2021 Stress Proteins in Growth, Development, and Disease GRC/GRS - PROJECT SUMMARY
The viability of cells, tissues, and organisms critically depend on the maintenance of protein homeostasis
(proteostasis) and thus, constant adaptation of the cellular proteome to external and internal alterations must
be made to sustain health. Physiological challenges including transitions through normal developmental
stages, fluctuating environmental conditions bringing acute stress conditions such as temperature, oxidation
and inflammation stress, or chronic stress conditions caused by DNA mutations or aging must be managed.
All these incidents constitute risk factors provoking a loss of cellular homeostasis that can lead to protein
misfolding/aggregation and, finally, cell death. Such a decline in proteostasis is especially prominent during
aging and in certain disease settings including neurodegeneration, cancer, cardiovascular, or metabolic (e.g.
diabetes). Thus, the ability of cells to sense and respond to changing conditions including stress is critical for
normal cell growth and development as well as protecting organisms against aging diseases. A growing body
of evidence illustrates that cells use an elaborate protein quality control network to adapt to changing
conditions including specific signaling regimes, transcriptional and translational reprogramming, and
activation of cellular quality control systems such as proteolytic and molecular chaperones pathways. These
not only ensure a healthy and functional proteome but also assist to prevent the accumulation of toxic
misfolded and aggregated proteins known to play a critical role in life-span regulation and aging-related
disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's diseases as well as prion-based disease.
The 2021 GRC on "Stress Proteins in Growth, Development and Disease" to be held July 18-23, 2021 at
Rey Don Jaime Grand Hotel in Spain is the 11th in this successful series and will highlight the most
recent cutting edge advances in the field of proteostasis biology ranging from underlying basic mechanisms
of stress programs and of protein quality control systems up to intervention strategies along with how aging
intersects with each. Special emphasis will be placed on novel aspects regarding stress signaling,
regulation of gene expression and protein translation, phase separation and other specific deposits of
proteins under aging and stress, elimination strategies of toxic protein species, and the role of organelle
stress responses to pathology. Additionally, we will continue a successful meeting innovation: A GRS will
occur from July 17-18th to promote the development of junior investigators in the field. Poster teaser talks,
career roundtable discussions, and a PowerHour focused on women investigators will complete this
conference. The formal scientific program, limited attendance, and organized but informal opportunities for
interaction make this meeting a preeminent conference at the forefront of science promoting a deeper
understanding of the impact of stress proteins in human aging, health, and disease and the development of
efficient countermeasures. The chair is Dr. Brain C. Freeman and the vice-chair is Dr. Harm H. Kampinga.
