Protein Phosphatases - Abstract/Summary:
Protein phosphatases play a key role in cellular signaling pathways, opposing kinase activity to
dynamically balance protein phosphorylation. Despite their critical role in cell signaling, they
remain understudied as compared to protein kinases. We are submitting an application requesting
support for the 2024 edition of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
(FASEB) Science Research Conference on Protein Phosphatases. For over 34 years, this
conference has explored the roles of protein phosphatases in normal physiology and pathological
conditions. Recent research has expanded our understanding of the functions and regulation of
the more than 1000 forms of these complex enzymes, identifying them as integral to cellular
homeostasis. As such, roles of specific phosphatases, and their associated newly identified
mutations found to be causal to a variety of human diseases, continue to be elucidated, as basic,
translational, and clinical researchers across academia and industry work to decipher the
complexities of phospho-regulated pathways and to identify novel therapeutic targets. This
Protein Phosphatase conference is an effective and focused forum that helps to educate
newcomers and disseminate and integrate recent advances in this rapidly growing and changing
field. Highlighting its critical role in the scientific community, this conference will be the 17th edition
of a recurring series of bi-annual FASEB meetings, held continuously since 1990, and continues
to be the sole meeting in North America on this topic. We are planning the 2024 conference to
continue the merger (second time) between two of the longest-standing world protein
phosphatase conferences: the FASEB protein phosphatase conference and the Japanese
Association for Protein Phosphatase Research (JAPPR) conference. The Specific Aims of the
2024 FASEB-JAPPR Conference on Protein Phosphatases are 1) to present and discuss the
most current work on the structure, regulation, and function of protein phosphatases; 2) to
highlight major achievements and new approaches to fuel the interest of industrial and academic
groups in drugging phosphatases; and 3) to refresh and renew the field through the engagement
and development of early career investigators (ECIs) and underrepresented individuals (URIs)
including women. This application requests limited financial support, particularly for invitations of
ECIs and URIs to attend and contribute to this joint conference held in Palm Springs, California
in December 2024.
