ISSUE 2 (OCTOBER) 2015
40th FEBS Congress FEBS Education FEBS Advanced FEBS Congress and FEBS Publications Round-up Courses 2016 YSF 2016
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CONTENTS
Contents:
The 40th FEBS Congress: round-up 3 3 Enjoy reports and photos from our Berlin gathering, including features on FEBS award winners 4 FEBS Fellowships 14 A new link with the Lindau Nobel Laureate meeting
FEBS Education 15 6 Awardees of the ‘50 Years of FEBS’ Education Training Awards share their experiences 13 FEBS Advanced Courses 2016 17 Course organizers give us their perspectives on running these events, and we reveal the 2016 program
The FEBS Congress and YSF 2016 22 Save the dates! A first look ahead to next year’s big event at Ephesus / Kuşadası
FEBS Publications 28 Article highlights and Special Issues from our 11 28 four journals 22 FEBS Community 30 FEBS National Lectures, and calls for award nominations
Scientific Events Calendar 32 17
Congress photos credit: Many 40th FEBS Congress photos in this About FEBS News: FEBS News is published two or three times a issue of FEBS News are by Thomas Ecke, copyright GBM e.V.: year. An e-newsletter containing a link to FEBS News is sent to all photos pages 3–5; top photos page 6; top photo page 9; subscribers and to FEBS Constituent Societies whenever a new issue is out. This issue as well as all former issues of FEBS News photo page 10; bottom right photo page 13. are available online at www.febs.org. To subscribe, simply sign up to the e-newsletter in the News section of the FEBS website. Questions and suggestions about FEBS News should be sent to the FEBS News Editor, Carolyn Elliss ([email protected]).
FEBS website postings: FEBS offers free advertising of academic positions (PhD students, postdocs, etc.) in the Career Opportunities section of the website, and scientific events can be listed in our Conference Calendar . Selected postings may also be included in FEBS News, according to space available. In addition, Constituent Societies of FEBS are able to post news on Cover: The 41st FEBS the FEBS website; see the Our Members section.
Congress will be hosted in 2016 by the Turkish Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS): www.febs.org Biochemical Society in A charitable organization advancing research in the Ephesus / Kuşadası, a region molecular life sciences across Europe and beyond of Turkey steeped in ancient A Company Limited by Guarantee (Number 08239097); history; find out more about A Registered Charity (Number 1149638); Registered in England and Wales; the event on pages 22–27! Registered office: 98 Regent Street, Cambridge, CB2 1DP, UK.
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The 40th FEBS Congress Berlin, 2015 The 40th FEBS Congress under the motto ‘The Biochemical Basis of Life’ was held in Berlin, Germany, from 4th July to 9th July this year. The location was the Estrel Convention Center – the largest hotel in Germany with an inbuilt conference center and several restaurants, and situated in a trendy suburb about 5 km from the city centre. Most of the close to 1600 participants stayed there, thus allowing for lively discussions from breakfast till late after dinner. The congress was organized on behalf of the German Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, GBM, by a team of scientists from the universities and other scientific institutions in Berlin headed by Volker Haucke from the Leibniz Institute for Molecular Pharmacology. The scientific program was highly praised by the participants, and the plenary lectures in particular were very much enjoyed. The opening lecture was given by Randy Schekman (Berkeley, CA, USA), previously awarded the 2013 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, who spoke on ‘Secretion of large particles and miRNAs from mammalian cells’. Other plenary lecturers (in the order pictured on the next page) were Xiaowei Zhuang (Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA), Caroline Dean (John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK), Nikolaus Pfanner (University of Freiburg, Germany), Susan Lindquist
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Plenary lecturers in action and with GBM awards. (left to right, from top) Randy Schekman (opening lecture – see main text); Xiaowei Zhuang (‘Illuminating biology at the nanoscale with super-resolution imaging’– IUBMB Lecture); Caroline Dean (‘Epigenetic switching in seasonal timing’ – FEBS│EMBO Women in Science Lecture); Nikolaus Pfanner (‘Mitochondrial machineries for import and assembly of proteins’ – Otto-Warburg Lecture); Susan Lindquist (‘Protein folding as a driving force in evolution from basic biology to human medicine’ – FEBS Datta Lecture); Alberto R. Kornblihtt (‘DNA damage and chromatin structure regulate alternative splicing through the control of RNA polymerase II elongation’ – PABMB Lecture); Sarah Teichmann (‘Understanding cellular heterogeneity’ – EMBO Lecture); Matthias Mann (‘Comprehensive proteomics and its application to signaling and clinical problems’ – FEBS Theodor Bücher Lecture); Jürgen Knoblich (‘Modelling human brain development and disease in 3D culture’ – FEBS Sir Hans Krebs Lecture); Barbara Meyer (with Roger Goody, GBM Vice President: ‘Chromosome structure and its relationship to gene regulation’ – Fritz Lipmann Lecture); and Nikolaus Pfanner (centre) receiving the Otto Warburg Medal, with Johannes Buchner, GBM President (left), andDeolors Alsina, Elsevier/BBA (right). Naima Zemirli, who delivered The FEBS Journal award plenary lecture is featured on page 13. 4 FEBS News October 2015
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(Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA), Alberto R. Kornblihtt (University of Buenos Aires, Argentina), Sarah Teichmann (EMBL-EBI and Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK), Matthias Mann (MPI for Biochemistry, Munich, Germany), Jürgen Knoblich (Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Vienna, Austria) and Barbara Meyer, (Berkeley, CA, USA) – for more details about their lectures, see the caption below their photos on the previous page. A very special event during the Congress was the presentation of the Warburg Medal Award of GBM (the Organizers, GBM and FEBS representatives, and Opening Lecturer. (from left): highest and most prestigious prize given Thomas Sommer (Organizing Committee), Volker Haucke (Congress Chair), by this society, and sponsored by Johannes Buchner (President of GBM), Randy Schekman (Opening Lecturer), Elsevier/BBA with prize money of Sir Alan Fersht (FEBS Treasurer) and Israel Pecht (FEBS Secretary General). €25,000) to Nikolaus Pfanner, in recognition of his seminal work on protein reports on pages 8–10), and more than 40 transport and composition in mitochondria, and companies demonstrated their newest products at particularly the mechanisms of protein import into the commercial exhibition. mitochondria. Preceding the Congress, the FEBS Young Beyond the plenary sessions, 181 invited speakers Scientists’ Forum (YSF) was held in Berlin-Buch. presented their research work in 30 full-day and Of the total of 541 registered young scientists at half-day symposia featuring full-length and short the Congress, 113 participated in this satellite event talks, covering the key themes of the Congress: – see page 11 for more details. From chemical biology to molecular medicine, The international nature of the Congress was Mechanisms of gene expression, Membranes, reflected in both speakers and participants. Speakers receptors and bioenergetics, Molecular were from 24 countries (including the south and neuroscience, Structural biology and biophysics, and south-east of Europe), and, regarding the gender Systems biology, bioinformatics and theoretical ratio of speakers, just over a quarter were female. biology. Further information exchange took place With respect to the general attendance, delegates through the popular poster format. Also this year from 65 countries participated: the top ten were we gave many poster presenters the chance to Germany (454), Turkey (116), Russia (104), Korea present their work through 102 speed talks and 93 (85), Great Britain (76), Poland (63), Spain (62), short talks of 3 or 10 min, respectively, which were Italy (44), France (40) and USA (38). All other selected by the session chairpersons from the countries accounted for less than 2.1 % each and, submitted abstracts and were very well attended alas, Eastern European countries were under• Two new events at the Congress this year – a represented – we had hoped for a particularly strong podium discussion on ‘The Future of Scientific participation because of the possibility to avoid air Publishing’ and a special session on ‘Data travel and to come by train or car. Management & Reproducibility’ – provided a forum All in all, it was a highly successful meeting and to discuss topical general concerns and new trends we hope participants returned to their labs in the molecular life sciences community, and energized by new ideas and discussions. In certainly stimulated lively debate among the consideration of the excellent science I pity all those audience. Additional general interest at the who didn’t come to Berlin. Congress was provided by sessions organized by FEBS Committees on education (research in Wolfgang Trommer undergraduate education), science and society Treasurer of GBM
(evolutionary medicine) and women in science (see All photos in this article are by Thomas Ecke, copyright GBM e.V. 5 FEBS News October 2015
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FEBS Medal Winners (Berlin, 2015)
The Sir Hans Krebs Medal, the Theodor Bücher Medal and the Datta Medal are awarded annually by FEBS for outstanding achievements in biochemistry, molecular biology or related areas. This year’s awardees were honoured at the FEBS Congress 2015 in Berlin, where they each delivered a plenary lecture. The 2015 medals were awarded to: Jürgen Knoblich, Vienna, Austria (Sir Hans Krebs Medal; pictured with Stephan Sigrist, left, and Sir Alan Fersht from FEBS, right); Matthias Mann, Munich, Germany (Theodor Bücher Medal; pictured with László Fésüs from FEBS, right); and Susan Lindquist, Cambridge, USA (Datta Medal; pictured with Cecilia Arraiano from FEBS, left).
Jürgen Knoblich was born and grew up in Memmingen, Germany. He started his scientific career as a graduate student at the Max Planck Institute in Tübingen where he worked on cell cycle control in Drosophila under the guidance of Christian Lehner. In 1994 he moved to San Francisco, USA to join the laboratory of Yuh Nung and Lily Jan where he discovered his interest in asymmetric cell division, a topic that has remained the main focus of his research ever since. In 1997, Jürgen Knoblich returned to Europe to become a group leader at the Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) in Vienna, Austria. In 2004, he moved next door to the newly founded Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA). He became a senior scientist and was appointed deputy scientific director of the institute in 2005. Jürgen Knoblich’s laboratory is interested in the biology of neural stem cells. In the fruitfly they have identified the molecular mechanism that allows neural stem cells to segregate protein determinants into only one daughter cell during mitosis and to divide asymmetrically, and have demonstrated that defects in this mechanism lead to brain tumour formation. More recently, they have extended their interest to analyzing mammalian neural progenitors and their contribution to brain development. To analyze those processes in humans, they have established a 3D culture system that recapitulates the early steps of human brain development in cell culture, allowing brain pathologies and human specific developmental events to be studied in unprecedented detail. Jürgen Knoblich has received several awards such as the Wittgenstein prize, the Schroedinger award and the FEBS Anniversary award. He is a member of EMBO and the Austrian Academy of Sciences, and acts on the EMBO council and the editorial boards of Current Biology and the European Journal of Cell Biology.
Congress plenary lecture: Modelling human brain development and disease in 3D culture
The Sir Hans Krebs Lecture and Medal was endowed by a generous gift from the Lord Rank Centre for Research and is awarded for outstanding achievements in biochemistry and molecular biology or related sciences.
Matthias Mann studied physics and mathematics at Göttingen University in Germany and obtained his PhD in chemical engineering at Yale University, USA. Here he was decisively involved in the development of electrospray ionization, which has become a key technology of the life sciences. As a post-doctoral fellow and later as a professor for bioinformatics at the University of Southern Denmark in Odense, he developed, amongst other techniques, the first bioinformatic search algorithms for peptide fragmentation data and SILAC, a new method of quantitative proteomics and a breakthrough in the mapping of protein interactions. In 2005, Matthias Mann took up a director position at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Munich. Here his group continues to address a wide range of biological questions using proteomic technology, as well as to develop this technology. The group is also heavily involved in providing proteomic methods and tools to the community, including the MaxQuant suite of computational proteomics algorithms – 6 FEBS News October 2015
40th FEBS CONGRESS ROUND-UP software that promises to significantly advance the field. More recently his group used the SILAC technology in conjunction with MaxQuant to describe the first comprehensive identification and quantification of a proteome. In 2009 Matthias Mann was additionally appointed director of the proteomics department of the Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research in Copenhagen, where he focuses on applying proteomics to the clinic. Matthias Mann has more than 580 publications, with a total citation count of over 100,000 in ISI, making him one of the most highly cited researchers worldwide. Among his many distinctions, he has been elected to membership of EMBO, the Royal Danish Academy of Arts and Sciences and the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, and has received the Leibniz Prize from the German Research Foundation, the Ernst Schering Prize, the Louis-Jeantet Foundation Prize for Medicine and the Körber European Science Prize.
Congress plenary Lecture: Comprehensive proteomics and its application to signaling and clinical problems
The Theodor Bücher Lecture and Medal is endowed by a generous capital gift from Frau Ingrid Bücher to the Gesellschaft für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie (GBM) and is awarded for outstanding achievements in biochemistry and molecular biology or related sciences.
Susan Lindquist received her PhD in Biology from Harvard University, USA in 1976. She was an American Cancer Society Post-doctoral Fellow at University of Chicago before joining the faculty there in 1977 and becoming the Albert D. Lasker Professor of Medical Sciences in the Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology and an Investigator in the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. In 2001 she moved to the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research in Cambridge, MA, where she was the Director from 2001 to 2004. She is currently a member of the Whitehead, Professor of Biology at MIT and HHMI Investigator. Susan Lindquist works on protein folding in problems as diverse as evolution, malignancy, drug resistance and neurodegenerative disease. Her studies of protein folding have demonstrated that alternative protein conformations and aggregations can have profound and unexpected biological influences, providing insights in fields as wide-ranging as human disease, evolution and biomaterials. She is on the Board of Directors of Johnson & Johnson and co-founded two biotech companies: FoldRx, developing therapies for diseases of protein misfolding and amyloidosis; and Yumanity, identifying and developing therapies for neurodegenerative diseases caused by protein misfolding. She is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, the Institute of Medicine and the Royal Society. In 2010 she received the National Medal of Science.
Congress plenary lecture: Protein folding as a driving force in evolution from basic biology to human medicine
The Datta Lectureship Award is provided by generous capital gifts from Elsevier Science Publishers and is awarded for outstanding achievement in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology or a related area. S. Prakash Datta was the first Managing Editor of FEBS Letters (1968–1985) and Treasurer of FEBS (1964–1990). The Datta Medal is awarded in recognition of his many contributions.
FEBS|EMBO Women in Science Award 2015
The FEBS|EMBO Women in Science Award, a joint initiative of FEBS and EMBO, recognizes the exceptional achievements of a female researcher in the life sciences. The 2015 award was presented at the the FEBS Congress 2015 in Berlin to Caroline Dean (John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK ).
Caroline Dean studied biology at the University of York, UK where she also obtained her PhD on ‘Chloroplast Development in Wheat’ in 1982. From 1983 to 1988, she worked as a research scientist for Advanced Genetic Sciences Inc. in Oakland, CA, USA. Subsequently she became Project Leader at the Department of Cell & Developmental Biology at the John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK, where she is still working. Her group has focused on studying the molecular basis of the timing of flowering, work that has developed into an in-depth dissection of epigenetic and transcriptional pathways that regulate the expression of the genes and proteins required for this essential part of the life cycle of higher plants. She was Associate Research Director of the John Innes Centre from 1999 to 2009. Her contributions have been recognized by election to EMBO, the Royal Society, the US National Academy of Sciences, and the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. She is the recipient of the Genetics Society Medal (2002), the Order of the British Empire (2004), and the BBSRC Excellence in Bioscience Award (2014).
Congress plenary lecture: Epigenetic switching in seasonal timing
The FEBS|EMBO Women in Science Award rewards the exceptional achievements of a female researcher in the life sciences over the previous five years. Winners of the award are role models who inspire future generations of women in science. The award is a statuette and a sum of €10,000. 7 FEBS News October 2015
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FEBS Anniversary Prizes (Berlin, 2015) The awardees of the FEBS Anniversary Prizes of the Gesellschaft für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie (GBM) are selected for their outstanding achievements in biochemistry, molecular biology or related areas from among researchers under the age of 40 who are invited to give a lecture at a FEBS Congress. The recipients from the FEBS Congress 2015 were Katie Doores (King’s College, London, UK) and Maya Schuldiner (Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel).
Katie Doores did her PhD in the Department of Organic Chemistry at the University of Oxford, UK, and carried our post-doctoral work at The Scripps Research Institute, CA, USA. In June 2013, Katie was awarded an MRC Career Development Award and moved to King’s College London to start her own research laboratory. Her lab is interested in studying the roles of carbohydrates in host–pathogen interactions with the aim of applying these studies to the development of carbohydrate-based vaccines and therapeutics. She is interested in studying how the host immune system recognizes and responds to carbohydrate antigens on pathogens, including viral envelope glycoproteins and bacteria, particularly in the form of antibody recognition. Currently her research is focused on studying the immune response to carbohydrate antigens on HIV-1. At the FEBS Congress in Berlin, Dr Doores presented recent data characterizing the HIV-1 glycan shield and examining its potential as a target for HIV-1 vaccine design.
Maya Schuldiner conducted her PhD in genetics at the Hebrew University, Israel. After post- doctoral research at the University of California in San Francisco, USA, she joined the faculty of the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel in 2008. Research in the Schuldiner lab focuses on understanding the function, structure and maintenance of organelles by uncovering novel functions for yeast organelle proteins. The lab specializes in a wide variety of high- throughput screening techniques and focuses on two main biological questions: ‘How do organelle proteins reach their correct sub cellular localization?’ and ‘How do organelles coordinate their cellular functions?’ In recent years the Schuldiner lab has discovered two new pathways to target proteins to the secretory pathways (the GET and the SND pathway), a variety of quality-control mechanisms to ensure targeting accuracy and specificity (e.g. prERAD and ERAD-R), and new contact sites between mitochondria and vacuoles (the yeast lysosomes), between inclusion bodies and lipid droplets, and between peroxisomes, the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria. At the FEBS Congress in Berlin, Dr Schuldiner discussed recent work on how organelles regulate the extent of contact sites between them.
FEBS Special Sessions at the 40th FEBS Congress The FEBS Education workshop on ‘Research in students in research at the University of Szeged. Undergraduate Education’, held at the Congress The audience was then interested to hear ‘The on 7th July, was attended by about 90 participants, student perspective on research in undergraduate including interested faculty members as well as education’ from Estefanía Muciño Castillo (Paris, young scientists. The workshop comprised three France), a PhD student from Université Pierre et talks and a panel discussion, and was co-chaired by Marie Curie, Sorbonne Universities Paris IV. Her Tomáš Zima (Prague, Czech Republic) and Gül enthusing talk gave a general idea of how students Güner Akdoğan (Izmir, Turkey). think about their life science undergraduate In the first talk, ‘Bridging the gap between class education, based on a specific ten-question survey. practicals and research projects’, Frank Michelangeli Following the talks, a structured Panel Discussion (Birmingham, UK) gave excellent examples of how addressed a range of issues, including distinguishing class practicals could be tailored to involve mini research experiences (undergraduate research research projects implemented in the curriculum. experience and course-based undergraduate This was followed by insights from László Dux research experience), criteria for selecting students, (Szeged, Hungary) in his talk ‘Setting research ‘curriculum’ structure, mentoring and assessment. projects that involve undergraduate students’, which In addition to the workshop, a lively Congress described different ways of involving undergraduate Poster Session on education and training was
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40th FEBS CONGRESS ROUND-UP held, with 13 posters presenting innovative practices writing and integrating feedback for undergraduate in this field from different countries. A jury was biomedical students through mimicking the assigned to select the winner of the FEBS 2015 professional journal article review process’. We Berlin Congress Poster Award on ‘Molecular Life thank all those who participated and hope to see Science Education’, which involves a free more posters on education and training at next registration to the next FEBS Congress, in Turkey. year’s FEBS Congress. The award went to Julian Tanner from the University of Hong Kong, People’s Republic of Gül GünerAkdoğan China, for his poster on ‘Developing scientific Chair, FEBS Education Committee
Women in Science activities at the FEBS Congress began with the presentation of the FEBS|EMBO Women in Science Award 2015 to Caroline Dean (John Innes Centre, Norwich, UK), who is also featured on page 7. The laudation was delivered by Isabel Bäurle, who had been a postdoc in Caroline Dean’s group and now has her own laboratory at the University of Potsdam, Germany. Isabel mentioned not only Caroline’s amazing scientific career but also stressed the important role of Caroline as a mentor for women in science. Caroline then gave a fascinating plenary lecture to the Congress audience on ‘Epigenetic switching in Presentation of the FEBS|EMBO Women in Science seasonal timing’, which focused on a mechanistic Award 2015 to Caroline Dean (centre). understanding of vernalization, the acceleration of (from left) Cecilia Arraiano (FEBS), Gerlind Wallon (EMBO), flowering by prolonged cold. After the lecture, C. Dean, Isabel Bäurle (laudator) and Irmgard Sinning (GBM). around 50 junior and senior female scientists were able to get together to discuss career-related issues been dealing with women. The last two speakers over a special lunch at the Congress venue. gave presentations about opportunities for The Congress also included a Women in Science advancing women in science provided by the Symposium, which covered different focused L´Oréal-UNESCO Foundation for Women in topics. Lidia Borrell-Damián from the European Science (Annie Black) and by the Elsevier University Association presented a very interesting Foundation New Scholars program (Helen perspective on gender issues in European Habernickel). There was an active discussion after universities, showing updated statistics on the theme, the talks, in which men and women in the audience and Flavia Zucco, representing the European actively intervened. Platform of Women Scientists, gave a valuable Cecília M. Arraiano personal account of how the European agencies have Chair, FEBS Working Group on Women in Science
Attending a FEBS Congress with a baby is possible! (from left) Wenke Seifert (Germany), baby Leonard and FEBS Secretary General Israel Pecht; Pieta Mattila (Finland), with partner Jens Kraushaar and baby Nuppu; partner support while Mum is attending talks. 9 FEBS News October 2015
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The Science and Society session at the Congress mechanisms of evolution; and then Gillian Bentley on 7th July – on ‘Evolutionary Medicine’, (Durham, UK) presented practical consequences of subtitled, ‘Why do we get sick?’ – also contributed the new concept for the understanding and to the diversity of the Congress program and prevention of, for example, cardiovascular diseases, offered the intellectually curious the chance to gain obesity and diabetes in her talk ‘Practical a fresh perspective on the nature of disease. applications of evolutionary medicine’. After the Evolutionary medicine considers factors such as talks, a number of interested participants engaged in evolutionary constraints, adaptation trade-offs, and a lively discussion with the speakers, the Chairs conflicts between the evolution of humans as (Detlev Ganten, GBM; Jacques-Henry Weil, FEBS), hunter–gatherers and modern lifestyles in and the discussants Bernard Swynghedauw (Paris, explanations of the vulnerability of humans to France) and Frank Rüli (Zürich, Switzerland). various diseases. The plenary session attracted a A major conclusion of the presentations and the large audience of junior and senior scientists. discussion was that evolutionary medicine provides The session began with the talk ‘From Darwin’s a new and comprehensive basis for a holistic concept theory of evolution to molecular evolutionary of health and disease – by giving due consideration medicine’ from Detlev Ganten (Berlin, Germany), to evolutionary origins and possibly old functions in who introduced concepts and examples of our understanding of human biology. In particular, evolutionary medicine with reference to the the interaction of our old evolutionary biology with development of our organ systems, such as the our new environment in urbanized societies helps musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and nervous to explain the diseases of civilization and will then systems. The following lecture, ‘Evolution, the help to improve the perspectives for preventive tinkerer, is the basis of all of biology and medicine – medicine and for public health. that’s why we get sick and are not perfect’ by Axel Detlev Ganten, GBM Meyer (Konstanz, Germany) explained the basic Jacques-Henry Weil, Chair, FEBS Science &Society Committee
The FEBS stand, Berlin 2015 – providing information on FEBS journals and FEBS activities, 1:1 CV sessions for YSF participants, and opportunities to put queries to senior scientists overseeing FEBS work such as FEBS Fellowships.
The FEBS Congress Survey
Many thanks to all delegates who completed the Berlin Congress feedback questionnaire. The winner in the draw for the survey prize was Arend Vogt, a PhD student at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin who works on biochemical and electrophysiological characterization of microbial rhodopsins. He has selected a free registration to next year’s FEBS Congress, in Turkey.
All feedback from delegates has been evaluated carefully and fed into discussions and plans for future events. In Berlin, the scientific program was widely applauded, but we have identified refreshments and networking/social activities for younger scientists as a couple of areas to improve. In this respect, we are pleased to report that the registration fee at the 41st FEBS Congress (see page 22) includes lunch boxes and a beach party! The 2016 Congress also sees the launch of a new FEBS Congress platform, www.febs2016.org, designed to provide easier FEBS support each year to the local host society for the Congress. 10 FEBS News October 2015
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Photo by Clemens Langner The FEBS Young Scientists’ Forum 2015 (15th YSF) This year’s FEBS Young Scientists’ Forum (YSF) Biochemical Society (UK). The local committee was took place from 2nd to 4th July in Berlin as a also successful in raising extra donations that helped satellite to the 40th FEBS Congress. The meeting pay for social activities, including an evening party was held at the MDC.C – Max Delbrück at Mauersegler and a picnic at Tempelhof field. Communications Center, part of the Research- The YSF followed the recent format of a mixture Campus Berlin-Buch, a modern science, health and of oral and poster presentations by the participants, biotechnology park in North-East Berlin. including the challenging one-minute talks by all The local organizing committee was chaired by poster presenters – this running smoothly and to Karine Santos ably supported by Janine Lützkendorf, time! The quality of all presentations was of a very Claudia Gras, Olga Herdt, Jan Wollenhaupt, Fabian high standard and it was difficult for the committee Gerth and David Yadin. Unfortunately, due to (with a little adjudicating by me!) to decide on the illness, Prof. Claudina Rodrigues-Pousada, the chair prizes. Eventually Samsung tablets were awarded to of the Working Group on the Careers of Young Bahar Camurdanoglu (a PhD student from the Center Scientists, was unable to attend the meeting, for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna) although she had overseen all the preparations. for her talk on ‘Analyzing the interplay between Although Claudina was greatly missed at the YSF, MuSK dependent signaling and the cytoskeleton the hard work and enthusiasm of Karine and her during neuromuscular synapse formation’ and committee meant that the event ran without a hitch! Stefan Groetzinger (a PhD student jointly between There were 117 participants (chosen from 242 the Technical University of Munich and the King applications) representing 27 countries, and all Abdulla University of Science and Technology in either PhD students or postdocs within 5 years of Saudi Arabia) for his poster presentation on ‘The obtaining their PhDs. FEBS provided a grant for Red Sea brine pools as source for enzymes of organization of the YSF, and paid for accommodation scientific and biotechnological interest on the and most of the travel costs for the participants at example of a novel Mn2+dependent alcohol both the YSF and the subsequent FEBS Congress. dehydrogenase’, with book prizes sponsored by Two participants were sponsored by the Springer for two runners-up in each category. The 11 FEBS News October 2015
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YSF prizewinners. (left) Oral presentations: Bahar Camurdanoglu (see main text), Florent Delhommel (Institut Pasteur, Paris) and Michael Ratz (Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry, NanoBiophotonics, Göttingen). (right) Poster presentations: Stefan Groetzinger (see main text), Joaquim Torra (Institut Químic de Sarrià, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona) and Manuela Gellert (Ernst Moritz Arndt University Greifswald, Institute for Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (University Medicine), Greifswald). participants were also treated to excellent and As always, the YSF was thoroughly enjoyed by inspiring plenary lectures from Ana Pombo (MDC, everybody present, both on scientific and personal Berlin), Lori Passmore (LMB, Cambridge, UK, giving levels. On behalf of all the participants, I should like the EMBO Young Investigator Lecture), Hermona to thank Karine and her committee for the excellent Soreq (the Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel) work they did in organizing the YSF, and and David Rueda (Imperial College London, UK). particularly in guiding us all through the Berlin A careers advice session was started by Kai Simons public transport system, especially on the Saturday (Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and when S-Bahn trains were replaced by buses! Last, Genetics, Dresden, standing in for Jeff Schatz who but by no means least, Claudina deserves all our was also prevented from attending by illness*), who thanks for her unstinting efforts – we all wish her gave an entertaining and informative account of his well for a speedy recovery and a return to oversee scientific career. Alan Craig, Andrea Hutterer and I the YSF in Kusadasi in 2016. gave accounts of the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie Keith Elliott, actions, EMBO and FEBS fellowship programmes, FEBS Education Committee respectively. Daniela Ruffell (FEBS Letters) discussed *The bitter news of Jeff Schatz's passing on October 1st 2015 scientific manuscript writing and the intricacies of reached us while this issue of FEBS News was being finalized. the review process, and I talked about how to Jeff's outstanding contributions to the biochemical community produce a professional curriculum vitae. shall be addressed in the next issue.
FEBS Publications at the 40th FEBS Congress The editors of FEBS’ journals were pleased to organizing committee screened all submitted organize several activities particularly aimed at abstracts and a shortlist of posters each day were young researchers at this year’s FEBS Congress. appraised by a jury of FEBS journal editors and Prizes were awarded for the best posters, editors ran GBM-selected group leaders. The judges were one-to-one sessions with young researchers to looking for high-quality unpublished research discuss their work and how to get it published, and presented in a clear and appealing manner, and they Naïma Zemirli, joint winner of The FEBS Journal also spoke to each of the poster presenters about Prize, gave a plenary lecture. their work. The winners each day were announced Posters of the Day prizes for outstanding at the FEBS stand in the exhibition area, with these scientific posters were awarded by the four FEBS posters remaining on display for the rest of the journals at each poster session. The Congress Congress. 12 FEBS News October 2015
40th FEBS CONGRESS ROUND-UP
Overall winners of the FEBS Publications Poster proved popular. Conference attendees, mostly Prizes, selected from the Posters of the Day awards, students and postdocs, had the chance to discuss were each presented with a prize of €200 at the their work in a relaxed and informal environment Closing Session of the Congress. Congratulations to with Daniela Ruffell, Editorial Manager of FEBS Kerstin Kanonenberg for her poster ‘Functional Letters, José Moreira, Managing Editor of Molecular reconstitution of a type I secretion system into Oncology and Mary Purton, Executive Editor of nanodiscs’ which received The FEBS Journal poster FEBS Open Bio. People came, abstract in hand, to prize. The FEBS Letters prize was awarded to discuss the science, or to probe the suitability of Markus Bohnsack for his poster ‘Sequestering and their study for publication in the journals. Some protein cofactor competition regulate a sought advice on how to organize their manuscript, multifunctional RNA helicase in different or to enquire about the publication process. One pathways’. Elmar Wolf received the Molecular person asked about career opportunities. In all Oncology prize for his poster ‘Activation and cases, the editors enjoyed the friendly chats and the repression by oncogenic Myc shape tumor-specific chance to have a more personal contact with their gene expression profiles’ and the FEBS Open Bio potential authors. It was a unique opportunity to prize was awarded jointly to Vanessa Braga and break the barrier of the impersonal computer screen Antonio Casalinho for their poster ‘Structural and perpetually standing between authors and the Editor. physicochemical studies of the fusion mechanisms At a well-attended plenary session, Naïma Zemirli and assembly of Hepatitis C virus’. (INSERM, Orsay, France) gave The FEBS Journal Three of the FEBS journals organized speed Prize Lecture. This excellent lecture was based on the review sessions at the FEBS Congress, which prizewinning paper published in The FEBS Journal,
(clockwise from top left) Poster of the Day winners on 6 July: Kerstin Kanonenberg (also overall FEBS J. winner); Paola De Magistris; Boris Khalfin; and Vanessa Braga and Antonio Casalinho (also overall FEBS Open Bio winners). Markus Bohnsack, Poster of the Day winner on 8 July (also overall FEBS Lett. winner); Naïma Zemirli receiving The FEBS Journal Prize from Seamus Martin. 13 FEBS News October 2015
FEBS FELLOWSHIPS
Mitochondrial hyperfusion promotes NF-κB Journal Richard Perham Prize. Richard Perham, who activation via the mitochondrial E3 ligase MULAN. sadly passed away in February 2015, was Editor-in- The research suggests that, in addition to the well- Chief of the journal from 1998 to 2013, and the known role of mitochondria in ATP generation and prize is named in recognition of his outstanding cell death control, these organelles participate in cell contributions to the journal and to FEBS. stress responses through the generation of NFκB The FEBS Journal Richard Perham Prize of €1000 is activation signals that most likely lead to the awarded annually to the first author of the best paper production of inflammatory cytokines as well as published in the journal, who is a graduate student other stress-response proteins. If you missed the or young postdoc (more information on the journal lecture, a podcast describing the work is available via website). The author of the best paper published in The FEBS Journal website. Naïma is joint first author 2015 will be invited to present his/her work and of the paper with Marie Pourcelot, and formally receive the prize at next year’s FEBS Congress, in accepted the prize from the Editor-in-Chief of The Turkey. We hope you will be there to congratulate FEBS Journal, Seamus Martin, on behalf of them both. the prizewinner, and to join in with the other The FEBS Journal prize for young scientists was activities being planned by the FEBS journal teams. first established in 2004 but, earlier this year, the FEBS Publications Committee decided that the Mary Purton (FEBS Open Bio), Daniela Ruffell (FEBS prize would be known, in future, as The FEBS Letters) and Vanessa Wilkinson (The FEBS Journal)
FEBS Fellowships news: FEBS Fellows attend Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting FEBS recently became an Academic Partner of FEBS nominated two of our Long-Term Fellows the Foundation organizing the Lindau Nobel to participate in the 4th Interdisciplinary Meeting Laureate meetings. These long-established annual with Nobel Laureates from the fields of Physics, gatherings at Lindau on the eastern side of Lake Physiology or Medicine, and Chemistry, from 28th Constance, Germany, bring together Nobel Laureates June to 3rd July 2015. They were both selected to join and talented undergraduates, PhD students and what the Lindau meeting describes as ‘the emerging young post-doctoral scientists to ‘foster the generation of leading scientists and researchers’, and exchange among scientists of different generations, their participation was funded by FEBS. Here they cultures, and disciplines’ (www.lindau-nobel.org). summarize their impressions of the event.
Katharina Vogel ‘The Lindau meeting was a fantastic experience. In the panel discussions I learned a lot about many different topics from physics to biology. The question and answer sessions were not only scientifically interesting– the laureates also shared personal experiences about how they overcame the challenges of their times. This was very motivating and inspiring. What I found very impressive was that many of them are now using their high profile to educate and influence the public and politics. I was also very touched by the work of the Nobel Laureates for Literature and Peace. This added an extra and important perspective to the meeting.’ Katharina Vogel was a FEBS Long-Term Fellow in the lab of Martin Turner at the Babraham Institute in Cambridge, UK, focusing on T-cell development.
Harold Mac Gillavry ‘Attending the 65th Lindau Nobel Laureate meeting was a unique and extraordinary experience. The program consisted of lectures from the Nobel Laureates, on topics ranging from the sub- atomic level to the expanding universe, as well as discussion sessions, master classes, and panel discussions. During the meeting and the diverse social events, there was ample opportunity to interact with the Nobel Laureates and other participants. Generally, the Laureates were very open about their personal experiences and their path to success. Importantly, also societal topics such as feeding the ever-growing population and global warming were discussed, and the Laureates set an important example of how to take responsibility in such social issues. I am very grateful to FEBS for allowing me to attend this fascinating meeting, and I hope FEBS will continue to support this important initiative.’ Harold MacGillavry is a FEBS Return-to-Europe Fellow in the lab of Casper Hoogenraad at the University of Utrecht, NL, focusing on the organization of single synapses.
14 FEBS News October 2015 FEBS EDUCATION
‘50 Years of FEBS’ Education Training Awards For its 50th anniversary year programmes/courses/modules in biochemistry, in 2014, FEBS invited molecular biology, and other biomolecular sciences applications for a FEBS in the awardee’s home-country institution and Education Training department. Award for the academic year Two awards were granted: to Ines Heiland 2014–2015 – a new initiative (Assoc. Prof. for Molecular Bioinformatics, Tromsø within the established goal of University, Norway) and Eva Margittai (Assoc. advancing undergraduate and Prof., Semmelweis University, Institute of Human postgraduate education in the molecular life Physiology and Clinical Experimental Research, sciences. The award was to support a short-term Budapest, Hungary). Here, they share some of the visit to a host institute in a different FEBS country, insights gained into the teaching of bioinformatics to help in the development of education and biotechnology, respectively.
Ines Heiland applications in otherwise experimental Master’s programs. The leader of CUBE, Thomas Rattei, has long- Visit to: University of Vienna, standing expertise in such bioinformatics education, Faculty of Life Science, Dept and in 2013 received the UNIVIE teaching award for his of Microbiological Ecology innovative teaching in computational biology. (5 weeks; Feb–Mar 2015) During my visit to Vienna I assisted in two whole- Study topic: week practical courses: bioinformatics for Integration of computational metagenomics and metatranscriptomics, and biology in biochemistry and bioinformatics for functional genomics and next- molecular biology education generation sequencing. In addition, I was partially involved in teaching current topics in systems biology, Due to decreasing costs, sequencing of DNA and RNA and assisted in a practical course unit in modelling of are now integral parts of biological and biochemical ecological systems. research projects, leading to massive generation of A major challenge for bioinformatics courses is that, sequencing data – and the situation that sequence due to the rapid changes in sequencing techniques and analysis rather than sequence generation is the the corresponding need to constantly adapt bottleneck of research nowadays. The current amount bioinformatics tools, just a very limited number of of data is largely exceeding the bioinformatics capacity bioinformatics tools have a graphical user interface. of research facilities, and the number of students Thus one of the major tasks in the practical courses is to educated in bioinformatics or computational biology is make students who have never worked with command still far below the demand. But, due to the improved line tools familiar with these and the Linux bioinformatics tools available, a full bioinformatics environment, as most bioinformatics tools are training is not required to be able to perform developed in this context. standardized sequence analysis. In the theoretical part of the courses, the focus is on At the Arctic University of Norway in Tromsø we the comparison of different techniques, especially therefore aim to enable experimental biochemists and regarding advantages and limitations. This enables biologists to perform standard sequence analysis, such students later on to better plan experimental as transcriptomics analysis in model organisms, approaches for sequence analysis. The courses themselves. A purely theoretical training is usually not extensively use an e-learning platform to present very appealing to students in experimental biology or training material and provide literature. This is biochemistry, so we plan to integrate bioinformatics necessary, as due to the rapid development in education into practical courses, thus enabling students bioinformatics, no comprehensive teaching books exist. to understand the whole pipeline from RNA/DNA Thus, the course material largely consists of original preparation to sequence analysis. publications. The use of original publications not only As expertise in bioinformatics training is limited at my requires the students to learn to understand the faculty, I visited the Computational Systems Biology Unit terminology used in bioinformatics but also to do their (CUBE) at the University of Vienna, Austria to get to own literature searches to fully comprehend the topic. know the approaches used there to teach bioinformatics The practical part of all courses is divided into two 15 FEBS News October 2015
FEBS EDUCATION parts. In the first part simplified data sets are provided perform sequencing experiments followed by to introduce tools and pipelines as well as make the bioinformatic analysis. This integrative training students familiar with the command line system. In the approach will enable students to understand second part real data are analysed and specific emphasis sequencing approaches from the experimental design is given to critical data evaluation and interpretation. to the final sequence analysis, at least for standard Assisting in these courses gave me the chance to gain approaches. In the Applied Genomics course, a whole insights from the many years of experience in teaching week is dedicated for bioinformatics and so I will largely bioinformatics in biology Master’s education at CUBE, follow the setup used in Vienna for the practical and made me aware of the major problems and bioinformatics courses. In the biotechnology course the challenges of teaching bioinformatics to students more limited time will allow teaching of basic concepts trained in experimental biology and biochemistry. and analysis of simplified datasets. I will also be aiming Currently, I am using this knowledge to design new BSc to more strongly integrate sequence data into a and MSc courses that integrate bioinformatics into modelling course I teach. experimental courses. In autumn 2015 we will offer two Taken together, I gained a lot of experience regarding largely modified courses in Biotechnology for BSc possible approaches for bioinformatics teaching in students (Bio-2009) and Applied Genomics (Bio- experimental training programs that will help us to 3010/8011) for MSc and PhD students. In these courses improve bioinformatics education for biologists and we will use different experimental approaches to biochemists at the Arctic University of Norway.
Eva Margittai biomaterials and cosmetics, whereas the ‘medical biotechnology’ course is closely related to the Visit to: University of Siena, improvement of healthcare services, including Department of Molecular development of medicines and diagnostic tools but also and Developmental cell and tissue engineering. The latter course is focused Medicine (1 month; May– on practical training of the students and therefore it Jun 2015) mainly comprises laboratory work – for which the Study topic: appropriate environment is ensured by the many Biotechnology tuition successful research laboratories located in the University. The low number of accepted students and The main aim of my visit to the official English language of the course encourage the University of Siena, Italy the enrolment of students interested in the practical was to collect experiences in the field of biotechnology benefits from the course. education, since in Hungary the tuition of this subject During my stay, I attended several classes held by has started only recently and needs further the University of Siena, and took part in the teaching of development – especially regarding the teaching of a credit-based ‘Experimental pathology’ course for MSc medical biotechnology. My home institution at students, delivering nine seminars in English. The Semmelweis University, Budapest, is planning to initiate rapport developed with the students gave me the biotechnology courses in the near future, so it is opportunity to discuss with them the details of their extremely important to improve our knowledge and training and their future aims, and to assess their become familiar with biotech training at leading satisfaction and suggestions about the course. I further institutions in Europe. studied the training provided through research work, Biotechnology is an important industrial sector at and collected experiences from its execution, with the present and future growth is expected. Siena University aim of applying these at my home institution. Studying traditionally enjoys a very close connection with of educational materials (textbooks, university notes, biotechnology, and the biotechnology courses offered e-learning materials, handouts) used in the teaching of by the University are highly regarded in Italy. This is biotechnology, and several discussions with different partly due to the biotech companies located in or near tutors of the program, helped me towards an the town, which mainly secure their employees from understanding of the optimal set-up for the tuition of the graduates. The University offers BSc, MSc and also biotechnology. PhD courses in biotechnology. After the 3-year BSc To obtain a broad view on the whole didactic course, biotechnology is divided into two different MSc structure during this period is nearly impossible, but the trainings. The ‘pharmaceutical biotechnology’ training experiences gained definitely bring us closer to a good concentrates on the design, optimization and and efficient education of the subject at my home production of drugs, vaccines, diagnostic tools, institution.
16 FEBS News October 2015 FEBS ADVANCED COURSES
FEBS Advanced Courses 2016 You can now explore the list of FEBS Advanced It is the experience, connections, efforts and Courses to be held in 2016 – see pages 20–21! imagination of course organizers that converts These lecture courses, workshops and practical FEBS’ financial support and guidelines into courses on established and emerging topics in the valuable and enjoyable events. Here we celebrate molecular life sciences offer focused research the role of the course organizer and also give some updates, training and networking in a relaxed setting insight into course content and formats through and are particularly useful for PhD students and questions put to Bernd Helms, John Strouboulis postdocs. A limited number of FEBS Youth Travel and Ivana Kutá Smatanová – experienced Fund grants are available for each course to assist organizers running different types of FEBS courses participation. in 2016.
Bernd Helms: Advanced Lecture Course Organizer for ‘Lipid–protein interactions and organelle function’ Spetses, Greece; September 1–8, 2016
Bernd Helms (pictured on the right of the photo at a recent course, with co-organizer Karel Wirtz) is at the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands, where he studies intracellular lipid and membrane dynamics of mammalian cells. His research is aided by the application of lipidomic techniques to investigate the function of lipids in lipid droplet dynamics in hepatic stellate cells and in amyloid formation in the process of autophagy. Both topics are highly relevant to reveal the molecular mechanisms in the pathogenesis of veterinary and human diseases.
Why is your FEBS course needed? these species are, with the exception What are you most looking forward to Lipids are one of the four major classes of only a few lipid species, unknown. in your FEBS course? of molecules in a living organism but Definitely the interplay between we know the least about them. It is What do you expect to be some of the frontiers in science and young important to catch up and to interest a hot topics next year? researchers. I really look forward to whole new generation of researchers I expect that with the development of the presentations but even more to in lipid-related research. Some very novel lipidomics techniques and the the very informal atmosphere, exciting novel techniques are being fact that these are becoming readily making both speakers and developed that make it possible to available to many researchers, we will participants very approachable. The perform in-depth research on lipids. see a surge in lipid-related research in informal atmosphere also makes the This is a large and largely unexplored many research areas. Hot topics will be course less competitive. It is not only area of research, full of opportunities too many to name but for sure the role about who has the newest and most for young scientists. of lipids in metabolic syndrome will be exciting results (although important). explored, as well as the identification Even more important is the realization How has research in this area evolved over recent years? “a speaker in swimming shorts turns out to be a very normal person…” These are very exciting times for lipid research. In the 60s and 70s, the focus of the role of individual lipid species in that the older generation (speakers) was on metabolism of lipids and their physiological processes. Last but not are handing over their expertise and function in biological membranes and least, a promising area is the knowledge to the future generation energy supply. In the 80s till just about development of bioinformatics tools by combining elements of teaching the millennium, the focus was on the to identify fingerprints/biomarkers of and the latest results in their role of lipids in cellular signalling. In the combinations of lipid species for lectures. past decade or so, lipidomic techniques biological processes in health and are being developed and have already disease. Further down the road we will What makes a successful course in revealed a staggering number of then see the integration of datasets your eyes? individual lipid species (current from various -omics techniques, There is only one hallmark: when the estimates suggest more than 180,000 getting close to systems biology: a students and postdocs become species). The biological functions of global view on a single cell… excited during the course (and this is
17 FEBS News October 2015
FEBS ADVANCED COURSES easily noticeable), then the course This issue is really at the heart of our discussions on the beach (a speaker in was successful. In the last two courses course. We have implemented swimming shorts turns out to be a (2012 and 2014) 90% of the students seven(!) different ways during the very normal person…) and very gave our course an ‘excellent’ score, so course to stimulate the interaction informal dinners in local restaurants we are getting close… between early-career scientists and with limited students per speaker the experts. This ranges from (some alcohol sometimes helps…). All How will you be encouraging traditional poster sessions to very the students (without exception) are interaction between early-career unique possibilities that are offered really enthusiastic about this so we scientists and the experts? by the setting of this island such as keep this at the core of our course.
John Strouboulis: Workshop Organizer for ‘Chromatin proteomics’ Heraklion, Crete, Greece; October 3–8, 2016
John Strouboulis is a Research Professor at the Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology of the Foundation of Research & Technology Hellas in Heraklion on the island of Crete in Greece. John and his group are working on the characterization of transcription factor function in hematopoiesis, with a particular interest on the master transcription factor GATA1, using proteomic, genomic and functional approaches.
What motivated you to organize a scientists, such as in-depth technical How important is course location? FEBS course? Meet-the-Expert sessions. In addition to the main theme of the The main topic of the course is very course and the names of the invited appropriate for the areas covered by How do you decide on the scope of speakers, course location is very FEBS and its Constituent Societies. In your course? important as it also serves as a ‘crowd addition, I have dealt with FEBS in the This is discussed between members of puller’. In my experience, the course past in organizing a course and found the organizing committee who are location has to offer excellent it to be a very rewarding experience. experts in the area of chromatin conference facilities in a relaxing Lastly, FEBS has been instrumental in proteomics. We are always looking out atmosphere preferably in a beautiful promoting a course we organized for emerging concepts and approaches natural setting and must be reasonably previously and in ensuring its success. and new players who are making an easy to get to. impact on the field. Why is your FEBS course needed? How will you be encouraging Chromatin, i.e. nucleosomes and DNA, What stand-out events have you interaction between early-career serves as the template for DNA-based attended during your research career scientists and the experts? functions and as a substrate for and how did they help you? We have incorporated several schemes multiple enzymatic activities and I distinctly remember a meeting on in our course with this specific goal: structural protein complexes that we DNA and Chromosomes at Cold Spring there will be several short talks by are only just beginning to understand. Harbor Laboratory in 1993 when I was junior scientists, informal Meet-the- Advances in mass spectrometry, in a grad student, which was an eye Expert sessions to discuss technical quantitative proteomics and in opener to me to the fantastic world of aspects of their work, bookable one-to- complementary technologies such as chromatin structure and function with one private meetings with experts, imaging, genomics and bioinformatics a star-studded roster of invited poster sessions, and also a couple of are key to elucidating chromatin speakers at the time. This meeting career orientation talks. structure and functions and these are prompted me to join a leading lab in constantly evolving. Thus, the course chromatin research in the US for a How important is the international participation in the course? “We are always looking out for emerging concepts and approaches and International participation is extremely new players who are making an impact on the field.” important as it strongly encourages interactions between participants, is needed as a forum for an up-to-date postdoc (where I coincided with Axel both social and scientific, and in overview of progress on characterizing Imhof, the co-organizer of this course) addition offers different perspectives the chromatin proteome by combining and also to write an extensive section in carrying out research. Diffusion presentations by leading experts with on chromatin structure in my PhD between different cultural lots of opportunities for interactions thesis, which proved a very useful backgrounds is also an important between junior researchers and expert reference for many years to come. aspect to the course’s success.
18 FEBS News October 2015 FEBS ADVANCED COURSES
Ivana Kutá Smatanová: Practical Course Organizer for ‘Advanced methods in macromolecular crystallization VII’ Nove Hrady, Czech Republic; June 27 – July 2, 2016
Ivana Kutá Smatanová (pictured on the left of the photo at a recent course, with co-organizer Pavlina Řezáčová) is a research scientist and teacher at the Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Faculty of Science University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice (Czech Republic). She is a head of the Laboratory of Structural Chemistry with a current focus on structural studies of membrane and soluble biological macromolecular complexes using X-ray diffraction methods. Such structural studies are central to understanding the detailed mechanisms of biological processes and to discovery of novel therapeutics.
Why is your FEBS course needed? How important is course location? How can participants get the most out During my PhD study I was an absolute The place is one of the important of a focused course? beginner in protein crystallography points. Although the small town Nove I would say to them: don’t be shy, and and everything that I needed to know I Hrady is little bit far away from ask speakers about all you need to could learn only from books. When I international airports, a great benefit know. All of the speakers are great started to work at the University of is that all facilities such as two lecture people and real experts and they can South Bohemia I kept in my mind the halls, poster hall, laboratories, ‘blue help them a lot. idea to help new students with stateroom’ and newly rebuilt practical crystallization. In the apartments for participants’ How will you be encouraging European area, our course now has a accommodation are located in one interaction between early-career long tradition and attracts many place. scientists and the experts? applicants, and it complements a more During our courses, participants can theoretical Spanish International What is the thinking behind the meet and speak with our lecturers all School of Biological Crystallization. hands-on elements of the course? the time– for example, the lab Students may get the most from new exercises are led by our speakers and What do you expect to be some of the knowledge of techniques by practising they can discuss their problems with hot topics next year? directly what they have learned, and them directly. We also have posters, Emerging areas span crystallization this is the conception of our course. student presentations, and evening methods (e.g. SONICC, FRAP), crystal discussions, and there is a bar in the measurements (e.g. XFEL, BioXFEL) and “...don’t be shy, and ask speakers building for continued informal also targets (e.g. membrane proteins, about all you need to know.” exchange. big macromolecular complexes). After morning lectures, students spend What are you most looking forward to the afternoons in the labs on practical And between peers from different in your FEBS course? exercises focused on 10–12 different backgrounds? To meet colleagues – great experts topics, applying freshly obtained Participants are together almost the from the field, who help to make the knowledge and using all crystallization whole day so there is a lot of time for FEBS program very attractive; to select methods to grow crystals of their own discussions! We also organize social enthusiastic students interested in proteins. The atmosphere in the lab is activities during the evenings (posters protein crystallography; to help relaxed and, under the guidance of our with chocolate fountain, dancing, students crystallize their own proteins; teachers, students are very often welcome and farewell party) that and for an unforgettable FEBS course successful and this moves them make the course atmosphere more atmosphere. forward in their research. informal.
Call for Applications to Organize 2017 FEBS Advanced Courses
The FEBS Advanced Courses Committee warmly invites applications to organize future FEBS lecture courses, workshops and practical courses from scientists who have a proven track record in the topic of their course and a commitment to sharing knowledge of their field. Full guidelines about planning courses and submitting an application can be found in the Advanced Courses section of the FEBS website. In case of questions, please contact [email protected].
The next deadline for funding applications – for events to run in 2017 – is 1 March 2016.
Beáta G. Vértessy, Chair, FEBS Advanced Courses Committee
19 FEBS News October 2015
FEBS ADVANCED COURSES
FEBS ADVANCED LECTURE COURSES FEBS WORKSHOPS
Current advances in pathogen research Biointeractomics: from bimolecular interactions to Yerevan, Armenia; March 21–26, 2016; www.febs.yba.am networks Disease caused by infectious agents imposes a major burden Seville, Spain; May 17–20, 2016; Website: TBA on human health and society, and understanding the Biointeractomics is a blend of biology, informatics and disparate mechanisms of such pathogenesis is a central goal engineering that exploits experimental and computational of many fields of biomedical research. This course provides approaches to analyze biomolecular interactions, their an overview of the wide-range of fundamental and networks and relationships with cell physiology. This translational research aimed at elucidating key principles of workshop provides an opportunity for young researchers to pathogenesis arising from microorganisms and at devising listen to leaders in a wide collection of cutting-edge novel techniques to manage it. disciplines, ranging from structural biology to systems Organizer: Hovakim Zakaryan biology. Active participation of attendees will be fostered by Application deadline: December 15, 2015 ‘Round Tables’ and ‘Discussion Sessions’, to provide an effective forum for the exchange of knowledge and ideas. Molecular basis of human diseases: 50 years Organizer: Antonio J. Díaz-Quintana; [email protected] anniversary of Spetses summer schools Application deadlines: YTFs, 1 February 2016; Registration, Spetses, Greece; May 27 – June 1, 2016; bit.ly/Spetses50 28 February 2016 This is an anniversary course of the 'Spetses summer schools', supported also by IUBMB. The scientific program Coenzyme A and its derivatives in health and disease covers a wide range of issues including lectures on Marseille, France; August 23–27, 2016; Website: TBA fundamental biological functions and their link to diseases Coenzyme A and its derivatives (Acetyl-CoA, Malonyl-CoA, as well as focused lectures on various diseases. The program HMG-CoA etc) are critical components of cellular includes lectures, posters and various training sessions that metabolism, regulation of gene expression, and post- will enable young scientists to interact with renowned translational modifications of proteins. Abnormal international experts. Additionally, there will be 'tutorials' homeostasis of CoA/CoA derivatives has been linked to where young scientists can take advantage of the advice of numerous human pathologies, including neurodegeneration, senior scientists. Discussions will also be possible during cardiac hypertrophy and cancer. The FEBS workshop aims to leisure periods and, furthermore, programmed social events bring together researchers from different fields to discuss the will bring together young scientists and senior researchers in most recent advances on the role of CoA and its thioesters in a relaxed and friendly environment. health and diseases. We anticipate that this meeting will Organizer: Stathis Gonos appeal to basic researchers, clinicians, drug and diagnostics Application deadlines: Abstract submission, 29 February 2016; developers, and will encourage new collaborative Registration, 28 March 2016 interactions. Organizer: Ivan Gout; [email protected] Lipid–protein interactions and organelle function Application deadline: June 23, 2016 Spetses, Greece; September 1–8, 2016; Website: TBA In this advanced course we have brought together an Chromatin proteomics absolutely unique combination of frontiers in science Heraklion, Crete, Greece; October 3–8, 2016; focusing on the role of protein and lipid interactions in www.chromatinproteomics2016.org intracellular membrane trafficking and organelle function. This FEBS workshop will bring together leaders in the field to In addition, the lipid field is technically complex and recent foster scientific exchange on the chromatin proteome, the technological advances will also be addressed. Young dynamic behavior of proteins in the nucleus and the researchers will have ample opportunity to meet and to integration and visualization of protein and DNA networks. discuss basic and emerging topics with the lecturers as social Scientific sessions will include the proteomic analysis of interactions are an important aspect of the meeting. histone modifications and of defined chromosomal domains, Organizers: Bernd Helms, Felix Wieland and Karel Wirtz; functional proteomics, quantitative proteomics, emerging [email protected] technologies and bioinformatic analysis of large proteomic Application deadline: June 15, 2016 datasets. One-on-one 'Problem-solving sessions' and 'Meet- the-experts sessions' where specific technical issues can be Redox regulation of metabolic processes discussed in-depth are also part of the program. There will Spetses, Greece; September 19–25, 2016; Website: TBA also be talks on career development and funding This course will cover new developments in our opportunities. understanding of the role of reactive oxygen species in Organizers: John Strouboulis and Axel Imhof metabolism and in the regulation of pivotal metabolic Application deadline: August 21, 2016 processes. Topics include general principles of redox regulation, the interaction between reactive species, metabolic interact with international experts in the field of free radical processes and signalling cascades, and novel methods and research and redox regulation. approaches. Lectures, meet the expert sessions and oral Organizer: Lars-Oliver Klotz; [email protected] poster presentation sessions will allow young scientists to Application deadline: May 15, 2016 20 FEBS News October 2015 FEBS ADVANCED COURSES
FEBS PRACTICAL COURSES FEBS/EMBO LECTURE COURSES
State-of-the-art infection models for human Chromatin and the environment pathogenic fungi Spetses, Greece; August 8–14, 2016; Website: TBA Jena, Germany; February 14–27, 2016; Five intensive summer days of lectures, research talks, www.febs-infection-models.org/home.html tutorials and poster sessions, in a beautiful location. Our This course is designed to train graduate students, postdocs, Summer School is an excellent chance for grad students and and young independent investigators in state-of-the-art early postdocs to learn recent insights about how infection models to study human fungal pathogens. epigenetics affects metabolic disorders, cognitive function, Laboratory exercises include different infection models such and trans-generational inheritance. We aim to create the as cell culture, interaction with primary immune cells, perfect environment for productive discussion and alternative model hosts and murine models, and a wide collaboration, and offer exclusive networking opportunities – array of read-out methods, e.g. adhesion, invasion, damage including small dinner groups – with leaders in your field. and phagocytosis assays, immunological methods, Organizers: Andreas Ladurner and Luciano Di Croce; transcription analysis and in vivo imaging. Invited speakers [email protected] will provide further insight into fungal biology pathogenesis. Application deadline: March 15, 2016 Social evenings and joint meals provide ample opportunities for informal exchange with lecturers. The new microbiology Organizer: Ilse D. Jacobsen Spetses, Greece; August 24 – September 1, 2016; Application deadline: October 15, 2015 Website: TBA Spetses Summer courses are well known for covering various Advanced methods in macromolecular crystallization VII specialized topics within the general fields of molecular and Nove Hrady, Czech Republic; June 27 – July 2, 2016; cell biology and also microbiology. This latter field has Website: TBA witnessed a real renaissance in the last 20 years, and in this This is the seventh FEBS practical course on this topic particular FEBS/EMBO Lecture Course, we intend to cover organized since 2004 at the Academic and University Center different aspects of ‘The New Microbiology’, including new at Nove Hrady. The course (for undergraduate, postgraduate regulatory mechanisms, small signaling molecules/small students and postdocs with an interest in macromolecular RNAs, bacterial model systems in infection biology, crystallization) is rather different from other established symbiosis, and microbial communities/microbiotas or courses in protein crystallization: it emphasizes the benefits bacterial diversity – highlighting major themes in which of more rational approaches to macromolecular approaches from different disciplines are merging into an crystallization and is aimed at a healthy mixture of advanced exciting new field. discussions of the theory and laboratory experiments. To Organizers: Pascale Cossart, with Co-organizers Roberto achieve this goal, we have invited a number of prominent Kolter and Javier Pizarro-Cerda; [email protected] experts in the field as a teachers and tutors. Application deadline: March 15, 2016 Organizer: Ivana Kutá Smatanová, with Co-organizers Pavlina Řezáčová and Juan Manuel Garcia-Ruiz; [email protected] FEBS PRACTICAL AND LECTURE COURSE Application deadline: March 30, 2016 Ligand-binding theory and practice Microspectroscopy: functional imaging of biological Nove Hrady, Czech Republic; July 3–10, 2016; Website: TBA systems The course will provide basic training in the principles of Wageningen, The Netherlands; September 6–15, 2016; ligand-binding theory, and will offer participants a chance to www.microspectroscopy-course.eu analyse their own macromolecular interaction systems using The course will cover several microscopic and spectroscopic contemporary advanced methods (SPR, ITC, microscale techniques to study molecular processes in living cells such as: thermophoresis, UV-vis, fluorescence spectroscopies, gel (multiphoton) confocal microscopy, Förster resonance energy filtration), guided by lecturers and tutors who are experts in transfer (FRET) microscopy, fluorescence lifetime imaging the design, execution and analysis of these experiments. microscopy (FLIM), super-resolution microscopy, total Additional lecturers will present other contemporary internal reflection microscopy (TIRF), fluorescence correlation experimental ligand-binding methods (NMR, MS) and microscopy (FCS), and single-molecule detected fluorescence. current thinking on the phenomenon of allostery. Organizers: Jan Willem Borst and Jack Fransen, with Co- Organizers: Rüdiger Ettrich, Jannette Carey and Wei-Feng Xue; organizers Yvonne Stahl and Stefanie Weidtkamp-Peters Email: [email protected] Application deadline: June 1, 2016 Application deadline: April 1, 2016
OTHER EVENTS WITH FEBS YOUTH TRAVEL FUND SUPPORT Imaging the immune system; Rehovot, Israel; September 20–21, 2016; Website: TBA; Email: [email protected] From host genome to the microbiome: immunity in the genomic era Pseudoenzymes 2016: from signalling mechanisms to Rehovot, Israel; February 14–16, 2016; bit.ly/NGI2016 disease; Liverpool, UK; September 11–14, 2016; bit.ly/Pseudoenz2016 21 FEBS News October 2015
41st FEBS CONGRESS
The 41st FEBS Congress will be held in September 2016 in Ephesus / Kuşadası, Turkey – a destination that has been a centre of civilization for thousands of years – hosted by the Turkish Biochemical Society.
FIVE REASONS TO JOIN US THERE:
1. An outstanding scientific programme: of life. The core programme consists of Plenary ‘Molecular and Systems Biology for a Lectures that will be delivered by world-renowned Better Life’ scientists including a Nobel Laureate (see list on next page), and Symposia focusing on many different The International Scientific Committee for the aspects of biochemistry and molecular biology to be Congress has developed a wonderful scientific chaired by internationally distinguished scientists. programme under the main theme of ‘Molecular Most symposia details have been recently finalized, and Systems Biology for a Better Life’ – providing and these are presented on pages 25–26. scope not only to share knowledge on the structural In addition to the core programme, there will be a and operational intricacies of life, but also how this range of other attractive sessions exploring topical ever-expanding knowledge is being harnessed to issues organized by FEBS Education, Science and improve our welfare, and to achieve a better quality Society, and Women in Science Committees.
22 FEBS News October 2015 41st FEBS CONGRESS
2. A chance to be actively involved in the FEBS 2016 PLENARY LECTURES scientific discussion Elena Conti, Germany Bringing together senior and young scientists from Theodor Bücher Medal Lecture across the world, the 41st FEBS Congress offers ‘Molecular mechanisms of RNA degradation’ participants valuable exposure through opportunities to present research within the Congress programme. Alicia J. Kowaltowski, Brazil All potential participants of FEBS 2016 are invited PABMB Lecture to submit abstracts of their current studies, from ‘Diet, energy metabolism and mitochondria’ which some will be selected for oral presentation integrated into the related symposia. In addition, Seppo Meri, Finland ‘Speed Talk’ sessions will provide a quick oral ‘Self-nonself discrimination by the presentation opportunity for valuable work that complement system’ cannot be matched with symposia topics.
For those presenting their research in poster Roeland Nusse, USA format, there will be poster discussion sessions IUBMB Lecture timetabled each day within a large Poster Area, ‘Wnt signals as stem cell factors’ which will allow all posters to remain in place throughout the entire Congress. The Poster Area will be integrated with the Exhibition & Catering to Jacques Pouyssegur, France EMBO Lecture create a lively area within the Congress venue that is ‘Targeting pHi control and bioenergetics in the meeting point for participants during breaks rapidly growing hypoxic tumours’ between scientific sessions. All accepted abstracts will be published online in James Rothman, USA; Nobel Laureate the Congress special issue of The FEBS Journal, and Closing Lecture in the FEBS mobile app. The app will also ‘Synchronization of membrane fusion for effective neurotransmission in the brain’ maximize the interactive Congress experience of participants by presenting not only the abstracts but Kari Stefansson, Iceland also all necessary onsite information about the event. Sir Hans Krebs Medal Lecture ‘Genetics of common diseases’
3. Congress financial support schemes
FEBS will be funding the Congress attendance of Anthony P.F. Turner, Sweden Datta Medal Lecture PhD students and postdocs selected for the FEBS ‘Digital health – The biochemical interface’ Young Scientists’ Forum 2016 (see next point). In addition, the participation of early-career researchers in the Congress will be facilitated by Kamil Uğurbil, USA FEBS bursaries and Turkish Biochemical Society ‘Imaging brain function and connectivity with ultrahigh field magnetic resonance’ (TBS) bursaries. FEBS bursaries, for members of FEBS Constituent Societies who are submitting an abstract as first author and travelling to Turkey from other countries, will cover the early-bird 4. The FEBS Young Scientists’ Forum registration fee and make a contribution towards travel/accommodation costs. Further eligibility The 41st FEBS Congress will be preceded by the criteria and details about how to apply can be found 16th FEBS Young Scientists’ Forum (YSF), which on the Congress website. will take place from 31st August to 3rd September FEBS will also be funding a 50% reduction in 2016, also in Ephesus / Kuşadası. The event will early-bird registration fees for a limited number of provide an excellent opportunity for over 100 FEBS members submitting an abstract to the selected young scientists from across the FEBS area Congress as first author from Armenia, Bosnia & to present the results of their current scientific Herzegovina, Georgia and Ukraine. Full details of studies and get to know each other before moving this FEBS Congress Hinari B scheme are also on on to the larger Congress. Find out more about the the Congress website. FEBS YSF 2016 on page 27. 23 FEBS News October 2015
41st FEBS CONGRESS
5. A great opportunity to visit a unique destination
Due to the very close distance between Kuşadası and Ephesus, the Congress destination has been announced as ‘Ephesus / Kuşadası’. Kuşadası, located on the Aegean coast, is one of Turkey’s most important tourist destinations. It has been a centre of art, culture and history not only in Turkey but also of many civilizations since it was founded in 3000 BC. The ancient city of Ephesus was recently inscribed on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List, and is an outstanding example of a Roman port city with its sea channel and harbour basin. It is famed for the Temple of Artemis, which is one of the ‘Seven Wonders of the Ancient World’ and one of the seven churches of Asia that are cited in the Book of Revelation. As the Congress dates are at the beginning of September, participants will have the opportunity to enjoy the city, sea, sun and further natural and cultural aspects of Ephesus Ephesus and Kuşadası: (top) The Library of Celsus in Ephesus, originally built in the early 2nd century to hold 12,000 and Kuşadası. It is also the perfect destination scrolls and as a mausoleum for Celsus, a governor of Roman Asia; for a choice of pre-/post-Congress tour (bottom) Kuşadası’s Güvercin Ada ‘island’ with its Byzantine castle, options to discover the wider Anatolia region joined to the mainland by a causeway. of Turkey.
KEY DATES OF THE 41st FEBS CONGRESS
YSF: August 31 – September 03, 2016 Congress: September 03–08, 2016
Registration, Abstract submission and Accommodation booking are opening soon!
Young Scientists’ Forum (YSF) Application Closing March 11, 2016 Early Accommodation Closing April 15, 2016 Abstract Submission Closing May 01, 2016 Bursary Application Closing May 01, 2016
Early Registration Closing June 20, 2016 Regular Accommodation Closing June 20, 2016 Late/On-site Accommodation Opening June 21, 2016 Regular Registration Closing August 15, 2016 Late/On-site Registration Opening August 16, 2016
TO FIND OUT MORE:
The 41st FEBS Congress website: www.febs2016.org
Join us on the FEBS Congress Facebook page, follow FEBS on Twitter, or sign up to the FEBS e-newsletter for news from the 41st FEBS Congress and other FEBS updates.
Look out for 5 more reasons to attend the 41st FEBS Congress in the next issue of FEBS News.
24 FEBS News October 2015 41st FEBS CONGRESS
SYMPOSIA S.01.01.1. DNA replication and hormone induced transcription initiation dynamic structural ensembles • Ora recombination: Novel aspects at single gene loci Schueler-Furman (IL), The versatile roles of Chair: Christian Speck (UK) • Speakers: peptide-mediated interactions detected by Christian Speck (UK), Key mechanism in S.02.2.2. Proteins in action modeling and experiment • Burkhardt the loading and activation of the Chair: Ahmet Yıldız (US) • Speakers: Rost (DE), Sequence variants between replicative helicase MCM2-7 • Dana Ahmet Yıldız (US), The mechanism and healthy people have substantial effect Branzei (IT), Local regulation of regulation of cytoplasmic dynein • Teak jip Ha S.03.03.3. Structural biology: recombination at sites of perturbed (USA), Ultrahigh resolution single molecule replication • Anja Groth (DK), Chromatin fluorescence-force spectroscopy and Membrane complexes and replication and epigenome maintenance engineering of a superenzyme • Christoph supercomplexes F. Schmidt (DE), Non-equilibrium steady Chair: Carola Hunte (DE) • Speakers: S.01.02.2. RNA biology, biogenesis and state transitions in a model actin cortex Carola Hunte (DE), Shedding light on processing structure and mechanism of respiratory Chair: Sven Diederichs (DE) • Speakers: S.02.03.3. Autophagy: Regulation complexes central to energy metabolism • Sven Diederichs (DE), Long non-coding mechanisms Stefan Raunser (DE), Structural insights into RNAs – Messages from the dark matter of Chair: Sharon Tooze (UK) • Speakers: life and death of a bug • Jian‐Ren Shen the lung cancer genome • Anders H. Lund Sharon Tooze (UK), Molecular mechanisms (JP), Structural insights into the mechanisms (DK), Small non-coding RNA host genes in and trafficking during autophagosome of photosynthetic light energy conversion cancer • Maite Huarte Martinez (ES),Long formation • Anne Simonsen (NO), Lipid non-coding RNAs with functions in tumor binding proteins in autophagy • Ivan Dikic S.03.04.4. Single molecule techniques: suppressor and oncogenic pathways (DE), Ubiquitin-dependent and Applications in biology independent pathways regulating selective Chair: Gerhard Schütz (AT) • Speakers: S.01.03.3. MicroRNAs and noncoding autophagy • Devrim Gözüaçık (TR), Novel Gerhard Schütz (AT), The enigmatic role of RNAs ATG5 interactors in the control of basic lipids in membrane protein interactions • Chair: Gunter Meister (DE) • Speakers: autophagy and mitophagy Maria Garcia-Parajo (ES), Membrane Gunter Meister (DE), RNA binding receptor nanoclustering as functional unit proteins as modulators of coding and non- S.02.06.4. Human microbiome of immune cells: from nanoscopy to single coding RNA pathways • Peter Brodersen (microbiota) molecule dynamics • Ulrich Kubitscheck (DK), Mechanisms governing amplification Chair: Paul Wilmes (LU) • Speakers: Paul (DE), Lessons from observing single RNPs of short interfering RNAs by RNA Wilmes (LU), Systems biology of in living cells dependent RNA polymerase • Ayşe Elif Erson microbiomes • Peer Bork (DE), Microbiome Bensan (TR), Another front in the miRNA analysis of the human gut and the ocean • S.02.08.5. Plant biochemistry and research: Alternative polyadenylation Nathalie Delzenne (BE), Dietary modulation molecular biology of the gut microbiota: impact on host Chair: Anne Osbourn (UK) • Speakers: S.02.04.4. Mechanisms and regulation health and therapeutic perspectives Anne Osbourn (UK), Harnessing plant of protein translocation metabolic diversity • Asaph Aharoni (IL), Chair: Gunnar von Heijne (SE) • Speakers: S.02.07.5. Extracellular matrix and Solanum steroidal glycoalkaloids: From a Gunnar von Heijne (SE), Cotranslational metalloproteinases greasy start to the bitter end • Joe protein folding • Tassos Economou (BE), Chair: John Couchman (DK) • Speakers: Chappell (UK), Valeriana officinalis as a The non-native code of protein sorting and John Couchman (DK), Syndecan novel platform for plant natural product targeting in the secretory pathway • Roland proteoglycans: Gatekeepers of the cell drug discovery Beckmann (DE), Cryo-EM snapshots of adhesion phenotype • Clair Baldock (UK), functional ribosome-nascent chain Insights into extracellular regulation of S.04.01.1. Host–pathogen interactions complexes growth factor signalling from Chair: Dominique Soldati-Favre (CH) • nanostructural approaches • Birgit Speakers: Dominique Soldati-Favre (CH), S.02.05.5. Intracellular organization Leitinger (UK), Collagen sensing: How do The ins and outs of apicomplexan invasion Chair: Daniel Louvard (FR) • Speakers: discoidin domain receptors transmit a and egress from infected cell • Benhur Lee Daniel Louvard (FR), Microfilamanents signal across the membrane? (US), Hijacking of cellular pathways by the dynamics and role in cell morphogenesis Nipah virus matrix protein: Insights into and migration • Thomas Lecuit (FR), S.03.01.1. Systems biology paramyxovirus biology from the deadliest Mechanobiology in cell adhesion, Chair: Uri Alon (IL) • Speakers: Uri Alon virus you’ve never heard of • Felix cytokinesis and morphogenesis • (IL), Evolutionary tradeoffs and the Randow (UK), Autophagy in host–pathogen Elisabetta Dejana (IT), Signaling during geometry of phenotype space • Mustafa interaction angiogenesis and role of cellular junctions Hani Khammash (CH), Respect the noise: Exquisite interaction of cellular noise and S.04.02.2. Mechanisms of S.02.01.1. Nuclear architecture dynamics lead to novel biological function • proinflammatory diseases Chair: Peter Fraser (UK) • Speakers: Peter Nils Blüthgen (DE), Dissecting the complexity Chair: Yinon Ben-Neriah (IL) • Speakers: Fraser (UK), 3D genome organization and of cancer signalling using perturbation Yinon Ben-Neriah (IL), Parainflammation chromosome structure in control of gene data and mathematical models in human cancer • Fiona M. Watt (UK), expression • Bas van Steensel (NL), Regulation of stem cell fate in mammalian Architecture and dynamics of genome – S.03.02.2. Computational biology epidermis • Michael Karin (USA), nuclear lamina interactions • Kerstin Chair: Peter Tompa (HU) • Speakers: Peter Converting tumor promoting inflammation Bystricky (FR), Chromatin dynamics during Tompa (HU), Approaching IDP function by to immune mediated cancer ablation
25 FEBS News October 2015
41st FEBS CONGRESS
SYMPOSIA S.04.03.3. Biochemical mechanisms in S.08.02.4. Functional genomics and S.09.01.1. New optical methods for tolerance and autoimmunity proteomics studying neuronal structure and Chair: Yehuda Schoenfeld (IL) • Speakers: Chair: Pier Giorgio Righetti (IT) • Speakers: function Yehuda Schoenfeld (IL), Why we develop Pier Giorgio Righetti (IT),The monkey king Chair: Casper Hoogenraad (NL) • Speakers: autoimmunity • Andrea Doria (IT), New and pigsy ferrying the proteomic sutras in Casper Hoogenraad (NL), Monitoring and potential mechanisms in lupus the 3rd millenium: A chronicle • Juan J. manipulating intracellular transport in glomerulonephritis modulation• Jasna Calvete (ES), Next-generation venomics: living neurons • Thomas Misgeld (DE), Omersel (SI), The phosphorylcholine Understanding venoms to fight a neglected In vivo imaging of axon degeneration • molecule: the good, the better, the disease • Francesca Palladino (FR), Thomas A. Blanpied (USA), Single-molecule miraculous Epigenetic regulation of germline identity mapping of the transsynaptic architecture and genome stability in C. elegans that regulates neurotransmission S.04.04.4. Molecular mechanisms of inflammation S.06.02.5. Cardiac regeneration: S.09.02.2. Mechanisms of Chair: Alberto Mantovani (IT) • Speakers: Programming human heart cells neurodegenerative diseases Alberto Mantovani (IT), PTX3 as a Chair: Vincent M. Christoffels (NL) • Chair: Adriano Aguzzi (CH) • Speakers: mechanism of regulation of inflammation Speakers: Vincent M. Christoffels (NL), Adriano Aguzzi (CH), Biology of mammalian and cancer-related inflammation • Steffen Transcriptional programming of pacemaker prions • Magda Polymenidou (CH), Jung (IL), Monocytes and inflammation • cell differentiation• Milena Bellin (NL), Pathogenic mechanisms of TDP-43 Francesca Granucci (IT), Essential role of Isogenic human pluripotent stem cell pairs proteinopathies • Frank Bradke (DE), the NFAT signaling pathway in microbial- to study long-QT syndrome • Eldad Tzahor Transcriptome analysis identifies the induced inflammation (IL), Novel strategies for cardiac regeneration calcium channel subunit alpha2delta2 as a key regulator of axon regeneration S.08.02.5. Personalized medicine S.02.09.1. Developmental biology Chair: Christoph Borchers (CA) • Speakers: Chair: Naama Barkai (IL) • Speakers: S.09.03.3. Aging Christoph Borchers (CA), MRM and iMALDI Naama Barkai (IL), Buffering noise in early Chair: Catarina Oliveira (PT) • Speakers: for biomedical and clinical research and embryonic development • Claude Desplan Catarina Oliveira (PT), New insights into diagnostics • Bruno Domon (LU), Recent (USA), Generating neuronal diversity in the the role of mitochondria in age-related advances in targeted proteomics • Yi-Ting visual centers • Alexander Aulehla (DE), neurodegenerative diseases • José Viña Chen (TW), Integration of tissue and urine Oscillating signaling pathways during (ES), Transcriptomic analysis reveals an proteomics for biomarker discovery and mesoderm patterning and scaling outstanding control of apoptosis in verification of urological cancer centenarians • João Pedro de Magalhães S.06.01.2. Novel signaling pathways (UK), Genetics and genomics of aging S.05.01.1. DNA repair and cancer controlling cardiac function Chair: Miral Dizdaroglu (US) • Speakers: Chair: Jan Glatz (NL) • Speakers: Jan Glatz S.09.04.4. Chemical and biochemical Miral Dizdaroglu (US), Inhibition of DNA (NL), Signaling pathways involved in aspects of oxidative stress repair proteins via small molecule cardiac energy metabolism • Stefano Chair: Tomris Özben (TR) • Speakers: compounds as potential drugs in cancer Schiaffino (IT), Signaling mechanisms Tomris Özben (TR), Natural redox therapy • David M. Wilson III (USA), regulating cardiac muscle growth and modulators of oxidative stress and Repair mechanisms for endogenous DNA atrophy • Luc Bertrand (BE), AMP- chemoresistance in cancer therapy: damage • Thomas Lindahl (UK), Repair activated kinase in the control of cardiac Beneficial versus deleterious effects• strategies for the distorting DNA lesions metabolism and remodeling Paul Thornalley UK), Dicarbonyl stress in 3-methylcytosine, 1-methyldenine, and health and disease – where oxidative cyclopurine deoxynucleosides S.07.01.3. Developments in biomaterials stress influences arginine- and and tissue engineering deoxyguanosine-directed glycation • S.05.02.2. Epigenetics and cancer Chair: Vasıf Hasırcı (TR) • Speakers: Vasıf Luciano Saso (IT), Pharmacological Chair: Thomas Jenuwein (DE) • Speakers: Hasırcı (TR), Patient specific material applications of modulators of oxidative Thomas Jenuwein (DE), Epigenetic control processing approaches in biomaterials and stress in health and disease • Peter A. Jones tissue engineering • Pedro Granja (PT), (USA), Epigenetic therapy • Raffaella Molecularly designed hydrogels as 3D Santoro (CH), The epigenetics of prostate cellular microenvironments • C. James cancer Kirkpatrick (DE), Developments in cell CONGRESS ORGANIZING COMMITTEE culture systems for biomaterials and S.05.03.3. Stem cells and cancer Nazmi Özer, Turkey (Chair) tissue engineering Chair: Erdal Karaoz (TR) • Speakers: Erdal Doğan Yücel, Turkey (Vice-Chair) Karaoz (TR), Human mesenchymal stromal S.02.10.4. Cell cycle and circadian clocks Gül Güner Akdoğan, Turkey (Vice-Chair) cells: Biological properties and clinical Chair: Akhilesh Reddy (UK) • Speakers: Özlem Dalmızrak, Turkey (Scientific Secretary) application• Norman J. Maitland (UK), Akhilesh Reddy (UK), Redox oscillations in Mehmet Şenes, Turkey (Treasurer) Epigenetic control of stem cell fate and the circadian clockwork • Felix Naef (CH), Miguel De la Rosa, Spain (Member) Ferhan Girgin Sağın, Turkey (Member) function in the normal and malignant Interactions of circadian and cell-cycle Tomris Özben, Turkey (Member) human prostate • Shimon Slavin (IL), The oscillators in single mammalian cells • Ali Ünlü, Turkey (Member) role of hematopoietic stem cells, cancer Michael Brunner (DE), MYC inversely Israel Pecht, Israel (Member) stem cells and mesenchymal stromal stem coordinates the circadian clock with cell cells for treatment of cancer growths and proliferation 26 FEBS News October 2015 41st FEBS CONGRESS
The FEBS YSF 2016 The 16th FEBS Young Scientists’ Forum (YSF) will be held in Kuşadası, Turkey, from 31st August to 3rd September 2016. The YSF, a satellite meeting of the FEBS Congress, takes place prior to the main event and is organized by young scientists for young scientists. More than 100 outstanding young researchers from Key YSF 2016 dates the FEBS area will be selected to take part in the The online application process will open soon 16th YSF, where they will have the opportunity to Application deadline: 11 March 2016 network with their colleagues and to present their Announcement of YSF award winners: 12 April 2016 work either as short oral presentations (selected from abstracts), or as posters after delivering a one- YSF: 31 August ─ 3 September 2016 minute presentation of the main content of their a society. The successful applicants will have their work. In addition, there will be exciting plenary abstracts automatically submitted to the 41st FEBS lectures given by eminent scientists and a round- Congress. table discussion on issues related to the The 16th YSF will be held at the KoruMar De development of a scientific career. The FEBS Luxe Hotel where participants will stay during the Fellows Meeting will take place at the same time YSF and the FEBS Congress. The hotel is located and location, sharing the plenary lectures and in Kuşadası and is very close to Kuşadası Ephesus discussions and offering the chance for both groups Convention Center where the 41st FEBS Congress to interact. The scientific sessions will be will be held. Shuttle buses will be provided between complemented by attractive social events. the airport and hotel, and also between the hotel FEBS provides financial support to the selected and the Congress venue. participants via YSF grants that cover registration The 16th YSF Organizing Committee is very and accommodation for both the YSF and FEBS happy to invite young molecular life scientists from Congress, and the majority of the travel expenses. across the FEBS area to join us for this great Further details and the eligibility criteria are given in opportunity to create friendships, co-operation and the YSF section of the Congress website. Those interchange among PhD students and postdocs. selected must attend both the YSF and the Congress. The applicants must submit an abstract 16th YSF Organizing Committee: to the 16th YSF as first author along with a CV and Gamze Tuna (Chair), other supporting documents, as detailed on the Ali Burak Özkaya, Duygu Harmanci, Hatice Efsun Congress website. Applicants also need to be Kolatan, Melis Kant, Merve Akiş, Zihni Onur Uygun Email: [email protected] studying or working in a country where there is a FEBS Constituent Society (see the Our Members Chair, FEBS Working Group on the Careers of section of the FEBS website) and a member of such Young Scientists: Prof. Claudina Rodrigues-Pousada
The YSF 2016 will be held at the KoruMar De Luxe Hotel (left), which has facilities for conferences and great sea views (right). 27 FEBS News October 2015
FEBS PUBLICATIONS
FEBS Publications: Journal Highlights and Special Issues
Structural insights into the autophagy machinery
Post-translationally-modified structures in the autophagy machinery: an integrative perspective. Popelka, H. and Klionsky, D.J. (2015) FEBS Journal 282, 3474–3488
Autophagy-related (Atg) proteins are the primary components that carry out autophagy, a cellular self-cleaning process, and many of them are conserved from yeast to humans. Crystal or NMR structures of Atg proteins have been reported as well as their posttranslational modifications, protein–protein interactions, and structure–function relationships. In this State-of-the-Art Review, Popelka and Klionsky offer an integrative summary of these structural insights and reveal areas for further research into the roles of Atg proteins.
Linking metabolism, epigenetics and cancer
Oncometabolites: tailoring our genes. Nowicki, S. and Gottlieb, E. (2015) FEBS Journal 282, 2796–2805
Metabolites that promote tumorigenesis by altering the epigenome have recently been identified. These ‘oncometabolites’ include succinate, fumarate and- 2 hydroxyglutarate, which can competitively inhibit α-ketoglutarate-dependent dioxygenases. These enzymes are known to be important in the regulation of gene expression via DNA and histone tail demethylation. In this State-of-the-Art Review, the authors focus on the link between metabolism and epigenetics, and how oncometabolite-induced tumorigenesis might be targeted in the future.
Asymmetric tug-of-war in motor-driven melanosome transport
Asymmetries in kinesin-2 and cytoplasmic dynein contributions to melanosome transport. De Rossi, M.C. et al. (2015) FEBS Letters 589, 2763–2768
Molecular motors are responsible for intracellular trafficking of organelles along microtubules and actin filaments. De Rossi and colleagues set out to determine the collective action of kinesin-2 and dynein motors during melanosome transport by measuring the stiffness of the motor complex linking organelles to microtubules. They observed that stiffness and organelle speed depended on the organelle size and cargo direction. Whereas dynein motors compete with kinesin-2 affecting the properties of plus-end directed organelles, kinesin-2 does not seem to play a similar role during minus-end transport.
Novel player in RNA-directed DNA methylation in Arabidopsis
The zinc-finger protein SPT4 interacts with SPT5L/KTF1 and modulates transcriptional silencing in Arabidopsis. Köllen, K. et al. (2015) FEBS Letters (in press) http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.febslet.2015.09.017
In plants, the RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway can achieve transcriptional silencing of transposons and endogenous repeats. The RNA polymerase RNAPV produces lncRNAs that target specific sites for silencing, and uses SPT5L as an auxiliary protein. In a recent study, SPT5L was shown to interact with the zinc-finger protein SPT4, previously known to be involved in RNAPII-mediated RNA elongation in complex with SPT5. Köllen et al. now propose an altogether novel role for SPT4 in DNA methylation via the RdDM pathway.
28 FEBS News October 2015 FEBS PUBLICATIONS
New inroads on management of aggressive breast cancers
BRCA1-like signature in triple negative breast cancer: Molecular and clinical characterization reveals subgroups with therapeutic potential. Severson, T.M. et al. (2015) Molecular Oncology 9, 1528–1538
Triple negative (TN) breast cancer currently has few treatment options. One promising approach to the clinical management of this aggressive tumor type is to molecularly characterize tumors to identify patients for specific treatments. The data presented here identifies one sizeable subgroup (around 9.5%) that may be more susceptible to PI3K/AKT/ mTOR inhibitors, which are currently available in clinical practice but are not routinely administered to TN patients. In addition, a second subgroup was identified that is more likely to respond to DNA-damaging agents and putatively also to CDK4/6 inhibitors based on the gene expression pattern and high frequency of TP53 mutations.
Factors that influence muscle wasting
FHL1 activates myostatin signalling in skeletal muscle and promotes atrophy. Lee, J.Y. et al. (2015) FEBS Open Bio 5, 753–762
Changes in the amount and composition of muscle are important factors for a number of chronic diseases such as heart failure and cancer. Myostatin is an inhibitor of muscle growth, causing atrophy of type II muscle fibres. Kemp and colleagues tested the ability of FHL1 to regulate myostatin function. In mice, while FHL1 alone increased muscle fibre diameter, co-expression with myostatin reduced fibre diameter to a greater extent than myostatin alone. This suggests that FHL1 may exacerbate muscle wasting under certain conditions.
Recent Special Issues
Epigenetics Berlin Special Issue: The Clinical trials for development of Biochemical Basis of Life personalized cancer medicine
Flavins and flavoproteins Dynamics, flexibility, and intrinsic 3D Genome Structure: Organization of disorder in protein assemblies the nucleus in space and time
29 FEBS News October 2015
FEBS COMMUNITY
FEBS National Lectures
Dame Janet Thornton delivered a FEBS National Lecture Award at the recent International Conference on Structural Genomics 2015 (ICSG2015). Janet Thornton, one of the world’s leading researchers in structural bioinformatics, who uses computational methods to understand protein structure and function, gave an inspiring opening keynote lecture entitled ‘The evolution of enzyme mechanisms and functional diversity’. She emphasized that enzyme activity is essential for almost all aspects of life. Traditionally, each enzyme has been studied individually, but as a large number of enzymes have now been characterized, it is possible to revisit the molecular basis of catalysis by comparing large arrays of enzymes, and to consider Presentation of the FEBS National Lecturer Award by Prof. Jenny how complex pathways and networks may have Martin (right) from the University of Queensland to evolved. Janet concluded with new approaches to Dame Janet Thornton (left). understanding how enzyme families evolve EM, NMR, SAXS, MS, MX and macromolecular functional diversity. complexes; Protein design and deep sequencing; The ICSG2015, entitled Deep Sequencing Meets and Combining low and high resolution data and Structural Biology, was held in Rehovot, Israel, modeling for structural biology. from 7th to 11th June 2015. This was the eighth in The scientific programme comprised four plenary the series of conferences sponsored by the lectures, 31 invited lectures, seven short oral International Structural Genomics Organization presentations, and 130 poster presentations. As well (ISGO). It opened a new chapter in structural as the opening lecture of the FEBS National genomics by changing the meeting format so as to Lecturer Janet Thornton, plenary lectures delivered bring together scientists at the cutting edge of by Shamil Sunyaev (Harvard), Ada Yonath structural biology with scientists who are employing (Weizmann), Roger Kornberg (Stanford) and Michael the most advanced deep sequencing techniques. Levitt (Stanford) contributed to the high quality of More than 300 participants from over 30 countries the scientific programme. In addition to the main attended the conference, both to present their scientific programme, six pre-conference workshops results and participate in discussions. The sessions were organized on the eve of the meeting. included: Synergistic use of 3D structures and deep The great success of ICSG2015 was also reflected sequencing to realize personalized medicine; Deep in the lively discussions that went on during the sequencing for modeling and refinement of lecture and poster sessions, as well as during social macromolecular structures; Membrane protein events such as the guided walking tour of Jerusalem. structure and function using complementary methods; Cancer, antibiotic resistance and drug Joel L. Sussman, Chairperson, ICSG2015 discovery; Technological advances in XFEL, Cryo- www.weizmann.ac.il/conferences/ICSG2015
The FEBS National Lecture Hospital, Cambridge, UK, where he is Professor of at the 38th Congress of the Molecular Nutrition and Metabolism, Honorary Spanish Society for Consultant in Metabolic Medicine, and the Scientific Biochemistry and Molecular Director of the Cambridge Phenomics Centre; and Biology (SEBBM) was delivered by Prof. Antonio he is also a member of the Associate Faculty of the Vidal-Puig, an expert on the molecular and Sanger Institute. He obtained his MD from Valencia physiological bases of metabolic syndrome – an Medical School and a PhD at the University of important and growing health challenge affecting Granada, Spain, before moving to Harvard, USA virtually all countries. Antonio Vidal-Puig works at for post-doctoral training and then to the Institute the Institute of Metabolic Science at Addenbrooke’s of Metabolic Science, Cambridge, UK. 30 FEBS News October 2015 FEBS COMMUNITY
His talk, entitled ‘Adipose tissue expandability, lipotoxicity and the metabolic syndrome’, centred on the hypothesis that the strong epidemiological link between obesity and type 2 diabetes may reflect a failure in the capacity of adipose tissue expansion and function. Since this capacity varies individually as a consequence of genetic and environmental factors, the metabolic tolerance for obesity in different individuals concerning the development of type 2 diabetes appears to be an individual trait that may require personalization. Using lipid-related novel biomarkers, it should be possible to monitor individually the limit of this tolerance and the individual’s risk of developing type 2 diabetes according to the remaining expandability of their adipose mass. Underlying this individualized connection between adiposity and diabetes is the fact that once the adipose tissue expansion limit is reached, this tissue ceases to store energy efficiently holds a congress each year; the 38th Congress was and lipids begin to accumulate in other tissues. held in Valencia from 7th to 10th September 2015, Ectopic lipid accumulation outside the adipose and was attended by 800 delegates. There were tissue causes lipotoxicity including insulin resistance, nearly 500 posters and 73 hours of oral apoptosis and inflammation. Antonio reviewed the presentations – including 13 plenary lectures and roles of adipokines and other mediators and 36 presentations in three parallel symposia, and also discussed how this novel understanding of how 130 free oral communications in 21 special interest type 2 diabetes develops should allow the rational groups across 20 parallel sessions. The event design of new anti-diabetic treatments. fulfilled its functions of updating participants and of The lecture was followed by a lively discussion. promoting discussion, brainstorming, networking Miguel Á. De la Rosa, FEBS Congress Counsellor, and collaboration. With hundreds of delegates who introduced FEBS and its National Lectures to filling Valencia, the Congress was certainly a vibrant the audience, and Federico Mayor Menéndez, event and a real ‘fiesta’ of the molecular side of SEBBM President, presented Antonio Vidal Puig experimental biology. with the FEBS National Lecture Award (a memento commemorating the lecture) and a certificate. Vicente Rubio SEBBM, created in 1963 and one of the founding Head, Organizing Committee of the Congress societies of FEBS, has over 3700 members and www.sebbm.com/xxxviiicongreso
Biochemical Society (UK) The awards include:
Awards 2017 The Biochemical Society Award Recognizing excellence in the biochemical sciences In 2017 the Biochemical Society Awards will recognize established Centenary Award Awarded to an international biochemist of distinction researchers as well as scientists in the early stages of their careers, Colworth Medal across the full spectrum of the Recognizes outstanding research by a biochemist in the early stage of their independent career molecular biosciences. The call for nominations has recently opened, and these can be submitted by Heatley Medal and Prize Awarded for exceptional work in applying advances in both members and non-members of the biochemistry, and especially for developing practical uses that Biochemical Society by 31st January 2016. For the have created widespread benefits and value for society full list of 2017 Awards and instructions on how to Novartis Medal and Prize nominate, go to: In recognition of contributions to the development of any www.biochemistry.org/Awards/Nominations.aspx branch of biochemistry 31 FEBS News October 2015 SCIENTIFIC EVENTS CALENDAR
FEBS|EMBO Women in Science Award 2016: Call for Nominations
The FEBS | EMBO Women in Science Award is a joint initiative of FEBS and EMBO. Launched in 2007, the aim of the award is to highlight the major contributions made by female scientists to life sciences research. Winners of the award will serve as inspiring role models for future generations of women in science. Each year an individual woman working in the life sciences will be recognized for her exceptional achievements. The winner will be honoured at the annual FEBS Congress, where she will receive a prize of €10,000 and a statuette, and present a special plenary lecture.
More details about the award and the nomination process can be found in the Awards section of the FEBS website; click here. Nominations for the 2016 award should be submitted via the online nomination system on the EMBO website by 15 October 2015.
Scientific Events Calendar
FEBS/EMBO Lecture Course FEBS Advanced Lecture Course Mitochondria in Life, Death and Disease Current advances in pathogen research October 12–16 , 2015 Yerevan, Armenia Crete, Greece March 21–26, 2016 www.mito2015.gr/index.html www.febs.yba.am
Biophysics of Proteins at Surfaces: Assembly, FEBS/IUBMB Advanced Lecture Course Activation, Signaling Molecular basis of human diseases: 50 years anniversary of October 13–15, 2015 Spetses summer schools Madrid, Spain May 27 – June 1, 2016 www.biophysics.org/2015spain Spetses, Greece www.eie.gr/nhrf/institutes/ibrb/spetses-2016/ Organelle Crosstalk in Membrane Dynamics and Cell welcome_message.html Signalling October 26–29, 2015 The 41st FEBS Congress Edinburgh, UK Molecular and Systems Biology for a Better Life http://www.biochemistry.org/Events/tabid/379/Page/1/ September 3–8, 2016 MeetingNo/SA174/view/Conference/Default.aspx Ephesus/Kuşadası, Turkey www.febs2016.org FEBS Workshop Inflammation – Bonfire From Within FEBS Practical Course November 23–24, 2015 Microspectroscopy: functional imaging of biological systems Rehovot, Israel Wageningen, The Netherlands www.weizmann.ac.il/conferences/Inflammation September 6–15, 2016 www.microspectroscopy-course.eu FEBS Practical Course State-of-the-art infection models for human pathogenic fungi FEBS Workshop Jena, Germany Chromatin proteomics February 14–27, 2016 Heraklion, Crete, Greece www.febs-infection-models.org/home.html October 3–8, 2016 www.chromatinproteomics2016.org FEBS-YTF-supported event From host genome to the microbiome: immunity in the genomic era To announce a scientific event in FEBS News and on the FEBS Rehovot, Israel website, please email brief details to the webmaster. Priority February 14–16, 2016 will be given to events on topics within the molecular life www.weizmann.ac.il/conferences/NGI2016/welcome sciences, and taking place in the FEBS area.
Career Opportunities FEBS offers free advertisement of academic positions on the FEBS website. For current listings and details on how to post a vacancy, see the Career Opportunities page.
32 FEBS News October 2015