Partial support is requested for the Gordon Research Conference: Diffraction Methods in Structural Biology to be held at Connecticut College, New London, Connecticut; July 14 through 19, 2002. This biennial conference has, for many years, had the reputation as the premier conference focusing on the development of the diffraction methods that are central to the elucidation of biomolecular structure. Sessions in the 2002 meeting reflect three leading areas of biomolecular research and the technical challenges that they pose: (a) Extension to ever larger complexes, learning from recent advances with ribosomes, for example; (b) Structural Genomics Initiatives, and the need for more robust automated methods for data collection and solving the phase problem; (c) Detailed studies of function that increasingly require very high resolution diffraction, integrated with chemical and computational methods. Participants have previously included developers of diffraction methodology, and those applying these methods to studies of biomolecular structure and function. For 2002, invitations outside the diffraction community are broadening the scope, the result of a conscious decision to bring together structural specialists with those developing computational models of biomolecular mechanism, and those integrating structure with sequence information. Speakers include some of the best known in the field (5 National Academy members), along with young investigators beginning to make their mark. Gordon conferences are informal with ample opportunity for approximately 135 participants to interact with about 35 speakers at meals and other events. Junior participation will be encouraged with a new policy of 3 mini-talks each day invited from the poster-presentations by the day's session chairs.
