BioNEt Workshop

Friday 24 June 2005, 10.00 am-5.00 pm, Lindisfarne Centre, St Aidan's College, University of Durham. Refreshments, attendance and lunch are free. Limited to 80 participants. Register for event by emailing natasha.taylor@celsatlife.com

Chemical Genetics

Programme

10.00 Coffee
10.30 Welcome and Introduction
Prof Keith Lindsey, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham

Session 1
Chair: Prof Robert Edwards, Biological and Biomedical Sciences, University of Durham
10.40 Gene regulation with DNA-binding polyamides
Prof Joel Gottesfeld, Molecular Biology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, USA
11.10 The development of small molecule inhibitors of DNA damage-activated kinases
Prof Roger Griffin, Natural Sciences, University of Newcastle
11.40 A chemical genetics approach to auxin signaling mechanisms
Prof Yunde Zhao, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California at San Diego, USA
12.10 Probing cellular processes using retinoid analogues
Dr Andy Whiting, Chemistry, University of Durham

12.45 Lunch

Session 2
Chair: Prof Nigel Robinson, Cell and Molecular Biosciences, University of Newcastle
14.00 Global navigation of pharmacological space
Dr Andrew Hopkins, Molecular Informatics, Structure and Design, Pfizer Global R&D, Sandwich
14.30 Diversity oriented synthesis and chemical genetics towards new antibacterial discovery
Dr David Spring, Chemistry, University of Cambridge
15.00 A tale of chemical genetics: why did Nature make B12 so complicated?
Prof Bernard Golding, Natural Sciences, University of Newcastle

15.30 Tea

15.55 Chemical genetic studies with stereochemically diverse ligand libraries
Dr Adam Nelson, Chemistry, University of Leeds
16.25 Synthetic challenges inherent in the chemical genetic approach
Dr Nicholas Westwood, Chemistry, University of St Andrews

16.55 Concluding remarks

Supported by BioNEt, CELS and European Regional Development Fund

Abstract

"Chemical Genetics" (see below) is a technology that is receiving much attention as an experimental approach to complement genetics and proteomics in understanding gene function. The aim of this meeting is to highlight regional progress in Chemical Genetics and the expertise available outside the North East. BBSRC have recently committed funding in this area through a new initiative, "Selective Chemical Intervention in Biological Systems" (SCIBS). For more information visit:
www.bbsrc.ac.uk/science/initiatives/scibs.html

Definition: Chemical Genetics is a research method that uses small molecules to change the way proteins work, directly in real time rather than indirectly by manipulating their genes. It is used to identify which proteins regulate different biological processes, to understand in molecular detail how proteins perform their biological functions and to identify small molecules that may be of medical value.