students with both and industry is welcomed, as before – not only to an overview of current knowledge and an update on the most enhance financial support but also to emphasize recent advancements in molecular research on fungal pathogens. the wider scientific and technological importance Symposia topics include: comparative and evolutionary genomics, of the proposed topics (assuming that the terms signalling and morphogenesis, mating, host–fungus interactions, cell wall dynamics, antifungal resistance and development, animal and conditions of co-funding are in agreement with models of fungal infections. Workshops and poster sessions will the FEBS policy). provide participants with the opportunity to present their results.
Jaak Järv Applications deadline: February 15, 2013 Chair, FEBS Advanced Courses Committee (continued) 8 FEBS News January 2013 FEBS PROGRAMMES: UPDATES
FEBS Advanced Lecture Courses FEBS Joint Lecture Courses (continued) A Joint FEBS / Biochemical Society Focused Meeting Molecular mechanisms in signal transduction and Exploring kinomes: pseudokinases and beyond cancer Cambridge, UK; March 24–26, 2013 www.biochemistry.org/tabid/379/MeetingNo/SA147/view/ Spetses, Greece; August 16–24, 2013 Conference/[email protected] http://cgc.umcutrecht.nl/upcoming-events/spetses- Topics: Pseudokinases: definition and experimental 2013/ challenges; structural, biochemical and chemical biology The course will focus on the importance of targeting signaling approaches to studying the kinome/pseudokinome; unusual pathways in cancer. Leaders in the fields will go back to and atypical protein kinases; pseudokinases in human basics but also bring participants into the future of this timely disease; non-mammalian pseudokinases; pseudokinases as topic. Social interactions are an important aspect of the drug targets; histidine kinases and protein kinase evolution; meeting. hot topics in pseudokinase research
Applications deadline: April 1, 2013 Applications deadline: January 18, 2013
Nuclear receptor signaling in physiology and A joint FEBS/EMBO Lecture Course disease Biomembranes: molecular architecture, dynamics Spetses, Greece; August 25–30, 201 and function http://ki.se/ki/jsp/polopoly.jsp? Cargèse, Corsica, France; June 10–20, 2013 d=26760&a=153644&l=en testweb.science.uu.nl/cargese2013
The course will emphasize how nuclear receptors, a This is an excellent opportunity to acquire an integrated paradigm for signal-regulated transcription factors, control overview of the structure, function and genesis of biological development and physiology, how dysregulation of nuclear membranes, to gain more insight into the possibilities offered receptor signaling contributes to human diseases, and how by different disciplines, and to learn about the multiple nuclear receptors have emerged as significant drug targets. approaches, techniques and specialties in membrane research.
Applications deadline: May 20, 2013 Applications deadline: March 30, 2013
Immune system: genes, receptors and regulation A joint FEBS/EMBO Lecture Course Rabac, Croatia; September 14–22, 2013 Host–microbes interactions Organizer: Dr Hans-Reimer Rodewald, Email Spetses, Greece; August 30 – September 7, 2013
This course will cover all aspects of modern cellular and http://events.embo.org/13-host-microbe/index.html molecular immunology. Special emphasis will be placed on The course will provide a timely update on critical tolerance and immune regulation, regulatory T cell microbiology themes (bacterial communities, meta-genomics, differentiation, the differentiation and functions of innate microbial diversity, cellular microbiology, etc.), while lymphoid cells, mucosal immunity, host–commensal encouraging interactions between lecturers and students interactions, dendritic cells, inflammation and metabolism, within a unique environment. epigenetic control of virus spreading and tropism, HIV Applications deadline: March 15, 2013 infection, and the origins of lymphocyte malignancies.
Applications deadline: July 1, 2013 A joint FEBS/EMBO Lecture Course Protein interactions, assemblies and human disease Matrix pathobiology, signaling and molecular Spetses, Greece; September 16–26, 2013 targets www.spetsai.org
Kos, Greece; September 26 – October 1, 2013 The course aims to link a system-oriented view of protein– http://www.febs-mpst2013.upatras.gr/ protein interactions with the underlying molecular principles
and their implications in human disease. The course will General lectures/tutorials: glycobiology, proteoglycans, integrate robust experimental approaches with a more global metalloproteinases, cell surface receptors, matrix understanding of the many interactions that proteins are mediators. Plenary symposia: matrix pathobiology, involved in. Topics: interactomes, networks and disease, interactions and functions of matrix macromolecules, whole-cell structural studies, proteostasis, biophysics in the glycobiology and metabolic regulation of ECM molecules, cellular environment, protein folding/misfolding/aggregation, cell receptor signaling and ECM-based nanotechnology, proteins in therapy, membrane protein folding, telomere signaling and disease molecular targeting, matrix regulation biology and structure. in health and disease, cancer stem cell biology and biomarkers. Applications deadline: May 1, 2013
Applications deadline: May 20, 2013 (continued) 9 FEBS News January 2013
FEBS PROGRAMMES: UPDATES
FEBS Joint Lecture Courses (continued) FEBS Practical Courses
A joint FEBS / Biochemical Society Lecture Course State-of the-art infection models for human Cell-penetrating peptides: design, synthesis and pathogenic fungi applications Jena, Germany; February 17 – March 2, 2013 London, UK; October 7–10, 2013 www.hki-jena.de/mpm
Course website: www.biochemistry.org/Conferences/ Human pathogenic fungi frequently cause superficial or AllConferences/tabid/379/View/Conference/MeetingNo/ invasive infections. In this course, hands-on training on fungal IND106/Default.aspx infection models will be provided, and expert lectures will Topics: Applications of CPP for drug delivery; cell-selective provide state-of-the-art scientific background and cover targeting of CPP; CPP as signal transduction modulators; decoy further scientific aspects of host–fungal interactions. and siRNA oligonucleotide delivery strategies; homeoproteins Applications deadline: now closed and gene expression; intracellular delivery of nanoparticles; prediction of CPP and prodrugs; toxicity and transport of CPP Yeast systems biology Applications deadline: August 31, 2013 Gothenburg, Sweden; June 3–10, 2013 Organizer: Dr Stefan Hohmann, Email
FEBS Workshops The course goal is to enable PhD students and young post- doctoral scientists, with a background in experimental biology Nucleotide excision repair and interstrand or medicine and/or in the theoretical sciences (physics, mathematics, engineering), to integrate mathematical crosslink repair – from molecules to man modelling and simulation with experimental research for Smolenice, Slovakia; June 9–13, 2013 solving biological or medical questions. Particular emphasis www.exon.sk/smolenice2013 will be on dynamic modelling of cellular pathways and
EU and US scientists will discuss how protein machines analyses at single-cell level. Yeast is used as the experimental assemble and sort through genomic DNA to identify specific organism but the principles taught apply to any organism, damaged sites that are repaired through the two repair including humans.
pathways critical for normal human health and development: Applications deadline: March 1, 2013 nucleotide excision repair or interstrand crosslink repair.
Applications deadline: April 1, 2013 FEBS Special Meetings Biological surfaces and interfaces Sant Feliu de Guixols, Spain; June 30 – July 5, 2013 Eurobiofilms 2013 Organizer: Dr Ralf Richter, Email Ghent, Belgium; September 9–12, 2013
The workshop aims to stimulate exchange of ideas between www.eurobiofilms2013.ics.dk biologists, chemists, physicists, engineers and physicians in This third European congress on microbial biofilms will this rapidly growing field, whose applications include provide a platform for all scientists studying basic and clinical biosensors, biochips, tissue engineering, medical implants, aspects of bacterial and fungal biofilms to present novel data stem cell therapies, nanomedicine and drug delivery. Topics and exchange new information. The multidisciplinary and will include: biomimetic surface platforms; biomembrane and diverse program will be delivered through various plenary supramolecular materials; controlling cellular responses by sessions and symposia, with leading scientists in the field as designed and intelligent surfaces; soft matter science; speakers and/or chairpersons. Several educational pre- nanotechnology; optical, magnetic and mechanical detection conference workshops will take place on 9 September. systems with down to single-molecule sensitivity; bioarrays. Abstract submission deadline: March 15, 2013 Applications deadline: March 31, 2013
JAK/STAT signalling: model systems and beyond Translating epigenomes into function: a next- Sheffield, UK; September 12–15, 2013 generation challenge for human disease www.bms.dept.shef.ac.uk/jakstat/
Capri (Napoli), Italy; October 13–16, 2013 This meeting brings together world leaders in the field of JAK/ Organizer: Dr Sandro de Falco, Email STAT pathway research in state of the art conference facilities The meeting will focus on key aspects of epigenetic inheritance, on the edge of the Peak District in Sheffield. Latest looking at emerging strategies for data integration in the era developments in the field and an emphasis on recent insights of next-generation genomics. It will highlight advances in the gained from fish and insect model systems promise to provide dynamic cross-talk of epigenetic regulators within genomes, an interactive meeting with many opportunities to forge and how it controls complex processes and disease states. interdisciplinary links.
Applications deadline: July 15, 2013 Applications deadline: August 2, 2013
10 FEBS News January 2013 FEBS PROGRAMMES: UPDATES
FEBS Education: recent workshops The FEBS Education Committee organized two selected by the participants: ‘Problem-based workshops in the last quarter of 2012 with the aim learning (PBL)’, ‘Educational technologies’, ‘Science of promoting biochemistry and molecular biology for the public’, ‘Funds & programmes’, and ‘Critical education at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Reading of Scientific Literature’. Brief reports are given here; more detailed The second day of the workshop included information will be available from the Education sessions on ‘Trends in PhD education’ and Committee page of the FEBS website. ‘Scientific skills’ (Finding one’s way in the internet; Tips for reading and writing a scientific article; Armenia (Yerevan): 8–9 October 2012 Tips for writing a research project proposal). A This workshop, arising from discussions during the session on ‘Professional development of young visit of the FEBS Working Group on Integration to scientists’ (Preparing a CV; Student self- Yerevan in October 2011, focused on ‘Student- organization; Best-practice example from Armenia) Centred Learning (Biomolecular Education and was particularly well appreciated by the young Scientific Skills) for Postgraduate Students and scientists. Again, at the end of the day, small-group Young Scientists’. The event was organized by the structured round-table discussions were held, where FEBS Education Committee in collaboration with each participant had the opportunity to attend a the Armenian Association of Biochemists (AAB), different topic. chaired by Prof. Guevork Kevorkian, and the In feedback on the event, over 95% of the Armenian Young Biologists Association (YBA), participants rated the workshop as ‘excellent’. All chaired by Arsen Gasparyan. slides, and reading material from selected Wiley– There were around 70 participants from mostly Blackwell book chapters, were uploaded on the Yerevan (with registration fees kindly taken care of FEBS education platform. by the AAB); in addition, FEBS provided a Our appreciation goes to our Armenian hosts fellowship to support attendance of a young and the participants in addition to FEBS, the AAB participant from outside of Yerevan. and the YBA for making this exciting event Introductory talks from FEBS and from the AAB possible. (in which we learned of the recent sad loss of the late President Prof. Armen Galoyan) were followed by a key presentation by Dr N. Hovhannisyan (Yerevan State University) on ‘Integrated Learning Curriculum in Biosciences’. The ensuing student-centred learning sessions then focused on ‘Problem- Based Learning’ and ‘Tools in Basic Science Education – New Educational Technologies’. Next, the participants were FEBS Yerevan education workshop participants with FEBS trainers (Keith Elliott, UK; Angel Herráez, ES; Tomáš Zima, CZ; Wolfgang Nellen, DE; and Gül Güner Akdogan TR; supported by divided into small Mathias Sprinzl, DE). The arrangements in the splendid Youth Centre of Yerevan (supported by groups for structured the Youth Foundation of Armenia) were well organized by the Assistant to Secretary of the AAB, round-table discussions Flora Sarukhanyan, PhD, and coordinated by Hovakim Zakaryan (Secretary of External on various topics, as Communications Committee of the YBA).
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FEBS PROGRAMMES: UPDATES
UK (Cambridge): 17–18 December 2012 The acquisition of key generic and scientific The Cambridge workshop, held jointly with the UK skills’ encompassed ‘Virtual practical classes’ (Gus Biochemical Society, focused on improving the Cameron, Bristol, UK), ‘Bridging the gap between student experience and the teaching of transferable practical classes and research projects’ (Francesco employment skills. It was hosted in the historic Michelangeli, Birmingham, UK), ‘Using podcasts surroundings of Gonville and Caius College, to aid communication’ (Jeremy Pritchard, Cambridge University, thanks to Prof. Sir Alan Birmingham, UK), and ‘Bioscience Horizons, an Fersht, FEBS Treasurer (and the college Master). undergraduate journal’ (Neil Morris). ‘Session 3: The workshop was the first to be jointly organized Assessments and feedback’ included stimulating by the FEBS and the Biochemical Society’s talks from Erica Morris (The Higher Education Education Committees. It was dedicated to the Academy, UK), Jon Scott (Leicester, UK; student memory of Prof. Edward J. Wood (1941–2008), who and staff engagement with feedback) and Julian was the founding Park (Reading, UK; different methods for giving chair of the Education feedback). In ‘Session 4: Careers and improving Committees of both employability’ Detlev Riesner (Düsseldorf, DE) the Biochemical described what employers want from bioscience Society and FEBS. graduates, Wolfgang Nellen (Kassel, DE) focused The event included a on communication with a nonscience audience as a heartfelt tribute to his key employment skill, Chris Willmott (Leicester, accomplishments in UK) gave interesting information on careers and science and careers fairs, and Richard Reece (Manchester, UK) education, given by discussed accreditation of bioscience degrees. Gül Güner Akdogan In addition to learning from these presentations, and attended by his attendees participated in discussion groups each day family in addition to and benefited from a poster session. The publishers Prof. Edward J. Wood during the the workshop Wiley-Blackwell and Portland Press also gave 2007 FEBS Congress, Vienna, AT. participants. informative and helpful presentations. Participation in the workshop was from across Excellent feedback was received from the the educational establishment, encompassing participants in general, as well as good suggestions probationary lecturers, postgraduate students, post- for improvement, such as more time for discussion doctoral fellows, teaching fellows and academics. and posters, and providing a summary of the small- Together with the invited speakers and the group discussions to the whole group. administrative staff, there were around 70 The FEBS education platform has been uploaded participants. A third of the participants were from with slides from the presentations as well as the the FEBS region outside of the UK, including relevant book chapters from Wiley-Blackwell (the Armenia, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, latter for a period of six weeks after the workshop). Estonia, Germany, Georgia, Hungary, Ireland, In conclusion, this workshop was successful in Poland, Spain, Sweden, Turkey and Ukraine, and many ways: in providing an excellent platform for there was also one participant from Nigeria. FEBS the sharing of innovations in molecular bioscience allocated bursaries for partial support of two PhD education, in presenting ‘tips’ for the careers of students from Armenia, one young scientist from young scientists, in helping young interested Turkey, and one young scientist from Georgia. This academics to promote their educational skills, and event was approved by the Society of Biology (UK) in bringing together those interested in molecular for the purpose of Continuing Professional bioscience education not only from all over the UK Development (CPD) and is counted as 45 CPD but from the entire FEBS area. credits. I thank everyone who made this workshop a The two-day workshop was divided into four memorable one, and particularly Francesco main sessions. ‘Session 1: Improving student Michelangeli, Sheila Dargan and Frances van engagement’ included talks on the use of enquiry Klaveren from the Biochemical Society. (Natalie Rowley, Birmingham, UK), technology
(Neil Morris, Leeds, UK) and shadow modules Gül Güner Akdoğan (Sheila Dargan, Cardiff, UK). Talks in ‘Session 2: Chair, FEBS Education Committee
12 FEBS News January 2013 FEBS PROGRAMMES: UPDATES
Crick Memorial Meeting– 60th Anniversary of DNA Structure
Cambridge, UK 25th April 2013
To commemorate the 60th anniversary of the publication of the structure of DNA, and the approaching centenary of the birth of Francis Crick, FEBS and the Agouron Institute are sponsoring in conjunction with Gonville and Caius College a unique and historic meeting to be given by colleagues who were present at the time and by historians of science. This will be the last decennial meeting in which those colleagues are likely to be able to present lectures.
The meeting will take place in Cambridge, UK (Babbage Lecture Theatre, New Museums Site, Pembroke Street) on 25th April 2013. Tickets must be obtained in advance from www.cambridge.gov.uk/ boxoffice (booking opens 1 February 2013; booking fee £1).
Photo © Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge Preliminary Programme
1.30–2.00 pm Matt Ridley (Crick, the early years and work at the Admiralty) 2.00–2.15 pm Ray Gosling (Photo 51) 2.15–2.45 pm James Watson (Eureka moments from 28th February) 2.45–3.00 pm Jack Dunitz (April 1953: Oxford to Cambridge with Sydney Brenner, Dorothy Hodgkin and Leslie Orgel) 3.00–4.00 pm Tea 4.00–4.45 pm Sydney Brenner (Triplet code) 4.45–5.15 pm Matthew Meselson (Semi-conservative DNA replication) 5.15–5.45 pm Robert Olby (Speaking out on controversial subjects) 5.45–6.00 pm John Mollon (Crick and Caius College, and the Crick Memorial)
Babbage Lecture Theatre: map and disability access information The Agouron Institute: www.agi.org
FEBS Education Events 2013 FEBS 3+ Meeting 2013 Molecular Life Sciences Education for the Needs of Industry IX Parnas Conference: 8 July 2013; St Petersburg, Russia (38th FEBS Congress) Proteins from Birth to Death 29 September – 2 October 2013 Teaching Molecular Evolution Jerusalem, Israel 13 July 2013; Gdansk, Poland Co-organized by the Israel Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Education Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the October 2013 (provisional date); Tbilisi, Georgia Ukrainian Biochemical Society and the Polish Biochemical Society
For all enquiries on education events, please contact: For further details, please contact: Gül Güner Akdogan ([email protected]), Abdussalam Azem ([email protected]), Chair, FEBS Education Committee Organizing Committee
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FEBS COMMUNITY NEWS
Constituent Societies’ meetings: FEBS National Lecture Awards
FEBS supports plenary lectures to enhance the Two recent awardees were plenary speakers at a scientific meetings of its Constituent Societies, meeting of the French Biochemical and Molecular through FEBS National Lecture Awards. These Biology Society (held with the French Society of enable a distinguished scientist working in a Biophysics) and at a joint meeting of the Polish different FEBS country to the one hosting the event Biochemical Society and the German Society for to present a lecture at the meeting, by supporting Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The the speaker’s travel and accommodation costs. Full summaries below provide brief details of the details of the scheme are given on the National awards and give some insight into the Societies’ Lectures sections of the FEBS website. meetings.
Prof. Dr Rita Gerardy-Schahn (Institute for Cellular Chemistry, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany) received a FEBS National Lecture Award at the recent SFBBM–SFB 2012 Congress, which was co-organized by the French Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the French Society of Biophysics, in partnership with the French Society of Photobiology, several thematic groups [Archaea, Biostruc, GGMM (modelling)] and the Grenoble Alliance for Integrated Structural and Cellular Biology (GRAL). Rita Gerardy-Schahn gave an outstanding presentation entitled ‘Brain development needs Presentation of FEBS National Lecture award to Prof. Dr Rita sugar: a view on the role of (poly)sialo-glycotopes’. Gerardy-Schahn (left) by Dr Christine Ebel. She has used a variety of experimental approaches – genetic mouse models, genome analyses, cell and in than 82 speakers, and with more than 100 poster vitro biochemical experiments – to demonstrate the presentations. Specific sessions included the importance of polysialic acid postranslational Teaching and Technology Transfer round-tables, modifications for creating cellular plasticity during the Young Investigator session, and a special mouse ontogeny, and of enzymes of the sialylation lecture dedicated to Turing. Eight laureates of the pathway in human brain development and the organizing societies presented their work, and 12 acquisition of higher cognitive functions. The Congress poster prizes were awarded. Bursaries supported aimed to show the success of multi-level approaches, the attendance of 11 young scientists. All and this was brilliantly demonstrated here in the participants enjoyed the visit and cocktail dinner in wide fields of glycobiology and neurobiology. Grenoble museum. The organizers are grateful to The Congress, which took place in Grenoble, Jules Hoffmann (University of Strasbourg) and France, from 21st to 23rd November 2012, was a Ernst Bamberg (University of Frankfurt), who real success, with 300 participants and a rich opened and closed the Congress, respectively. scientific program. Under the heading ‘From For more details on this event, see: molecular mechanisms to integrated life processes’ http://sfbbm-sfb2012.org the Congress covered both new methods and Christine Ebel, Organizer Institut de Biologie Structurale, Grenoble, France discoveries in the fields of host–pathogen interactions, compartmentalization, signalling, Bruno Kieffer, Organizer regulation, genomic integrity and proteome Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, plasticity – across 13 sessions comprising no less Strasbourg, France 14 FEBS News January 2013 FEBS COMMUNITY NEWS
cells, since there are no naturally occurring nucleases that can hydrolyse them. In his talk, Prof. Erdmann described A first joint meeting between the Polish for the first time Biochemical Society (PTBioch) and the German mirror image Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology catalytic nucleic (GBM) was held from 11th to 14th September 2012 acids, which he in Poznań, Poland, organized by the Poznan Branch calls ‘Spiegelzymes’, of the Polish Biochemical Society. The meeting was that hydrolyse L- also the 47th Congress of the Polish Biochemical RNA molecules in Society. a sequence-specific Under the main theme ‘Biochemistry for Health manner. The mirror Prof. Dr Volker A. Erdmann, delivering and Environment’ the meeting covered important image nucleic acid his FEBS National Lecture and diverse aspects of human, animal and plant zymes are based function at the level of gene expression, metabolism upon the known hammerhead ribozyme and and cell motility, and their sensitivity to intracellular DNAzyme structures, but contain L-ribose or L- and environmental signals under conditions of deoxyribose instead of the naturally occurring D- health and pathology. ribose or D-deoxyribose, respectively. The The meeting brought together leading Spiegelzymes showed similar hydrolytic activities biochemists, medicinal chemists, pharmacologists, with the same L-RNA target molecules in vitro and biotechnologists, molecular biologists and cell in vivo. Thus, these Spiegelzymes have potential as biologists to discuss and present the latest important perfect antidotes against Spiegelmers – for example, developments, including the challenges involved in to counter drug side effects. Spiegelzymes are of the dynamic and fast-moving fields of drug much interest to a range of disciplines – from discovery and therapy. The 66 lectures and 59 oral astrobiology, to chirality research to molecular presentations were given by excellent speakers from evolution. Poland and Germany, and the meeting offered its Prof. Erdmann also presented findings from 600 participants a great opportunity to open new X-ray analysis of crystallized Spiegelmer structures avenues, establish new contacts and start new under microgravity conditions at the International collaborations. 300 young scientists attended the Space Station, which uncovered interesting meeting, and a Mozolowski Award was given for differences between the binding of Mg2+ and water the most interesting results presented in poster form by the D- and L- form of the nucleic acids. from a young scientist. The FEBS National Lecture was not only unique During the meeting, the FEBS National Lecture because of its scientific content, but also because it Award was presented to Prof. Dr Volker A. demonstrated a long-lasting collaboration between Erdmann (Institute of Chemistry/Biochemistry, Prof. Erdmann’s group in Berlin and the Bioorganic Free University of Berlin, Germany), who gave an Chemistry Institute of the Polish Academy of outstanding presentation entitled ‘The discovery of Science in Poznan. It therefore highlighted very well Spiegelzymes and their potentials in molecular the potential of Polish–German collaborations, biology and medicine’. Prof. Erdmann and his which was particularly fitting for this first joint co-workers designed ‘Spiegelmers’ in the 1990s, meeting of the Polish and German societies. which are mirror image (L-form) high-affinity For more details on this event, including links to nucleic acids that can bind target molecules of the abstract book and photos see: diverse size. They are similar to aptamers and, given www.biochemistry-poznan2012.pl/ their specific binding and ease of synthesis, are of Maria Rybczyńska great interest for molecular medicine as diagnostic Chair of Organizing Committee or therapeutic tools. One advantage of Spiegelmers Poznan University of Medical Sciences, is that they are very stable in human sera or living Poland
15 FEBS News January 2013
FEBS COMMUNITY NEWS Golden jubilee of the Hungarian Biochemical Society
The Hungarian Biochemical Society volume of international contacts after the regime celebrated the 50th anniversary of change in 1989. Between 1995 and 2005 the its foundation on 9th November molecular biology section of the Society led by 2012 at the building of the László Patthy (a member of the FEBS Publications Hungarian Academy of Sciences. The Society was Committee) organized highly successful annual established as the Hungarian Biochemical meetings, and in recent years the signalling and drug Association by the Section of Biology of the biochemistry sections were also very active in Hungarian Academy on 30th June 1962. For the organizing popular meetings in their fields. Since golden jubilee the Society prepared a special issue of the 2005 FEBS Congress, annual meetings have been its journal BIOKÉMIA (‘Biochemistry’), summarizing organized, concluding with the FEBS3+ meeting co- a 50-year history of Hungarian biochemistry and organized with Croatian and Slovenian colleagues, molecular biology, as well as the involvement of the in Opatija, Croatia in 2012. In 2013 we will have the Society with FEBS (including the organization of first Hungarian meeting fully in English, together three successful FEBS Congresses in Hungary). At with Hungarian geneticists and cell biologists. The the anniversary meeting the FEBS Executive variability of Society meetings, and the adoption of Committee was represented by Mathias Sprinzl, novel initiatives such as the symposium on epigenetics who greeted the audience in the Hungarian in 2012, shows how the Society has adapted well to language. The founding Hungarian Academy of the changing needs of its membership. Sciences was represented by Péter Závodszky, Chairperson of the Section of Biology. The 50th anniversary of the Hungarian Biochemical Society falls within a series of anniversary events around now, including the centennial celebrations of the British and French Biochemical Societies in 2011 and 2014, respectively, as well as the 50th anniversaries of FEBS and EMBO in 2014. Béla Tankó was the founding President of the Hungarian Biochemical Society, who was followed by Ferenc Guba, Gertrúd Szabolcsi, Géza Dénes, Péter Friedrich and László Fésüs. In May 1981, the membership of the Hungarian Biochemical Association was extended to the biochemistry section of the Hungarian Association of Chemists, and as the renamed Hungarian Biochemical Society has continued to serve the Hungarian biochemical and molecular biological community over the past three decades (www.mbkegy.hu).
Society life Meetings of the Society have had rather variable forms over the years. In the early years, an annual ‘grand assembly’ was held, and between the first and Then and now. (top) Albert Szent-Györgyi becoming an honorary second Hungarian FEBS Congresses (1974–1990), member of the Hungarian Biochemical Society in 1973; on the Society conferences had different locations – usually left of Szent-Györgyi is Béla Tankó, the founding President of in major university cities of the country. Between the Hungarian Biochemical Society. (bottom) The 50th the second and third Hungarian FEBS Congresses anniversary meeting in 2012: Péter Závodszky, Chairperson of (1990–2005) three very successful ‘International the Section of Biology of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences Conferences of the Hungarian Biochemical Society’ (left); László Fésüs, President of the Hungarian Biochemical Society (middle); and Matthias Sprinzl, representative of FEBS were organized, showing the increased need for and Executive Committee (right). 16 FEBS News January 2013 FEBS COMMUNITY NEWS
Like other scientific societies, the Hungarian Biochemical Society recognizes high-quality research of young scientists and lifetime achievements, by presenting various awards. The most prestigious award of the Society is the Béla Tankó Award named after the founding President. The 2012 awardees were László Buday (young scientist category) and László Gráf (lifetime achievement award). Besides best poster awards, the best publication of the year is recognized by the Bio-Science Award, giving a plenary lecture opportunity to the awardee at the Society meeting. The Society journal BIOKÉMIA has The President (László Fésüs, right) and the Secretary General (Beáta Vértessy, left) of the Hungarian Biochemical Society with the 2012 Bio- served the membership continuously in Science awardee, Roland Csépányi-Kömi (middle) at the FEBS3+ meeting in the past 35 years, with four issues Opatija (June 2012). annually on scientific papers, news items, and papers on research policy and education. At the organization’. Péter Friedrich, the Chairperson of golden jubilee all issues were published in a digital the Organizing Committee, showed his legendary form on the Society website, www.mbkegy.hu. humour describing another sign of changing times: ‘the highly skilled Secretary of the organizing The Hungarian Biochemical Society and committee escaped from the sinking vessel of the FEBS Congress, and the dynamic, young person replacing The Hungarian Biochemical Society is one of the him proved to be so over-dynamic that we had to founding eight societies of FEBS, and has organized say goodbye to him’. Despite the difficulties made three FEBS Congresses. The 9th FEBS Meeting was by history, the 1990 Congress was a great success, organized at the Technical University of Budapest hosting 60 scientific sessions. The 2005 FEBS in 1974 by Bruno Straub and his team. The 20th FEBS Congress was combined with an IUBMB Meeting was in 1990, right after Hungary changed Conference, and had 2650 participants from 95 to a democracy. Organization of an international countries. According to the slogan of the Congress, meeting is rather difficult in ‘revolutionary times’. As ‘Science is fun!’, many accompanying events were the Secretary General of the Hungarian Biochemical organized, including ‘Pub Tours’, where Nobel Society, Pál Elődi, wrote in the Society journal: ‘there Laureates and other 90 distinguished speakers spent was no responsible government or city official with an evening with groups of young participants of the whom we might discuss the sponsorship of the Congress in a pub – making a memory for life.
Opening session of the 2005 FEBS Congress and IUBMB Conference. Standing: Péter Friedrich, president of the Congress (who received the FEBS Diplôme d’Honneur at the meeting), delivering his opening speech. On his left, Janez Potoĉnik, EU Commissioner of Research, Innovation and Science; on his right, Israel Pecht (FEBS President), Mary Osborn (IUBMB President) and Julio Celis (FEBS Secretary General). On the far right and left, the young individuals in yellow T-shirts were representing the 100 high-school research students helping at the Congress as volunteers.
17 FEBS News January 2013
FEBS COMMUNITY NEWS
Hungarian biochemists were and are actively participating in the FEBS Executive Committee and other FEBS Committees. Ferenc Guba, Péter Friedrich and Balázs Sarkadi were Presidents of FEBS, while currently László Fésüs is the Chairperson of the Publications Committee and member of the Executive Committee. Fourteen FEBS Advanced Courses have been organized in Hungary, and several Hungarian young scientists have received a FEBS Fellowship. Gábor Farkas was an Editor for FEBS Letters in the 1970s and 1980s, while currently László Nagy and Judit Ovádi serve on Research group of Albert Szent-Györgyi in Szeged in 1933. 1, Albert Szent- the Editorial Board of the journal. It is Györgyi; 2, Bruno F. Straub; 3, Kálmán Laki; 4, Ilona Banga. (Photo is a noteworthy also that EMBO has 11 courtesy of Andreas Szent-Györgyi.) Hungarian members and an additional 10 members whose career started in Hungary. Trends in Hungarian biochemistry In recent years Hungarian biochemistry has The history of Hungarian biochemistry – developed in several topical areas. Protein biochemistry in a nutshell is traditionally very strong in the country, and this Hungarian biochemical research started more than has been extended by modern structural methods as 100 years ago. The first real highlight was the school well as by proteomics in recent years. Signalling of Albert Szent-Györgyi, who received the Nobel studies began when this area came to the forefront Prize in 1937 ‘for his discoveries in connection with internationally with the discovery of the importance the biological combustion processes, with special of protein phosphorylation. A recent trend is reference to vitamin C and the catalysis of fumaric lipidomics, which is becoming more and more acid’. established in Szeged and Debrecen. Molecular From Szent-Györgyi’s students, Bruno Straub, biological methods have been extended by the discoverer of actin, had a decisive role in genomics, epigenetics and next-generation Hungarian biochemistry in the second half of the sequencing. The billions of data increasingly require 20th century. Prof. Straub established a high-level bioinformatics approaches and, related to this, research institute at the Semmelweis University network analysis is traditionally strong in Hungary. Medical School in Budapest, and he also founded One very successful application of biochemistry and and led the Institute of Enzymology in Budapest molecular biology is drug discovery, where and the Szeged Biological Centre, which became a Hungarian laboratories and pharmaceutical Centre of Excellence of the European Union. companies are also traditionally strong. Of course, Kálmán Laki indirectly established a school in in recent decades ‘biochemistry’ has been extended Debrecen by scholarships and involvement of the by molecular biology and the term ‘molecular life Debrecen Research Institute in the Szent-Györgyi sciences’ is becoming more fashionable. However, research network in the USA. Ilona Banga was a biochemistry remains crucial in the establishment founding member of the Hungarian Biochemical and understanding of the ‘omics-world’ – and Society, while Ferenc Guba continued the Szent- Hungarian biochemists are looking forward to celebrate the 100th anniversary of their society. Györgyi legacy in muscle research in Szeged. Currently, Hungary has 12 internationally László Fésüs renowned biochemical research/university President, Hungarian Biochemical Society University of Debrecen, Hungary institutes, demonstrating the strength of this scientific discipline in the country, and recently Péter Csermely, many of these have moved to new spacious research Vice-President, Hungarian Biochemical Society buildings. Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary 18 FEBS News January 2013 FEBS COMMUNITY NEWS
In Memoriam Marianne Grunberg-Manago 1921–2013 Marianne Grunberg-Manago discovered the enzyme polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase), which was essential for deciphering the genetic code at the beginning of the 1960s. She also had a distinguished international career at a time when there were few women working as scientists. Marianne Grunberg-Manago was born into a family of artists on 6th January 1921 in Petrograd (St Petersburg) in Russia. She emigrated to France with her parents at the age of nine months. Later, she studied both Comparative Literature and Biology at the University of Paris, receiving her PhD in 1947. Marianne first worked on intermediary metabolism Marianne Grunberg-Manago was the first woman in bacteria at the Institut de Biologie Physico- to be President of the International Union of Chimique (IBPC) in Paris. In 1953, she left for the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (1985–1988) USA, first to the University of Illinois at Urbana and the only female President of the French and later to New York University, where she joined Academy of Sciences (1995–1996). She was also a the laboratory of Severo Ochoa in 1954. It was member of the American National Academy of there that she discovered PNPase, an enzyme that Sciences and of numerous other Academies, won catalysed the synthesis of polyribonucleotides. In many French and international prizes and published 1959, Ochoa and Arthur Kornberg were awarded the more than 300 articles in peer-reviewed journals. Nobel prize ‘for their discovery of the mechanisms Marianne was awarded the FEBS Diplôme in the biological synthesis of ribonucleic acid and d’Honneur in 1996. deoxyribonucleic acid’. Later experiments showed In addition to being a prominent scientist, that the major role of PNPase in vivo was RNA Marianne Grunberg-Manago was a wonderful degradation rather than RNA synthesis. However, person, greatly loved by all her collaborators, the capacity of PNPase to produce RNA played a colleagues and friends. On 18th March 2000, she key role in the experiments of Nirenberg and Matthaei suffered a terrible brain haemorrhage that kept her in 1961, establishing that polyU (synthesized by in hospital until her death on 4th January 2013, two PNPase) directed the synthesis of polyphenylalanine. days before her 92nd birthday. Despite these 13 Thus, the early steps in cracking the genetic code difficult years, Marianne will always be remembered depended on the discovery of PNPase. as a vibrant person with a great sense of humour. Marianne returned to the IBPC in 1956, where After her election to the presidency of the French she studied the biochemical properties of PNPase Academy of Sciences, many journalists came to and those of the various polynucleotides it interview her. One very admiring journalist synthesized. She also used these polynucleotides in confessed to her ‘I always dreamed of becoming a cell-free systems to define new codons. The first scientist, but only managed to become a journalist’ area of work led her to investigate the biological – to which Marianne replied ‘that’s funny, because I role of PNPase and RNA degradation in model always wanted to be journalist, but only managed to bacteria, while the second led her to study the become a scientist!’. mechanism of mRNA translation initiation in collaboration with François Gros, at the IBPC at Mathias Springer and Richard H. Buckingham that time. Later, she studied how translation was Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Paris, France regulated, mainly in collaboration with Sylvain Sylvain Blanquet Blanquet and later with Jean-Pierre Ebel and École Polytechnique, Palaiseau, France. Bernard and Chantal Ehresmann in Strasbourg.
In addition to publishing news from its Constituent Societies in the ‘FEBS Community News’ section of FEBS News, FEBS can post announcements on its ‘News from FEBS Societies’ page of the FEBS website; please email brief details to [email protected]
19 FEBS News January 2013 FEBS PUBLICATIONS
LaRonde-LaBlanc, University of Maryland, MD, Dear Fellow Scientists, USA; and Toshiya Senda, University of Tokyo, Japan. More about our Editors and Editorial As of January 2013, FEBS Board Members can be found on the FEBS Journal Journal moves to online-only website. publication. Most users read the electronic version and we plan to make it ever New Special Issue more attractive, efficient and user-friendly. The Look out for a new move also conforms to our policy of energy Special Issue on Protein conservation and contributing to a sustainable Phosphatases: From environment. Molecules to Networks that The vast majority of our readers use the journal will be published in online mainly because of the simplicity of online January (FEBS J. 280/2). searching, database linking, cross-referencing, saving This issue is compiled by and annotating. The online version is available our Reviews Editor, Nick (Early View) before the publication in a specific Tonks (Cold Spring journal issue, it has unlimited use of colour free of Harbor), and contains a charge, and is instantly accessible worldwide. Both mix of both primary authors and readers will benefit from future papers and review articles developments to add value and functionality to that reflect the theme of specificity in protein journal articles. phosphatase function and emphasize the critical role Online-only publishing will eliminate the adverse played by these enzymes in the regulation of signal environmental impact of printing and shipping transduction. journal copies around the world. The move will allow us to minimize future price increases and invest in a dynamic online presence that fully meets New Virtual Issue the evolving needs of the scientific research A new FEBS Journal community. Virtual Issue on Structural Read the first online-only Biology compiled by issue of FEBS Journal Editor Alex Wlodawer (FEBS J. 280, 1) on the was published in Wiley Online library: the December 2012, issue includes two accompanied by a reviews – Regulation of podcast. The journal glycogen synthase from traditionally publishes mammalian skeletal many structural papers muscle – a unifying view and this Virtual Issue of allosteric and covalent highlights the excellent regulation and Cryo- original work published in 2012. electron microscopy: A primer for the non-microscopist – together with a FEBS Journal top 10 downloaded articles number of exciting original papers. 2012 Make sure you are signed up to receive content The top-downloaded papers in 2012, listed on the alerts from FEBS Journal on the Wiley Online next page, are all review articles, which can be read Library. online and downloaded free of charge from the time of publication via a hotlink from the FEBS Journal New Members of the Editorial Advisory website. Board We are very pleased to announce the appointment New member of the FEBS Journal of three new members of the FEBS Journal Editorial Editorial Office Advisory Board with expertise in structural biology: We welcome Dr Alison Murray, our new Deputy K. Ravi Acharya, University of Bath, UK; Nicole Editorial Manager, to the FEBS Journal team in
20 FEBS News January 2013 FEBS PUBLICATIONS
January. Alison has a background in biochemistry With best wishes from us all at FEBS Journal for a and the media and will be a great asset in maintaining happy and successful New Year, and improving the visibility of the journal. Dr Mary Richard Perham, Editor-in-Chief Purton, Executive Editor of FEBS Open Bio, has been Vanessa Wilkinson, Editorial Manager Acting Deputy Editorial Manager for some time and Giannina Bartlett, Editorial Assistant we are very grateful for all her help. Juanita Goossens-Roach, Editorial Assistant
Top 10 most downloaded articles in 2012 in FEBS Journal
Cellular models to investigate biochemical pathways in Parkinson’s disease Alberio, T., Lopiano, L. and Fasano, M. (2012) FEBS Journal, 279: 1146–1155
Molecular chaperones in targeting misfolded proteins for ubiquitin-dependent degradation Kriegenburg, F., Ellgaard, L. and Hartmann-Petersen, R. (2012), FEBS Journal, 279: 532–542
Animal models of Parkinson’s disease Blandini, F. and Armentero, M.-T. (2012), FEBS Journal, 279: 1156–1166
Lipid metabolism in cancer Santos, C. R. and Schulze, A. (2012) FEBS Journal, 279: 2610–2623.
Computational approaches to disease-gene prediction: rationale, classification and successes Piro, R. M. and Di Cunto, F. (2012), FEBS Journal, 279: 678–696
Glycosaminoglycans: key players in cancer cell biology and treatment Afratis, N., Gialeli, C., Nikitovic, D., Tsegenidis, T., Karousou, E., Theocharis, A. D., Pavão, M. S., Tzanakakis, G. N. and Karamanos, N. K. (2012) FEBS Journal, 279: 1177–1197.
Cytochrome P450s in the synthesis of cholesterol and bile acids – from mouse models to human diseases Lorbek, G., Lewinska, M. and Rozman, D. (2012) FEBS Journal, 279: 1516–1533
Insights into the structure and assembly of Escherichia coli outer membrane protein A Reusch, R. N. (2012), FEBS Journal, 279: 894–909
Finding the right balance – a personal journey from individual proteins to membrane-embedded motors Robinson, C. V. (2012), FEBS Journal, 279: 663–677
Regulation of NMDA receptors by the tyrosine kinase Fyn Trepanier, C. H., Jackson, M. F. and MacDonald, J. F. (2012), FEBS Journal, 279: 12–19
FEBS PUBLICATIONS ANNUAL AWARDS FOR YOUNG SCIENTISTS
FEBS Journal Prize for FEBS LettersYoung Young Scientists Group Leader Award
The FEBS Journal prize is awarded to the graduate The FEBS Lettersprize is given to a young group student or young post-doctoral research worker (no leader who is the author of the most outstanding more than 3 years from the time of award of the PhD research letter published in FEBS Letters in the previous degree when the paper is submitted) who is the first calendar year. The awardee must be the corresponding author of a paper that is judged to be the best in author of the letter and be aged 40 years or younger FEBS Journal during the calendar year. at the time of manuscript acceptance.
Details at: Details at: www.febsjournal.org/young.asp www.febsletters.org/content/younggroupleader
21 FEBS News January 2013 FEBS PUBLICATIONS
Driven by a dynamic Dear Fellow scientific environment, we Scientists, expanded our Editorial
Happy New Year! All Board in 2012. The latest of us at the FEBS Letters Editorial Office would like addition was Prof. Amitabha to wish you happiness and success in 2013. We Chattopadhyay, our first would also like to thank all of you who submitted Academic Editor based in your work to our journal in 2012, and all the India. Amitabha is a reviewers who contributed with their expertise and Professor at the Centre for time in evaluating manuscripts. Cellular and Molecular We were very pleased to receive a steady inflow Biology in Hyderabad and holds several active and of submissions in 2012 (more than 2000!) and to honorary positions at various academic institutions have been able to publish five Special Issues with throughout India. His main areas of expertise are excellent contributions from leading scientists in membrane organization and dynamics, and the their respective fields. You can find current and past interplay between membrane lipids and proteins, Special Issues here: www.journals.elsevier.com/febs especially in neuronal membranes. Being a -letters/special-issues/. We hope that all the renowned scientist in India and beyond, we are published manuscripts will be well received by the honoured to welcome Amitabha to FEBS Letters. community and reaffirm FEBS Letters’ popularity in The end of the year also brought a pleasant the field of molecular life sciences. novelty for all potential authors submitting their manuscripts to FEBS Letters. In collaboration with Elsevier, we introduced a simplified submission process, called ‘Simpler submission’. Now, authors can submit their manuscript as single Word or PDF files, in any layout, including all figures, figure legends, and references, which also can be in any style or format. We are confident that Simpler submission will facilitate the usually cumbersome submission process and attract even more potential authors to submit their work to FEBS Letters.
As always, we look forward to receiving your (Simpler submission) manuscripts.
Best wishes, Felix Wieland, Managing Editor Aleksander Benjak, Editorial Manager Daniela Ruffell, Editor FEBS Letters Special Issues in 2012 Anne Rougeaux, Editorial Assistant
Top 5 most cited articles published in 2012 in FEBS Letters (retrieved 12 December 2012)
Hydrogen, metals, bifurcating electrons, and proton The enigmatic role of H2Bub1 in cancer gradients: The early evolution of biological energy Johnsen, S.A. conservation FEBS Letters 586(11), 1592-1601 Martin, W.F. FEBS Letters 586(5), 485-493 Mdm2 and MdmX partner to regulate p53 Wang, X., Jiang, X. Proteostasis of tau. Tau overexpression results in its FEBS Letters 586(10), 1390-1396 secretion via membrane vesicles Simón, D., García-García, E., Royo, F., Falcón-Pérez, J.M., Scaling up synthetic biology: Do not forget the chassis Avila, J. Danchin, A. FEBS Letters 586(1), 47-54 FEBS Letters 586(15), 2129-2137 For complete and up-to-date lists, go to the FEBS Letters website Recent articles and Most cited articles links.
22 FEBS News January 2013 FEBS COMMUNITY NEWS
Dear Fellow and Lund, 2012; Suzuki et al., 2012, respectively), as Scientists, well as more established areas in the field of epigenetics, such as DNA methylation or histone Now is a good time to acetylation (Muñoz et al., 2012; Barneda-Zahonero look back at the past year. and Parra, 2012). The reviews in this special issue In 2012, Molecular Oncology surpassed the 5-year address not only the role that epigenetic processes mark from issue 1 dated June 2007, and what better play in tumour formation and progression (Nair and way to mark it than with the publication of a Kumar, 2012) but also the application of such thematic issue on ‘Cancer Epigenetics’. discoveries in a clinically relevant setting, such as This special issue, edited by Dr Manel Esteller, biomarkers (Nogueira da Costa and Herceg, 2012), addresses a cancer research field that, although improved molecular selection of patients for young, has gained tremendous momentum in the therapy or even providing novel molecular targets past few years, as the mechanisms underlying for therapy (Nebbioso et al., 2012; New et al., 2012). epigenetic changes in cancer cells are unravelled. We look forward to receiving your manuscripts The issue covers emerging areas of research, such as in 2013. the contribution of microRNA disruption to Best wishes, carcinogenesis and understanding of the impact of Julio E. Celis, Editor-in-Chief DNA methylation in microRNA transcriptional José Moreira, Managing Editor silencing in human tumours (reviewed in Jansson Dorte Perdersen, Editorial Assistant
Chromatin remodeling in Cancer: A Gateway to regulate gene Special Issue: transcription Cancer Epigenetics Sujit S. Nair, Rakesh Kumar edited by Manel Esteller Epigenetic alterations involved in cancer stem cell reprogramming Mol. Oncol. (2012) Vol. 6, Purificación Muñoz, Maria S. Iliou, Manel Esteller Issue 6 HDAC inhibitor-based therapies: Can we interpret the code? Contents: Maria New, Heidi Olzscha, Nicholas B. La Thangue Cancer, epigenetics and the Nobel Prizes Trials with ‘epigenetic’ drugs: An update Manel Esteller Angela Nebbioso, Vincenzo Carafa, Rosaria Benedetti, Lucia Altucci DNA methylation and microRNA dysregulation in cancer Hiromu Suzuki, Reo Maruyama, Eiichiro Yamamoto, Masahiro Kai The role of histone demethylases in cancer therapy Inga Hoffmann, Martin Roatsch, Martin L. Schmitt, Luca Histone deacetylases and cancer Carlino, et al. Bruna Barneda-Zahonero, Maribel Parra Detection of cancer-specific epigenomic changes in biofluids: MicroRNA and cancer Powerful tools in biomarker discovery and application Martin D. Jansson, Anders H. Lund André Nogueira da Costa, Zdenko Herceg
Dear Fellow Scientists,
FEBS Open Bio has had an excellent first year, with over FEBS Open Bio has now introduced Creative 60 articles published and Commons licenses. Authors retain copyright of submissions received from 27 their articles in the journal, and can choose between different countries around the two types of license: the unrestricted CC BY or the world. Thanks to the hard work of our Editors, the more restrictive CC BY-NC-ND. average time to a first decision in 2012 was just 19 The Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) lets days. We would like to thank the 153 reviewers who others distribute, remix, tweak and build upon your agreed to review for this new journal in 2012. We work, even commercially, as long as they credit you wish you all happiness and success in 2013. for the original creation. Creative Commons 23 FEBS News January 2013 CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs (CC BY- check for any updates to the original manuscript NC-ND) allows others to download your works published on Elsevier’s website. This will and share them with others as long as they credit enable us to deposit copies of all articles in you, but they can’t change them in any way or use PubMedCentral, making FEBS Open Bio content them commercially. easier to find. Selecting CC BY will enable authors to fully We are in the process of expanding the Editorial comply with the Research Councils UK mandate Board and will announce a full list of new members due to come into effect on 1 April 2013. in the next edition of FEBS News. For FEBS Open Bio’s recent articles and most cited papers, take a look at the journal home page.
All papers published in FEBS Open Bio will now With best wishes, bear the CrossMark logo, which enables readers to Mary Purton, Executive Editor
Scientific Events Calendar
Nutrient mechanisms in inflammation, A Biochemical Society Focused A Biochemical Society Focused infection and immunity Meeting: Talks about TORCs, recent Meeting: Bioenergetics in 24 January 2013 advances in target of rapamycin mitochondria, bacteria and chloroplasts London, UK signalling 10–13 April 2013 www.biochemistry.org/MeetingNo/ 14–15 March 2013 Schloss Rauischholzhausen, HT005/view/Conference/ London, UK Ebsdorfergrund, Germany www.biochemistry.org/MeetingNo/ www.biochemistry.org/MeetingNo/ New Frontiers in Plant Biology SA145/view/Conference/ SA150/view/Conference/ 31 January – 1 February 2013 Madrid, Spain Proteomic Forum 2013 Joint Conference of HGM 2013 and 21st www.cbgp.upm.es/frontiers/ 17–21 March 2013 International Congress of Genetics Berlin, Germany 13–18 April 2013 Beating the Blood–Brain and other https://proteomic-forum.de/ Marina Bay Sands, Singapore Blood Barriers www.hgm2013-icg.org 6–8 February 2013 11th German Peptide Symposium 2013 Lisbon, Portugal 18–21 March 2013 FEBS Advanced Lecture Course www.beatbarrier.com Munich Germany HFP2013: Molecular mechanisms of www.gps2013.de host–pathogen interactions and FEBS Practical Course virulence in human fungal pathogens State-of the-art infection models for A Joint FEBS / Biochemical Society 25–31 May2013 human pathogenic fungi Focused Meeting La Colle-sur-Loup, France 17 February – 2 March 2013 Exploring kinomes: pseudokinases and www.pasteur.fr/hfp2013 Jena, Germany beyond www.hki-jena.de/mpm 24–26 March 2013 Chromosome instability and aneuploidy Robinson College, Cambridge, UK in cancer: from mechanisms to 23rd Annual Meeting of the Society for www.biochemistry.org/MeetingNo/ therapeutics Virology 2013 SA147/view/Conference/ 27–29 May 2013 6–9 March 2013 Madrid, Spain Kiel, Germany Society for General Microbiology Spring www.cnio.es/eventos/index.asp www.virology-meeting.de Conference, including session on Bacterial-Fungal Interactions FEBS Workshop Annual Conference of the Association 25–28 March 2013 Nucleotide excision repair and for General and Applied Microbiology Manchester, UK interstrand crosslink repair – from (VAAM) in collaboration with the Royal www.sgm.ac.uk/meetings/MTGPAGES/ molecules to man Netherlands Society for Microbiology Manchester2013.cfm 9–13 June 2013 (KNVM) 2013 www.sgm.ac.uk/meetings/MTGPAGES/ Smolenice, Slovakia 10–13 March 2013 MA07.cfm www.exon.sk/smolenice2013 Bremen, Germany www.vaam-kongress.de
24 FEBS News January 2013 CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
12th Symposium on Bacterial Genetics A joint FEBS/EMBO Lecture Course A joint FEBS/EMBO Lecture Course and Ecology (BAGECO 12) Host–microbes interactions Protein interactions, assemblies and 9–13 June 2013 August 30 – September 7, 2013 human disease Ljubljana, Slovenia Spetses, Greece 16–26 September 2013 www.bageco2013.org http://events.embo.org/13-host- Spetses Island, Greece microbe/index.html www.spetsai.org Joint FEBS/EMBO Lecture Course Biomembranes: molecular architecture, Thermophiles 2013 – 12th International FEBS Advanced Lecture Course dynamics and function Meeting at the University of Matrix pathobiology, signaling and 10–20 June 2013 Regensburg molecular targets Cargèse, Corsica, France 8–13 September 2013 Kos Island, Greece http://testweb.science.uu.nl/cargese2013/ Regensburg, Germany 26 September – 1 October 2013 www.thermophiles2013.de www.febs-mpst2013.upatras.gr The FEBS CONGRESS 2013 Mechanisms in Biology FEBS Special Meeting Molecular Life Sciences 2013 (German 6–11 July 2013 Eurobiofilms 2013 Society for Biochemistry and Molecular St Petersburg, Russia 9–12 September 2013 Biology) www.febs-2013.org/eng/default.aspx Ghent, Belgium 3–6 October 2013 www.eurobiofilms2013.ics.dk Frankfurt, Germany FEBS Advanced Lecture Course www.molecular-life-sciences.de Molecular mechanisms in signal 43rd Annual Meeting of German transduction and cancer Society for Immunology 2013 A joint FEBS / Biochemical Society 16–24 August 2013 11–14 September 2013 Lecture Course Spetses, Greece Mainz, Germany Cell-penetrating peptides: design, http://cgc.umcutrecht.nl/upcoming- www.immunology-conference.de synthesis and applications events/spetses-2013/ October 7–10, 2013 FEBS Special Meeting London, UK FEBS Advanced Lecture Course JAK/STAT signalling: model systems www.biochemistry.org/Conferences/ Nuclear receptor signaling in and beyond AllConferences/tabid/379/View/ physiology and disease 12–15 September 2013 Conference/MeetingNo/IND106/ 25–30 August 2013 Sheffield, UK Default.aspx Spetses, Greece www.bms.dept.shef.ac.uk/jakstat/ http://ki.se/ki/jsp/polopoly.jsp? d=26760&a=153644&l=en Career Opportunities
PhD FELLOWSHIP POSITIONS: European Union – Marie POSTDOCTORAL POSITION in BIOCHEMISTRY, MOLECULAR Curie Actions- Initial Training Network (ITN) and CELL BIOLOGY
HOMIN: ‘Host-microbe interactions in health and disease – INSTITUTE OF LIFE SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF LOUVAIN, BELGIUM Interface with the immune system’ See the Careers section of the FEBS website for further (1) PhD FELLOWSHIP at the UNIVERSITY OF SIENA, ITALY details. Applications deadline: 18 January 2013. Project title: Targeting the immune synapse as a strategy of immune subversion by bacterial adenylate cyclase toxins Supervisor: Prof. Cosima T Baldari PhD POSITION at CERM: Structural biology of iron-sulfur protein biogenesis in eukaryotes (2) Three PhD FELLOWSHIPs at Novartis Vaccine and MAGNETIC RESONANCE CENTER – UNIVERSITY OF Diagnostics, SIENA, ITALY FLORENCE Project 1: Dissecting TLR7 activation cascade by low molecular weight agonists The project will address biological and structural biology Supervisor: Dr Ugo D’Oro questions regarding the molecular mechanisms responsible for Project 2: Analysis of vaccine adjuvants effects on long-term the maturation of iron-sulfur proteins. The student will employ molecular, biochemical approaches to identify soluble domains immune response and complexes for structural biology investigation, and will also Supervisor: Dr Diego Piccioli be involved in the structural characterization of these domains Project 3: Novel delivery of vaccines: characterization of and complexes either with or without prior knowledge of the protective adaptive immune responses in animal models structure. This can include a wide range of tools from Supervisor: Dr Sylvie Bertholet bioinformatic and biophysical characterization to NMR and- X ray See the Careers section of the FEBS website for further structural techniques. details. Applications deadline: 13 January 2013. See the Careers section of the FEBS website for further
25 FEBS News January 2013