JULY 2004 www.asbmb.org

Constituent Society of FASEB

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

ASBMB Sponsors UN Conference on Cloning Page 2

Report Finds Brighter Prospects For Biotech Page 20 A Message from ASBMB’s New President Judith S. Bond see Page 12 PRESENTING A NEW UNIFIED BIOPOLYMERS

BIOPOLYMERS and PEPTIDE SCIENCE— ONLINE SUBMISSION AND PEER REVIEW! PEPTIDE SCIENCE — NEW EDITOR!

BIOPOLYMERS The Biospectroscopy and Nucleic Acid Sciences sections are now fully inte- grated into Biopolymers to present a unified publication. Biospectroscopy and nucleic acid science articles will appear regularly in issues of Biopolymers. This truly international journal publishes original research papers on the structure, properties, interactions and assemblies of biomolecules. Biopolymers covers organic and physical chemistry, experimental and theo- retical research, and static and dynamic aspects of structure. Papers from world-renowned laboratories offer the latest research on the development of experimental and theoretical studies of the structure of biologically signifi- cant molecules. PEPTIDE SCIENCE Throughout her distinguished career, Dr. Lila Gierasch, the new Editor of Peptide Science, has used biophysical approaches to explore the relation- ship between amino acid sequence and preferred conformations of peptides and proteins, with an emphasis on the impact of a cellular environment. Current thrusts of her work are the mechanism of folding of a class of pre- dominantly ß-sheet proteins, the structure and function of Hsp-70 molecular chaperones, and the roles of signal sequences in protein targeting. She has effectively utilized synthetic peptides to dissect and probe complex biologi- cal systems.

Peptide Science is the sole affiliate Journal of the American Peptide Society. This section of Biopolymers is designed to provide a forum for current topics in peptide research and to publish articles that correlate research results between the subdisciplines of the peptide sciences. Peptide Science will continue to publish reviews on “Current Trends in Peptide Sciences” as well as original research papers.

ONLINE SUBMISSION AND PEER REVIEW SYSTEM FOR AUTHORS

BIOPOLYMERS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF In taking a step toward facilitating seamless international schol- Murray Goodman arly communication, Biopolymers and Peptide Science offer Department of Chemistry web-based submission and peer review. This process makes it and Biochemistry easier than ever for you to submit a paper to the Journals. The University of California, San Diego For detailed instructions, visit: 6223 Pacific Hall Biopolymers: bip-wiley.manuscriptcentral.com La Jolla, California 92093-0343 Peptide Science: bip-pep-wiley.manuscriptcentral.com [email protected] When submitting Biopolymers manuscripts online, authors will PEPTIDE SCIENCE EDITOR also have the opportunity to designate one of the Biopolymers Lila M. Gierasch Editorial Board Members or Biospectroscopy Editors to man- Department of Biochemistry age the peer review process of their manuscript. and Molecular Biology University of Massachusetts 713G Lederle GRC Tower B Amherst, MA 01003-4510 [email protected] www.interscience.wiley.com www.asbmb.org

AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY JULY 2004, Volume 3, Issue 4 features

2 ASBMB Sponsors UN Conference on Human Cloning

4 House Appropriations Process Begins

6 Research!America Promotes Investment in Science

8 Top Institutions Receiving NIH Awards 9 9 Staying on the Path; One Atom at a Time

10 New Research at UNC ON THE COVER: 11 Views from IUBMB/ASBMB 12 A Message From ASBMB’s New President 16 Insulin-Producing Pancreatic Cells Replenished by Duplication

18 New Spin on Spirochetes

20 Report Finds Brighter Prospects for Biotech

departments 4 News From the Hill 16 8 NIH News 20 Biotech Business 24 Calendar

BRONZE AWARD WINNER 2003 ASBMB Sponsors United Nations ASBMB Council Conference on ‘Human Cloning Officers Judith S. Bond President Bettie Sue Masters Past-President Issues in All its Aspects’ Peggy J. Farnham Secretary Kenneth E. Neet Treasurer By William R. Brinkley, Ph.D., Chair, Public Affairs Advisory Committee, ASBMB Council Members Thomas Blumenthal Councilor he Genetics Policy Institute spinal chord injury. Speakers from the William R. Brinkley Councilor (GPI) hosted a conference on U.S. included Gerald D. Fischbach Joan W. Conaway Councilor T stem cell research to openly from Columbia University, who served Robert A. Copeland Councilor Lila M. Gierasch Councilor discuss the repercussion of an interna- as moderator; Rudolf Jaenisch, White- Frederick P. Guengerich Councilor tional ban on therapeutic cloning and head Institute, whose research has res- William J. Lennarz Councilor to draw a clear distinction between cued mice with genetic defects Peter J. Parker Councilor cloning of human beings (reproductive through therapeutic cloning and gene William S. Sly Councilor William L. Smith Councilor cloning) vs this potential life-saving therapy; Douglas A. Melton, Harvard, a methodology of therapeutic cloning. noted authority on stem cell technol- Ex-Officio Members George M. Carman The meeting was organized by lawyer ogy; Camillo Rocordi of the Diabetes Chair, Meetings Committee Bernard Segal, Executive Director of Institute, University of Florida; John Cecile Rochette-Egly Dennis R. Voelker GPI, who succeeded in bringing some Wagner of the University of Min- Co-chairs, 2005 Program Committee of the world’s most renown investiga- nesota; and William Dalton Dietrich, J. Ellis Bell Chair, Education and Professional tors on this topic to New York for this Miami Project to Cure Paralysis,Uni- Development Committee landmark meeting on June 2, 2004. “A versity of Miami School of Medicine. William R. Brinkley Chair, Public Affairs Advisory Committee UN vote to ban this important scien- Other U.S. speakers included Lawrence Peter A. Rubenstein tific research would be tragic and S. B. Goldstein, UC San Diego, a very Chair, Publications Committee would destroy the hopes of millions active member of the American Society Phillip A. Ortiz Chair, Minority Affairs Committee suffering from Alzheimer’s, diabetes, for Cell Biology in the science policy Herbert Tabor cancer , spinal cord injuries, heart dis- arena, who presented an excellent Editor, JBC Ralph A. Bradshaw ease, ALS, and other devastating condi- overview of human cloning and stem Editor, MCP tions for which no cure is known,” said cell biology at the opening of the con- Edward A. Dennis Editor, JLR Segal. Christopher Reeve addressed the ference; and Dr. Gerald Schatten of gathering via a taped commentary and the University of Pittsburgh School of ASBMB Today is a monthly publication urged everyone to do everything possi- Medicine who is recognized interna- of The American Society for ble to support stem cell research and to tionally for his work on primate repro- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology persuade the UN not to prohibit this duction and stem cell technology. Editorial Advisory Board vital area of research. This was, by far, the most effective Irwin Fridovich I attended the one-day meeting for public policy forum on stem cells that I Richard W. Hanson President Bettie Sue Masters, who was have attended and the program Bettie Sue Masters Evan J. Sadler unable to participate. ASBMB was rec- attracted world-wide participation. Robert D. Wells ognized as one of the sponsors of this Speakers were factual, but careful not to Comments meeting which featured speakers such over-sell this promising technology. Please direct any comments or questions as “Dolly” cloner Ian Wilmut, of the Each speaker was especially cautious to concerning ASBMB Today to: Roslin Institute in the United King- define SCNT and stem cell methodology John D. Thompson dom, Shin-Yong Moon and Woo Suk accurately, and to state clearly that legiti- Editor, ASBMB Today Hwang of Seoul National University in mate scientists around the world are 9650 Rockville Pike Bethesda, MD 20814-3996 the Republic of Korea. The latter two totally and unequivocally opposed to Phone: 301-634-7145; Fax: 301-634-7126 investigators were the first to clone a reproductive cloning of human babies. E-mail: [email protected] human embryo and to legitimize the On the positive side, with the remark- For information on advertising application of somatic nuclear transfer able findings by the Koreans, the genie is contact FASEB AdNet at 800-433-2732 ext. 7157 or 301-634-7157, or (SCNT) for the production of human out of the bottle–SCNT and stem cells, email [email protected]. stem cells to use to successfully repair Continued on page 4

2 ASBMBToday JULY 2004 ISEISE Presents Two New Events For 2004! CBA-2004 ISEISE TTraining Courses in Drug Development 1st1st InternaInternational Conference on Cell Based Development Dr. Christopher A. Lipinski Assays for Drug Discovery & Development: Adjunct Senior Research Fellow, Pfizer Global R&D, Groton New London Labs (Groton, CT) Applications of Primary Cell Cultures, Engineered Cells, and Dr. Albert P. Li High Throughput Approaches for the Drug Efficacy, Metabolism, Founding Chairman, President & CEO; Advanced Pharmaceutical and Toxicity Evaluation Sciences, Inc. (Baltimore, MD) September 20-21, 2004 August 5-6, 2004 Renaissance Philadelphia Hotel Airport; Philadelphia, PA, USA San Francisco Marriott Hotel; San Francisco, CA, USA

Monday, September 20, 2004 Tuesday, September 21, 2004 Thursday, August 5, 2004 Friday, August 6, 2004 Session 1: Primary and Session 2: High Throughput Physical and Chemical Compound In Vitro Evaluation of ADMET Engineered Cell Systems Screening Approaches Properties in Drug Discovery Drug Properties Chairs: Albert P. Li and Alan Chairs: Thomas Fletcher and Dr. Christopher A. Lipinski Dr. Albert P. Li M. Goldberg Serguei V. Kozlov Length of Lecture: 1 day Length of Lecture: 1 day •Keynote Lecture: The •Managing Cell-based Assays Importance of Cell Based with Flow Cytometry (John F Course syllabus: Course syllabus: Assays in Biomedical Dunne, BD Biosciences San Research (Alan M. Goldberg, Jose, CA) •Definition of chemistry physical •Definition of ADMET. Current Department of Environmental and chemical compound prop- status of drug development: Health Sciences; Baltimore, •Ultra-High Throughput Cell- erties. Current status of com- Cost, time, and challenges. MD) Based Assays for Liver X pound properties; comparison Receptors (Lyndon J. Mitnaul, to drugs: Cost, time, and chal- •Role of in vitro ADMET systems •A Novel In Vitro Angiogenesis Merck and Company; Rahway, lenges. in drug development. Assay Suitable for Drug- NJ) Screening (Chris C.W. •Quality chemical structures in •Evaluation of drug absorption Hughes, University of •Cell-Based Screening drug discovery. --Mechanisms of drug absorp- California, Irvine; Irvine, CA) Assays for Compounds Which tion Induce Apoptosis or Disrupt •Medicinal chemistry and the --Cell-based systems for drug •Assays for Adipocyte the Cell Cycle (Dianne M. chemistry structure absorption Differentiation and Function Fishwild; Guava Technologies --Structural features to avoid --Artificial membrane systems (Lucas Armstrong, Chemicon Inc.; Hayward, CA) --Solving problems using International, Inc. Temecula, bioisosteres •Drug metabolism CA) •Antiviral Discovery for SARS - ---Structural features to include --Drug metabolizing enzymes Rapid Development and --Privileged structures, molecu- --Metabolic stability evaluation •Utilization of P-glycoprotein Execution of Cell-Based HTS lar anchors, masterkeys --Metabolite identification Transport Assay in CNS Drug Screening in Response to an --Species comparison Discovery (Liyue Huang, Emerging Pathogen Outbreak •Solubility AstraZeneca, Wilmington, DE) (Thomas M. Fletcher III; --Importance of aqueous and •Drug-drug interactions Southern Research Institute; DMSO solubility --Examples of drug-drug inter- •Establishment of SAR to facil- Birmingham, AL) --Computational and experi- actions itate the development of mental approaches to solubility --Enzyme inhibition drugs with high potential for •Proteome-Wide High --Compound handling, storage --Enzyme induction CNS penetration (Jerome H Throughput Cell-Based Assay and when to change the chem- --Transporter-based drug inter- Hochman; Merck and Co.; for Activators of NFkB (Hans istry isolation procedure actions West Point, PA) Biebuyck, John Kenten, Stefanie Nelson, John Joern, •Permeability •Toxicity screening •Ion Conductance Pankaj Oberoi, and Jacob --GI and blood brain permeabil- --Examples of toxic drugs and Microscope for Locating and Wohlstadter; Meso Scale ity - how it depends on the toxic mechanisms Studying Ion Channels and Discovery; Gaithersburg, MD) chemical structure --Screening for acute drug toxi- Receptors in Surface --Computational and experi- city including general cytotoxic- Membranes of Living Cells •In "Coopetition" with NF-kB: mental approaches to permabil- ity, hepatotoxicity, neurotoxicity, (Yuri Korchev, Imperial Development of Analytical ity and cardiotoxicity College; London, UK) Tools for Rapid Assessment of --How chemistry can improve --Genotoxicity evaluation Inflammatory [Potential of Test permeability --Toxicogenomics •Integrated Multiple Organ Substances (Serguei V. Culture System (IdMOC) - A Kozlov, National Cancer •Chemistry structure and the •Summary of lecture and open Cell-Based Assay for the Institute at Frederick, discovery process discussion Evaluation of Multiple Organ Frederick, MD) --Chemistry and HTS screening Effects (Albert P. Li, Ph. D., errors Advanced Pharmaceutical •Development of Calcium- --Lead-like versus drug-like Sciences, Inc., Baltimore, MD) Based Assays for Screening --Hit to lead and lead optimiza and Characterization of tion chemistry GABA-A Receptor Modulators (Tino D. Jorgensen, •Summary of lecture and open NeuroSearch A/S; Ballerup, discussion. Denmark)

Joiin Us For Any Two IISE Events And Receiive A Diiscount!!

Phone: (410) 869-9166 Email: [email protected] Please visit us at www.Isciencex.com for program and registration details www.ISEbooks.com--Your Online Science Book Solution NEWS FROM THE HILL

by Peter Farnham, CAE, ASBMB Public Affairs Officer

House Appropriations Process Begins fter weeks of partisan wran- budget resolution sets overall spending fund NIH at the President’s request gling, the House Appropria- priorities, and the total budget is level ($729 million above last year). A tions Committee released its divided into several broad categories— Thus, is it quite unlikely, without a 302(b) allocations on June 2. Unfortu- mandatory spending (that required by last-minute infusion of new money nately, the news is not very good. It law); interest on the national debt; and from somewhere, that NIH will do appears as though the best the discretionary spending. Discretionary much better than the President’s National Institutes of Health can spending is further divided into request level this year, as far as the expect this year is something along the defense and non-defense discretionary House is concerned. lines of the President’s budget request spending. Regarding the VA/HUD subcommit- for the agency, that is, about $729 mil- The total amount of discretionary tee allocation, it got $92.9 billion, lion, a 2.6% increase over FY 2004. spending available under the budget about $800 million more than the Prospects for the National Science resolution is then divided up among President had asked for. However, this Foundation are even more grim. the 13 appropriations sucommittees. allocation does not begin to address In theory, under the annual budget In practice, Congress’ actually stick- what is needed in this large and diverse process, the House and Senate were ing to this schedule is very rare; it has bill. Subcommittee Republicans supposed to have completed work on a happened only twice in the last 20 or believe they need at least $4 billion budget resolution by May 15. The so years. This year is no different. above the President’s request, but sub- While both House and Senate have committee Democrats think the figure completed work on budget resolutions, needed is actually more like $7 billion. UN continued … there is no progress on setting up a Of course, this means that the Continued from page 2 conference, and the spending goals National Science Foundation is proba- derived from left-over human embryos and amounts for programs contained bly going to get squeezed, as VA med- destined to be frozen or discarded, can in the two resolutions are quite differ- ical care is short about $1.2 billion of be used to repair damaged cells and tis- ent. The numbers below are from the what is needed to make it whole this sues and potentially cure many of the House budget resolution. As of this year. world’s most daunting and horrific dis- writing, the Senate had not divided Thus, barring some surprises— eases. UN resolution 56/93 of December discretionary spending among its sub- always possible in an election year—it 12, 2001, from the Ad Hoc Committee committees. is likely that we are in for more con- to consider prohibition of all forms of tentious times when Congress begins human cloning, including therapeutic House Allocations seriously grappling with appropria- cloning, will potentially close the door The two subcommittees we are most tions (not expected until after Labor to future medical research involving this interested in—Labor/HHS (which Day). technology. funds NIH), and VA/HUD (which A brief footnote on NIH—in the Sen- The time has come for scientists, funds NSF), both got slightly more ate, there is some hope that Senator especially members of ASBMB, to pick than the President had asked for last Arlen Specter (who chairs the Senate up the gauntlet and define and defend spring. Appropriations Subcommittee on a technology that promises to end suf- Rep. Ralph Regula (R-OH) chairs the Labor/HHS) might be able to improve fering and provide hope for all human- House Appropriations Subcommittee on the President’s number, but unless ity; the United Nations is a good place on Labor/HHS and that subcommittee he gets a better allocation than Rep. to start. Support a ban on reproductive got only about $300 million more Regula got, this is probably a reach. It cloning but oppose the Costa Rican than the President’s request, for a total is unlikely, however, that Senator proposal to ban therapeutic cloning. At of about $142.3 billion. This small Specter will be able to do much better the same time, we must carry the mes- amount of additional money probably than $1 billion over FY 2004 for NIH, sage to our various state legislatures. gives Regula the room he needs to about a 3% increase.

4 ASBMBToday JULY 2004 Troublesome Clauses: The Importance of Seven Words by Peter Farnham, CAE, ASBMB Public Affairs Officer

Reagan-era national security administration was actively engaged variety of federal agencies, including directive, hailed at the time as in battling the Soviet Union in a vari- the National Science Foundation and A a major victory for science, is ety of Third World hotspots from the Department of Health and looking considerably less helpful Afghanistan to Africa and Central Human Services, also include such almost 20 years after it was issued. This America. As part of the same strategy restrictions in at least some of their is the main message of a report of active opposition and confronta- contracts. released recently by the Association of tion, the Reagan administration The problems for academic research American Universities and the Council launched major efforts to restrict for- are several. First, the Department of on Government Relations. The report, eign access to U.S. technology. The Defense, for example, often requires called “Restrictions on Research scientific community worked very that contractors not disseminate any Awards: Troublesome Clauses,” notes hard to carve out basic research as an unclassified information generated by various restrictions included in area where such restrictions would the contract to anyone outside the research contracts between a variety of not be put in place since science contractor’s organization. This means government agencies and universities could only advance effectively if basic that unclassified work cannot be pub- because of a seven-word clause in research was freely and openly avail- lished in an open journal. Further, National Security Decision Directive able. The result of the science com- industrial contractors sometimes sub- 189, issued in September 1985. munity’s lobbying was the seemingly contract work to universities, and rou- NSDD 189 was a policy statement benign directive cited above. tinely include such restrictions in the indicating that “to the maximum The Bush Administration noted in subcontract to the university if the extent possible,” the Reagan adminis- November 2001 that it continues to company has to comply with the tration’s policy was not to restrict dis- support this policy and will ensure that restriction itself. semination of the products of it is followed. Unfortunately, this assur- However, it is not jut companies fundamental research. “It is also the ance is not as helpful as initially passing along such restrictions. policy of this Administration that, thought, since the last seven words of Depending on the research involved, where the national security requires the directive—“except as provided in the DoD sometimes requires universi- control, the mechanism for control applicable U.S. statutes”—have become ties to comply with this language of [research] information…is classifi- a key tool for the imposition of restric- when they are the contractors. A few cation.” The directive went on to tions on basic research (in seeming universities have turned down con- instruct federal agencies on how to contrast to the clear language of the tracts containing this language. How- determine if a research project directive) in the post-9/11 era. ever, most have not. needed to be classified, and ended It turns out that a number of federal A second problem is related to stu- with the following statement: “No agencies are using “applicable U.S. dents at universities. Thousands of restriction may be placed upon the statutes” to restrict publication or for- foreign nationals study science and conduct or reporting of federally eign student access to research pro- engineering at American universities, funded fundamental research that duced under certain contracts, and and if a researcher has a contract that has not received national security the practice is growing. The task force restricts foreign student access to classification, except as provided in report notes that at least 105 research unclassified information generated applicable U.S. statutes.” awards include language that restricts from the work, the researcher could This statement was widely praised publication of results or the access of be in a situation where one student at the time by most of the scientific foreign nationals to the research. could work on the project, but community as a major victory for While many of these restrictions are another student sitting beside the freedom of scientific communication. found in Department of Defense con- first could not. You may recall the era—the Reagan tracts (as might be expected), a wide Continued on next page

JULY 2004 ASBMBToday 5 Research!America Ads Promote Investment in Science his spring, Research!America, in partnership with the Uni- T versities Research Associa- tion, Inc., and the Science Coalition, launched an advertising campaign to promote the importance of invest- ment in the basic science. The campaign consisted of ads in the Washington Post, a medium selected first century, scientific discoveries Newton questioned why objects because it is considered a must read by affect how we live, how we work, how move and the best way to describe Washington policy makers. The theme we communicate with the world their motion. He introduced a new of the advertising was: around us. Yet scientists did not set and abstract concept called gravity Research in Basic Science Brings out to develop many of these now and pondered how it could reach Innovations That Improve Our Lives vital technologies. The history of sci- across space, even to the planets and … like MRI. Science is an important ence is rich in stories of how the stars. His questions became key to investment for America, even when study of very abstract concepts gave mechanical engineering, the use of government resources are scarce. rise to unanticipated major techno- satellite observatories, the under- The ads noted that in the twenty- logical advances. In the 1600s, Isaac standing of the geology of our planet and to flight. The most powerful, yet non-inva- Troublesome Clauses continued … sive, diagnostic tools of the twenty- first century provide doctors Continued from page 5 industry. Further, industry should be immediate access to detailed images of Obviously, in an academic setting, instructed in these distinctions, and their patients’ bodies. Scientists did restrictions on publication and foreign told they are not required to pass not set out to invent MRI, it emerged access to otherwise unclassified along restrictions that they must deal by applying knowledge learned research findings are unfair, impracti- with when they subcontract work to through our commitment to fund cal, and not helpful to the advance- universities (if the work is basic in basic scientific exploration. What ment of science. nature). began as solely laboratory based phe- The AAU/COGR report therefore The AAU/COGR report can be found nomena evolved into the invention of recommends that agencies “adhere to at: www.aau.edu/research/Rpt4.8.04.pdf new tools for the diagnosis and treat- the spirit” of NSDD 189 and “not The ASBMB Public Affairs Advisory ment of disease. Today, magnetic reso- impose publication and foreign Committee and staff is monitoring nance imaging (MRI) scans are able to national restrictions” in research con- this little noticed problem, and would look at the size and shape of organs tracts. The report also recommends appreciate any information or com- and body structures, allowing doctors that a distinction be drawn between ments that researchers reading this to identify strokes, soft tissue injuries basic, fundamental research such as article may have on the issue. Please and tumors quickly and prepare a that typically done at universities, contact the Society’s public affairs medical response. and the developmental and commer- officer, Peter Farnham, at pfarn- ASBMB is a supporter of cialization work typically done in [email protected] Research!America.

6 ASBMBToday JULY 2004 The Definitive Resource for Relevant Research in Biochemistry

Now Available in Print and Online ® Annual Review of Biochemistry N Volume 73, July 2004 Editor: Charles C. Richardson, Harvard Medical School Associate Editors: Roger D. Kornberg, Stanford University School of Medicine, Christian R.H. Raetz, Duke University Medical Center and Jeremy W. Thorner, University of California, Berkeley

The Annual Review of Biochemistry, in publication since 1932, covers the significant developments in Biochemistry including DNA and RNA chemistry and structure; DNA repair, modifications, replication, and methodology; RNA transcription and gene regulation; enzymes and binding proteins; membrane protein structure and function; enzymol- ogy; the biochemistry of carbohydrates, lipids and other biomolecules; signal transduction; cellular biochemistry and organismal biochemistry as it relates to development, dif- ferentiation, molecular physiology, and nutritional biochemistry; biochemical basis of disease and immunochemistry.

The Annual Review of Biochemistry is ranked #1 by impact factor of the 226 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology publications, and #2 of ALL journals assessed by the ® ® ISI Journal Citation Reports (JCR ).

Authors in the current volume include: ·Markus Aebi · Jeyanthy Eswaran · Hui-I Kao · Ilme Schlichting · Ueli Aebi · Nancy R. Forde · Lee D. Kapp · Michael Seringhaus · Robert A. Bambara · Nobuyuki Fukushima · Lewis E. Kay · David P. Siderovski · Selena E. Bartlett · Mark Gerstein · Randall J. Kimple · Agata Smogorzewska · Robert T. Batey · Blake Gillespie · Jack F. Kirsch · Jessica E. Smotrys · Sarah Baxter · Dov Greenbaum · Vassilis Koronakis · Solomon H. Snyder · Philip A. Beachy · Leonard Guarente · Maurine E. Linder · Julie A. Theriot · Gil Blander · Robert S. Haltiwanger · Laura A. Lindsey-Boltz · Chikashi Toyoshima · Darren Boehning · Ari Helenius · Stuart Linn Vitali Tugarinov · Carlos Bustamante · Tamara L. Hendrickson · Yuan Liu · Keziban Ünsal-Kaçmaz · Yann R. Chemla · Harald Herrmann · Jon R. Lorsch · Maria Waldhoer · Jue Chen · Colin Hughes · John B. Lowe · Xiaodong Wang · Peter Chien · Peter M. Hwang · Randall K. Mann · Jonathan S. Weissman · Jerold Chun · Giuseppe Inesi · Roy Parker · Jennifer L. Whistler · Jeff Coller · Isao Ishii · Randen L. Patterson · Francis S. Willard · Amy L. Davidson · David Izhaky · Kevin W. Plaxco ·Yu Xia · Valérie de Crécy-Lagard · Ronald Jansen · Olena Pylypenko · Xiaoqin Ye · Titia de Lange · Xuejun Jiang · Susanne M. Rafelski · Haiyuan Yu · Angela H. DePace · Erica S. Johnson · Alexander Rich · Hongyu Zhao · Jennifer A. Doudna · Gerald F. Joyce · Aziz Sancar · Andrew C. Eliot · Laurie S. Kaguni · Paul Schimmel

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Top 25 Institutions Receiving NIH Awards in FY 2003 Listed below in rank by dollar amount, are the top 25 number of awards and total amounts, including training institutions that received NIH awards in Fiscal Year 2003. For grants, fellowships R&D contracts, and other awards, go to a complete listing of all institutions receiving awards, the the NIH website.

Rank Organization All Awards Research Grants R&D Contracts 1 Johns Hopkins University $414,225,650 $371,244,640 $21,749,426 2 Washington University 368,355,293 341,702,460 10,822,788 3 University of Pennsylvania 359,944,311 331,165,125 991,169 4 University of California San Francisco 350,786,145 305,890,184 28,925,060 5 Duke University 305,405,308 271,877,809 9,292,482 6 University of Washington 290,097,322 266,524,625 1,904,512 7 University of California Los Angeles 264,873,857 247,471,696 8,673,963 8 Yale University 261,706,751 236,996,674 3,347,436 9 University of Pittsburgh 258,276,361 227,703,969 5,268,268 10 Baylor College of Medicine 246,410,097 222,205,006 15,001,107 11 University of Michigan 241,388,940 216,969,254 5,266,169 12 Stanford University 235,522,176 214,966,069 3,859,036 13 Boston University 232,179,841 97,942,051 0 14 Columbia University 220,316,305 199,261,122 4,078,040 15 University of California San Diego 219,646,784 198,583,224 9,900,030 16 University of Alabama at Birmingham 208,229,354 159,169,432 23,901,670 17 Vanderbilt University 205,896,115 188,634,437 1,027,999 18 Case Western Reserve University 203,512,407 183,123,959 13,455,976 19 University of Texas at Galveston 202,863,845 76,952,533 13,262,508 20 University of North Carolina Chapel Hill 199,091,797 174,300,048 14,761,483 21 University of Texas at Dallas 173,839,840 152,430,428 14,890,525 22 University of Colorado Health Science Center 165,148,917 154,913,439 1,688,428 23 Emory University 158,120,873 149,337,231 2,626,946 24 New York University Mount Sinai School 155,959,314 146,615,860 3,028,990 25 University of Chicago Pritzer School 153,751,372 137,973,565 5,167,185

8 ASBMBToday JULY 2004 Staying on the Path; One Atom at a Time New percolation model may allow researchers to study biochemistry at the atomic level. report in the May 24 Proceedings of the Royal Soci- A ety of London. Series A: Mathematical and Physical Sciences announces a mathematical model that will help researchers understand cell signaling and learn how single atoms travel along the circuitous pathways in a cell. The model is a new approach to look at percolation-the flow of a liquid or Clusters of two, three and four permeable ellipsoids, generated from the percolation simulations of small particle through a porous mate- Yun-Bo Yi and Ann Marie Sastry. Credit: Yun-Bo Yi and Ann Marie Sastry, University of Michigan rial. In the simulation, materials pass properties of these types of materials, through fields of complex, three- researchers can enhance conductiv- The researchers will dimensional shapes, a scenario that is ity in batteries, flow paths in filters use their findings in closer to realworld environments than and numerous other percolation existing two-dimensional models and mechanisms. a larger study that models incorporating simpler shapes. Sastry won a 1997 NSF Presidential will deploy sensor The model was developed by Dr. Early Career Award for Scientists and Ann Marie Sastry and Dr. Yun-Bo Yi, Engineers (PECASE), the highest honor proteins inside a cell both of the University of Michigan. bestowed by the United States govern- The researchers will use their find- ment on scientists and engineers where the nanoscale ings in a larger study that will deploy beginning their independent research devices will track the sensor proteins inside a cell where careers. The NSF support from that the nanoscale devices will track the award contributed to the development paths of ions. paths of ions. of the percolation model. The model reveals how the sensors Support for the work was also pro- support to move beyond her own ini- might interact with the miniscule ions vided by the Defense Advanced tial training and move out to address that contribute to such diseases as Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and societal needs,” said Delcie Durham, stroke, cardiovascular disease and can- the Office of Naval Research through the Program Pirector in NSF’s Division of cer. With the proper experimental Synthetic Multifunctional Materials Pro- Design, Manufacture and Industrial design, the researchers may be able to gram, managed by Leo Christodoulou of Innovation who oversaw Sastry’s five- watch fundamental chemical reac- DARPA, and the W.M. Keck Foundation. year award. “Because of her interests tions, at the molecular level, as they “With her PECASE award, Ann and abilities, Sastry has attracted a occur in living cells. Marie Sastry has expanded her research diverse team of students and guided In addition to biological applica- focus from a single area in mechanical them to address core areas within tions, the simulation will help engineering, materials processing, into mechanical engineering. Sastry has researchers develop new materials by a broad exploration to uncover funda- expanded her research to address fun- revealing better ways to craft porous mental knowledge. She has demon- damental issues in mathematics, biol- substances. By understanding the strated an ability to take advantage of ogy and energy.”

JULY 2004 ASBMBToday 9 New Research at UNC Shows Ribosomes Do Not Function as Conventional Enzymes ontrary to what some scien- rier,” she said. This was done by com- reaction in the way that conventional tists have suggested, key intra- paring the energy barrier of the reac- enzymes do,” Dr. Sievers said. C cellular particles known as tion when the ribosome was present, The experiments will help scientists ribosomes serve as mechanical match- and when the ribosome was not pres- narrow their view of how ribosomes makers or readout devices rather than ent. The reactions both with the ribo- function and understand them better, acting chemically to speed up reactions some present and without the Wolfenden said. This discovery has in the body the way enzymes do, Uni- ribosome have the same enthalpic acti- important implications for the design versity of North Carolina (UNC) at vation barrier, the researchers found. of inhibitors of protein synthesis and Chapel Hill researchers have discovered. “The means by which the ribosome might ultimately furnish a new basis A report on the findings by Dr. speeds up the chemical transformation for drug design. It shows that the ribo- Annette Sievers and Dr. Richard is purely entropic in origin; the ribo- some’s effect is to introduce order into Wolfenden* of the UNC School of some acts as a mechanical readout chaos. Medicine appears in the May 2004 device, rather than speeding up the *ASBMB member. issue of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “Enzymes, of which we have hun- NAS Seeking Nominations For Science Awards dreds, participate chemically in the The National Academy of Sciences a prize of $25,000, is presented to a transformation of biological molecules (NAS) is currently accepting nomi- young scientist (35 to 45 years of age) by making and breaking bonds,” said nations for three separate awards for a recent, notable discovery in Wolfenden, Alumni Distinguished Pro- for excellence in scientific achieve- molecular biology. fessor of Biochemistry and Biophysics. ment. Nominations for all three “A hallmark of that direct chemical awards will be accepted through Selman A. Waksman Award in involvement is that their catalytic September 10, 2004. Microbiology effects are extremely temperature The Selman A. Waksman Award in dependent. The question was whether Richard Lounsbery Award Microbiology, a prize of $5,000, pre- the ribosome acts as an enzyme, since The Richard Lounsbery Award, a prize sented for excellence in the field of there has been considerable interest in of $50,000, is presented to young (to microbiology. whether this particle does that.” 45 years of age) American and French Ribosomes are critical sites of protein scientists to recognize extraordinary For more information on these synthesis, he said. Inside those parti- scientific achievement in biology and awards, contact: cles, amino acids are laid down in pro- medicine. The award is intended to National Academy of Sciences teins in the order specified by the stimulate research and to encourage Awards Program, Room NAS 285 genetic code. In general, enzymes, reciprocal scientific exchanges 500 Fifth Street, NW which are biological catalysts, facilitate between the United States and Washington, D.C. 20001 a chemical transformation by lowering France. Phone: 202-334-1602 the energy barrier, said Dr. Sievers. Fax: 202-334-1682 “In our present work we tested the NAS Award in Molecular Biology E-mail: [email protected] contribution of enthalpy and entropy The NAS Award in Molecular Biology, Web: www.nas.edu/nas/awards to lowering the activation energy bar-

10 ASBMBToday JULY 2004 Views from ASBMB 2004 More to come in August!

Above: Over 70 posters were entered in the ASBMB Undergraduate Poster Competition and more than 200 in the Graduate Competition.

ASBMB’s Past-President Bettie Sue Masters was surprised with birthday cake during reception at Annual Meeting. First annual Herbert Tabor/Journal of Biochemistry Award, was presented to Robert Lefkowitz (center) by Bruce Thomas, President and CEO of Cadmus, at right. JBC Editor Tabor is at left.

Minority Affairs Committee meeting was attended by Phillip Ortiz, Thomas Landefeld, Gail Pinder of ASBMB staff, Juliette Bell, and Jacque- ASBMB booth was active site on the exhibit floor. lyn Roberts of FASEB.

JULY 2004 ASBMBToday 11 In One Era

A Message from the New President of the ASBMB – Judith S. Bond

t is with pleasure and anticipa- planned for our centennial celebration Biological Chemistry (JBC) since 1987, tion that I assume the presi- in San Francisco in April 2006, initi- Director of Publications since 1994, dency of our Society in July ated under the outstanding leadership and Deputy Executive Officer since 2004.I Because the President serves a of Bettie Sue Masters. 1996. Barbara is uniquely qualified to two-year term, I will be the last presi- The Society underwent an important take the helm as Executive Director dent of the first century of the Society transition this year when Chuck Han- because of her extensive experience and the first president of the Society’s cock retired as Executive Director after with ASBMB publications, meetings, second century. What an honor it is to 24 years of exceptional service. After a council and committee work. Her serve in these transitional years! It will thorough and extensive search, Barbara energy, understanding of the organiza- be a time to celebrate our history, Gordon was chosen to be our Executive tion, and commitment to the Society growth and member accomplish- Director, and assumed that position in are exemplary. The Society did not lose ments, to plan strategies for the second April 2004. Many of you know Barbara a beat in the transition to new staff century, and to move ahead into the because she as been associated with the leadership. Barbara has already hired future with newly defined goals. There ASBMB for 32 years; in the capacity of Joan Geiling to fill a vacancy in meet- are already many activities being Assistant to the Editor of The Journal of ings management, a science writer,

12 ASBMBToday JULY 2004 Out the Other Nicole Kresge, and is in the process of that spans a multitude of systems from group of enzymes, and there were no identifying a person to replace herself the prokaryotic, archea and eukaryotic obvious immediate utilities. Not long as Director of Publications. Barbara and world, and from small molecules to after that meeting, the world became her staff of 20 in the ASBMB office are multicomponent complex ”omes” aware of AIDS and HIV, a virus that crucial to our Society’s success and the (e.g., genome, proteome, lipidome, depends on an aspartic protease to implementation of the new goals that glycome, metabonome). replicate, and the rapid and uncon- we set during the coming years. Our flagship journal, The JBC, has trolled spread of the disease in many We have much to be proud of in our very clearly defined its scope, and parts of the world. It was because of Society, such as the quality of our publi- advises authors that: “Manuscripts fail- the great wealth of basic science cations, our leadership role in online ing to deal with biological processes at knowledge on the structure and func- publications, the professional success of the biochemical or molecular level are tion of these enzymes that scientists our members, the outreach of our mem- usually inappropriate for The Journal. could move rapidly to develop bers to the next generation of scientists, In the absence of novelty and signifi- inhibitors of the AIDS virus protease, and our advocacy efforts to inform deci- cance, medical relevance or pharmaco- and capitalize on the difference of this sion makers of the importance of our logical potential will not be considered protease to the mammalian aspartic science. Our Society’s mission is: sufficient justification for publication.” proteases. This is just one example of Thus, the Society through the Journal how basic science can lead to treat- “Promoting understanding of the stresses biochemical and molecular ment of a disease. molecular nature of life processes” biological insights and mechanisms, Over the course of my professional We represent the discipline of Bio- not the translation of these underlying career, I have observed many examples chemistry and the technologies of insights into medical, pharmacologi- of how science progresses, and how tech- Molecular Biology, which are funda- cal, or agricultural advances. nology, communication, collaboration mental to all the life sciences, and Basic science is essential to the foun- and curiosity drives science. My personal define the universal language of the dation of many practical advances, but scientific contributions illustrate this. life sciences. It is clear that what we do this is not always obvious to the public In the early 1980s meprins, zinc as biochemists and molecular biolo- and policy makers. In my own field of endopeptidases, were discovered in my gists overlaps and benefits other proteases and their substrates, I can laboratory when a colleague from Eng- branches of science. Our Society must think of many examples in which land, Robert Beynon, came to work adapt to the environment in the age of basic science has led to unanticipated interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary commercial developments. One exam- science, and be true to the mission of ple of this is the development of promoting understanding of the inhibitors to the HIV protease for the molecular nature of life processes. We treatment of AIDS. I recall an interna- are committed to promulgating tional meeting in the 1980s on aspartic advances, bringing in new people and proteases (endopeptidases that depend ideas, and communicating our mes- on an aspartic residue for their cat- sage to the public, leaders, and the alytic activity). At that meeting, many next generation of scientists. Our of my colleagues were expressing con- members have inquisitiveness about cern that it was increasingly difficult to the molecules that make up living sys- obtain funding to investigate the tems, their regulation, function and mechanisms and regulation of aspartic interactions. We represent a basic sci- proteases (enzymes such as cathepsin Two presidents:ASBMB’s Judith Bond ence that is driven by curiosity, some- D and E). Only a very small subset of and Pennsylvania State University President times considered ‘untargeted,’ and one investigators was interested in this sub- Graham Spanier.

JULY 2004 ASBMBToday 13 with me at the Medical College of Vir- ing activity. This observation resulted brane-bound and secreted forms that ginia of Virginia Commonwealth Uni- in a collaboration with a mouse geneti- tend to self-associate and form some of versity. I had met Rob at an cist, Chella David, who recognized the largest proteolytic complexes seen international conference on proteases, that one of the genes for meprins was in living systems, 1 to 6 MDa. Meprins and through discussions we realized linked to the histocompatibility com- are capable of hydrolyzing biologically that we had common interests in cell- plex on mouse chromosome 17. It was active peptides such as bradykinin, gas- associated proteases and protein degra- communication and collaboration, trin, and angiotensin, cytokines and dation. Meprins were discovered as again, that led to this insight. chemokines such as MCP-1 and osteo- azocasein-degrading proteases of the Through other collaborations the pontin, and proteins such as rodent kidney because of my interest genes for the α and ß subunits of fibronectin, collagen IV, and gelatin. in the regulation of proteases in dia- meprins were mapped in the mouse Through collaboration we have con- betic mice, and Rob’s use of azocasein and human genomes, and the structed homology models of meprin as a good substrate for proteinases that enzymes were visualized as brush bor- active sites and determined amino act at neutral and basic pH values. der enzymes using electron acids critical to the different prote- When we discovered a very high microscopy. In the late 1980s and early olytic activities of the subunits. proteolytic activity in Balb/c mouse 1990s, my trainees, colleagues (includ- More recently we and others have kidney using this substrate, and could ing Erwin Sterchi) and I applied the found that meprins are upregulated in not find evidence for this activity in technologies of molecular biology and certain cancer cells and in leucocytes the literature, it was curiosity that led cloned and sequenced the mouse and during intestinal inflammation. One to purifying and characterizing the human meprin subunits. Using the of the subunits has been suggested membrane-associated enzyme. A few rapidly expanding information in pro- as a candidate gene for diabetic years after the discovery of meprins, tein databases, we discovered that nephropathy, and the other subunit we found that some inbred strains of meprins were members of an evolu- implicated in ulcerative colitus. mice (the Strong C strain of mice, such tionary family that we named “the Meprins are also implicated in tumor as C3H/He and CBA mice) had very astacin family of metalloproteinases.” cell metastasis, and thus we are begin- low levels of kidney azocasein-degrad- Astacin, a crayfish enzyme, is one of ning to ask how they can be down- the smallest members of this family, regulated and inhibited. The basic and to date is the only member of this science has led to science that has family that has been crystallized. potential targets for disease, and per- Meprins are quite complex multido- haps this will lead to translational main, multimeric enzymes that are research, from bench to bedside. highly glycosylated. There are mem- My story illustrates too that we as individuals wear many hats and can be Critical amino acid differences within the active identified with many different types of site of meprin a and ß metalloproteinases for substrate and peptide bond specificity. The top research during the course of a career, panels are homology models in space filling as independent scientists, members of (left) and ribbon (right) representations of the a team, or through collaboration. protease domain of mouse meprin a based on Members of our Society are not only the crystal structure of crayfish astacin. For the biochemists and molecular biologists, space filling representations acidic residues, Asp and Glu, are red, basic residues Lys and Arg, are but also pharmacologists, immunolo- blue; all other residues are white. The zinc gists, microbiologists, geneticists, located in the center of the active site is green. bioinformatics specialists, develop- For the ribbon representation α-helices are red mental biologists, physicians, plant and ß-sheets are cyan. The bottom panels con- physiologists to name a few. We have tain the corresponding representations for in common an interest in promoting mouse meprin ß. Active site electrostatic differ- ences are denoted by arrows in space filling the understanding of the molecular models and are numbered in ribbon representa- nature of life processes, but we use tions. (from J Biol Chem 278:42545-42550) many different approaches and sys-

14 ASBMBToday JULY 2004 Bond Laboratory Group: Seated (from left to right): Susan Senchak, Sanjita Banerjee, Bond, Xiaoli Han; Standing (left to right): John Bylander, Renee Dusheck, Bill Patrie, Ryan Gailey, Gail Matters

should the Society play in sponsoring meetings. Meetings are important for our mission and developing a commu- nity of scientists. But the Society will have to determine what type of meet- ings best serve our members and fulfill our mission. Public Advocacy: There are multi- ple issues of interest to our members in tems to accomplish our aims and Proteomics), to acquire the Journal of the public arena these days, including advance science. Lipid Research, and to publish Bio- funding issues (especially governmen- This brings me to the topic of how chemistry and Molecular Biology Educa- tal), regulatory issues (cloning, stem our Society intends to grow and tion (BAMBED) in collaboration with cell, animal rights, compliance), and develop, and to address some of the the International Union of Biochem- evidence-based decision-making. Our issues and challenges we face. The istry and Molecular Biology. The new Society will no doubt want to continue leadership of the Society intends to journals are establishing a con- to inform governmental leaders about undertake strategic planning in the fall stituency and their own niche, and issues that directly affect us, and work of 2004, and to set the agenda for the will also need to find the right for- with other agencies such as the FASEB. coming years. However, let me briefly mula for financial sustainability. What mechanisms are most effective? mention issues that I see confronting Membership: The Society has Education: The Education and Pro- us as a Society. They generally fall increased its membership to 12,000 at fessional Development Committee has under: publications, membership, about 10% per year for the last few made great strides in setting up net- meetings, public advocacy, education. years. It will be important to determine works with undergraduate faculty and Publications: The first and most how we wish to grow, and particularly students for curriculum development important issue is maintaining and how to recruit the next generation of and for interactions with our Society. improving the quality and impact of scientists and diverse populations. A How do we want to expand on this? our journals. This is a topic that Edi- survey of the membership several years Do we want to reach down to elemen- tors and Associate Editors of our Jour- ago indicated that the great majority tary and high school education, as well nals, along with our Publications our members are at American academic as support career development for grad- Committee will be addressing. In institutions. Many of the new scientists uate students and postdoctoral fellows? addition, it is important that we are engaged in diverse enterprises such This is a healthy Society. We have a build on the strength of our publica- as biotechnology companies, industrial clear mission, are in a financially sound tions and our leadership in online, companies, government agencies and position, and are growing in member- accessible publication. The JBC was foreign institutions. As the authors of ship. In my positions as a Chair of a the first biomedical journal to pub- manuscripts in our journals are increas- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology lish online in 1995. All JBC articles ingly international, there is the possi- Department, an Associate Editor of the are now accessible online back to the bility of increasing numbers of foreign JBC, and an active researcher, I have a first issue in 1905, and articles are members of our Society. Do we want to personal interest in all the major activi- freely accessible the day they are encourage membership of other groups ties of the Society and want to see the accepted for publication. We are in not traditionally members of our soci- Society flourish. I promise to work dili- the transition from total print to total ety, such as college and high school gently with the Council, Staff, Editors, online publication, and there are sig- teachers? and Committees of the Society to take nificant questions as to how the jour- Meetings: The Society currently us into the next century of the Society nal will be sustainably financed and sponsors the annual meeting (usually with a clear vision. We will develop a archived once there are no print jour- but not always with the FASEB) and strategic plan this fall, and implement nals. The Society also made a deci- small meetings. Because there are so the plan over the coming years. sion several years ago, to publish a many meetings available to scientists, Together we can do so much more new journal (Molecular and Cellular the question becomes what role than we can do as individuals.

JULY 2004 ASBMBToday 15 Insulin-Producing Pancreatic Cells Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) researchers at Harvard University have discovered that insulin- producing beta cells in the pancreas that are attacked in type 1 diabetes are replenished through duplication of existing cells rather than through differentiation of adult stem cells.

lthough the experiments, pancreatic tissue to both maintain the which were done using mice, pancreas and to regenerate it,” said Dr. A do not rule out the possibility Melton. “Previous studies have sug- that there are adult stem cells in the gested that there are sources of adult pancreas, the researchers say that they stem cells that might give rise to beta do suggest strongly that embryonic cells. However, those studies had stem cells or mature beta cells may be largely depended on histological the only way to generate beta cells for `snapshots’ of tissues.” Those snap- use in cell replacement therapies to shots can only suggest the “geo- treat diabetes. graphic” origin of new beta cells and The research team, which was led by not the identity of the cells from HHMI Investigator Douglas A. Melton* which they arise, he noted. at Harvard University, reported its find- Dr. Melton and his colleagues knew ings in a research article published in that they could finally put such ques- HHMI at Harvard University Dor, ©2004 Yuval the May 6, 2004, issue of the journal tions to rest if they could tag beta cells A pancreatic islet, in which a subset of beta Nature. Melton’s co-authors include in such a way that that they could cells have been marked in red to trace their Yuval Dor, Juliana Brown and Olga I. determine unequivocally whether the genetic lineage. Insulin appears as green and DNA has been stained blue. Martinez, all of Harvard. new cells were made from existing beta In cell culture, embryonic stem (ES) cells or from a different reservoir of marker to determine whether it is inher- cells retain the properties of undiffer- stem cells. For these studies, they ited by subsequent generations of beta entiated embryonic cells. ES cells devised a “genetic lineage tracing” cells. If it is inherited, then the cells have the capacity to make all cell technique that involved engineering a expressing the marker are the offspring types found in an adult organism. mouse whose beta cells contained a of pre-existing beta cells. One of the most hotly debated ques- telltale genetic marker that could be When the researchers applied their tions in biology is whether adult switched on by administering the drug technique to the mice, they discov- stem cells, which have been isolated tamoxifen to the mice. ered that all the new beta cells they from blood, skin, brain and other The logic behind the technique is rel- examined — whether arising in the organs, have the same developmental atively straightforward: When the usual process of renewal or during capacity as ES cells. researchers administer a pulse of tamox- regeneration following partial removal Researchers have known for some ifen to the adult mice, Cre recombinase of the pancreas—were generated from time that ES cells can give rise to pan- is induced transiently and removes a pre-existing beta cells. According to creatic beta cells during development. “stop” sequence from an alkaline phos- Dr. Melton, the finding highlights a “But the more interesting question for phatase reporter gene, allowing it to be largely unappreciated capability of us has been what happens in mature expressed. They can easily follow the beta cells.

16 ASBMBToday JULY 2004 Replenished by Duplication

“No one has really paid much atten- restore insulin production in such dence for the existence of adult pan- tion to the replicative capacity of the patients. creatic stem cells.” beta cell,” he said. “And this work “On the other hand, if type 1 diabet- The genetic lineage tracing technique shows the cells to have a significant ics don’t have any beta cells left, then devised by the group is a tool that can proliferative capacity that could be these findings suggest that the only now be used to trace the origin of cells clinically useful.” source of new beta cells is probably involved in the maintenance and repair According to Dr. Melton, the find- going to be embryonic stem cells, of other types of tissue. Dr. Melton and ings might have implications for because there don’t appear to be adult his colleagues are now using this tech- developing treatments for type 1 dia- stem cells involved in regeneration.” nique to determine the origin of new betes, a disease that destroys beta He emphasized that although the cells in lung tissue, and they believe it cells. “If such people have residual results by his group cannot rule out should be possible to apply the tech- beta cells, these findings suggest that the existence of beta-cell-producing nique to understand the origin of cancer a useful clinical direction would be adult stem cells, “they raise the bar on cells in tumors or to understand the role to find a way to boost the prolifera- trying to demonstrate their existence. of stem cells in such malignancies. tive capacity of those beta cells, to In these experiments, we find no evi- * ASBMB member

JULY 2004 ASBMBToday 17 A New Spin on

hree centuries after a pioneer- divergence from a common ancestor genomes of six other oral-cavity bacte- ing Dutch microbiologist first “was an ancient event” in contrast to ria and conducting a “meta-genomic” T observed the spiral-shaped the more recent divergence of many assay of mouth microbes. Of the esti- oral pathogen Treponema denticola, sci- other groups of bacteria from their mated 500 microbial species in the entists have deciphered the bac- ancestral relatives. human mouth, only about 150 species terium’s entire DNA sequence and The genome study is expected to have been cultured in laboratories. used comparative genomics to cast help scientists find out more about “The genome sequence reveals new light on other spirochete how oral pathogens interact in den- mechanisms used by T. denticola to col- microbes. tal plaque to cause gum disease. T. onize and survive in the complex envi- The study by scientists at The Insti- denticola tends to aggregate in such ronment of oral biofilms,” says Dr. tute for Genomic Research (TIGR) and subgingival plaque with Porphy- Seshadri, the study’s first author. collaborators at Baylor College of Med- romonas gingivalis, a bacterium that TIGR’s collaborators in the PNAS study icine and the University of Texas is associated with periodontitis, a included Dr. Steven J. Norris at the Health Science Center at Houston gum disease that affects an estimated University of Texas Health Science found profound differences between 200 million Americans. Having the Center at Houston and Dr. George M. the gene content of T. denticola, which complete genomes of both microbes Weinstock* at Baylor College of Medi- is associated with periodontal (gum) will help researches study their inter- cine’s Department of Molecular and disease, and of other spirochetes that actions and possibly provide molecu- Human Genetics. cause syphilis and Lyme disease. lar clues to find targets for drugs to In the PNAS paper, researchers “This highlights the power of com- treat gum disease. reported that the genome of T. denti- parative genomics to help us under- TIGR scientists and collaborators cola “reflects its adaptations for colo- stand how related pathogens can cause sequenced the genome of P. gingivalis nization and survival” with other completely different diseases,” says Ian last year and are now deciphering the bacteria in plaque. Compared to Paulsen, who led the sequencing along with fellow TIGR researcher Rekha Seshadri. Dr. Paulsen says the T. denti- ASBMB Welcomes New Ph.D.s cola genome “provides an excellent ASBMB extends its congratulations to these individuals who recently received point of reference to study the biology their Ph.D. degrees. In recognition of their achievement, ASBMB is presenting of spirochetes.” them with a free one-year membership in the Society. The new Ph.D.s are listed The paper appeared in the April 13, below with the institution from which they received their degree. 2004, issue of Proceedings of the National Gregory J. Carven Anna Seibert Academy of Sciences (PNAS). The study Massachusetts Institute of State University of New York Buffalo was supported by the National Institute Technology Zarixia Zavala-Ruiz of Dental and Craniofacial Research Gustavo A. Nader Massachusetts Institute of (NIDCR), which is part of NIH. University of Illinois at Chicago Technology The researchers found that T. denti- Jennifer Palenchar cola has more than twice as many In our June issue, Shawn Sweeney University of Delaware genes as the spirochete that causes was incorrectly listed as receiving a Peter R. Panizzi syphilis, T. pallidum, and that there is Ph.D. from University of Texas, A&M Vanderbilt University School of virtually no conservation of gene order University. The degree was from Medicine (synteny) between the genomes of the Thomas Jefferson University. two related microbes. The authors say * Candidates with an asterisk were previous Associate members who met the requirements for a free one-year membership. that indicates that the two spirochetes’

18 ASBMBToday JULY 2004 Spirochetes other spirochetes (including an esti- the 1670s. Even after three centuries, three sequenced spirochetes. The 618 mated 60 other treponomal species or however, spirochetes are poorly under- genes that all four spirochetes have in phylotypes found in dental plaque), stood in contrast to many other major common include some that are not T. denticola is relatively easy to culti- types of bacteria. found in other microbes whose vate and manipulate genetically, So far, TIGR has sequenced the com- genomes have been sequenced. making it an excellent model for plete genomes of three spirochetes: T. Claire M. Fraser,* TIGR President, spirochete research. denticola, T. pallidum, which causes says the sequence data “provide a new Spirochetes are distinguished by syphilis; and Borellia burgdorferei, which starting point” for exploring the their spiral shapes and their ability to causes Lyme disease. The genome molecular differences that may corkscrew their way through gel-like of a fourth spirochete, Leptospira inter- explain why and how T. denticola and tissues, causing a number of different rogans, which causes Leptosporisis, was T. pallidum cause such different dis- diseases. The father of microbiology, sequenced at the Chinese National eases: “This study has revealed new Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, had first Human Genome Center. insights into spirochete-specific biol- sketched an oral spirochete—later TIGR’s comparative analysis found ogy as well as the evolutionary forces named T. denticola—after viewing it that about half of T. denticola’s 2,786 that have shaped these genomes.” through his primitive microscope in genes are not present in the other * ASBMB member Move Your Reliable Diode Array into the Modern Era with

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JULY 2004 ASBMBToday 19 BIOTECH BUSINESS NEWS

by John D. Thompson, Editor

Report Finds Brighter Prospects For Biotech in the U.S., Asia After some four years of an up-and- into sluggish development pipelines, lish themselves as rivals in such down relationship with investors, the as well as a trend on the part of the niches as drug screening biotech-drug biotech business in the United biotechs to refocus their business manufacturing. States—and possible Asia, too—is back strategy. In contrast, the picture in Europe is in the good graces of the investment Meanwhile, the fledging biotech on he bleak side. Venture financing community. industry in Asia is on a rapid growth dropped by 10 percent last year, and The Ernst & Young accounting and curve. Ernst & Young estimates that Ernst & Young predicts that the Euro- consulting firm reports that the 1,437 there are some 660 biotech compa- peans will continue to fall behind the biotech companies in the U.S. raked in nies in the Asia-Pacific region, the U.S. unless they learn how to get more $14.4 billion in new investment bulk of them in Australia, China, drugs to the market faster. In The Econo- money last year. That, according to the India, Japan, and Singapore. The total mist’s words, “There is an urgent need report released last month, is some 66 is small compared to that in the U.S., for consolidation to build critical mass” percent more than investors put into but the Asians are beginning to estab- in order to gain a competitive edge. biotech in 2002. That helped raise the industry’s market capitalization by more than 50 percent to almost $300 billion by the end of 2003. During that Importing a Fight With Boston’s year, seven U.S. biotechs carried out This month, Boston is set to year, reportedly saving taxpayers $2 initial public offerings (IPOs), and Scott become the largest city in the U.S. to million; and Montgomery, Alabama, Morrison, head of U.S. Life Sciences at make it easy for public employees to and Burlington, Vermont, also have Ernst & Young, expects as many as 30 buy imported pharmaceuticals. import programs. such companies to have gone public Boston’s move coincides with a pro- A statewide importation plan in by the end of this year. posed bill in the Massachusetts Legis- Illinois is on hold pending a change Why this return to favor in the lature that would permit the state’s in the FDA’s stance, but Minnesota investment community? As usual, residents to seek federal permission and Wisconsin have already set up money follows money. The total rev- for a website with links to Canadian websites that guide residents to enue of publicly-owned biotech firms internet pharmacies. However, this approved Canadian pharmacies, and hit almost $36 billion last year, and has drawn criticism from biotechnol- Rhode Island’s state website links to Ernst & Young predicts that at this rate ogy executives. They say importing Wisconsin’s. the publicly-owned biotechs actually cheaper drugs will eat into profit and Massachusetts is home to more than be in the black by 2008. These firms, divert funding from fledgling drug 280 biotechnology companies–three the consultants note, have already pro- companies. times as many as 10 years ago–with the duced several billion-dollar pharma- With many drugs selling for 20 to vast majority concentrated in Boston ceutical blockbusters and are on the 80 percent less in Canada due largely and Cambridge, where start-ups such as road to delivering more. Last year 25 to government price controls there, Genzyme Corp. and Biogen Inc. have biotech drugs won FDA approval, and several U.S. cities already import drugs grown to become some of the industry’s another 300 are in the final stages of for residents or employees even largest and most profitable firms. Drug the approval process. though the FDA considers such pro- giant Novartis AG moved its research Some of this productivity reflects grams illegal. Springfield, Massachu- headquarters to Cambridge, the city deals with major pharmaceutical setts, has has had such a program for a across the Charles River from Boston companies which need to pump life

20 ASBMBToday JULY 2004 BIOTECH BUSINESS NEWS

Biotech Leaders Express Concerns At Industry’s Annual Meeting While the newly released Ernst & more open and willing to educate the ment where drugs must not only be Young Report sees bright prospects for public about biotech.”We’re doing a safe and effective, but also cost effec- biotech in the U.S. and Asia, industry terrible job of communication,” said tive,” he stated. Fenton also noted the leaders at last month’s Biotechnology Chireon CEO Howard Pien. He also industry’s failure to sell many products Industry Organization annual meeting pointed to challenges to innovation, in markets beyond the wealthy nations expressed concerns about public support the possibility of generic biologics, and of Europe and the United States. for biotech, investor pressure for short- restrictions on stem cell research. Arthur D. Levinson, Chairman and term profits, and increased competition “We tend to be too scientific and CEO of Genentech, said the increasing with large pharmaceutical companies. clinical,” said James C. Mullen, Biogen costs of developing drugs may bring The consenasus of four top execu- Idec’s CEO, who urged the industry’s biotech firms into direct competition tives who spoke at the meeting, was leaders to increase their presence in the with large pharmaceutical companies that the industry needs to become public debate about biotech. “It’s got looking to biotechnology for new to be a discussion that brings the sci- products. He also cited the problem of ence, but marries it to other issues, convincing investors to look beyond such as cultural values.” the next quarter’s financial results and Biotech Industry Dennis M. Fenton, Executive Vice stand by their investments over the that is home to Harvard University President of Amgen, said his greatest long run. Genentech, he noted, had and the Massachusetts Institute of concern for the industry is the push for struggled to win investor support to Technology. lower prices by government and health increase research funding that has Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino insurers that might diminish patient since paid off in major product claims that his city can be both a choice. “We’re moving to an environ- approvals. biotechnology powerhouse and an importer of prescription drugs from Canada. However, Massachusetts Are the Belgians Coming? Governor Mitt Romney (R) and state Earlier this year it was the French said to be in favor of the Belgian offer, House Speaker Thomas M. Finneran worrying about a foriegn invasion, as well it might since it already has (D) have both expressed reservations when Switzerland’s Novartis was try- licensed marketing rights for the new about the impact of importation on ing to buy France’s Aventis. Now drug to UCB. Some of the British the drug industry. biotech industry watchers in the UK media, however, have depicted the Industry experts have warned that are concerned about a Belgian inva- potential acquisition as a crushing the investment capital that fuels sion thanks to UCB’s £1.5 billion loss with a rising star of the nation’s biotech companies’ research and ($2.7 billion) bid for Britain’s second biotech industry being captured by a development is likely to dwindle if largest Biotech company, Celltech. foreign firm. the importation movement acceler- Celltech, which had sales of £353 That view, however, seems to over- ates. As the goal of importation is to million ($635 million) last year has an look the fact that a third of the equity drive down prices paid by Americans anti-arthritis drug due to go on the in Britain’s Celltech is in American for pharmaceuticals, they say, such market in 2007, which it looks for to hands, namely California’s Capital plans cut into the potential profit of a add another £600 million ($1,080 Group and American-owned but successful new drug. million) in sales. Celltech’s board is Bermuda-based Fidelity.

JULY 2004 ASBMBToday 21 BIOTECH BUSINESS NEWS

by John D. Thompson, Editor

Legal Battle Looming Over Generics Issues The biotech industry, Congress, and any such document would necessarily other influential members of Congress the FDA are on the verge of a three- involve the illegal use of proprietary are said to be interested in easing the cornered battle over the approval data the company had submitted to way for approval of generic biologics. process for generic drugs developed the FDA in seeking approval for As of this writing, legislation had yet to through biotechnology rather than the Genentech products. It charges that be submitted, however Congress traditional chemistry-based process. FDA approval of generic versions as appears likely to move along a similar At issue is the approval process for being compatible with the company’s track to that of the FDA. these drugs, called “generic biologics.” products, would inevitably involve the Another factor, though, could be The generic equivalents of traditional disclosure of Genentech’s manufactur- public concern over the rising cost of drugs have been approved as being ing processes. Subsequent to that fil- medication. Conceivably this could identical to the original product, and ing, Crawford said that the proposed lead to a less restrictive policy for the consequently not requiring costly guidelines would only pertain to data approval of generic biologics. That in clinical tests in order to gain approval. in the public domain. turn might bring small- and medium- However, the process of manufactur- Meanwhile, Senate Judiciary Com- size biotech companies into the field as ing biologics creates difficulty in mittee Chair Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and competition for the established players. demonstrating scientifically that the active molecules in the biologic prod- uct are identical to those in the origi- Upstate Awarded National Cancer Institute Grant nal. The FDA has said that it will consider approving biologics while In Collaboration With University of Virginia reserving the right to require data Upstate, in collaboration with the research institution performing at from clinical tests, but at the same University of Virginia Health Science least 30 percent. Under the grant time it is looking to set a more defini- Center, has been granted a Phase I structure, positive peer reviewed tive policy. This has been confirmed in STTR (Small Business Technology results at the end of Phase I (next congressional testimony by Acting Transfer) award in the amount of year) could lead to an additional Commissioner Lester Crawford, who $207,522 by the National Cancer grant approval for Phase II and a dra- said the agency was preparing to Institute. The grant is to fund initial matic increase in funding. release such guidelines experiments to develop novel small “We are extremely pleased to have The FDA’s move toward setting pro- molecule inhibitors of histone acetyl- this opportunity to work with the cedures for the approval of generic transferase enzymes (HATs), impor- University of Virginia Health Science biologics has become the subject of tant regulators of genome function. Center on this project. This type of industry concern for some time, as it Abberant HAT function is common research can lead to the development seems to make clinical testing a likely in several types of cancer, and the of novel cancer treatment protocols,” requirement for approval. Last year, development of inhibitors to HATs said James Bone, Ph.D., a Research the Biotechnology Industry Organiza- could lead to future progress in cancer and Development Manager for tion (BIO) filed a challenge to the therapeutics. Cell signaling, Upstate’s Upstate. FDA’s legal authority and scientific fea- core business, is a common theme in Upstate, a supplier of cell signaling sibility of the agency approving bio- cancer research and drug discovery. products, technology, platforms and logics under its current procedures. The STTR award mandates that services, is headquartered in Char- Then, on April 8 of this year, Genen- work be conducted jointly with a lottesville, Virginia, and has centers tech filed a petition aimed at prevent- business performing at least 40 per- in Lake Placid, New York, and ing the FDA from issuing the expected cent of the work and a non-profit Dundee and Cambridge in the UK. guidelines. Genentech claimed that

22 ASBMBToday JULY 2004 New UK Center to Focus on Stem Cell Research new £16.5 million ($30 mil- will be compared to the development attractive than the potential volatility lion U.S.) stem cell center in of penicillin, the polio vaccine and the of U.S. policy which is subject to A Cambridge that was founded heart transplant.” change depending on which party by the UK government last month will The United Kingdom has recently controls Congress and the White be committed to fundamental research passed several milestones in stem cell House. There is, he said, no guarantee on both human embryonic and adult research. The world’s first stem cell that any change for the better will not stem cells as a step toward studying bank was formally opened in Hertford- be undone by a future administration. therapeutic applications. shire in May, with the deposition of The UK ProLife Party urged the new The new center will be directed by two cell lines. In the same month, the center to concentrate on animal, rather Roger Pedersen, Professor of Regenerative Newcastle Centre for Life applied to than human, embryonic stem cells. Medicine at Cambridge University, who the Human Fertilization and Embryol- “There are still fundamental problems said that more than half of the research ogy Authority for a license to under- to be solved in animal models, in par- will be on embryonic stem cells. take research involving somatic cell ticular how to control growth of stem “This funding comes at a critical junc- nuclear transfer. cells and stop them forming tumors,” a ture in the development of the stem cell Dr. Pedersen, who was drawn to ProLife spokesperson told The Scientist. field, as the UK builds strength and Cambridge from California by the free- Pedersen, however, pointed out that momentum to take the lead in the inter- dom to work on human embryonic while much of the center’s early national stem cell research effort,” he stem cells, predicted that his new cen- research will be fundamental, it will added. “Thousands of people live with the ter will attract a top stem cell also address issues of clinical interest effects of juvenile diabetes, even though researchers from the U.S. who are dis- already identified by other laborato- they take insulin, and existing therapies satisfied with the failure of the govern- ries, and this requires human stem for Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and ment to support human embryonic cells. “We are already starting along multiple sclerosis, also fall far short of a stem cell research. He told The Scientist that pathway, for example, asking how cure. The new Medical Research Council that the stability of the UK’s policy on we make insulin-producing cells for (MRC) Center will help scientists bridge stem cell research will prove more the pancreas,” he said. the gap between fundamental stem cell research and clinical application, speeding the delivery of treatments for diseases, Research Associate position in membrane protein structure- many of which are currently incurable, function, electron transport, and energy transduction membrane protein from the lab to the clinic.” complexes. Applicant must have a Ph.D. in biochemistry or a related In the U.S., Christopher Reeve, discipline with postdoctoral research experience in the structure function Chairman of the Christopher Reeve study of membrane protein. Experience in protein crystallization, Paralysis Foundation, commented, “I molecular biology, or organic synthesis is preferred. Competitive salary negotiable up to $35,002 for 11-month year, plus fringe benefits. Position am delighted to hear from Roger Peder- renewable through 04/30/10, depending on performance. sen that the Medical Research Council will be providing support for a stem cell Send CV, list of three references, and copies of three most relevant research center in Cambridge, bringing publications to: a world-class team of scientists together Prof. Chang-An Yu under one roof. I believe that research Departmentof Biochemistry and Molecular Biology on embryonic stem cells must be taken Oklahoma State University forward with the utmost urgency, as it 246 Noble Research Center is our greatest hope for curing condi- Stillwater, OK 74078-3035 tions such as spinal cord injury, dia- betes and Parkinson’s disease that are Oklahoma State University is an Affirmative Action/Equal beyond the reach of current therapies. Opportunity Employer Committed to Multicultural Diversity Stem cell research should lead to the kinds of medical advances that one day

JULY 2004 ASBMBToday 23 Calendar of Scientific Meetings

AUGUST 2004 SEPTEMBER 2004 12th International Conference on Second Messengers Relaxin 2004: Fourth International Conference on and Phospoproteins Relaxin and Related Peptides August 3–7 • Montreal, Canada September 5-10 • Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole, WY Contact: [email protected] This conference will present recent advances on the chemistry, Website: http://www.secondmessengers2004.ca physiology, and pharmacology of relaxin, related peptides, and their receptors. FASEB Conference: Transcriptional Regulation During Email: [email protected] Cell Growth, Differentiation, and Development Website: http://www.life.uiuc.edu/relaxin2004/ August 14–19 • Saxtons River, Vermont Stem Cell Biology: Development and Plasticity Co-organizers: Barbara Graves and John Tamkun Go to http://src.faseb.org to fill out online application. September 16-19 • Scheman Continuing Education Building Student travel awards available. Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa. Abstracts due July 16, 2004; Registration deadline: August 16, 2004 Macromolecular Organization & Cell Function Student Travel Grant Applications due July 16, 2004 Contact: Growth Factor and Signal Transduction Conferences August 15–20 • Queen’s College, Oxford, UK Symposium Office Ph: 401-783-4011; Email: [email protected] Ph: 515-294-7978; Fx: 515-294-2244; Email: [email protected] Website: http://www.grc.uri.edu/programs/2004/macromol.htm Website: http://www.bb.iastate.edu/-gfstlhomepg.htmi

EuroScience Open Forum 2004: Highlighting Science, Cellular and Molecular Basis of Regeneration Technology & Innovation in Europe EuroConference on the Molecular Pathways Leading to August 25–28 • Stockholm Regeneration Contact: Gabriella Norlin, Project Leader September 18–23 • San Feliu de Guixols, Spain Phone: +46 8 546 44 154; Fax: +46 8 546 44 155 Contact: European Science Foundation, EURESCO Office Email: [email protected] Ph: +33(0)3 88 76 71 35; Fx: +33 (0)3 88 36 69 87 Postal address: Swedish Research Council Email: [email protected]; Website: http://www.esf.org/euresco SE-103 78 Stockholm, Sweden

International Congress on Biocatalysis 2004 OCTOBER 2004 August 29–September 1 • University of Technology, Hamburg, Cytokines in Cancer and Immunity: Germany Contact: Gerlinde Loebkens; FON +49-40-76618012 Joint Conference of ICS and ISICR FAX +49-40-76618018; e-mail: [email protected] October 21-25 • San Juan, Puerto Rico Website: www.biocat2004.de An exceptional meeting bringing together leading investiga- tors in cytokine biology, cancer and immunology. 8th International Symposium on the Maillard Reaction Keynote speakers: Michael Karin and Tak Mak. Abstract deadline: June 11, 2004 August 28–September 1 • Charleston, South Carolina Email: [email protected]; Fax: 706 228-4685 For detailed information about the meeting, including abstract Website: www.cytokines2004.org submission, a call for papers and deadlines. Website: http://Maillard.chem.sc.edu Email: [email protected] An ASBMB Sponsored Symposium: Redox Signaling in Biology and Disease 5th Meeting on Methods in Protein Structure Analysis October 21 – 24 • Kiawah Island, South Carolina August 29-September 2 • University of Washington, Seattle Organized by Larry Marnett, Vanderbilt U. and Roy J. Ph: 206-706-8118; Email: [email protected] Soberman, Harvard Med. School Website: http://depts.washington.edu/biowww/mpsa2004/ Plenary Lecture: Regulation of Mammalian Clock Genes Steven L. McKnight, U. of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center Contact: Joan Geiling, Ph: 301-634-7145; Fax: 301-634-7126 Email: [email protected]; Website: www.asbmb.org

24 ASBMBToday JULY 2004 Department Heads Take Note:

An ASBMB Sponsored Symposium: Transcriptional Regulation by Chromatin and RNA ASBMB Offers Polymerase II October 29 - November 1 • Granlibakken, Lake Tahoe, California Free Membership to Organized by Ali Shilatifard, St. Louis U. School of Med. Keynote Speakers: Joan Conaway and Ronald Conaway Contact: Joan Geiling, Ph: 301-634-7145; Fax: 301-634-7126 New Ph.D.s Email: [email protected]; Website: www.asbmb.org ASBMB is now offering a free one-year Associate membership to all students who NOVEMBER 2004 have, within the past year, earned a Ph.D. degree in the molecular life sciences or 4th International Congress on Autoimmunity related areas. November 3–7 • Budapest, Hungary Deadline for Receipt of Abstracts: June 20, 2004 ASBMB implemented this program as a Contact: 4th International Congress on Autoimmunity Kenes way to recognize the significant International—Global Congress Organisers and Association accomplishment of earning the Ph.D., and to Management Services,17 Rue du Cendrier, PO Box 1726, provide new Ph.D.s with something tangible CH-1211 Geneva 1, SWITZERLAND and of economic value. Membership in Ph: +41 22 908 0488; Fx: +41 22 732 2850 ASBMB brings with it a free subscription to Email: [email protected] Website: www.kenes.com/autoim2004 the online versions of the Journal of Biological Chemistry and Molecular and Cellular American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists Proteomics, as well as subscriptions to The AAPS Annual Meeting and Exposition Scientist and the Society’s magazine, ASBMB Today, discounts on other publications, and a November 7-11 • Baltimore, Maryland Ph: 703 243 2800; Fx: 703 243 9650 host of other benefits. Website: www.aapspharmaceutica.com/meetings/futuremeetings/ The Society is asking department chairs to provide ASBMB with the names and First Latin-American Protein Society Meeting addresses of each new Ph.D. recipient from November 8-12 • Hotel do Frade, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil their institutions. Upon receipt of this Sponsored by The Protein Society, The Wellcome Trust, and information, we will write the new Ph.D.s to Brazilian research funding agencies. congratulate them on their accomplishment For more information: Dr. Alberto Spisni Brazilian Synchrotron Light Laboratory, Campinas, Brazil, and offer the free one-year membership in and Dept. Experimental Medicine, University of Parma, Italy ASBMB. Names and addresses of the new Caixa Postal 6192 - CEP 13084-971, Campinas, SP, Brazil Ph.D.s should be sent to: Ph: +55 19 3287-4520; Fx: +55 19 3287-4632 Email: [email protected]; Website: www.lnls.br/lapsm Membership at ASBMB American Society for Biochemistry Second National Meeting of the American Society for & Molecular Biology 9650 Rockville Pike Matrix Biology Bethesda, MD 20814 Nov 10–13 • San Diego, California Email: [email protected] Contact: ASMB, 2019 Galisteo Street, Building I-1, Santa Fe, NM 87505; Ph: 505 989-4735; email: [email protected] This is an ongoing project; please advise us Website: http://www.asmb.net whenever a student in your department earns the Ph.D., so that we can make this free membership DECEMBER 2004 offer to him or her. American Society for Cell Biology, 44th Annual Meeting December 4-8 • Washington, DC Ph: 301-347-9300; Fx: 301-347-9310 Website: http://www.ascb.org/