Evolution, Biogenesis and Quality Control of Organelles of Endosymbiotic Origin

The 2016 Gordon Research Conference on Mitochondria & Chloroplasts will assemble an international group of scientists investigating the evolution, biogenesis and quality control of these essential organelles.

This GRC will bring together investigators working on mitochondria, chloroplasts and non-photosynthetic plastids in animal, plant, algal and fungal systems with interest in: i) evolution and diversity of organelles of endosymbiotic origin (including apicoplasts and other secondary or even tertiary plastids), ii) transcriptional and translational regulation of organelle biogenesis, protein sorting and assembly into holocomplexes, and iii) protein maturation and quality control, as well as removal of organelles during nutrient stress and aging through autophagy or unique vesicular mechanisms. Large scale techniques will also be discussed because they allow comprehensive analysis of transcriptional regulation of organelle biogenesis (e.g. recognition of ‘regulons’ and associated transcription factors), retrograde organellar signaling, and protein homeostasis (proteostasis) through analysis of protein degradation (e.g. by metabolic labeling and mass spectrometry). This GRC will thus provide an excellent platform to accelerate discovery of common and unique organellar features and accelerate knowledge transfer between different research communities.

Speakers with international recognition in the field will join young investigators and scientists who have not previously attended this conference. Fifteen short talks will be selected from abstracts to showcase emerging late breaking topics, especially from early career investigators. Expert Discussion Leaders will guide discussions. Daily poster sessions will further enrich and stimulate interactions between participants and research communities. This GRC is preceded by a GRS.