Funds are requested to support an American Society for Cell Biology Summer Conference on the "Biology of Plant and Animal Extracellular Matrix", to be held from June 9-13, 1990 at the Airlie House near Warrenton, VA. The extracellular matrix of animal cells, once considered mainly in structural terms, is now known to play important roles in development, homeostasis, repair, cell migration, and control of prolifereation. Over the past 10 years it has become clear that the extracellular matrix (cell wall) of plants not only performs many of these same functions, but also contains structural/functional counterparts. Thus, animal collagens and plant hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins (HRGPs), though un related evolutionarily, represent similar solutions to similar biophysical problems, as do the complex carbohydrate polymers that comprise a large proportion of both kinds of matrix. In addition, recent evidence for the existence of plant intergrins and their potential role in cell wall formation indicates that membrane-ECM interaction are mechanistically linked across large phylogenetic distances. With recent development of new methods and systems for studies of plant and animal matrix recognition/assembly, and regulation of matrix gene expression, and the realization that many common principles are likely to exist, an interdisciplinary conference that brings investigators together to studying plant and animal matrix biology would be very timely. The meeting will include a PLenary Lecture, and ten platform sessions, spread over three and one half days, in a meeting designed to accomodate 150-300 people. In addition, there will be afternoon/evening poster session designed to encourage maximal interaction among participants. This is a timely and important conference, which is likely to lead to new and fruitful collaborations and insights.
