The viability of cells, tissues, and organisms critically depend on the maintenance of protein homeostasis (proteostasis) and thus, constant adaptation of the cellular proteome to external and internal alterations must be made to sustain health. Physiological challenges including transitions through normal developmental stages, fluctuating environmental conditions bringing acute stress conditions such as temperature, oxidation and inflammation stress, or chronic stress conditions caused by DNA mutations or aging must be managed. All these incidents constitute risk factors provoking a loss of cellular homeostasis that can lead to protein misfolding/aggregation and, finally, cell death. Such a decline in proteostasis is especially prominent during aging and in certain disease settings including neurodegeneration, cancer, cardiovascular, or metabolic (e.g. diabetes). Thus, the ability of cells to sense and respond to changing conditions including stress is critical for normal cell growth and development as well as protecting organisms against aging diseases. A growing body of evidence illustrates that cells use an elaborate protein quality control network to adapt to changing conditions including specific signaling regimes, transcriptional and translational reprogramming, and activation of cellular quality control systems such as proteolytic and molecular chaperones pathways. These not only ensure a healthy and functional proteome but also assist to prevent the accumulation of toxic misfolded and aggregated proteins known to play a critical role in life-span regulation and aging-related disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, Huntington's diseases as well as prion-based disease. The 2021 GRC on Stress Proteins in Growth, Development and Disease to be held July 18-23, 2021 at Rey Don Jaime Grand Hotel in Spain is the 11th in this successful series and will highlight the most recent cutting edge advances in the field of proteostasis biology ranging from underlying basic mechanisms of stress programs and of protein quality control systems up to intervention strategies along with how aging intersects with each. Special emphasis will be placed on novel aspects regarding stress signaling, regulation of gene expression and protein translation, phase separation and other specific deposits of proteins under aging and stress, elimination strategies of toxic protein species, and the role of organelle stress responses to pathology. Additionally, we will continue a successful meeting innovation: A GRS will occur from July 17-18th to promote the development of junior investigators in the field. Poster teaser talks, career roundtable discussions, and a PowerHour focused on women investigators will complete this conference. The formal scientific program, limited attendance, and organized but informal opportunities for interaction make this meeting a preeminent conference at the forefront of science promoting a deeper understanding of the impact of stress proteins in human aging, health, and disease and the development of efficient countermeasures. The chair is Dr. Brain C. Freeman and the vice-chair is Dr. Harm H. Kampinga.
The viability, growth, and development of cells, tissues, and whole organisms critically depend on the ability to maintain protein homeostasis (proteostasis) by adapting the cellular proteome to external and internal alterations along with stress especially aging. Major defects in maintaining proteostasis are linked to neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and Parkinson's diseases and is thought to be one of the underlying causes of aging along with other human maladies including cancer and cardiac diseases. This conference will have a major impact on broadening our current understanding of the vital role of stress proteins in human aging, health, and disease, will pave the way to design therapeutic strategies to combat age-related disease, and will promote students and junior investigators through customized training and networking opportunities.
