Project Summary/Abstract
The 2022 Gordon Research Conference on Intrinsically Disordered Proteins “The Biophysics and Biology of
Intrinsically Disordered Proteins” will be held June 23-June 28, 2024, in Les Diablerets, Switzerland. Intrinsically
disordered proteins (IDPs), as opposed to intrinsically foldable proteins, do not adopt unique folded structures
but instead exist as ensembles of dynamic and unstructured interconverting conformations. IDPs and ID regions
function through these conformational ensembles and are drivers of biological outputs. The conformations of
IDPs are a direct consequence of their sequences, physicochemical properties, and the environment in which
they reside. IDPs come in many different flavors, exemplified by sequence features such as amino acid
composition and patterning, and they can exist in the context of multi-domain proteins and in different
environmental contexts. Combined, this determines their functions and mechanisms of action in different cells
and organisms. Sequences can also encode material properties that emerge when many molecules come
together in large assemblies, e.g., in biomolecular condensates, and this is important in biological function as
well as for biomaterial science. Understanding how the sequence grammar and the precise context give rise to
conformations and functions, from single molecules to assemblies, on time scales from picoseconds to years, is
important for elucidating how IDPs shape biology and how their dysregulation gives rise to diseases.
Our vision for this meeting is to tackle interdisciplinary questions on IDPs in biological function and disease-
related dysfunction by bringing together biophysicists, polymer physicists, biochemists and cell biologists, and
scientists seeking to therapeutically target IDPs. The GRC and accompanying GRS will be particularly valuable
for entry of young scientists into the field, facilitated through a newly introduced tutorial session. Sessions will
prioritize emerging research focusing on quantitative elucidation of fundamental principles and mechanisms
using biophysical, biochemical, cell biological, computational, and theoretical approaches, showcasing biological
functions of IDPs across the cellular landscape. Key scientific objectives are as follows:
Objective 1. To address how the basic physicochemical properties of IDPs relate to their unique
functional mechanisms.
Objective 2. To discuss dysregulation of IDPs in human diseases and how they may be targeted for
therapeutic intervention.
Objective 3. To address the role of disordered proteins in phase separation that underlies the
formation of cellular biomolecular condensates and disease processes.
We have also identified the following key logistical objective for the conference:
Objective 4. To promote diversity and inclusiveness in the intrinsically disordered protein research
community through invitation of diverse speakers and funding to underrepresented groups.