Peptides across disciplines

From organic chemistry to biotechnology; from biochemistry to cell biology; from bench to clinic; from theory to all kinds of applications, peptides are everywhere in science and technology. Peptide science has grown across all disciplines and expanded to unprecedented levels. The challenge today is to cope with interdisciplinarity. The times call for collaboration and cooperation between groups of different expertises and views. The XII EPI will serve this endeavour, gathering academic and industrial researchers devoted to peptides. It will not be organized around disciplines or sectors. The contributions to the final programme will not be pooled or grouped. The eclectic “all-matters-all” spirit and outlook has been an inspiring mark of EPI. Also, we strongly encourage the participation and active engagement of young researchers in presenting their work in oral form. EPI is the right audience and discussion forum for them.

We’re expecting you in Lisbon!

Miguel Castanho
(Chairman)

Steering committee:

• David Andreu

• Hernâni Maia

• José Luís Mascareñas

• Miguel Castanho

• Paula Gomes

Organizing committee:

• Ana Melo

• Filomena Carvalho

• Henri Franquelim

• Isa Serrano

• Manuel Melo

• Marco Domingues

• Margarida Rodrigues

• Marta Ribeiro

• Miguel Castanho

• Nuno Santos

• Pedro Matos

• Salomé Veiga

• Sónia Gonçalves

• Sónia Henriques

Meeting schedule

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

The XII EPI will have the presence of two keynote speakers that embody the eclectic “peptides across disciplines” spirit.

Dr. David Craik leads the NMR and protein structure in drug design group at the University of Queensland (Brisbane, Australia), which uses NMR spectroscopy to determine the structures of proteins that are important in drug-design programs and in agriculture. By elucidating the structures of biologically-active proteins they are able to identify regions crucial for activity and can use this information to design new drugs. The proteins they study come from a range of animal and plant sources but are often involved in host defence. Examples include the conotoxins (venom components from marine snails) and the cyclotides (novel circular proteins from plants). Find out more at Craik’s website (http://www.imb.uq.edu.au/index.html?id=11695).

The work of Dr Rein Ulijn’s group is focused on the development of new synthetic materials and systems that are inspired by biology and have unique properties, such as adaptability, molecular recognition and programmability. These properties open up exciting new applications in wide ranging areas ranging from biomedicine to nanotechnology. Among the most meaningful studies being carried out are:
1) Peptide nanomaterials via self-assembly.
A new molecular architecture for self-assembled hydrogels of aromatic short peptide derivatives, forming nanoscale fibres, hollow tubes or sheets, depending on the amino acid sequence, was proposed.
2) Enzyme Assisted Self-Assembly
In this approach, molecular self-assembly provides a thermodynamic driving force that enables a protease to produce building blocks in a reversible and spatially confined manner.
3) Enzyme-responsive materials.
Enzyme-responsive materials (ERMs) are a new class of smart materials that undergo macroscopic transitions when triggered by selective catalytic actions of enzymes with applications in diagnostics and controlled release.
4) Nano/Biointerface.
This area relates to the design of active and dynamic interfaces between biomolecules and synthetic functional materials.
Find out more at Ulijn’s website ( http://www.ulijnlab.com )

Managed by:	Hosted by:
Supported by: