December 4 - 7, 2016

Venue:

Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg
Lehmkuhlenbusch 4
27753 Delmenhorst
Germany

Organizers:

• Prof. Dr. Daniele Dell'Orco
  University of Verona, Italy
• Prof. Dr. Karl-Wilhelm Koch
  Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg

December 4 - 7, 2016

Venue:

Hanse-Wissenschaftskolleg
Lehmkuhlenbusch 4
27753 Delmenhorst
Germany

Organizers:

• Prof. Dr. Daniele Dell'Orco
  University of Verona, Italy
• Prof. Dr. Karl-Wilhelm Koch
  Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg

Spatial and temporal variations in intracellular Ca2+-signals are key phenomena in physiological processes like for example fertilization, apoptosis, muscle contraction neuronal activity and sensory perception. The precise detection and regulation of free intracellular Ca2+ in cells in general and in neurons in particular is a prerequisite for keeping normal cell function. Specific structural and biochemical features of neuronal calcium sensor (NCS) proteins are discussed as determinants of precise cell localization, specific target regulation and non-redundant function. The diversity of these sensor proteins reflects the multiplicity of their biological roles, which include control of gene transcription, neuronal growth and survival, channel and receptor regulation, neurotransmitter release and synaptic plasticity. In the last years, an increasing number of neurological disorders and degenerative diseases have been associated with altered functions of specific NCS proteins, which range from autism to Alzheimer and Parkinson disease.
Progress in structural, biochemical and biophysical research on NCS will be discussed in our international meeting, thus providing a unique, demand-oriented, and up-to-date mechanistic view on NCS function and properties. A special focus of the meeting is starting a discussion about how the alteration of proteins that detect and transduce Ca2+ signals may impact neuronal function and trigger disease. The meeting will be primarily oriented to young researchers (Postdocs and principal investigators at an early stage of their career) active in the NCS field. A consistent number of slots will be ensured for selected oral talks from young participants. The poster sessions will constitute an important part of the meeting and will take place during both the full-time days, in order to ensure full participation and involvement.

Spatial and temporal variations in intracellular Ca2+-signals are key phenomena in physiological processes like for example fertilization, apoptosis, muscle contraction neuronal activity and sensory perception. The precise detection and regulation of free intracellular Ca2+ in cells in general and in neurons in particular is a prerequisite for keeping normal cell function. Specific structural and biochemical features of neuronal calcium sensor (NCS) proteins are discussed as determinants of precise cell localization, specific target regulation and non-redundant function. The diversity of these sensor proteins reflects the multiplicity of their biological roles, which include control of gene transcription, neuronal growth and survival, channel and receptor regulation, neurotransmitter release and synaptic plasticity. In the last years, an increasing number of neurological disorders and degenerative diseases have been associated with altered functions of specific NCS proteins, which range from autism to Alzheimer and Parkinson disease.
Progress in structural, biochemical and biophysical research on NCS will be discussed in our international meeting, thus providing a unique, demand-oriented, and up-to-date mechanistic view on NCS function and properties. A special focus of the meeting is starting a discussion about how the alteration of proteins that detect and transduce Ca2+ signals may impact neuronal function and trigger disease. The meeting will be primarily oriented to young researchers (Postdocs and principal investigators at an early stage of their career) active in the NCS field. A consistent number of slots will be ensured for selected oral talks from young participants. The poster sessions will constitute an important part of the meeting and will take place during both the full-time days, in order to ensure full participation and involvement.

• Sara Snogerup Linse, Lunds University, Sweden
• James Ames, University of California Davis, USA
• Robert Burgoyne, Univerity of Liverpool, UK
• Ciro Cecconi, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
• Alexander Dizhoor, Salus University, USA
• Teresa Duda, Salus University, USA
• Michael Kreutz, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Germany
• Dan Lindholm, University of Helsinki, Finland
• Jaroslava Miksovska, Florida International University, USA
• Tomoe Nakamura, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Japan
• Jose’ Naranjo, Spanish National Biotechnology Centre, Spain
• Yogendra Sharma, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, India
• Valerio Marino,University of Verona, Italy

• Sara Snogerup Linse, Lunds University, Sweden
• James Ames, University of California Davis, USA
• Robert Burgoyne, Univerity of Liverpool, UK
• Ciro Cecconi, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy
• Alexander Dizhoor, Salus University, USA
• Teresa Duda, Salus University, USA
• Michael Kreutz, Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology, Germany
• Dan Lindholm, University of Helsinki, Finland
• Jaroslava Miksovska, Florida International University, USA
• Tomoe Nakamura, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Japan
• Jose’ Naranjo, Spanish National Biotechnology Centre, Spain
• Yogendra Sharma, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, India
• Valerio Marino, University of Verona, Italy

• NCS-1: Biochemical, biophysical properties and involvement in disease
• Recoverin and GCAPs: From structure/function to retinal disease
• KCHIPS, DREAM and CABP: Multifunctional players in Ca2+ signalling
• Hippocalcin and VILIPS: Roles in neuronal function and degeneration
• Novel experimental and theoretical approaches to study NCS proteins

• NCS-1: Biochemical, biophysical properties and involvement in disease
• Recoverin and GCAPs: From structure/function to retinal disease
• KCHIPS, DREAM and CABP: Multifunctional players in Ca2+ signalling
• Hippocalcin and VILIPS: Roles in neuronal function and degeneration
• Novel experimental and theoretical approaches to study NCS proteins

<link fileadmin dateien tagungen neuronal_calcium_sensors_in_health_and_disease flyer_final.pdf download>Download flyer

<link fileadmin dateien tagungen neuronal_calcium_sensors_in_health_and_disease flyer_final.pdf download>Download flyer

We are pleased to announce that four Travel Awards of 250,00 EURO each will be given to PhD students and Postdocs at an early stage of their career. A necessary condition is the submission of an abstract for poster or oral presentation as a first author. If the conditions do not apply to yourself, please encourage young scientists in your lab, who might be qualified.

We are pleased to announce that four Travel Awards of 250,00 EURO each will be given to PhD students and Postdocs at an early stage of their career. A necessary condition is the submission of an abstract for poster or oral presentation as a first author. If the conditions do not apply to yourself, please encourage young scientists in your lab, who might be qualified.

December 4, 2016

17:00 - 18:00   Arrival, Registration and Social reception
18:00                 Dinner
19:00                 Keynote Lecture, Sara Snogerup Linse
                           EF-hands as vehicles in biotechnology and Ca2+ signalling

December 5, 2016

09:00 - 11:45    SESSION 1
                            NCS-1: Biochemical, biophysical properties and involvement
                            in disease
09:00 - 09:30    Robert Burgoyne
                            Exploring the target proteins required for NCS-1 function
09:30 - 10:00    Yogendra Sharma
                            Protective role of neuronal calcium sensor-1 in neurodegenerative diseases
10:00 - 10:30    Coffee break
10:30 - 11:00    Tomoe Nakamura
                            Role of NCS1 in cardiovascular and neuronal tissues
11:00 - 11:45    3 x 15 min talks selected from abstracts
                            Viktoriia Baksheeva: Neuronal calcium sensor-1: ubiquitous neuronal
                            protein in photoreceptor system
                            Benjamin Delprat: ER-mitochondria crosstalk is regulated by NCS1
                            and is impaired in Wolfram syndrome
                            Johanna Duda: NCS-1 modulates age-dependent sensitization of
                            D2-autoreceptors & survival of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons
12:00 - 13:00    Lunch break
13:00 - 15:00    Poster session
15:30 - 18:30    SESSION 2
                            Recoverin and GCAPs: From structure/function to retinal disease
15:30 - 16:00    Alexander Dizhoor
                            Guanylyl cyclase regulation by GCAPs and calcium: Role in
                            photoreceptor physiology and triggering congenital blindness
16:00 - 16:30    Teresa Duda
                            Interlocked bicarbonate and Ca2+ sensors synergize phototransduction
16:30 - 17:00    Coffee break
17:00 - 17:30    James Ames
                            Structural insights for activation of retinal guanylate cyclase by GCAP1
17:30 - 18:15    3 x 15 min selected from abstracts
                            Andrea Sinz: Structural Insights into Retinal Guanylyl Cyclase/GCAP
                            Interaction by Cross-linking/Mass Spectrometry
                            Anne Rehkamp: Interaction studies between catalytic domain of ROS-GC
                            and GCAP-2
                            Dana Elbers: Ca2+-dependent feedback mechanism of recoverin isoforms
                            and G-protein-coupled receptor kinases in zebrafish phototransduction
18:30                  EXCURSION/Social Activity with free evening
                            Visit the Christmas Market in Oldenburg

December 6, 2016

09:00 - 11:00    SESSION 3
                            DREAM and CABP: Multifunctional players in Ca2+ signalling
09:00 - 09:30    Michael Kreutz
                            Novel roles of nCaBPs in neuronal Ca2+-signalling
09:30 - 10:00    Jose’ Naranjo
                            Role of repressor dream in Huntington’s disease
10:00 -10:30    Coffee break
10:30 - 11:00    Jaroslava Miksovska
                            Role of hydrophobic residus in calcium signal transmission by downstream
                            regulatory element antagonist modulator
11:00 - 12:00    SESSION 4
                            Novel experimental and theoretical approaches to study
                            NCS proteins
11:00 - 11:30    Ciro Cecconi
                             Direct Observation of Calcium-dependent Misfolding in Single
                            Neuronal Calcium Sensor-1 Molecules
11:30 - 12:00    Valerio Marino
                            Intra-molecular communication pathways and allosteric mechanisms
                            in GCAP1 revealed by molecular dynamics simulations
12:00 - 13:00    Lunch break
13:00 - 15:00    Poster session
15:00 - 15:45    3 x 15 min selected from abstracts     
                            Helge Meyer: CaF2 nanoparticles (NP) as carriers for calcium sensor
                            proteins– molecular mechanisms and dynamics of
                            Calmodulin/CaF2 NP interaction.
                            Christine Piotrowski: Structural Investigation of Calmodulin/ bMunc13-2
                            Interaction by Cross-Linking and Mass Spectrometry
                            Stefan Sulmann: Differential Ca2+-sensing by GCAPs in rod and cone cells
                            provide molecular basis of step-by-step regulation of retinal guanylate
                            cyclase upon light activation  
15:30 - 16:00    Coffee break
                            Free afternoon
19:00                 Social dinner at the HWK

December 7, 2016

09:00 - 10:00    SESSION 5
                            Hippocalcin and VILIPS: Roles in neuronal function and degeneration
09:00 - 09:30    Dan Lindholm
                            Role of Hippocalcin in models of neurodegenerative disease
09:30 - 10:00    2 x 15 min talks selected from abstracts
                            Radhika Khandelwal: Secretagogin is a Ca2+ regulated redox
                            responsive sensor
                            Anand Kumar Sharma: Secret of SCGN Secretion: extracellular secretagogin
                            binding modulates insulin stability and potency
10:00 - 10:30    Coffee break
11:00                  Conclusive remarks, Lunch and Departure