Protein Synthesis and Beyond

Alterations in the translation apparatus and defective translation results in myriad diseases and enables immunosurveillance. Mutations in genes for tRNAs, tRNA synthetases, tRNA modifying factors, initiation, elongation and release factors are linked to neurodegenerative diseases and/or type 2 diabetes; tRNA synthetase is one of the largest gene families associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease; genes encoding ribosomal proteins are mutated in 50% of Diamond-Blackfan Anemia patients; autoantibodies against tRNA synthetases are the hallmark of a chronic autoimmune disorder-antisynthetase syndrome; tRNA, tRNA synthetases, translation factors and ribosomal proteins are associated with tumorigenesis; specific tRNAs and elongation factors are critical for HIV viral reverse transcription; and alterations in the translation apparatus are a central feature of viral infections.

This is the first disease-focused conference for the broad field of protein translation. The conference features an opening keynote session and 8 disease-focused sessions each led by a distinguished scientist from academia, clinical medicine, or the biopharmaceutical industry. Each disease session will focus on a specific disease area and blend translation and translation machinery-related basic science with dysregulations underlying various pathologies. The conference will cover many disease areas including cancer as well as neurological, immunological, infectious, hematological, vascular, metabolic, and mitochondrial diseases.

In addition to other prominent speakers, an exciting array of influential scientists including Nobel laureate Ada Yonath, US National Medal of Science laureate Stephen Benkovic, tRNA synthetase pioneer Paul Schimmel, translation rate-limiter eIF4E discoverer Nahum Sonenberg, and ribosome profiling pioneer Jonathan Weissman will give keynote lectures in the opening session and throughout the conference.