EMBNTRAIN · European Membrane Biology Network Training

Final Activity Report Summary - EMBNTRAIN (European Membrane Biology Network Training)

Each centre of the European Membrane Biology Network represented by the Center for Membrane Proteomics (CMP), of the Goethe-University Frankfurt am Main, Germany, the Centre for Integrative Membrane Biology (CiMB) and the Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology University of Leeds, United Kingdom, the Swiss National Center of Competence in Research 'Structural Biology' (NCCR), Institute of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Switzerland and the Groningen Biomolecular Science and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, The Netherlands organised two events each with one having its focus on practical applications, exchange of lab experience and introduction of new methods applied to research on membrane proteins (summer schools). The other events were conferences or workshops, each with a specific focus on current research topics in structural membrane biology, molecular biology, biochemistry or biophysics. Hundreds of EMBN experts in the field of membrane protein and membrane proteomic research disseminated their knowledge to doctoral, post-doctoral researchers in the eight events organized by the EMBNTRAIN project, funded by the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) of the EU in the Marie Curie program 'Series of Events'; this included leading scientists like the Nobel Laureates, Hartmut Michel and Sir John Walker, and others such as like Peter Walter, Andreas Plückthun, So Iwata, Ivan Dikic, Peter Henderson, Arnold Driessen, Bert Poolman , Robert Tampé, Gerrit van Meer and Thomas Silhavy, to name only a few. All events were evaluated by the participants coming from all over the world between very good and excellent underlining the professional organisation and the cordial atmosphere as well as the benefits resulting from new knowledge, protocols and techniques, as well as the opportunities for networking and career development. The smallest living unit of all organisms is the cell. A cell is surrounded by a lipid membrane isolating the cell from the surrounding environment. Inside the cell further membranes form organelles separating defined cavities from the surrounding cell liquid. The main focus of the lead researchers of EMBN are those membrane proteins functioning as gatekeepers controlling the passage of ions and molecules through the membranes, or transferring signals from the environment to the inside. Known functions are transmission of signals in nerves, photosynthesis, respiration, and photoreception. About 60 % of all pharmaceutical products are targeting membrane proteins, underlining the significance of the research of membrane proteins concerning on health and economy. The turnover of the proteomic market will double or triple within the next three years. As one consequence the demand for specialists in this field will increase worldwide. Therefore the scientists of the EMBN foster the education of young scientists in methods of membrane protein analysis and the development of networks at an early stage. The physical properties and highly structured integration of membrane proteins into living systems provides major technical challenges preventing elucidation of their structure-activity relationships. The successful analysis of the structural and functional properties of individual membrane proteins, as well as of the membrane associated sub-proteome and their diverse interactions, requires the consolidation of interdisciplinary research activities and expertise between biologists, biochemists, biophysicists, bioinformaticians, medical scientists, and pharmacologists. EMBNTRAIN was conceived and executed to achieve this integration and overcome the challenges.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз