June 4-6 2009 Sestri Levante, Italy

Protein Interactions with Solid Surfaces

The interaction between proteins and solid surfaces is of fundamental importance for a variety of scientific and technological problems, ranging from biomineralization to nanoelectronics. Combinatorial biotechniques have shown that the molecular recognition capability of proteins can be specifically oriented toward inorganic surfaces, opening-up the way for new concepts in self-assembling. The interaction of proteins with nanostructured surfaces or nanoparticles is also the key to several biological processes occurring in vitro and in vivo. Modelling efforts at the atomistic levels are on-going to catch the basic physical mechanisms that rule the interaction between protein and surfaces.

Due to the different backgrounds and reference scientific communities of researchers working in these fields, occasions to exchange ideas and to achieve cross-fertilization are not as many as wished. The aim of this workshop is to bring together scientists working on the central common theme of protein-surface interactions from different perspectives, ranging from basic science to applications in various fields, with particular emphasis on the comprehension of the phenomena under study.

To foster an effective exchange of ideas, a limited number of participants will be admitted at the workshop and ample time will be reserved for informal discussions. Most of the talks will be on invitation, but some slots will be reserved for applicants chosen by the Organizing Committee on the basis of submitted abstracts. All participants are encouraged to contribute posters.

The workshop is organized in the framework of the European project "Computational Toolbox for Protein-Surface Docking" (PROSURF), aimed at developing computationally tools to describe the interaction between inorganic surfaces and proteins, to be used in the different contexts where protein surface interaction is central.

TOPICS

Modelling of the protein-surface interactions at the atomistic - or larger - scale levels
Experimental characterization of the protein-solid surface interface
Interaction of proteins with nanoparticles and nanostructured surfaces
Biomineralization
Applications based on protein-surface interactions in biology, medicine and nanotechnology
And more...