Introduction
The purpose of the Workshop is to bring together Structural Enzymologists and Molecular Biologists working on enzymes involved in post-replicating or post-transcriptional covalent modifications of DNA and RNA. Recent developments in molecular and structural biology, indeed reveal the existence of an increasing number of obvious interconnectivities between the metabolism of these two types nucleic acids. Among a long list of such interconnectivities, we can cite: i) DNA methyltransferase-2 (Dnmt2), which bears close sequence and structure similarities with authentic DNA cytosine methyltransferases, in reality specifically methylates cytosine-38 of the anticodon loop of tRNA-Asp in plant and higher eukaryotes; ii) base-flipping of nucleotide within the active site of an enzyme, first discovered in the case of DNA cytosine methyltransferases, has now been demonstrated in the cases of several RNA modification enzymes (rRNA cytosine methyltransferases, tRNA pseudouridine synthases, tRNA guanosine transglycosylases) and very recently in nucleotide excision repair catalyzed by UvrB-DNA complex; iii) RNA editing by base modification (like the A to I and C to U type of enzymatic base deamination also occur in viral DNA like HIV); iv) the DNA-glycosylases that are so important in the DNA-repair system have interesting links with tRNA:transglycosylases catalyzing the incorporation of modified bases at specific positions of tRNA molecules; v) the newly excited field of RNA methylation and pseudouridylation process that involve so many guide-RNAs seem to have similarities with the RNA regulatory role in DNA expression of eukaryotes.
By bringing together Internationally recognized scientists, young PI and post-doctoral researchers involved in the field of DNA and RNA research, as well as strongly motivated young PhD students wanting to be introduced in the field, we want to discuss and compare various aspects of the structure, the mechanism and the function of the different families of DNA/RNA modification-editing enzymes and their possible interconnections/similarities within an evolutionary framework.
Organizing Committee
Henri GROSJEAN
University Paris-Sud, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology
Building 400
F-91405 Orsay Cedex France
Tel: +33-1-69154637
Fax: +33-1-69154629
email: henri.grosjean@igmors.u-psud.fr
http://www.igmors.u-psud.fr/rousset/index.en.html
Saulius KLIMASAUSKAS
Laboratory of Biological DNA Modification, Institute of Biotechnology, Graiciuno str.8, LT-02241, Vilnius, Lithuania
Tel: +370-5-2602114
Fax: +370-5-2602116
E-mail: klimasau@ibt.lt
http://www.ibt.lt/english/labs/12.htm
http://www.hhmi.org/research/scholars/klimasauskas_bio.html
Janusz BUJNICKI
Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Protein Engineering, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology,
ul ks.Trojdena 4
PL-02-109 Warsaw
Poland
Tel: +48-22-5970750
Fax: +48-22-5970715
E-mail: iamb@genesilico.pl
http://genesilico.pl
The purpose of the Workshop is to bring together Structural Enzymologists and Molecular Biologists working on enzymes involved in post-replicating or post-transcriptional covalent modifications of DNA and RNA. Recent developments in molecular and structural biology, indeed reveal the existence of an increasing number of obvious interconnectivities between the metabolism of these two types nucleic acids. Among a long list of such interconnectivities, we can cite: i) DNA methyltransferase-2 (Dnmt2), which bears close sequence and structure similarities with authentic DNA cytosine methyltransferases, in reality specifically methylates cytosine-38 of the anticodon loop of tRNA-Asp in plant and higher eukaryotes; ii) base-flipping of nucleotide within the active site of an enzyme, first discovered in the case of DNA cytosine methyltransferases, has now been demonstrated in the cases of several RNA modification enzymes (rRNA cytosine methyltransferases, tRNA pseudouridine synthases, tRNA guanosine transglycosylases) and very recently in nucleotide excision repair catalyzed by UvrB-DNA complex; iii) RNA editing by base modification (like the A to I and C to U type of enzymatic base deamination also occur in viral DNA like HIV); iv) the DNA-glycosylases that are so important in the DNA-repair system have interesting links with tRNA:transglycosylases catalyzing the incorporation of modified bases at specific positions of tRNA molecules; v) the newly excited field of RNA methylation and pseudouridylation process that involve so many guide-RNAs seem to have similarities with the RNA regulatory role in DNA expression of eukaryotes.
By bringing together Internationally recognized scientists, young PI and post-doctoral researchers involved in the field of DNA and RNA research, as well as strongly motivated young PhD students wanting to be introduced in the field, we want to discuss and compare various aspects of the structure, the mechanism and the function of the different families of DNA/RNA modification-editing enzymes and their possible interconnections/similarities within an evolutionary framework.
Organizing Committee
Henri GROSJEAN
University Paris-Sud, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology
Building 400
F-91405 Orsay Cedex France
Tel: +33-1-69154637
Fax: +33-1-69154629
email: henri.grosjean@igmors.u-psud.fr
http://www.igmors.u-psud.fr/rousset/index.en.html
Saulius KLIMASAUSKAS
Laboratory of Biological DNA Modification, Institute of Biotechnology, Graiciuno str.8, LT-02241, Vilnius, Lithuania
Tel: +370-5-2602114
Fax: +370-5-2602116
E-mail: klimasau@ibt.lt
http://www.ibt.lt/english/labs/12.htm
http://www.hhmi.org/research/scholars/klimasauskas_bio.html
Janusz BUJNICKI
Laboratory of Bioinformatics and Protein Engineering, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology,
ul ks.Trojdena 4
PL-02-109 Warsaw
Poland
Tel: +48-22-5970750
Fax: +48-22-5970715
E-mail: iamb@genesilico.pl
http://genesilico.pl
Location: Centre Paul Langevin, Aussois, Savoie, France
CNRS recreational Center in the Alps (1,500 m altitude), South-East France bordering Italy.
Dates: September 11-16,2007
Attendance: 100 participants