FEBRUARY 2003 www.asbmb.org
Constituent Society of FASEB
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
ALSO IN THIS ISSUE
A Plea to Congress Page 2
Healing Power in a Gene Page 16
ASBMB Annual Meeting Preview page 6 Proteomic Solutions in Cellular and Developmental Biology and Medicine Stowers Institute For Medical Research Kansas City, Missouri May 2–4, 2003 Sponsored by the ASBMB Organized by: Joan W. Conaway, Stowers Institute and the Stowers Institute for Ralph A. Bradshaw, UC, Irvine Medical Research John Walker, Univ. of Missouri, Columbia Steve Alexander, Univ. of Missouri, Columbia
For further information contact: ASBMB Meetings Office 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814 Tel: 301-634-7145; Fax: 301-634-7126 Email: [email protected]
Meeting website: http://www.asbmb.org/meetings www.asbmb.org
AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY FEBRUARY 2003, Volume 1, Issue 11
features
2 A Plea To Congress By Dr. Michael DeBakey
5 NAS Decries Visa Restrictions
10 Sundquist to Receive ASBMB-Amgen Award
12 Kirschstein to Receive Public 14 Service Award
14 Search Narrows to 2 Cholesterol ON THE COVER: Absorption Genes 6 ASBMB Annual Meeting Preview 16 Healing Power in a Gene
17 Regulations on Select Biological Agents
24 Making Keyword Searches Work
departments 16 14 Members in the News 18 News From the Hill 20 Biotech Business 24 Calendar A PLEA TO CONGRESS:
ASBMB Today Save Lives, Free is a monthly publication of The American Society for The following is an opinion piece by Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Dr. Michael DeBakey, Chancellor Emeritus at the Baylor College of Medicine, which Officers Bettie Sue Masters President appeared in the Houston Chronicle on Robert D. Wells Past-President December 29, 2002. The opinions expressed Albert E. Dahlberg Secretary Kenneth E. Neet Treasurer are those of the author and do not Thomas Blumenthal Councilor necessarily represent the views of ASBMB. Judith Bond Councilor William Lennarz Councilor By Dr. Michael DeBakey Alexandra C. Newton Councilor Merle S. Olson Councilor s I write this, researchers are ing Resolution. If a final 2003 budget is Peter Parker Councilor engaged in extraordinary not approved by Congress this January, Cecile M. Pickart Councilor A research. They are taking skin, all 2003 federally sponsored medical Cecil B. Pickett Councilor muscle and blood cells from heart research will be funded by substantially Vern L. Schramm Councilor patients, engineering them in a labora- lower 2002 budgets. That means put- James T. Stull Councilor tory and injecting them back into ting the brakes on medical advances those patients. The hope is that the Non-Voting Members engineered cells will transform into The cost of research is George M. Carman heart cells to make failing hearts pump minuscule compared Chair, Meetings Policy Committee more strongly and extend the lives of Claudia Kent to the astronomical Vern L. Schramm patients who would otherwise have to Co-chairs, 2003 Program Committee undergo risky heart transplants. expense of caring for Marion H. O’Leary This potential breakthrough—and sick populations at Chair, Education and Professional what it could one day promise for heart Development Committee today’s—or William R. Brinkley patients across the country—should Chair, Public Affairs Advisory Committee give Congress yet another compelling tomorrow’s—spiraling Phillip A. Ortiz reason to continue to invest in medical Chair, Minority Affairs Committee hospital rates. research, our best hope for health. Herbert Tabor Editor, JBC But as you read this, debates con- that could sooner or later benefit every Ralph A. Bradshaw tinue on how Congress will support man, woman and child in this country, Editor, MCP the National Institutes of Health, as well as future generations. (NIH), the federal agency that funds Some might argue that with our medical research conducted by the country running a deficit we must cut Comments brightest scientific minds in our coun- back on medical research funding. As Please direct any comments or questions concerning ASBMB Today to: try. The astonishing acceleration of one who has pioneered new research, their research over the past four years thanks in part to federal funding, I sug- John D. Thompson is a result of a bipartisan commitment gest looking at what is at stake: The Editor, ASBMB Today 9650 Rockville Pike made by Congress and the President lack of funding could well force the Bethesda, MD 20814-3996 to double the NIH budget over five best researchers into alternative careers, Phone: 301-634-7145 Fax: 301-634-7126 years, beginning in 1999. Four pay- thus depleting the pool of medical sci- E-mail: [email protected] ments toward that doubling have entists, and, in the process, imperiling
For information on advertising occurred so far. America’s current global leadership in contact FASEB AdNet at 800-433-2732 The fifth and final appropriation, medical research, so vital to our econ- ext. 7175 or 301-530-7157, or email [email protected] however, is stalled, hostage to a legisla- omy. Once the pool is depleted, it will tive holding pattern called a Continu- require decades to replenish it.
2 ASBMBToday FEBRUARY 2003 Hostage Research Funds The first four payments toward the ❖ Help the paralyzed. Researchers are For example, in some laboratories NIH budget’s doubling - about $77 bil- testing specially treated immune that have benefited from the doubling lion since 1999 - have virtually trans- cells to help repair injuries and of NIH funding, you will see robotic formed American scientific research. restore lost nerve impulses. This arms filling test tubes and yielding These funds have permitted scien- research provides hope where none results 64 times faster than six years tists from different disciplines to col- existed before. ago. You will see computers spilling out laborate in the same laboratories, ❖ Devise an early detection test for complex research results, checking pat- enabling research to move at fast-for- ovarian cancer, now one of the dead- terns, discovering blind alleys and ward speed toward new treatments liest forms because it is so hard to promising new pathways, and instantly and their clinical trials, and accelerat- diagnose in early stages. In later printing out information that used to ing the creation of new diagnostic tests stages it is invariably fatal. Finding it take years to obtain. If you have a very to detect illness earlier, when interven- early, when it is most easily treatable, sick child or parent, you know that tion can be most effective. The ulti- will spare young women premature faster is better when it comes to learn- mate goal: Many Americans no longer death and their children the agony ing more that can save lives. need be told by their doctors, “There is of living without their mothers. The cost of research is minuscule nothing more we can do.” In my own field of interest, cardio- compared to the astronomical expense Thanks to the NIH budget-dou- vascular diseases, the advances in of caring for sick populations at today’s bling, so far we are on track to do the knowledge and in effective control of —or tomorrow’s—spiraling hospital following: these disorders have been dramatic - all rates. NIH-funded research, in just the ❖ Hasten research that takes cells from derived directly from medical research. past few years, has helped lead to cost- the inner lining of blood vessels to In the past few decades, the treatment saving new discoveries, such as a new form a stent that the body will not of both lethal and disabling cardiovas- drug group called statins, which reject. The stent aims to expand nar- cular diseases has been remarkably sharply reduce the number of heart rowed arteries permanently. This is improved, leading not only to ever- attacks and strokes that used to spell crucial for children who have small increasing survival, but also to restora- death. Heart attacks and heart disease arteries and now need repeated heart tion of patients’ normal activities. currently cost this country almost $200 operations to keep them alive. Coronary artery bypass, now common, billion a year in direct medical expendi- ❖ Refine a new generation of cancer has saved countless lives, previously tures. More than 1.1 million people of treatments that targets only cancer doomed to certain death. cells and spares other fast-growing Similarly, aneurysmal surgery, replace- Tell Us What cells. Many years of NIH-funded ment of defective heart valves, Dacron molecular research have helped lead graft replacement surgery to restore arte- You Think to the development of new life-saving rial circulation, carotid endarterectomy drugs like such as Gleevec imatinib for stroke, organ transplantation and We appreciate receiving let- mesylate, a cancer-killer that has cardiac assistors to support failing ters that are suitable for publica- fewer harsh side effects than current hearts —all products of the research lab- tion from ASBMB members chemotherapy. This drug does not oratory —now successfully treat patients regarding issues of importance cause hair loss or nausea and does not similarly doomed previously. or commenting on articles preclude childbearing potential. New Postponing the crucial fifth install- appearing in ASBMB News. Let- radiologic devices permit doctors to ment of these life-saving NIH funds— ters should be sent to the editor, see if this new therapy is working $27.3 billion due in January—would John Thompson, at the address without invasive surgery. Extremely postpone these investigations and found at left. Letters must be effective against leukemia, the new more promising medical research cur- signed and must contain the drug is now being tested on other rently under way at academic medical writer’s address and telephone forms of cancer. New cancer therapy schools, hospitals and independent number. The editor reserves the will continue to be an important laboratories in hundreds of communi- right to edit all letters. American export worldwide. ties across this country.
FEBRUARY 2003 ASBMBToday 3 all races and ethnicities will suffer a of genetic treatments and cures. To do health, has surveyed Americans from heart attack this year, and 65 percent of anything less than continue adequate many walks of life. The results are Americans will have some form of funding of the NIH would mean a severe stunning: In terms of national priori- heart disease by retirement age. Statins regression in medical progress. For these ties, almost all Americans want more prevent heart disease and strokes, reasons and more, we must fund the final money for medical and health decrease recurrence of heart attacks and installment of the NIH budget on time, research. A striking 88 percent of reduce the need for bypass surgery. so that researchers in 2003 have the Americans want the United States to More life-saving advances are waiting resources they need to realize our hopes. remain a world leader in medical in the wings for adequate medical The economy of this country research and feel more favorably research funding, such as: Earlier diag- depends in no small way on remaining toward candidates who support nosis of Alzheimer’s disease, when the global leader in medical research. increased funding for research to find intervention can slow its onset. Jobs, profits, hope and health all treatments and cures for disease. Alzheimer’s disease now afflicts 4 mil- depend on sustaining the momentum I echo their voice. I call upon Con- lion Americans and could well affect 14 begun by four of the five installments of gress to act on the 2003 LHSS Appro- million baby boomers as they age. New doubling the NIH budget. I speak not priations bill and thereby complete groundbreaking research has allowed only for myself and my medical col- the doubling of the NIH the first week us to look inside the living brain with- leagues who wish to save more lives and of January, when the congressional out surgery and permits diagnosis in who depend on medical research for session resumes. Simply put, doubling persons who show no behavioral the next generation of breakthroughs to the NIH budget and sustaining that symptoms. Positron emissions tomog- do so, I speak also for the public. budget in the future—financing the raphy (PET) scans hold hope for early Year after year, public opinion polls very structure for medical break- diagnosis of cancer, as well. by Research!America, a nonprofit, non- through—is clearly common sense Meanwhile, other NIH medical partisan alliance for discoveries in and good economic sense. research projects are investigating ways to prevent Alzheimer’s disease, which costs the country $5,000 per patient per month in nursing homes - a stag- New ASBMB Member Benefit gering $100 billion this year. Slowing the disease by five years could save $50 Free Subscription to MCP Online billion a year in health-care costs.
Mapping the Human Genome—A Milestone Activate your subscription today at: Accomplishment The mapping of our body’s genetic http://www.mcponline.org/subscriptions geography led to the discovery of more than 30,000 human genes, a feat that pinpoints the clear targets for tomor- Your customer number is included on your row’s medications. Before the NIH budget doubling 2003 ASBMB membership card. began in 1999, it took nine years to find the gene for cystic fibrosis. Recently, thanks to that doubling, scientists pre- Questions? Contact the ASBMB subscriptions office: cisely described a gene for Parkinson’s Tel: 301-634-7140 Fax: 301-634-7108 disease in just nine months. [email protected] We are on the brink of discoveries that will make the next decade a renaissance
4 ASBMBToday FEBRUARY 2003 NAS Decries Visa Restrictions By Peter Farnham, ASBMB Public Affairs Officer n a major policy statement Welcoming qualified foreign scien- Finally, welcoming foreign scholars released December 13, the tists and students serves three general and students helps maintain U.S. I Presidents of the National purposes. First, it harnesses interna- global leadership in science and tech- Academies of Science (NAS) decried cur- tional cooperation for counterterrorism. nology. Our nation benefits enor- rent visa restrictions on foreign students The statement cites a U.S.-Russian con- mously from the influx of foreign and scholars as having “serious unin- ference on nuclear non-proliferation scientific talent that has come to our tended consequences for American sci- that came within one day of cancella- shores and made their lives here; those ence, engineering and medicine.” No tion before the necessary visas were who have trained or studied here and less than continued U.S. leadership in obtained for foreign scholars to attend then returned to their home countries world science and technology is at (which took intervention at “the high- “now are among the best ambassadors stake, according to the statement. est levels of the State Department”). that our country has abroad.” Further- The statement was issued by National Second, welcoming foreign schol- more, about half of the currently- Academy of Sciences President Bruce ars and students builds stronger allies enrolled graduate students in the Alberts, National Academy of Engineer- through scientific and technological United States come from other ing President William A. Wulf, and cooperation. “It is clearly in our nations, and these students’ contribu- Institute of Medicine President Harvey national interest to help developing tions are essential to our country’s sci- Fineberg. It notes that ongoing research countries fight diseases such as AIDS, entific enterprise.” collaborations have been hampered, improve their agricultural produc- The statement notes that “U.S. scien- outstanding young scientists, engineers tion, establish new industries, and tific, engineering and health commu- and health researchers have been pre- generally raise their standard of liv- nities cannot hope to maintain their vented from or delayed in entering this ing,” the statement says. “There is no present position of international lead- country, and that important interna- better way to provide that help than ership if they become isolated from the tional conferences have been canceled to train young people from such rest of the world.” and future conferences will be moved countries to become broadly compe- The complete NAS statement is avail- out of the United States if the situation tent in relevant fields of science and able on the public affairs page of the is not corrected. “Prompt action is technology.” ASBMB website, www.asbmb.org. needed,” the statement notes. The statement urges the government to implement an effective and timely visa screening procedure for foreign ASBMB Welcomes New Ph.D.s scientists, engineers and medical ASBMB extends its congratulations to these individuals who recently received researchers that is consistent with the their Ph.D. degrees. In recognition of their achievement, ASBMB is presenting twin goals of maintaining the health them with a free one-year membership in the Society. The new Ph.D.s are listed of our nation’s science and technology below with the institution from which they received their degree. enterprise as well as protecting the Ryan Andrew Adams JinLei Li national security. Possible mechanisms University of California San Diego University of Buffalo, to streamline the visa screening Akinola O. Adisa State University of New York process without compromising secu- LaTrobe University Bundoora Louis C. Martineau rity include reinstating a procedure of Marena Galdzicka University of Ottawa pre-security clearance for scientists and University of Massachusetts Selvanayagam Nirthanan engineers with the proper credentials; Medical School National University of Singapore instituting a special visa category for Daren Heaton Ken M. Riedl University of Utah School of Miami University established scientists, engineers, and Medicine Tina Chi Wan health researchers; and involving the Pearl Kipnis University of Louisville U.S. scientific and technical commu- Hunter College—City University of nity in determining areas of particular New York security concern.
FEBRUARY 2003 ASBMBToday 5 ExperimentalBiology 2003 2003 ASBMB Annual Award Lectures ASBMB-MERCK AWARD WILLIAM C. ROSE AWARD FASEB EXCELLENCE IN SCIENCE AWARD S.J. Benkovic J.E. Dixon J.A. Steitz
ASBMB-AVANTI AWARD IN LIPIDS SCHERING-PLOUGH RESEARCH INSTITUTE HOWARD K. SCHACHMAN PUBLIC SERVICE R. Bittman AWARD AWARD C. Drennan R. Kirschstein
MEETING I: MOLECULAR BASIS MEETING III: LIPID SIGNALING, MEETING V: METABOLISM— OF CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL METABOLISM AND TRANSPORT PATHWAYS AND REGULATION BIOLOGY Organizer: D.R.Voelker Organizer: L. Rossetti Organizers: N. Sonenberg and N.G. Ahn Plenary Lecture Plenary Lecture S.D. Emr M.D. Lane Plenary Lecture J.V. Ruderman Symposia Symposia LIPID TRAFFIC NOVEL SIGNALING PATHWAYS INVOLVED Symposia Chair: D.R.Voelker IN LEPTIN ACTION AND REGULATION OF ORGANOGENESIS ENERGY BALANCE Chair: S. Mango LIPID ENZYMES—STRUCTURE AND Chair: B.B. Kahn FUNCTION MORPHAGENS AND DEVELOPMENT Chair: C.O. Rock NOVEL MECHANISMS FOR INSULIN Cochairs: B. Olwin and M.A. Rudnicki RESISTANCE LIPID SIGNALING Chair: M. Birnbaum CELL CYCLE Chair: J.D.York Chair: T. T. Su TRANSCRIPTIONAL REGULATION BY LIPID METABOLISM—GENETIC DISEASES & INSULIN POST-TRANSCRIPTIONAL MECHANISMS STRESS Chair: D. Accili Cochairs: P. Macdonald and P. Lasko Chair: D.W. Russell NEW INSIGHT INTO BETA CELL BIOLOGY MEETING II: GLYCOBIOLOGY MEETING IV: BIOLOGICAL Chair: P.Arvan Organizer: G.W. Hart CATALYSIS Organizer: T. Begley MEETING VI: SIGNALING Plenary Lecture PATHWAYS R.D. Cummings Plenary Lecture Organizers: N.G. Ahn J.P. Klinman and N. Sonenberg Symposia NOVEL ASPECTS OF GLYCAN SYNTHESIS Symposia Plenary Lecture AND FUNCTION MACROMOLECULAR MACHINES AND T. Hunter Cochairs: G.W. Hart and P. Stanley PROTEIN ASSEMBLY LINES Chair: C. Khosla Symposia BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS OF FRAP/MTOR GLYCOSPHINGOLIPIDS AND FUNDAMENTAL AND EMERGING ISSUES IN Chair: N. Sonenberg GLYCOSYLPHOSPHATIDYLINOSITOLS ENZYMATIC CATALYSIS Cochairs: R. Schnaar and A. Menon Chair: J.P. Klinman SIGNALING TARGETS FOR DRUG THERAPIES ROLES OF GLYCANS IN CELL ADHESION COMPLEX BIOLOGICAL OXIDATIONS Chair: F. Mercurio AND TRAFFICKING Chair: T. Begley Cochairs: S. Rosen and A.Varki ADHESION AND MORPHOGENESIS ENZYMOLOGY OF POST-TRANSLATIONAL Chair: M. Schwartz BIOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS OF MODIFICATION PROTEOGLYCANS AND GLYCOPROTEINS IN Chair: V. Schramm INTRACELLULAR TARGETING/SCAFFOLDS THE EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX Chair: J. Wang Cochairs: J. Esko and Y.Yamaguchi Meeting Preview Highlights
MEETING VII: GENOMICS, MEETING IX: NUCLEIC ACID MEETING XI: THE FUTURE OF THE PROTEOMICS AND STRUCTURE, FUNCTION AND PROFESSION BIOINFORMATICS PROCESSING Organizer: A.S. Dahms Organizer: P. Babbitt Organizer: M. Dahmus and M.F. Goodman RECRUITING, EDUCATING AND Plenary Lecture MENTORING THE EXPERIMENTAL A. Sali Plenary Lecture BIOLOGISTS OF THE FUTURE T.A. Steitz Sponsored by the EB2003 participating Symposia societies GENOMICS OF CARDIOPULMONARY Symposia Chair: A.S. Dahms DISEASE AND DEVELOPMENT MACROMOLECULAR COMPLEXES Cochairs: S.G.Young and B. Seed Cochairs: S.K. Burley and T. Ellenberger ON BEING A NEW FACULTY MEMBER: MYTHS AND REALITIES FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS REPLICATION, RECOMBINATION, REPAIR Chair: J.D. Smith Cochairs: V. Iyer and S. Kim Cochairs: M.F. Goodman and R.D. Wood THE GRE ADVANCED EXAMINATION IN PROTEIN-PROTEIN INTERACTIONS REGULATION OF GENE EXPRESSION BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR AND Cochairs: M.Vidal and J.Yates Cochairs: S. Buratowski and N. CELL BIOLOGY: AN ANALYSIS OF THE Hernandez FIRST 10 YEARS PROTEIN AND PATHWAY ENGINEERING Chair: J.A. Boyle Cochairs: J. Minshull and J. Keasling EMERGING AREAS OF RNA PROCESSING Chair: D.L. Black EDUCATION/TRAINING OF BIOMEDICAL MEETING VIII: PROTEIN SCIENTISTS (IN HONOR OF RUTH SYNTHESIS, FOLDING AND MEETING X: MEMBRANE KIRSCHSTEIN INCLUDING THE HOWARD K. TURNOVER ASSEMBLY INTERACTION AND SCHACHMAN PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD) Organizer: C.M. Pickart TRANSPORT Chair: R.D. Wells Organizer: S.H. White Symposia TRANSITIONING FROM ACADEMIA TO CHEMICAL BIOLOGY APPROACHES TO Symposia INDUSTRY: A BEST PRACTICES APPROACH CONTROLLING PROTEIN FUNCTION VESICLE TRAFFICKING FOR FACULTY AND STUDENTS Chair: T.W. Muir Chair: S.L. Schmid Chair: D. Jensen
PROTEIN FOLDING AND UNFOLDING MECHANISM OF FUSION MINORITY AFFAIRS SESSION - Chair: U. Hartl Chair: L.K. Tamm DIVERSIFYING THE PROFESSION: WHO? WHAT? WHEN? WHERE? AND HOW? MECHANISM AND FUNCTION OF PROTEIN PROTEIN UNFOLDING AND REFOLDING ON Cochairs: P.A. Ortiz and J. Bell CONJUGATION MEMBRANES Chair: C.M. Pickart Chair: W.A. Cramer THE NEW ASBMB DIGITAL LIBRARY: WWW.BIOMOLECULESALIVE.ORG PROTEASES: TARGETING, INHIBITION, MEMBRANE PROTEINS Chair: P. Craig DRUG DESIGN Chair: H.R. Kaback Chair: B. Sloane WOMEN SCIENTISTS’ MENTORING SESSION/RECEPTION Chair: M.B. Parsons
Special Sessions ASBMB GRADUATE/POSTDOCTORAL TRAVEL AWARD SYMPOSIUM ABRF/ASBMB SYMPOSIUM: FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES—GRANT Chair: J. Bell ANTIBODY AND PROTEIN MICROARRAYS WRITING TIPS FOR HIGHLY MULTIPLEXED PROTEIN Chair: T.L. Woodin SEVENTH ANNUAL UNDERGRADUATE ANALYSIS STUDENT RESEARCH ACHIEVEMENT Cochairs: R.L. Niece and B.B. Haab RESEARCH FUNDING BY THE AMERICAN AWARD POSTER COMPETITION CANCER SOCIETY Cochairs: P.A. Ortiz, C. Meyer, and M.B. Chair: C. Widnell Parsons EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY 2003 Early-Bird Registration Complete this form carefully Deadline for early registration is February 13, 2003 Incomplete forms will be returned You can register for the EB 2003 Annual Meeting in the following ways: 1. Web: www.faseb.org/eb2003 2. Mail: EB 2003 Registration, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814-3998 3. Fax: 301-634-7008 1. Information Name: (First Name)(Middle Initial)(Last/Family Name) Company/Institute:
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Questions contact: DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION: Experimental Biology Wednesday, February 26, 2003 2003 Meeting Office Late-breaking abstracts will be accepted for special poster sessions scheduled on Phone: (301) 634-7010 Tuesday, April 15, 2003.The purpose of the late-breaking abstracts is to give participants Fax: (301) 634-7014 the opportunity to present and hear about new and significant material. Late breaking Email: [email protected] abstracts will be published in an addendum to the meeting program; they will not be published in The FASEB Journal. For information about the ASBMB Program, Abstracts must be submitted electronically with payment of $60 and received on or before Wednesday, February 26, 2003. housing, and registration forms, see Abstract Submission Fee: $60 the ASBMB Annual Meeting Web Site: Abstract submission site: www.faseb.org/meetings/eb2003
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Experimental Biology 801-EB Computers in Research and Teaching 802-EB Using Models and Demonstrations to Teach 803-EB Teaching and Learning in the Biological Sciences
More Information: ASBMB Meetings Office, 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814 “TRANSLATING Tel: 301-634-7145•Fax: 301-634-7126 • Email: [email protected] • www.asbmb.org THE GENOME” ASBMB ANNUAL MEETING ✸ A PRIL 11-15, 2003✸ S AN D IEGO Wesley8 Sundquist to Receive
esley Sundquist, Professor by the guanine-rich DNA sequences be the basic building block for further Wof Biochemistry at the Uni- found at chromosomal telomeres. assembly, and make contact with the versity of Utah, has been selected to “Upon initiating his own research pro- host cell membrane. Comparisons receive the ASBMB-Amgen Award. The gram, he made the bold decision to elu- between the NMR and crystal struc- Award is made to a new investigator cidate the structures of the key organizers tures gave evidence of conformational (defined as an individual with no of the HIV-1 viral core—the Matrix (MA) changes that occur as the MA network more than 15 years experience since and Capsid (CA) proteins. Dr. Sundquist’s is assembled at the cell surface. receipt of a doctorate) for significant lab produced these proteins in sufficient The Capsid protein, which forms the achievements in the application of quantity and quality for structural analy- conical core of the mature virion, has biochemistry and molecular biology sis, then participated in the structure occupied more of the Sundquist lab’s to the understanding of disease. Nom- determinations, both by collaboration attention. In this case the N- and C-ter- inations must be originated by Society and in his own laboratory.” minal domains of the protein were members, but the nominees need not At each stage of this research, Dr. attacked separately. An NMR structure of be ASBMB members. Recipients over Sundquist has extracted deep structural the N-terminus emerged first, followed the past five years include Joan and and biological insights and produced by crystal structures of both domains. Ronald Conaway, Tyler Jacks, Masashi very satisfying models of virus assem- The N-terminal domain was crystallized Yanagisawa, Patrick J. Casey, and bly and stability. He has expanded the in complex with the cellular protein Thomas Ried. lessons derived from structures by gen- Cyclophilin A, which is bound to about The Award consists of a silver and erating and analyzing the effects of 10% of CA proteins in the mature virus. crystal commemorative sculpture, a mutations in the viral core proteins. In fact, entry or uncoating of the viral stipend, a $20,000 unrestricted research The detailed picture emerging from genome in a newly-infected cell depends grant, and transportation and expenses these studies forms the basis for on the presence of Cyclophilin in the to present a lecture at the ASBMB 2003 designing and testing drug candidates HIV-1 particle, but this is not true for SIV. Annual Meeting in San Diego. Dr. that may inhibit replication by inter- The Sundquist group demonstrated the Sundquist’s lecture is scheduled for 5:00 fering with virus assembly. Most basis for this difference with careful bind- – 6:00 p.m., Saturday, April 12. recently, Wes has identified the cellular ing assays using hybrid CA proteins. On receiving news of the Award, Dr. pathway that is commandeered by Additionally, Cyclophilin had been iden- Sundquist commented, “Receiving the HIV-1 to allow budding from an tified as a cellular proline isomerase. Amgen Award is a terrific honor, and I infected cell. The components of this The CA-Cyclophilin complex pro- am indebted to Amgen and the ASBMB, pathway are again candidate targets for vided a surprise, as the CA proline bound as well as to my close colleagues and drug development. If small molecules to the active site of Cyclophilin was in collaborators who have helped to make with inhibitory properties can be the trans configuration, as opposed to our studies of HIV assembly both pro- found, this will have tremendous previous observations made with ductive and enjoyable.” impact on the health of HIV-exposed Cyclophilin-peptide complexes. Further In nominating Dr. Sundquist for the people around the world. work in Dr. Sundquist’s lab has now Award, Dana Carroll, Professor and Dr. Sundquist’s first HIV target for shown that the CA proline residue is a Chair of the Department of Biochem- structural analysis was the Matrix pro- substrate for Cyclophilin-catalyzed iso- istry, University of Utah School of Medi- tein. Two structures were produced: merization. Together with Hill, they have cine, noted, “Even before establishing one from NMR spectroscopy in collab- produced series of structures of enzyme- his own laboratory, Wes Sundquist oration with Dr. Michael Summers, substrate complexes in which the proline made an independent discovery of con- and one from x-ray crystallography in changes conformation, and these struc- siderable significance. Working at the collaboration with Dr. Chris Hill. Pack- tures suggest how cyclophilins actually MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology ing contacts in the crystals provided catalyze proline isomerization. in Cambridge, England, he co-discov- insight into how MA monomers Examination of the structure of the ered the 4-stranded structure adopted assemble into trimers, that appear to CA N-terminal domain showed the N-
10 ASBMBToday FEBRUARY 2003 ASBMB ANNUAL MEETING ✸ A PRIL 11-15,Z 2003✸ S AN D IEGO ASBMB—Amgen Award
showed that they fell into a small remarkable number of techniques into number of classes, the same as those his own lab, including NMR, cryo-EM predicted for fullerenes. This indicated and image reconstruction, viral pheno- that the capsid structure was based on type analysis, molecular interaction a hexagonal unit with discrete pentag- measurements, genetics, and genomics onal defects. To confirm this predic- technologies. The results of these tion, Dr. Sundquist collaborated with efforts have been spectacular, and he Dr. John Finch to perform image has emerged as a leader in the fields of reconstructions from cryo-electron HIV research, virus assembly, and microscope images of the CA cylin- structural biology more generally. ders. This work amply confirms the Writing in support of the nomination, hexagonal matrix of CA dimers, and Stephen Goff, Howard Hughes Medical they were able to build the separate N- Institute and Higgins Professor of Bio- and C-terminal domains of CA into chemistry, Columbia University College the EM-derived lattice. of Physicians and Surgeons, said: Demonstrating the diversity of “I consider Dr. Sundquist to be one Dr. Wesley Sundquist approaches Dr. Sundquist is willing to of the most effective, innovative, and terminus itself folded back into the take to understand HIV assembly, his rigorous young scientists of his genera- structure, making very favorable con- group has very recently identified host tion. He is certainly at heart a struc- tacts with other residues. Since this N- cell proteins that interact with the tural biologist, both by training and terminus is created by proteolytic viral Gag protein and are required for inclination. But he is not a typical cleavage of the Gag precursor protein virus budding from the cell. By yeast structural biologist, because he uses his during virus maturation, the CA pro- two-hybrid analysis, in collaboration structures to provide real understand- tein must change structure signifi- with Myriad Genetics, the group dis- ing and to make real predictions about cantly upon cleavage. This has now covered an interaction between a Gag his molecules. His recent move is been demonstrated elegantly by NMR fragment and cellular Tsg101, a com- totally into molecular biology; he is spectroscopy, and the importance of ponent of the vacuolar protein sorting now doing yeast two-hybrid work, this structural transition has also been pathway. Using RNAi technology, they making mutants and doing knock- demonstrated by directed mutagenesis, showed that Tsg101 is, in fact, down experiments with biochemical using the structures as a guide. Alter- required for HIV exit from infected readouts to demonstrate the involve- ation of residues important for stabiliz- cells. They have now determined the ment of his host proteins in virus ing the mature CA structure prevents structure of the Gag-binding N-termi- assembly. This is just the most recent the formation of infectious virus in nal domain of Tsg101 in complex example of his breadth and boldness transfection assays using cultured cells. with its Gag binding site and are in moving into new areas. The crystal structure of the C-termi- designing further cellular experiments “Three other comments about Wes nal domain of CA showed very clearly based on this structure. are warranted. The first concerns his the interface that holds the CA dimer About 10 years ago, Dr. Sundquist terrific seminar style. He simply gives together. How this dimer assembles chose to devote his research effort to a polished, clear, and exciting seminars. into conical viral cores was not obvi- very significant problem: the structural The second is the quality of his data; ous, however. The Sundquist group basis of HIV assembly. He has the results are compelling and tight, a developed an in vitro CA assembly sys- approached this topic with a full bat- result of his demand for high quality tem that produces hollow cylinders tery of experimental techniques, among his students and fellows. The and cones having dimensions similar employing whatever methods seemed third is his generosity and willingness to the mature capsid. Quantitative most likely to deliver the desired to share; having developed a working analysis of the apical cone angles insights. He has incorporated a Continued on page 13
FEBRUARY 2003 ASBMBToday 11 ASBMB ANNUAL MEETING ✸ A PRIL 11-15, 2003✸ S AN D IEGO 7Ruth Kirschstein to Receive Schachman Public Service Award
r. Ruth Kirschstein will be the “As chairman of the ASBMB’s Public In addition, she D2003 recipient of the ASBMB’s Affairs Advisory Committee for more expanded the Med- Howard K. Schachman Public Service than 10 years, Dr. Schachman served ical Scientists Train- Award. Dr. Kirschstein, a career official as a powerful and unique spokesper- ing Program, which at the NIH and currently Senior Advi- son. To be given an award for Public seeks to reduce the sor to NIH Director Elias Zerhouni, is Service by the ASBMB is an honor. To shortage of physi- being honored for her lifetime of pub- be given the Howard K. Schachman cian/researchers by lic service to biomedical research and Public Service Award by ASBMB is an enabling highly education. even greater honor.” qualified students Dr. Ruth Kirschstein ASBMB President Bettie Sue Masters Dr. Kirschstein’s public service to obtain a combined medical and told ASBMB Today, “We’re delighted to includes almost 20 years as Director of Ph.D. degree. recognize Ruth Kirschstein’s many the NIH’s National Institute of General From 1957 to 1972, Dr. Kirschstein years of service at the National Insti- Medical Sciences (1974 - 1993), service performed research in experimental tutes of Health. In particular, I think as NIH’s Deputy Director and two stints pathology at the Division of Biologics it’s appropriate to realize how much as NIH’s Acting Director. Dr. Kirschstein Standards (now the FDA’s Center for influence she’s had on mechanisms of also demonstrated strong support for Biologics Evaluation and Research). training for students and postdoctoral training during her years of service at There, she helped develop and refine fellows and promoting diversity in the NIH, in particular her work to improve tests to assure the safety of viral vac- biomedical sciences. She’s been a diversity in the life sciences. cines for such diseases as polio, friend to all of us in biomedicine and During her years at NIGMS, Dr. measles, and rubella. Her work on has represented our needs very actively Kirschstein oversaw expansion of the polio led to selection of the Sabin vac- through the years.” National Research Service Awards pro- cine for public use. For her role, she Said Dr. Kirschstein on being gram, and the Minority Access to received the Department of Health, informed of the award, “I am honored Research Careers program, which is Education, and Welfare’s Superior Ser- to be receiving the Howard K. designed to strengthen the science cur- vice Award in 1971. Schachman Public Service Award of ricula and research at institutions with In 1972 she became Assistant Direc- the American Society for Biochemistry substantial minority enrollment. tor of the Division of Biologics Stan- and Molecular Biology (ASBMB). It is a particularly meaningful award for me The ASBMB’s Education and Professional because Howard Schachman has been an important figure in my life for more Development Committee is sponsoring a “Special than 25 years. Protagonist and outspo- Symposium in Honor of Dr. Ruth L. Kirschstein” at ken advocate for support of basic bio- medical research, hero of the struggle the San Diego meeting this April. The symposium is for appropriate oversight of research chaired by ASBMB Past-President Robert D. Wells, integrity, laboratory mentor to many, many distinguished scientists, mentor and will feature presentations by Dr. Ken Berns, Mt. to two Directors of the National Insti- Sinai College of Medicine; Dr. Susan A. Gerbi, Brown tutes of General Medical Sciences, Mar- vin Cassman and me, advisor and Medical School; and Dr. Howard K. Schachman, mentor to two NIH Directors, Harold University of California, Berkeley. The symposium Varmus and me, Howard, more than anyone else, embodies the term ‘citi- will be held on Sunday, April 13, 2003. zen-scientist.’
12 ASBMBToday FEBRUARY 2003 ASBMB ANNUAL MEETING ✸ A PRIL 11-15, 2003✸9S AN D IEGO Joan Steitz to Deliver Excellence dards. That same year, when the divi- sion was transferred to the FDA as a bureau, she was appointed Deputy in Science Lecture at EB2003 Director. She subsequently served as Former ASBMB Council cine. Her achievements Deputy Associate Commissioner for sci- member Joan Steitz will have earned her many ence at FDA before being named deliver the FASEB Excellence honors, including the NIGMS Director in September 1974. in Science Lecture at EB 2003 National Medal of Science From September 1990 to September in San Diego. Her lecture is and the Christopher 1991, she was also acting Associate scheduled for Saturday, April Columbus Discovery Director of the NIH for research on 12, 8:30–9:30 a.m. Award in Biomedical women’s health. Dr. Steitz, who received the Research. Dr. Kirschstein is memorialized on FASEB Excellence in Science The FASEB Excellence in the FASEB campus; the garden in front Award in recognition of her Science Award, sponsored of Beaumont House has been named Dr. Joan Steitz internationally-renowned by the Eli Lilly Company, the Kirschstein Garden in her honor. contributions to the field of gene recognizes women for outstanding The Howard K. Schachman Public expression, has been a member of achievement in scientific research. Service Award, instituted in 2001 is the Yale University faculty since 1970 All women who are members of one given annually, and candidates are and in 1999 was named Sterling Pro- or more of the members societies of considered by the Society’s Public fessor of Molecular Biophysics and FASEB are eligible for nomination. Affairs Advisory Committee. The Biochemistry, Yale’s highest academic Nominations may be made only by award consists of a permanent keep- honor. A Howard Hughes Medical members of FASEB societies. The sake, an honorarium, an opportunity Institute investigator, Dr. Steitz leads award was instituted in 1989. Among to deliver a talk or lecture at the Soci- the molecular genetics program in earlier recipients is current ASBMB ety’s annual meeting, and travel the Boyer Center for Molecular Medi- President Bettie Sue Masters (1992). expenses to the meeting. ASBMB—Amgen Award … Continued from page 11 RNAi system, for example, he set up a postdoctoral work with Aaron Klug, understanding dynamic transforma- web page with the protocols and he was a co-discoverer with Jamie tions of the HIV-1 virion. Included are recipes to disseminate the technology Williamson in Tom Cech’s laboratory experiments designed to understand widely and freely.” of the G-quartet structures in telom- the viral maturation steps and, more Recalling Dr. Sundquist as a graduate ere-type sequences. His independent recently, a deep understanding of the student, Stephen J. Lippard, Chair and career at the University of Utah has workings of the HIV -1 CA protein. Arthur Amos Noyes Professor, Depart- been stellar. Wes has chosen an “This work is characterized by ment of Chemistry, Massachusetts extremely difficult problem. With beauty and elegance, has made an Institute of Technology, stated: characteristic intelligence and organi- important contribution to our under- “While in my laboratory, Wes zational skill, he has assembled a team standing of the structures and life cycle became interested in nucleic acid including Chris Hill at Utah, UMBC’s of the retroviruses, and is highly structure and the functions deriving Mike Summers, and John Finch at the acclaimed internationally. Wes’s papers therefrom. He executed an outstand- MRC-LMB in Cambridge to character- are thoughtful and full of wonderful ing Ph. D. thesis that received justifi- ize the HIV -1 matrix and capsid pro- science. He has not published any- able international acclaim. In his teins with the important objective of thing of less than great interest.”
FEBRUARY 2003 ASBMBToday 13 MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Search for Cholesterol Absorption Genes indings with lab mice may Cholesterol: Good and Bad lead to novel cholesterol- Cholesterol is an essentially fatty F lowering drugs against molecule found in blood and in all heart disease. body cells. But, when too much of it Two people eat the same egg, floats throughout the blood, this waxy cheese and ham muffin for breakfast, substance can clog arteries that feed yet one absorbs significantly more the heart and brain, ultimately leading cholesterol into his or her blood than to heart disease and stroke. Factors that the other. Why? bring about a rise in the level of blood The answer, and all of its implica- cholesterol include saturated fatty tions for combatting heart disease, acids and trans-fatty acids, common to remains stubbornly hidden within our red meats, dairy products and mar- DNA. In recent genetic studies with lab garine - as well as dietary cholesterol mice, however, researchers at The itself, found in meat, eggs, cheese and Rockefeller University have begun to other animal products. close in on the culprit genes. But, while scientists know much By crossbreeding two different strains of “By determining the genetic basis about the role of cholesterol in heart dis- laboratory mice (above) using a technique behind the observation that some ease, they poorly understand how the called "genetic linkage mapping," Rockefeller people absorb 25 percent of choles- body absorbs cholesterol from foods. scientists were able to map the location of terol from their diet, while others That’s why Dr. Sehayek and colleagues cholesterol absorption genes to two distinct absorb up to 75 percent, we hope to set out to discover the genes that regu- chromosome regions. develop new treatments to protect this late cholesterol absorption in mice. But latter group,” says senior co-author responsible for regulating the absorp- to do this, they needed to directly meas- Jan. L. Breslow, M.D., an ASBMB tion of plant fatty molecules called ure the amount of dietary cholesterol member and Head of Rockefeller Uni- “plant sterols”—markers of cholesterol absorbed into the blood of mice—a task versity’s Laboratory of Biochemical absorption—to two distinct regions on confounded by the presence of non- Genetics and Metabolism and former chromosome 2 and 14. dietary cholesterol in the blood. Choles- National President of the American While the exact location of the genes terol comes in two forms: dietary, which Heart Association. has not been deduced, the results indi- comes from foods; and non-dietary, The researchers hope that the identifi- cate that the researchers have indeed which is made by the body. Their solu- cation of genes that regulate cholesterol uncovered their general vicinity: one of tion was to turn to plants. absorption in mice will lead them to the the putative sites has an incredibly Plants possess cholesterol-like mole- location of similar genes in humans— high probability—a billion to one—of cules called plant sterols, which peo- and ultimately to the development of carrying the suspected genes. ple also absorb from food. But unlike drugs that specifically reduce choles- “We are excited because our data cholesterol, plant sterols are not pro- terol absorption and protect against analysis shows that cholesterol absorp- duced by the body and thus their coronary heart disease, the number one tion genes are very likely hiding in plasma levels directly reflect dietary cause of death in the United States. chromosome 14,” says Ephraim absorption. In addition, previous stud- In the Dec. 10 issue of the Proceedings Sehayek, M.D., first author and princi- ies have identified a rare genetic con- of the National Academy of Sciences pal investigator of the study and a clin- dition, beta-sitosterolemia, in which (published online Nov. 22), the Rocke- ical scholar at Rockefeller. people absorb too much cholesterol feller scientists report the use of mouse “Now that we know where to look, and plant sterols from food and conse- “genetic linkage mapping” technology we can use a variety of techniques to quently develop heart disease at a to narrow the location of genes uncover their identities.” young age. For these and other rea-
14 ASBMBToday FEBRUARY 2003 MEMBERS IN THE NEWS
Narrows to Two Chromosome Regions sons, Dr. Sehayek chose to use plasma plant sterol levels as a their DNA make-up; for every marker of cholesterol absorption. 10 million base pair units or so of DNA, they asked if the Breeding Mice in Search of Genes DNA originated from the par- Next came the tricky part: genetic linkage analysis. In this ent with high or low plant gene-hunting technique, researchers crossbred hundreds of sterol levels. mice in an attempt to link an observed trait to the genes By tracking the origin of the that cause it. One experiment can take years and only some- DNA in this way hundreds of times results in the discovery of new genes. times across the entire genome, The first step is to mate two strains of laboratory mice the researchers were able to link possessing opposite varieties of a trait of interest. Sehayek plasma levels of plant sterols in and colleagues began by mating a strain of mice they dis- mice to two distinct patches of covered to have low plasma plant sterol levels with another DNA that must control these strain possessing high plasma plant sterol levels. Next, they levels. In other words, they Dr. Jan L. Breslow crossbred the progeny of this mating while keeping track of mapped the location of plant sterol genes to regions, or loci, each newborn animal’s plasma plant sterol levels as well as on chromosomes 2 and 14. “Our data analysis shows a very strong signal at chromosome 14,” says Dr. Sehayek. “This means that sterol absorption genes are most definitely some- Is your listing correct? where in this region.” Update your online record anytime With their genes on the DNA map, the researchers now during the year. plan to apply both genetic and molecular tools to hunt down their precise location. In the meantime, their findings already have applications for human studies. Several researchers in the Breslow labora- tory, along with Rockefeller researchers Jeffrey M. Friedman, M.D., Ph.D., and Markus Stoffel, M.D., Ph.D., are involved in ongoing studies of the island population of Kosrae, located 5,400 miles off Los Angeles in Micronesia. The Kosraeans possess to a high degree the collection of health problems known as “Syndrome X,” including obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol. Also, most Kosreans can trace their heritage to a relatively small “founder” population. Thus, by studying the genetic To update your online listing in the FASEB inheritance patterns of this group of islanders in a similar Directory of Members, visit www.faseb.org fashion to genetic linkage studies in mice, the researchers and click on Member Directory at the left or hope to identify the genes behind Syndrome X disorders. The newly identified plant sterol absorption regions in the go directly to http://12.17.12.70/fasebdir mouse now will guide the search for candidate DNA loci in Click Update Member Info at the top the Kosrae population. of your screen to make changes. “By applying our findings in mice to human studies, we may actually gain clues to our hunt for mice genes,” says Please note: There is a time delay between submitting Sehayek. “It’s a back and forth process between humans and revisions and their actual appearance online. mice that hopefully will result in the discovery of novel human cholesterol absorption genes.”
FEBRUARY 2003 ASBMBToday 15 Healing Power in a Gene ith age, the body deterio- and Margaret B. Dennewitz. the fruit fly that Photo: Troy Heinzeroth/UIC Photographic Services rates. Muscles atrophy. If the gene is defective or just tired out causes a dupli- W Bones grow thin. The skin (as in old age and rare genetic disorders cation in the loses its elasticity. Wounds are slow to causing premature aging), DNA can’t head structure. heal. Our tissues don’t regenerate the duplicate itself, and cells can’t divide and One key way they did in youth. multiply the way they normally do. The finding came University of Illinois at Chicago result: a flood of activity in genes associ- last year: Dr. researcher and ASBMB member Dr. ated with aging. Costa’s research Robert Costa believes he knows why: Dr. Costa has been working on the group was our FoxM1B gene retires. In a paper FoxM1B gene since he discovered the studying the published in the December 24 issue of whole family of Fox genes in 1993. FoxM1B gene The Proceedings of the National Academy Research has since shown that Fox in mice; in par- of Sciences Dr. Costa’s research group family genes, found in animals from ticular how it Dr. Robert Costa has shown that the FoxM1B gene, insects on up through mammals, are affects growth of the liver after a por- found on human chromosome num- involved in the entire life cycle of a tion of the organ is removed. One of ber 12, is critical for tissues to heal and cell — its proliferation, maturation the few adult organs capable in mam- replenish themselves. Other UIC and death. mals of completely regenerating itself, researchers involved in the study were Fox is short for Forkhead Box, a name the liver is also the only organ that Xinhe Wang, Hiroaki Kiyokawa referring to a mutation in the gene in regenerates from fully mature cells. Others, like blood, form new tissue from immature cells. The experiment showed that the liver grew back at a rate typical of young mice — a discovery that led Dr. Costa to dub FoxM1B the “fountain-of-youth gene.” In the new study, his team set out to understand how FoxM1B directs the busy molecular traffic inside a cell to make it proliferate. In a feat of genetic engineering, the team created mice with liver cells lacking the FoxM1B gene. Rates of regeneration were meas- ured in these mice and in mice whose FoxM1B gene was intact. Without FoxM1B, regeneration was slow. Cell division requires two basic steps: first a doubling of DNA, the genetic instructions inside a cell, and then a process called mitosis, in which the duplicated DNA is separated into two new daughter cells. Diagram depicting FoxM1B regulation of cell cycle genes. Regenerating FoxM1B -/- hepatocytes dis- Like a traffic cop, FoxM1B controls play increased nuclear protein levels of the Cdk inhibitor p21 Cip1 (p21), suggesting that FoxM1B both steps, Dr. Costa says. “If the cells controls the expression of a gene that regulates p21 protein stability. Blue arrows represent positive had no FoxM1B gene, their DNA often regulation and black lines represent negative regulation. Because regenerating p21 -/- liver displayed failed to make a copy of itself, and they increased Cdc25A expression and earlier nuclear localization of Cdc25A (2), we propose that had trouble dividing.” increased p21 levels may influence Cdc 25A phosphatase levels. Furthermore, the significant reduc- The DNA failed to duplicate due to a tion in hepatocyte mitosis was associated with diminished mRNA levels and nuclear expression of pileup of a protein called p21Cip1. Cdc25B phosphatase, which required for Cdk1 activation and entry into mitosis. Continued on next page
16 ASBMBToday FEBRUARY 2003 New Regulations Control Use of Select Biological Agents he U.S. Departments of Some of the select agents subject to The new rules cover both human Health and Human Services these regulations appear on both the pathogens, and plant or livestock T (HHS) and Agriculture (USDA) HHS and the USDA select agent lists. To pathogens. Human pathogens and established new safeguards for the pos- reduce the burden on facilities required toxins are under the purview of HHS, session, use, and transfer of select bio- to register select agents in their posses- and plant and livestock pathogens are logical agents and toxins (select agents) sion that overlap both lists, HHS and under the purview of APHIS. A third that could pose a threat to public, ani- USDA have worked together to estab- category of pathogen called “overlap mal and plant health and safety. lish a single unified reporting system agents” must be reported to both CDC In complementary regulations pub- that will be used by both agencies, thus and APHIS. These are agents that could lished December 13, HHS and USDA eliminating duplication of effort. be used to harm either humans, or established new, tighter controls on The HHS interim final rules will take plants or livestock. these potentially dangerous agents. effect on February 7 and the USDA A list of specifically-named The regulations outline the safety and rules on February 11. Each department pathogens and toxins in all three cate- security requirements for possessing will accept public comments on the gories (CDC, APHIS, and overlap) can select biological agents and toxins and new rules until February 11, and those be seen on the ASBMB website, specify who should be restricted from comments could result in regulatory www.asbmb.org. Other categories of working with select agents. changes in the future. pathogens and toxins, as well as The HHS interim rule updates the The new rules are in accordance exemptions, are described in the previous select agent rule (issued in with the USA Patriot Act and the Pub- interim rules. August 2002) by requiring facilities to lic Health Security and Bioterrorism register with the Centers for Disease Preparedness and Response Act of Control and Prevention (CDC) if they 2002. The USA Patriot Act sets require- possess a select agent or agents that ments for the appropriate use of select Gene … pose a potential threat to human biological agents. It also specifies those Continued from previous page health. The previous rule only required persons who should be restricted from According to Dr. Costa, FoxM1B facilities to register with CDC if they working with select agents, and probably unleashes the enzyme that intended to transfer a select agent. imposes criminal and civil penalties for normally digests this protein to pre- “Protecting the health of Americans the inappropriate use of select agents. vent it from building up in the cell. is paramount, and this new rule The Public Health Security Bioterror- When the p21Cip1 protein accumu- strengthens our ability to ensure that ism Preparedness and Response Act of lates, he says, it sets in motion a series essential research on these agents con- 2002 updated the existing Select Agent of molecular events, like falling domi- tinues while making certain they don’t Rule by requiring facilities to register if noes, that prevents DNA from dou- fall into the wrong hands,” said HHS they possess select agents. Previously, bling and gives a green light to genes Secretary Tommy G. Thompson. only facilities that wished to transfer linked with the diseases of old age. The USDA interim select agent rule select agents needed to register with “We know from earlier research by requires facilities to register with CDC. others that abnormal accumulation of USDA’s Animal and Plant Health The HHS interim rule can be viewed p21Cip1 protein occurs during aging, Inspection Service (APHIS) if they at http://www.cdc.gov and the USDA turning on a host of genes associated possess a select agent or agents that interim rule can be viewed at with diseases found in the elderly, like pose a potential threat to animal or http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/w Alzheimer’s and cancer,” said Dr. Costa. plant health. ebrepor.html. His team also found that FoxM1B “This new rule will continue to The new rules affect almost 190,000 controls a key enzyme needed to help strengthen programs aimed at protect- research facilities, including academic cells pull apart at the end of mitosis, ing the American people from acts of institutions and biomedical centers; the final step in cell division. terrorism,” said Agriculture Secretary commercial manufacturing facilities “These results clearly link FoxM1B Ann M. Veneman. “These safeguards such as those in the pharmaceutical with the failure of tissues to mend,” Dr. will help protect the food supply with- industry; federal, state and local labora- Costa said. “And in old age, when the out sacrificing valuable research being tories, including clinical and diagnos- FoxM1B gene is essentially out of done on these agents.” tic labs; and research facilities. action, we see the results.”
FEBRUARY 2003 ASBMBToday 17 NEWS FROM THE HILL
Cloning Due Before Congress Again by Peter Farnham, ASBMB Public Affairs Officer
he Bush administration and important, a group of cloning advocates He stated, “It is more important now its allies in Congress are has now claimed to have produced than ever that the American public T expected to make a new push human clones. understand the difference between this year for a comprehensive ban on Chemist Brigitte Boisselier, head of a reproductive cloning, which seeks to all forms of human cloning. However, company called Clonaid, announced create babies, and somatic cell nuclear despite the new Republican majority in December that the company had transfer, which seeks to create stem in the Senate and a strengthened cloned a healthy baby girl. Boisselier is cells to treat people with life-threaten- majority in the House, passage of such associated with the Raelians, a cult ing diseases and conditions.” a ban will not be easy. that claims 55,000 followers world- President Bush reacted to the Clonaid There is broad national consensus wide and believes life on Earth was announcement through a spokesman, on the policy goal of a ban on so- sparked by extraterrestrials who saying that he found human cloning to called reproductive cloning—cloning arrived 25,000 years ago and created be “deeply troubling,” and that it for the purpose of producing a child. humans through cloning. underscores the need for “legislation to The Bush administration, virtually all Boisselier’s claim, and others that fol- ban all human cloning.” of the Congress, and the vast major- lowed, have been viewed skeptically by Currently, there is no law against ity of the scientific community sup- most scientists. However, Michael human cloning; however, the Food port this goal. ASBMB, for example, Manganiello, President of the Coali- and Drug Administration has regula- supports S.2439, the Feinstein- tion for the Advancement of Medical tory authority over experiments Kennedy Bill, which was introduced Research (CAMR), called on Congress involving humans, and claims that its in the last session of Congress and to pass a ban on reproductive cloning. regulations forbid human cloning would prohibit reproductive cloning, without agency permission. FDA offi- but permit the asexual production of cials reportedly are already investigat- blastocysts for research purposes. ing whether Clonaid performed any of However, the administration and its the work on U.S. soil. congressional allies would extend a Senator Brownback (R-KS) will try to ban on cloning to the production of pass an anti-cloning bill again in the stem cells, which could be used in new Congress, but passage of the bill is treatments and therapies to cure or in doubt because of strong bipartisan ameliorate human disease. support for therapeutic cloning, led by The administration supported a bill Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Ted in the last Congress that would ban Kennedy (D-MA), Arlen Specter (R-PA) both forms of cloning. The House ver- and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT). Since sion of the bill passed in 2001 by more Clonaid’s announcement Senator Brownback is unlikely to gar- than 100 votes with little debate, but “Should serve as a ner the 60 votes needed to cut off an the Senate version died when Congress expected filibuster, he may try to call adjourned last fall. However, the admin- chilling reminder that for a moratorium on cloning, rather istration and its supporters in Congress individuals are still than a complete ban. are prepared to try again to pass a com- This approach was endorsed by the prehensive cloning ban. There are a trying to clone human President’s Council on Bioethics, number of new factors to consider in beings.” which called for a four-year morato- any assessment of the chances of such a —Bill Frist (R-TN), rium on human embryo cloning in its ban passing Congress. First, and most Senate Majority Leader report released last summer. However,
18 ASBMBToday FEBRUARY 2003 NEWS FROM THE HILL
President Signs NSF Reauthorization Bill By Peter Farnham, ASBMB Public Affairs Officer he National Science Founda- that authorize the Math and Science most in the scientific community con- tion Authorization Act of Partnership and the Science and sider a moratorium to be nothing T 2002, signed by President Engineering and Technology Talent more than a cloning ban under Bush in December, authorizes a Expansion Act. Some highlights: another name. To quote CAMR’s budget increase of 105 percent for the In addition to setting funding lev- Manganiello, “A moratorium on ther- NSF over the next five years, from $4.8 els for the next five years, the bill apeutic cloning is a thinly veiled billion in FY 2002 to $9.8 billion in FY authorizes funding in such NSF prior- attempt at banning important 2007. Although this act does not pro- ity areas as information technology, research outright. Supporters of a vide funds for NSF, it does provide the nanotechnology, and science and moratorium know how difficult it is to authority to obligate funds for speci- mathematics education. lift one—that is why they are propos- fied activities. The last two years of the The bill requires the creation of a ing it. A moratorium would mean that five-year authorization are contingent prioritized list of Major Research important medical breakthroughs are on NSF making satisfactory progress in Equipment and Facilities Construc- put on hold. People suffering from meeting the goals of the President’s tion (MREFC) projects to be updated life-threatening diseases and condi- Management Agenda. NSF is the only each time the National Science Board tions are told they will just have to agency to have received green lights approves a new project to be funded wait for their cures.” (in financial management and e-gov- by the MREFC account. If a moratorium proposal does ernment) on the President’s most The bill authorizes the establish- emerge, supporters of therapeutic recent Management Scorecard. ment of a new program to award cloning will want a “sunset clause” “The passing of this bill is the cul- grants to Hispanic-serving institu- included in the bill—a date when the mination of several years of effort by tions, Alaska Native-serving institu- moratorium will expire. This would many people and organizations,” tions, Hawaiian Native-serving force moratorium supporters to pass an Coalition for National Science Fund- institutions and other institutions of extension, a more difficult legislative ing Chairman Sam Rankin said. higher education serving a substan- feat than simply letting a current bill “Now all we have to do is convince tial number of minority students to remain law. the appropriators to appropriate the enhance the quality of science educa- Another factor to take into account levels of funding prescribed!” tion, including funding for instru- is the new Senate Majority Leader, Bill ASBMB worked very hard to bring mentation. Frist (R-TN), who supported the about passage of this bill, starting last The bill also includes a number of Brownback bill in the last Congress. spring when then-ASBMB President administrative amendments involving Clonaid’s announcement, said Frist, Bob Wells and current President Bet- the National Science Board and its rela- “Should serve as a chilling reminder tie Sue Masters flanked bill sponsors tionship with the Foundation. Among that individuals are still trying to clone Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) and Nick the more controversial amendments, human beings.” Smith (R-MI) at a press conference in the NSB Chair is now allowed to appoint Other factors include the efforts of the House Science Committee main up to five professional staff members to other nations to press ahead with hearing room heralding the bill’s serve the Board. The NSF opposed this development of stem cell technolo- introduction. The NSF was last provision, as in the past the Foundation gies, notably Britain, and the NIH’s authorized by the 105th Congress in appointed the NSB staff. recent admission on its website that 1998. That authorization expired The full text of the bill is available only 9 of the 70 stem cell lines Presi- more than two years ago. at: http://www.nsf.gov/od/lpa/ dent Bush allowed access to in The Act includes portions of legisla- congress/107/final_authorization_ August 2001 are actually available for tion previously enacted by the House language.pdf researchers to use.
FEBRUARY 2003 ASBMBToday 19 BIOTECH BUSINESS NEWS
by John D. Thompson, Editor
Computers + Biology = Bioinformatics “The laboratory rat is giving way to the search for new drugs, and biotech bioinformatics market is expected to the computer mouse as computing firms are looking to computer model- be worth $38 billion. joins forces with biology to create a ing, data mining, and high-through- Researchers now find themselves bioinformatics market that is expected put screening to discover drugs more swamped with data. Each time it does to be worth nearly $40 billion within efficiently. Biological institutions and an experimental run, the average three years.” biopharmaceutical firms are now microarray spits out some 50 That, in a nutshell, was The Econo- among the largest users of computer megabytes of data—all of which has to mist’s assessment, in its December 12, power, such as petaflops (thousands be stored, managed and made avail- 2002, edition, of the impact of the of trillions of floating-point opera- able to researchers. computer on the lab. Over the past five tions per second) of supercomputing It is in data mining, where bioinfor- years, computers have changed the power, and terabytes (trillions of matics has the prospect of its biggest way research works. Wet lab processes bytes) of storage, not to mention pay-off. First applied in banking, data that took weeks to complete are giving such basics as workstations, servers, mining uses a variety of algorithms to way to digital research. Notebooks supercomputers, storage and data- sift through storehouses of data in with jotted comments, measurements management systems, knowledge search of “noisy” patterns and relation- and drawings have yielded to terabyte management and collaboration tools, ships among the different silos of storehouses of genetic and chemical and the life-science equipment information. To make the most of data data, and empirical estimates are being needed to handle biological samples. mining, biologists are being forced to replaced by mathematical exactness. In 2001, sales of such systems become mathematicians in order to Bioinformatics—the acquisition, amounted to more than $12 billion describe the biological processes and storage and analysis of biological worldwide, according to Interna- models involved. That implies a data—has become a key factor in tional Data Corporation, in Framing- demand for wholly new sets of skills biotechnology’s progress. It speeds ham, Massachusetts. By 2006, this and educational backgrounds. Purdue Holding $100,000 Competition Amgen, ZymoGenetics Settle An entrepreneurial competition at the written business plan phase of the Patent Dispute Lawsuit Purdue University will award total prizes competition. Those teams will make Biotechnology companies Amgen of $100,000 for business plans that 45-minute presentations to a panel of and ZymoGenetics Inc. have settled a describe the path to market for products judges. First prize in the competition is patent infringement lawsuit over tech- and technologies in the life sciences, $50,000; second prize is $20,000; third nology used in Amgen’s popular biotechnology and biomedicine. prize is $15,000; fourth prize is $7,500; rheumatoid arthritis drug, Enbrel. The The inaugural Purdue University fifth prize is $5,000; sixth prize is settlement resolves a lawsuit filed by Life Sciences Business Plan Competi- $2,500. Judging and awards presenta- Seattle-based ZymoGenetics against a tion, sponsored by the Burton D. tions will take place on April 23. neighboring biotech firm, Immunex Morgan Center for Entrepreneurship Inquiries about the competition Corp., that is now part of Amgen, and Roche Diagnostics, will take should be directed to Don Blewett, headquartered in Thousand Oaks, Cal- place April 22-24 on Purdue’s West Associate Director of the Center for ifornia. The agreement allows Amgen Lafayette campus. Teams should sub- Entrepreneurship at 765-494-4485 to continue selling Enbrel, but with mit an entry form and executive or [email protected]. nonexclusive worldwide licenses for summary by February 10 and full The competition website is at the technology. ZymoGenetics will business plans by March 8. http://www.purdue.edu/discovery- receive an undisclosed one-time Eight finalists will be chosen from park/lifesciencescompetition. cash payment.
20 ASBMBToday FEBRUARY 2003 BIOTECH BUSINESS NEWS
Icelandic Firm Finds Gene Signal for Brittle Bones Iceland’s deCODE genetics Inc said on more likely to develop osteoporosis. doctors to check for a pre-disposition to Thursday it had identified variations Scientists at the firm who analyze dis- osteoporosis in much the same way within a single gene that increase the risk ease-gene links in the Icelandic popula- that people already have their blood of osteoporosis, paving the way for a tion, whose genetic make-up has pressure tested. If found to be at risk, diagnostic test for the brittle bone disor- changed little since the time of the patients could then take corrective der. The discovery marks the first con- Vikings, identified the gene by study- action by changing their diet, adapting crete advance under a multi-disease ing 1,000 patients and unaffected rela- exercise regimes or, if necessary, taking alliance with Switzerland’s Roche Hold- tives in 139 families. medication. ing AG that could be worth up to $300 Osteoporosis can be a major health “Theoretically, it ought to be possi- million in funding, milestone payments problem among people over 50, partic- ble to get diagnostic tests to the market and royalties to the Reykjavik-based ularly women, and is characterised by in a couple of years, against the 10 biotechnology company. the progressive thinning and weaken- years or so it takes to develop a new DeCODE will earn an unspecified ing of the bones. Sufferers are at therapeutic (drug),” he told Reuters. milestone fee for finding the seven sin- increased risk of bone fractures. DeCODE said it would publish details gle-base variations within a gene on Kari Stefansson, deCODE’s Chief of the gene and its links to decreased chromosome 20. People with these Executive, said he believed a test could bone mass density in a major scientific genetic variations are several times be brought to market rapidly, allowing journal at a later date. Will India and the UK Another British Invasion? Join Hands in Research? What Britain failed to do by force but while a UK government report Do India and the UK have the in the Revolution and the War of on science and technology, released potential for success as partners in sci- 1812, the Beatles did with music last summer, noted that while a entific research? Experts in both when they took the United States by wave of scientists had departed for nations think that British expertise in storm in the 1960s. Now, physicists, the United States, Britain had a net genomics and India’s information chemists, biologists, engineers, and gain of 5,000 scientists coming in technology could combine to benefit mathematicians seem on the verge of from other countries. both countries. another successful British invasion. Still, the exodus across the Atlantic Both countries have a “mature sci- Within the past year, for example, may be helping Britain to establish ence base” and have witnessed the British Embassy in Washington a technology-transfer beachhead, recent improvements in government tripled to 12 the number of science although the results so far have been research budgets, said the UK’s chief and technology officers posted in the mixed. For example, a project to set scientific advisor, David King, in a United States, and Boston which bid a up a joint institute between the Uni- recent India Day address to policy British army goodbye in 1777 is now versity of Cambridge and the Massa- makers, researchers, and funding- home to http://www.belsgroup.com, a chusetts Institute of Technology was body representatives from both website operated by British Expats in initially greeted with optimism, but India and the UK. Addressing the Life Sciences. In addition, when the recently was criticized in Nature (420, same group, Nigel Birch, head of Royal Society surveyed its members in 256; 2002) for a lack of tangible international research at Britain’s 1999 it found that 12% were working results. Another program, announced Engineering and Physical Sciences in the U.S. last summer, to foster links between Research Council, said the council That may seem as if Britain is los- Rice University and Imperial College will shortly launch a new program ing its scientists to a brain drain, in London shows some promise. to encourage UK/India collaboration in scientific research.
FEBRUARY 2003 ASBMBToday 21 Making Keyword Searches Work In early 2001, ASBMB introduced the new “por- tal” site from Stanford’s HighWire Press, which allows you to search all of Medline plus 340 journals’ full-text at once. We began a monthly series of short articles highlight- ing tools or features of this new site for researchers’ sore eyes. The new site is at http://highwire.stanford.edu tools are helpful when a scientific term citation. Not only can KWIC help used in a keyword search is ambiguous you spot relevant results, but it can e could pretend that key- or multi-faceted, or when you are suggest additional terms or phrase- word searches of full text interested in only one aspect of many search criteria that you can use to W are an excellent tool for uses of that term; the tools are also use- narrow your result. finding the specific articles you need ful when you are doing broad subject —since keyword searches are just searches and can’t provide very specific Instant Index about the only tool most search sys- keywords. The Instant Index is a more subtle— tems give you!—but often a searcher is The new tools are called “KWIC”— and potentially more helpful—new faced with thousands of search results showing your search “keywords in feature. Each search that retrieves more in response to a keyword search context”—and “Instant Index”— than 50 items will have a hyperlink because systems like PubMed index which “clusters” items in your search that will take you to the Instant Index over 12 million article abstracts, and results around major concepts. KWIC built from the top 500 items in your the HighWire Portal indexes all those is shown in the first figure; here you search result. You can see the Instant abstracts plus the full text of over a see a search for the keywords Index hyperlink in the middle of the million articles as well. But there is “cytochrome oxidase” which returned first figure; it is the last link in the box help for those who have to look for over 13,000 citations. An Instant Index under the Search Results heading; click the needle in the haystack! for a search on the term “mercury” is on that link, and a new window like The HighWire Portal at http://high- shown in the second figure. the one in the second figure will open wire.stanford.edu has recently added up. The left side of the new window some tools to help you spot the nee- KWIC shows the index to your results; like dles in the haystack of a large result. You can easily see from the exam- the index in the back of the book, it The new tools take advantage of the ple how KWIC can help you recog- contains concepts and sub-concepts. recognition ability we all have—“I nize articles that use your search To the right of each concept is the know it when I see it!”—by augment- terms in a relevant way in a sentence. number of citations that match. If you ing the “recall” of the keywords to do a Each citation in a search result will click on the concept name, the right search, with the recognition of seeing typically show you significant parts side of the window will change to dis- just the right use of a term in the con- of the first two sentences in which play the citations for that concept; in text of a sentence or phrase. These your search terms are found in that the example, we’ve clicked on “Cell;
22 ASBMBToday FEBRUARY 2003 Better, KWIC-ly Proteins” and are looking at a list of 36 whether the clusters of topics match citations for that concept that contain what you think you’ve written about! Correction the keyword “mercury” from our Or, if you have to deliver a lecture (or a The captions for the photos search. If you click on the “+” sign, it course!) on a topic, you might do a below were unfortunately trans- will show you the concepts indexed search for that topic as a keyword posed in the print version of the under another concept. search—perhaps asking for “review December 2002 ASBMB Today. The technology that brings you the articles only” — and then see whether Although this was corrected in Instant Index is still being tuned, and the resulting Instant Index suggests the online edition of the maga- we’d appreciate your feedback on possible topics for your lecture outline. zine, we are reprinting the photos whether and where you find it most Previous issues of ASBMB Today cov- here with the correct captions. helpful, and where you find otherwise. ered topics about the new HighWire Por- You may also find some interesting tal. The articles are online at tests and uses for it. For example: try a http://highwire.stanford.edu/inthepress/as search for your own papers, and see bmb/index.dtl.
NIH Releases New Curriculum Supplements The National Institutes of Health is ship between chemicals in the environ- releasing three new curriculum sup- ment and human health, utilizing basic plements to bring the latest findings concepts in the science of toxicology. on the brain, environmental health, Open Wide and Trek Inside: and oral health to students across the Encourages students in grades 1 and 2 nation. The state-of-the-art instruc- to explore the wonders of the mouth A new metallocofactor containing three tional materials are part of a project as a living environment and learn different transition metals, iron (orange), that promotes inquiry-based, inter- major scientific concepts relating to copper (pink), and nickel (blue), has been disciplinary learning in kindergarten oral health. discovered in the bifunctional enzyme through grade 12, and NIH is distrib- The modules are the result of a coop- carbon monoxide dehydrogenase/acetyl uting the modules to teachers free-of- erative effort among teachers, scientists, coenzyme A synthase. Amazingly, organ- charge to promote scientific literacy and curriculum developers. Three ear- isms containing this enzyme can grow and student interest in the sciences. lier curriculum supplements, designed on the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide as The new curricula below are for use in high school classrooms, are their sole carbon and energy source. aligned with the National Science Cell Biology and Cancer, Emerging and Photo by Dr. Catherine Drennan. Education Standards released by the Re-emerging Infectious Diseases, and National Academy of Sciences. Each Human Genetic Variation. Each is supplement comes with an interac- available on the NIH Office of Science tive CD-ROM. Education Web site. Additional supple- The Brain: Understanding Neuro- ments are planned each year. For more biology Through the Study of Addic- online information, visit http://sci- tion. Allows students in grades 9 ence.education.nih.gov/supplements. through 12 to explore how drugs For more information or review alter brain function by changing the copies, contact: Dr. David Vannier, way neurons communicate. Professional Development Coordina- From RNA to DNA: crystal structure of a Chemicals, the Environment, and tor, OSE, NIH 6705 Rockledge Dr, RM class II ribonucleotide reductase. You: Explorations in Science and 700, Bethesda, MD 20892-7984; Ph: Photo by Michael Sintchak Human Health. Enables students in 301-496-8741; Fx: 301-301-402-3034, (Drennan Group) grades 7 and 8 to explore the relation- Email: [email protected].
FEBRUARY 2003 ASBMBToday 23 Calendar of Scientific Meetings
MARCH 2003 MAY 2003 The American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Meeting: Proteomic Solutions in Cellular and Developmental Future Directions for Biodefense Research: Biology and Medicine Development of Countermeasures May 2–4 • Stowers Institute, Kansas City, Missouri March 9-12 • Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, Baltimore, MD Contact: Kelly Gull; Ph: 301-634-7145; Fx: 301-634-7126 Abstract Deadline: January 30, 2003 Email: [email protected]; Website: http://www.asbmb.org Ph: 202-942-9248; Fx: 202-942-9340 Email: [email protected]; www.asmbiodefense.org 10th Undergraduate Microbiology Education Conference Principles and Applications of Time-Resolved May 16-18 • University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland Fluorescence Spectroscopy Contact: Carlos Pelham; Ph: 202-942-9317 Email: [email protected] March 23-28 • University of Maryland Baltimore Website: http://www.asmusa.org/edusrc/edu4c.htm Contact: Mary Rosenfeld, Tel: 410-706-8409 Email: [email protected]; Website: http://cfs.umbi.umd.edu JUNE 2003 Keystone Symposium, Proteomics: Technologies and Transposition, Recombination and Applications to Applications Plant Genomics A Plant Sciences Institute Symposium March 25–30 • Keystone Resort, Keystone, Colorado Contact: Paul Lugauer; Tel.: 970-262-1230 ext. 111 June 5-8 • Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa Email: [email protected] Abstracts due April 4, 2003; Registration deadline May 5 Website: http://www.keystonesymposia.org Students may apply for travel grants (applications due April 4) Contact: Gulshan Singh APRIL 2003 Ph: 515-294-7978; Fx: 515-294-2244; E-mail:[email protected] Website: http://molebio.iastate.edu/-gfst/phomepg.html Origin and Evolution of Mitochondria and Chloroplasts Advanced Lecture Course for the Federation of ECM IV: Bone Tissue Engineering European Biochemical Societies (FEBS) June 30-July 2 • Davos, Switzerland April 5–10 • Hvar, Croatia Contact: R. Geoff Richards, Dr. Sci. M.Sc. biol. Contact: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Soll Programme Leader AO Research Institute, Ph: + 49 89 17861 225/273/276; Fx: + 49 89 17861 185 Bioperformance of Materials & Devices e-mail: [email protected] email: [email protected]; Ph: ++41 (0) 81 4142 397 Website: http://www.febs.unibe.ch/Activities/Advanced http://www.aofoundation.org/events/ao/ecm/ECMIV/index.shtml _Courses/Adoc03.htm JULY 2003 9th International Congress on Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis (Batten Disease) FEBS 2003 Meeting on Signal Transduction April 9-13 • The Holiday Inn-City Centre, Chicago July 4-8 • Brussels Program Chair: Glyn Dawson, University of Chicago Pritzker Contact: V. Wouters; Ph: 32 2 7795959; Fx: 32 2 7795960 School of Medicine; Website: http://www.ncl2003.org/ Email: [email protected]; Website: http://www.febs-signal.be
American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Education in the Molecular Life Sciences: The Central Biology Annual Meeting in Conjunction with EB2003 Role of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology April 11-15 • San Diego, California Contact: EB2003 Office; Ph: 301-634-7010 July 18-20 • University of Toronto, Canada Fx: 301-634-7014; Email: [email protected] Contact: Kelly Gull; Ph: 301-634-7145; Fx: 301-634-7126 Website: http://www.faseb.org/meetings/eb2003 Email: [email protected] http://www.richmond.edu/~jbell2/iubmb-satellite.html 9th National Symposium on Basic Aspects of Vaccines 19th International Congress of Biochemistry and April 30–May 2 • Bethesda, Maryland Molecular Biology Contact: Conference Secretariat; Walter Reed Army Institute of Research; Dept of Membrane Biochemistry July 20-24 • Toronto, Canada 503 Robert Grant Ave, Room 2A24; Silver Spring, MD 20910 Contact: Congress Secretariat; Ph: 613-993-9431 Ph: 301-319-9462 fx: 301-319-9035 Email: [email protected] e-mail: [email protected] Website: http://www.nrc.ca/confserv/iubmb2003/ Website: http://wrair-www.army.mil/symposia/dmbsym.htm
24 ASBMBToday FEBRUARY 2003 Renew Your 2003 AUGUST 2003 First Gordon Research Conference on Cellular Membership Online Osmoregulation: Sensors, Transducers and Regulators August 15–20 • Roger Williams University, Bristol, RI ASBMB dues notices have been mailed Contacts: Janet M. Wood ([email protected]) and Karlheinz Altendorf ([email protected]) to all members and you can now make Website: http://www.grc.uri.edu/programs/2003/cellosmo.htm Application: http://www.grc.org/scripts/dbml.exe?Template=/A payment online at the ASBMB website: pplication/apply1.dbm www.asbmb.org. Click on “Renew Now” Sixth International Symposium on Mass Spectrometry in the “What’s New” box. in the Health and Life Sciences: Molecular and Cellular Proteomics August 24-28 • Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco New for 2003 — Contact: Marilyn Schwartz; Ph: 415-476-4893 Membership Cards Email: [email protected] Website: http://donatello.ucsf.edu/symposium The renewal notice includes your new
Biology of Molecular Chaperones ASBMB membership card. And don’t Mechanisms and Regulation of Chaperones forget, your membership includes a August 30–September 4 • Tomar, Portugal free subscription to our monthly Contacts: Dr. Josip Hendekovic or Caroline Walford Ph: + 33 388 76 71 35; Fx: + 33 388 36 69 87 magazine, ASBMB Today, plus free Website: http://www.esf.org/esf_euresco Please quote 2003-15 in any correspondence subscriptions to JBC Online and MCP Online. You also receive special member 16th International Mass Spectrometry Society Conference rates for Biochemistry and Molecular August 31–September 5 • Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom Contact: John Monaghan; Email: [email protected] Biology Education, The Journal of Lipid Website: http://www.imsc-edinburgh2003.com Research and Trends in Biochemical SEPTEMBER 2003 Sciences, as well as the print versions NMR in Molecular Biology of JBC and MCP. EuroConference on Structural Genomics: From Gene to Structure as viewed by NMR ASBMB members may also register for September 5–10 • Obernai (near Strasbourg), France Contact: Dr. Josip Hendekovic or Anne-Sophie Gablin the Annual Meeting at discounted rates. Ph: + 33 388 76 71 35; Fx: + 33 388 36 69 87 Website: http://www.esf.org/esf_euresco In addition, you can order your 2003 Please quote 2003-14 in any correspondence edition of the Annual Review of Sixth Conference on Protein Expression in Animal Cells Biochemistry through ASBMB. September 7–11 • Mont-Tremblant, QC, Canada Contact: Marc Aucoin, Technical Officer Biotechnology Research Institute; Email: [email protected] If you have any questions, please Website: http://www.bri.nrc.ca/6thPEACe email [email protected]. - More than 12 million searchable journal articles - World’s largest collection of free full-text articles - 4 different search tools to locate what you need - Online archives of the Journal of Biological Chemistry plus more than 330 other journals covering the sciences and medicine