Peptide Science in the Era of Synthetic Biology

The theme of the 2014 GRC on the Chemistry and Biology of Peptides is "Peptide Science in the Era of Synthetic Biology". This topic has been chosen because the broad area of biomolecular sciences is changing: aspects of this are now being approached from more-predictive and engineering perspectives; with the aim to manipulate biological systems more systematically, with predictable outcomes, and for useful purposes. Peptide science has a long and successful tradition in taking similar approaches in peptide and protein engineering, and of delivering useful molecules for application such as diagnostics, pharmaceuticals, and, more latterly, biomaterials. The 2014 GRC will reflect this tradition, but it will also look forward to a future where peptides, proteins and peptide and their mimetics will be designed and engineered more predictably and with better precision—for example, using toolkits of pre-characterized and tested standard peptide parts—and with clear, targeted applications in mind.

To do this, the GRC will bring together scientists from academia and industry, and across all aspects of peptide chemistry and biology to cover current and emerging topics such as: protein engineering and design; mimicking peptide structure and function; advances in macrocyclic peptide discovery; intervening in biological processes; controlling macromolecular assembly and binding; peptides as catalysts and enzyme mimics; discovery and exploitation of bioactive natural peptides; and peptides as a basis for new biomaterials.

The 2014 program will feature invited talks from leaders in the field from around the world; as well as talks from early career scientists; poster sessions; and, of course in the GRC tradition, plenty of time for discussion, scientific exchanges, and for continuing to building the peptide-science community. The GRC has several schemes for encouraging and support attendance by underrepresented groups, which we endorse and encourage applications for.

Finally, and following the success of 2012 meetings, the 2014 GRC will also be preceded by a GRS organized by young researchers.

We look forward to seeing you in Ventura in February 2014.

Les Miranda and Dek Woolfson