Photosensory receptors are at an intriguing crossroad of natural- and life sciences. First, using their light-absorbing chromophores, they can transform photon energy into protein structural changes, raising fundamental questions about the mechanism and progress of elementary chemical reactions (i.e. isomerization, electron transfer, etc.). Second, they are the ideal vehicles to study dynamic alterations in protein structure, as many can easily be switched between conformations that have different abilities to coordinate intra- and inter-protein signal transfer. Thirdly, they control a wide variety of biological processes, organized in complex non-linear networks that can only be resolved with the most advanced genomics technologies.

Light-induced signal transduction has key functions in organisms from all ‘Domains of Life’. Although photo-sensory receptors come in a wide variety of forms, most can be classified into six major families. Our understanding of the signaling properties of these proteins, however, varies widely, ranging from the ability to numerically simulate the entire process of light-induced generation of the signaling state and the transfer of this information to a downstream signaling partner (e.g. rhodopsins), to first glimpses of the basic mechanism of photoactivation (e.g. cryptochromes).

Research is confronting many of the same challenges in elucidating photosensory signal transduction mechanisms, and their application in life science research. These common challenges will be discussed at the fifth Gordon Research Conference on “"Photosensory Receptors and Signal Transduction"”, to be held in Ventura, California, USA, from January 27 to February 1, 2008. This meeting will be composed of a balanced mix of oral and poster presentations and formal and informal discussions. Established investigators, post-docs, as well as graduate students are encouraged to apply for the meeting and present their most recent and exciting unpublished work. We hope to be able to provide financial assistance to students and post-doctoral fellows.