From the Basics in the Signaling and Molecular Aspect of Autophagy to the Identification of Therapeutic Targets

Autophagy is a cellular process that recycles cytoplasmic organelles and other constituents by delivering them to the lysosome for degradation. The past decade has seen an exponential expansion of our knowledge about the regulation and molecular mechanisms of this pathway. Autophagy is tied to stress responses through a number of key signaling pathways, and is orchestrated by a series of core autophagy proteins (ATG proteins) that are evolutionarily conserved. While studies on ATG proteins in mammals and in a multitude of model systems continue to unveil the molecular basis and new facets of the mechanisms underlying autophagy, a series of recent discoveries have revealed the great therapeutic potential that autophagy modulation can have. In particular it has been demonstrated that autophagy and ATG proteins play essential roles in host defense, development, organ and metabolic homeostasis, cancer, inflammation, cardiomyopathies and neurodegeneration.

This Gordon Research Conference will focus on the most up-to-date and innovative science in the field of autophagy, with particular emphasis on the physiological and pathological roles of this pathway, and the potential of translating this new knowledge into therapies. We will begin with presentations on recent findings in the fundamental mechanism of autophagosome biogenesis and the signals responsible for the coordinate regulation of autophagy during stress and development. Subsequently attention will be paid to the function of autophagy in metabolism, ageing and immunity in health as well as disease. Finally, we will cover the most recent advances in the identification of small modulators of autophagy and clinical investigations. We seek to integrate diverse perspectives on the function of autophagy and ATG proteins from the fields of genetics, cell biology, structural biology, system biology, metabolism, development and differentiation, ageing, infection and immunity, drug discovery and clinics.