Source: UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS submitted to
9TH INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TETRAPYRROLE PHOTOCEPTORS OF PHOTOSYNTHETIC ORGANISMS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
TERMINATED
Funding Source
AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0219328
Grant No.
2009-65115-05735
Project No.
CA-D-MCB-3502-CG
Proposal No.
2009-01915
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Program Code
91413
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2009
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2010
Grant Year
2009
Project Director
Lagarias, J. C.
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS
410 MRAK HALL
DAVIS,CA 95616-8671
Performing Department
Molecular and Cellular Biology
Non Technical Summary
Tetrapyrroles are strongly pigmented heterocyclic molecules that play key roles in the harvesting of light and in its efficient conversion into chemical energy by photosynthetic organisms, including many agronomic significant plant species. This proposal seeks financial support for the International Conference on Tetrapyrrole Photoreceptors of Photosynthetic Organisms (ICTPPO 2009), the ninth in the series of ad hoc biennial conferences focused on the structure, function and biotechnological applications of tetrapyrrole photoreceptors, to be held at Asilomar Conference Center, Monterey CA from July 26 to July 31, 2009. The conference co-chairs are J. Clark Lagarias and R. David Britt from the Departments of Molecular & Cellular Biology and Chemistry at the University of California, Davis. The ICTPPO conference represents a unique niche for tetrapyrrolophiles from the photosynthesis, photosensor, biophotonic, biomolecular engineering, genome biology and enzymology communities worldwide. Leading experts on tetrapyrroles, new investigators, and invited participants from associated fields, including one of this year's Nobelists in chemistry, will contribute critical analyses of the current state of their fields, the challenges and opportunities therein and their most recent unpublished discoveries.
Animal Health Component
20%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
80%
Applied
20%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
20624991000100%
Knowledge Area
206 - Basic Plant Biology;

Subject Of Investigation
2499 - Plant research, general;

Field Of Science
1000 - Biochemistry and biophysics;
Goals / Objectives
This proposal seeks support for young investigators and notable experts in this field to defray travel/registration/housing fees to attend this meeting. Through education of participants in state-of-the-art research developments during daily symposia and poster sessions in a relaxed venue with plenty of free time for informal discussion and mentoring of young investigators, ICTPPO 2009 seeks to inspire new approaches to tailor efficient tetrapyrrole-based organisms, photoreceptors and light-energy converting catalysts for sustainable food, fiber and energy production applications.
Project Methods
The need for this conference is apparent as the nation, indeed the world, needs to transition from reliance on petroleum-based fuels to carbon-neutral, plant-based biofuels. This conference seeks to inspire new converts to the research community focusing on tetrapyrrole-based photosynthetic organisms to meet this important challenge.

Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Tetrapyrroles are strongly pigmented heterocyclic molecules that play key roles in the harvesting of light and in its efficient conversion into chemical energy by photosynthetic organisms, including agronomically important plant species. This grant provided financial support for the International Conference on Tetrapyrrole Photoreceptors of Photosynthetic Organisms (ICTPPO 2009), the ninth in the series of ad hoc biennial conferences focused on the structure, function and biotechnological applications of tetrapyrrole photoreceptors, held at Asilomar Conference Center, Monterey CA from July 26 to July 31, 2009. The goal of this meeting was to bring together leading experts in the field of tetrapyrrole photoreceptors and from associated fields with new investigators, to provide critical analyses of the current state of their fields, the challenges and opportunities therein and their most recent unpublished discoveries to stimulate new approaches to address key issues of agricultural and energy significance. Among the 80 participants included 40 PIs (including one Nobelist in chemistry, two members of the US National Academy of Science, and a recent inductee to the Royal Society), 8 senior scientists, 1 DOE program manager, 12 postdoctoral fellows and 20 graduate students representing 13 countries. One third of the formal lecture program was reserved for discussion, and these sessions particularly well supported the conference objectives. In the spirit of the Gordon Conference format adopted for this meeting, the conference proceedings were documented in a bound document available to all participants but were not distributed to the general public. The major output was the cross-breeding of scientists not previously associated with this meeting, both senior and junior, from the fields of photosynthesis/energy conversion, tetrapyrrole metabolism and bioinspired, tetrapyrrole-based light harvesting systems. PARTICIPANTS: The grant support enabled attendance of an unusually high number of students and postdoctoral fellows (40% of total) in a small meeting venue where they could interact with the leaders in the field on a one-on-one basis. The positive impact of this type of interaction is expected to be lasting and significant for those early in their careers typically not achieved at larger society meetings. TARGET AUDIENCES: Not relevant to this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.

Impacts
The grant support enabled attendance of an unusually high number of students and postdoctoral fellows (40% of total) in a small meeting venue where they could interact with the leaders in the field on a one-on-one basis. The positive impact of this type of interaction is expected to be lasting and significant for those early in their careers typically not achieved at larger society meetings. More than half of the attendees gave oral presentations (41 total) while most of the other attendees presented posters (35 total). Specifically, funds were used to defray all or most expenses of 4 student, 3 postdoctoral fellow, and 20 faculty attendees (including 3 early career PIs).

Publications

  • No publications reported this period