Frontiers of NMR in Biology

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has become an important technology in molecular biology and is widely used for elucidating biological mechanisms. It can provide structural information similar and complementary to X-ray crystallography, electron microscopy, mass spectroscopy and small angle scattering methods. However, NMR can also provide unique insights not obtainable otherwise, such as ones involving weak interactions, enzyme reactions or dynamic states. Thus, the focus of the field is expanding from structure determination to macromolecular interactions, posttranslational modifications, functional studies and drug discovery. Unexpected new technologies are constantly emerging suitable to provide new biological insights. Thus, this meeting will include sessions on new enabling technologies and applications to large and challenging systems. Topics will also include membrane protein structures, protein/nucleotide complexes and systems of high biological significance. The symposium will also include presentations on structure-derived function, posttranslational modifications studied in whole cells or cell extracts, and drug discovery. The overall goal of the meeting will be to examine recent technological developments and to demonstrate state-of-the-art applications that yield new understanding of biological mechanisms.