Advances in Chemical Biology 2021 goes online!
We are looking forward to meeting you for a virtual conference from 26-28 January 2021, featuring an interactive programme filled with expert talks, ePosters and a virtual exhibition!
The upcoming Advances in Chemical Biology conference will feature latest research from all hot topics in chemical biology. It covers the chemical biology of nucleic acids and proteins, peptides and carbohydrates and includes topics such as high-throughput assays, target identification, targeted synthesis concepts and phenotypic screening.
Lectures by young researchers and the posters exhibition will be at the heart of the conference. In addition to many inspiring invited lectures, the poster authors will have the opportunity to present their posters in a short lecture session.
On 26 January, a tutorial on proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs) by Kurt Ritter will precede the lecture programme
We are looking forward to welcoming you online!
Tuesday, 26 January 2021, 9 -11:30 am
Dr. Kurt Ritter, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
PROTACs are heterobifunctional molecules hijacking the natural disposal system (ubiquitin -proteasome machinery) for proteins within a cell for specific degradation of a target protein (often referred as protein of interest = POI). The tutorial workshop aims to provide a step by step introduction in this fast-expanding research area.
After a look back at the “thalidomide tragedy” in the 60s, the key components of the natural protein degradation system in a cell will be introduced: ubiquitin as the basic unit for “tagging”, E1, E2 and E3 ligases as the involved “tagging enzymes” and the 26S proteasome as the “shredder” of a “tagged” protein. Their concerted action triggers the cellular degradation of no longer necessary proteins, an essential process for recovering amino acids. The drug thalidomide acting as a kind of “molecular glue” interfered with this process leading to the unintended erroneous degradation of certain cellular proteins in the fetus during pregnancy, the cause for the observed defects after birth.
The rational design of PROTACs, composed of a ligand to an E3 ligase and a ligand to the target protein (=POI) joined by a flexible linker, enables the intended knock-down of specific protein(s) within the cell. Thus, the heterobifunctional PROTAC recruits the target protein (= POI) close to an ubiquitinating E3 ligase, leading to its polyubiquitination and subsequent proteasomal degradation. Several binding motifs to various E3 ligases or their subunits (CRBN, VHL, IAP) have been added to the PROTAC toolbox by different research groups.
After a discussion about the advantages of PROTACs (“event-driven”) versus conventional small molecule drugs (“occupancy-driven”), several case studies for PROTACs aiming at the degradation of important disease-related proteins in cancer, inflammation or neurodegenerative diseases will be presented. Biochemical and biophysical assays as well as structure-based design using crystal structures of binary and ternary PROTAC complexes support the optimization of these PROTACs.
The first oral PROTACs, ARV-101 for treatment of prostate cancer, and ARV-471 for treatment of estrogen-receptor positive breast cancer, have progressed to clinical trials. Finally, existing hurdles and novel developments of this emerging modality will be discussed.
Registered participants of the workshop will receive a list of references and a compilation of used abbreviations ahead of the workshop per email (word file).
Programme in the conference planner (please note that the programme is still subject to change)
Programme as PDF-file (as of December 20)
Poster programme - selected posters will be presentetd during the Poster FlashTalks
Richard Willstätter Prize for Chemical Biology
The Richard Willstätter Prize for Chemical Biology honours outstanding long-time achievements of an established scientist. Outstanding contributions and personal commitment to the field, e.g. the design of curricula and courses, widely used text books and media, promotion of young scientists, service on advisory boards and committees in Germany, and editorial services for scientific journals, are further indicators. The prize can also be awarded for technical developments, i.e. devices, methods, and processes, essential to obtain fundamental knowledge.
The Richard Willstätter Prize for Chemical Biology was founded by the DECHEMA Society for Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, the German Pharmaceutical Society (DPhG), the Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (GBM), and the German Chemical Society (GDCh) which equally contribute to the prize money. It comprises a certificate, the invitation to a plenary lecture and a sum of EUR 6,000.
Confirmed invited speakers (as of May 2020)
Dorothea Fiedler, FMP Berlin
Claudia Höbartner, University of Würzburg
Kai Johnsson, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg
Johannes Krause, MPI for Human History, Jena
Stephan Sieber, TU Munich
Herbert Waldmann, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Physiology, Dortmund
Henrik Daub, evotec München
Christian Hackenberger, FMP Berlin
Anna K.H. Hirsch, HZ Saarbrücken
Maja Köhn, Uni Freiburg
Kathrin Lang, Technische Universität München
Hans-Georg Lerchen, Bayer AG Wuppertal
Andreas Marx, Uni Konstanz
Andreas Marzinzik, Novartis Basel
Henning Mootz, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
Stefan Raunser, Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Physiologie Dortmund
Andrea Rentmeister, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster
Pierre Stallforth, Leibniz-Institut für Naturstoff-Forschung und Infektionsbiologie, Hans-Knöll-Institut, HKI, Jena
Roderich Süßmuth, TU Berlin
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m2p Labs |
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RSC Chemical Biology |
The conference is supported by
DECHEMA-Fokus-Themen:
