BioXAS Study Weekend
on
Contribution of BioXAS to structural genomics: developments in theory & refinement methods.

June 30- July 1, 2001
LURE (Orsay, France)

Genome programmes recently gave access to sequences of various organisms and even of the entire human genome. The next step is now the structural characterization of a great number of proteins. For instance, the number of human genes is estimated between 30 000 and 120 000. Several projects for structural genomics have led or are leading to the creation of new research centres world-wide

The research approach is completely new. Instead of developing a specific biological justification prior to working on a protein, crystallographers and NMR spectroscopists are now considering the determination of structures for all proteins in an organism.

In spite of the largely demonstrated capabilities of these techniques to solve structural problems, at present their successful use for all proteins of a genome is not assured. For instance, there are difficulties in the crystallization of a substantial fraction of all proteins while studies in solution by NMR are limited by molecular weight of proteins, the size limitation being about 150 residues. Moreover, membrane proteins are still very difficult targets.

X-ray absorption spectroscopy applied to protein study allows to determine the metal site structure of a class of protein: the metallo-proteins which are estimated to make up 25-30% of the proteins. Advantages of XAS are that it does not require extreme protein purity; it avoids the requirement to grow crystals; it is not limited by protein size; and metal sites are described at atomic resolution. The limitation of protein studies with XAS approach in comparison with X-ray diffraction and NMR is that XAS gives only a structural description of the metal site and not of the whole protein.

Nevertheless the access to the structure of the metal site, which often corresponds to the catalytic site, will help to understand catalytic processes and probe biological function in greater depth. In this way, XAS is complementary to NMR and X-ray diffraction and is likely to play an important role in the post genome science.

The interest in Europe about applications of X-ray absorption technique to biology is growing. Two European workshops have been recently organized, at ESRF in 1999 and LURE in 2000, and the next one will be held in Italy in 2001. Nevertheless, a deeper discussion about analysis methods is required in order to extend the applications of this technique and to achieve high-throughput protein local structure determination.

Objective of this study weekend is to define possible improvements in refinement methods and automation of data analysis in order to use XAS in structural genomic programmes.

The meeting will be held at LURE, room 110, first floor, on the Paris-Sud University campus (RER station Orsay-ville - a map is available on our web site).

Number of participants: the target is 30-40 participants.

I.Ascone (Fr), M. Feiters (Nl), R. Fourme (Fr), S. S. Hasnain (UK), S. Mangani (It), M. Willmanns (De), R. Natoli (It), C. Schofield (UK)

Michèle Le Monze and Chantal Jucha
BioXAS Study weekend, LURE - Centre Universitaire Paris-Sud - bât. 209D – BP 34 – F-91898 Orsay cedex – France

Tel. : + 33 1 64 46 80 14
Fax : + 33 1 64 46 41 48
e-mail: bioxas.swe@lure.u-psud.fr

Dominique Michalowicz
e-mail: Dominique.Michalowicz@lure.u-psud.fr

The number of participants is limited to 30-40, you are invited to fill the Registration Form to confirm your participation. There are no registration fees.

Participants are requested to book their hotel and to meet their own accommodation expenses. A hotel list is available.