Annual meeting headed by EMBO Member Reinhard Luehrmann
The European Network of Excellence on Alternative Splicing (EURASNET) held its fourth annual meeting at the end of April in the tranquil setting of Assisi, amidst the beautiful Umbrian mountains. EURASNET is headed by Reinhard Luehrmann – an EMBO Member just like several other group leaders in this network. The annual meeting brings together about forty groups from Europe as well as Israel and Argentina. They regularly get together to discuss the latest developments in alternative splicing and its impact on human diseases.
Highlights of the meeting included the comparison of human and yeast spliceosomal protein composition, which showed that the human spliceosome contained twice as many proteins including SR proteins, hnRNP proteins, helicases and cyclophilins.
Alberto Kornblihtt’s presentation described how DNA damage relates to changes in alternative splicing and cell death. More than two thirds of the human protein-coding genes undergo alternative splicing, thus changes and misregulation of this mechanism can have severe effects and cause disease. Progress reports were presented for diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy, progeria and frontotemporal dementia.
The high profile scientific advisory board, the attending EU representative Dr. Christina Kyriakopoulou, and external reviewers expressed their satisfaction with the progress in research, networking and public activities. A magnificent tour of Assisi completed the meeting and the Franciscan message of peace and tolerance cleared our heads and minds.
Interested in scientific highlights, meetings and basic understanding of alternative splicing? Visit our homepage www.eurasnet.info/
Andrea Barta
Prof. of Biochemistry
Max F. Perutz Labs
Medical, University of Vienna, AT
(picture: The medieval city of Assisi was the backdrop of this year's EURASNET meeting)
