The Machinery Driving Motion and Structure in Cells

The cytoskeleton is an elaborate system of polymeric tubes and fibers used by all prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells to produce polarity and compartmentalization, and to generate forces underlying cell morphogenesis, cell movement, and cell division. The Gordon Conference on Plant and Microbial Cytoskeleton focuses on recent advances in the study of cytoskeletal biology and mechanism in plants, fungal organisms, bacteria, and other microbes. This is the inaugural year in which the conference has expanded to include prokaryotic cytoskeletons. With so many critical breakthroughs being made in this area, and such newfound diversity of cytoskeletal mechanisms and regulation in bacteria, the meeting promises to bring stimulating new discussions and cross-fertilization of ideas. Topics will include the regulation of cytoskeletal network organization and dynamics, mitotic forces and molecular motors, cytoskeletal protein structure-function, cytoskeletal links to organelle biogenesis and segregation, and coordination of membrane and cytoskeleton dynamics. The meeting brings together a diverse group of researchers using a variety of experimental approaches, including molecular and genetic techniques, advanced cell imaging, biochemistry, structural approaches, and quantitative modeling and theory. Academic and industrial attendees, junior and seniors scientists, graduate students and postdocs are all encouraged to present their work. The program includes over 30 invited speakers, and another 10-12 talks will be selected from abstracts submitted for poster presentations. The meeting encourages participation of all attendees in discussions, and ensures ample opportunity to become acquainted with other participants on both personal and professional levels, fostering brainstorming and new collaborations across disciplines.