Folding and Misfolding: Effects of Evolution and Environment

Efforts to understanding the mechanism of protein folding have driven the development of the energy landscape theory of protein folding, novel experimental tools for probing folding with high temporal and spatial resolution as well as new methods for computer simulation and analysis of rich data. These fundamental tools and principles can now be used to investigate the central role played by protein folding, misfolding and aggregation in human disease, and how folding is affected by the complex environment in cells.

In this conference, we will bring together leading experts in the field who are developing state of the art methods for studying folding and misfolding in a cellular context. For example, the program will include speakers covering co-translational protein folding on the ribosome, mechanisms of protein misfolding and amyloid formation and development of therapeutics, conformational dynamics in proteins and enzyme allostery, lessons from functional amyloid systems, design principles for new protein functions, and tuning of protein folding by small ligands as well as folding in the cell.