Walter E. Washington Convention Center
#cellbio2022
Special Interest Subgroups
Member-Organized Special Interest Subgroups take a deep dive into specialty subjects under the seven scientific meeting tracks. All talks in these 2.5 hour sessions are selected from submitted abstracts.
2022 Subgroups Session Schedule
Saturday, December 3 | 9:30 am to 12:00 pm
Scientific Tracks: Cellular Dynamics, Specialized Cell and Evolution
Organizers: Keren Lasker, The Scripps Research Institute, Brandon Jutras, Virginia Tech, Susan Schlimpert, John Innes Centre
Bacterial cells are exquisitely organized in time and space, and carry out complex decision-making, intercellular coordination, and development to thrive in diverse environments. In this meeting, we will highlight recent discoveries showing how bacteria use subcellular organization to compete for resources, grow and divide, communicate with neighboring cells, and sense and respond to environmental changes. This subgroup will also highlight advances in quantitative biology and imaging modalities (e.g. single-molecule imaging and CryoET) and their critical role in answering emerging questions in bacterial cell biology. We expect this subgroup to attract a diverse audience, including microbiologists, method developers, biophysics, and computational biologists. This will be the fourth iteration of this subgroup and would reinforce our emerging appreciation for the complex cell biology of the bacterial cell.
Scientific Tracks: Cellular Dynamics, Physical Cell
Organizers: Mustafa Aydogan, University of California, San Francisco, Qiong Yang, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
This special interest subgroup will bring together a broad group of scientists who work on questions of biological time control, using approaches of biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and computer science, to advance the field forward. The session will not only showcase novel experimental frameworks in classic fields of the cell cycle and the circadian clock but also highlight new discoveries on “autonomous clocks” that can run independently of these major temporal programs. Similarly, the subgroup will host researchers who investigate clocks and timers as a function of space and patterns (particularly in development), seminally including the mitotic trigger waves and segmentation clock in vertebrates. As cutting-edge tools have been critical to exploring aspects of biological timing in all these areas, the session will also feature advances in networks and dynamics theories to study complex rhythms in biology, as well as new methods in synthetic biology to investigate biological timing in vitro, in silico and at the systems levels. Our ultimate goal is to promote new interactions between biologists, physicists and engineers, so as to invigorate fresh perspectives in the overarching field of biological timing.
Scientific Track: Cellular Dynamics
Organizers: Amy Maddox, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Doug Robinson, Johns Hopkins University, Ulrike Eggert, Kings College London, Julie Canman, Columbia University Medical School, Dimitrios Vavylonis, Lehigh University, Jian-Qiu Wu, The Ohio State University
Cytokinesis is a spectacular cellular shape change, which requires coordination of complex cellular machinery over many scales of space and time. In animal cells, this includes signaling pathways that guide the rearrangement of spindle microtubules to position the division plane, assembly of a contractile actomyosin network at the division site, force production to drive a dramatic cell shape change, and timely remodeling of the plasma membrane. In a multicellular setting, cytokinesis further requires cell-cell and cell-environment communication. This geometrically simplified cell shape change serves as a paradigm for numerous other cell shape change events including those that take place during migration and tissue morphogenesis. In this 7th Biannual Special Interest Subgroup Meeting, we propose to bring together a group of investigators using systematic genetic and chemical methods, biophysical techniques for measuring contractility, high resolution imaging, diverse model organisms and cell types, and mathematical modeling. To ensure that our Subgroup meeting maximally valuable to attendees, we will encourage our speakers to present newly-emerging results.
Scientific Track: Cells in Distress and Disease, and Cellular Dynamics
Organizers: Stephanie Seveau, The Ohio State University, Jyoti Jaiswal, Children's National Hospital
Mammalian cells are often exposed to mechanical, osmotic, and biochemical stresses, resulting in plasma membrane disruption. The causes of plasma membrane injuries are diverse. They include mechanical wounding in contractile tissues, the action of chemicals or pore-forming proteins released by pathogens or by the immune system during infection and inflammation, and the production of toxic protein aggregates. In response to these damages, complex molecular machineries repair the plasma membrane to restore its barrier function, maintain homeostasis, prevent the loss of difficult to replace cells and to eliminate the need for replacing frequently injured cells. Excessive damages of the plasma membrane and defects in their repair are associated with pathological conditions such as infections, muscular dystrophy, heart failure, diabetes, and lung and neurodegenerative diseases. The molecular events that remodel the plasma membrane of damaged cells in physiological and pathological contexts will be discussed in this session.
Scientific Tracks: Cellular Dynamics, and Physical Cell
Organizers: Orna Cohen-Fix, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, (NIDDK), NIH, Harvard Medical School, Megan King, Yale School of Medicine, Emily Hatch, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, and Patrick Lusk, Yale School of Medicine
The nuclear envelope is a dynamic and fascinating structure that is subject to remodeling, repair, and quality control mechanisms. It is made of two adjacent membranes that are linked at sites of nuclear pore complexes, and it includes a meshwork of lamins and other associated proteins. The nuclear envelope has numerous functions: it facilitates selective passage of macromolecules between the cytoplasm and nucleoplasm, affects chromosome organization and gene expression, controls the physical integrity of the nucleus, and is involved in transducing mechanical signals from the cell surface to the nuclear interior. Given its prominent involvement in cellular functions, it is not surprising that mutations in nuclear envelope components are associated with disease. In this session, we will explore novel and exciting insights into a variety of nuclear envelope processes and discuss how altered nuclear envelope functions arise in (and contribute to) disease. The nuclear envelope was described over a century ago, but paradigm-shifting discoveries are continuing to this day. To underscore the dynamic nature of this field, all presentations will be given by early career scientists, from trainees to assistant professors.
Scientific Tracks: Cellular Genome, Cell in Distress and Disease
Organizers: Rahi Sahand, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland
Quantitative methods are gradually coming to DNA replication, repair, and checkpoint biology, fields which have traditionally been dominated by molecular biology and genetics methods. Already, numerous discoveries have been made in recent years in these fields using quantitative methods, for example, regarding DNA damage checkpoint adaptation, spindle assembly checkpoint error correction, and the single-cell kinetics of replication forks. This subgroup will foster the interactions of people in this field and highlight their work.
Scientific Tracks: Physical Cell, and Cellular Dynamics
Organizers: Qin Ni, Johns Hopkins University, and Sean Sun, Johns Hopkins University
Mammalian cells and tissues live in an aqueous environment, in which nutrients, ions, proteins, and cell cytoplasmic content all must move within water. Changing the intracellular or extracellular concentrations of solutes can generate water flux across the cell membrane, which generates cell surface movement, and alter cell physiology, cell mechanics, and cell size. Recent studies have shown that such water dynamics can regulate cell migration and cell fates. In tissues, active transport of water is prominent during tissue development and morphogenesis. This subgroup will feature recent breakthroughs in cellular or tissue level motility, mechanics, and physiology that involves water dynamics. We will discuss and highlight the fundamental principles underling the emergence of cellular water dynamics as well as its application in engineering and biomedicine.
Saturday, December 3 | 1:00 to 3:30 pm
Scientific Tracks: Physical Cell, Cells in Distress and Disease
Organizers: Meghan Driscoll, University of Minnesota, Assaf Zaritsky, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev
Cell imaging has entered the ‘Big Data’ era. New technologies in light microscopy and molecular biology have led to an explosion in high-content, dynamic and multidimensional imaging data. Computation, traditionally used to quantitatively test specific hypotheses, must now also enable iterative hypothesis generation and testing by deciphering hidden biologically meaningful patterns in complex, dynamic or high-dimensional cell image data. Data science is uniquely positioned to aid in this process. In this subgroup, we bring together biologists and data scientists to help build a data science community within ASCB. After organizing subgroups in previous years that highlighted the established PIs in the field, this year we propose to focus on early career scientists that have not yet had the stage to showcase their science. We also leave room in the schedule for trainee presentations.
Scientific Tracks: Cellular Dynamics, Physical Cell
Organizers: Susanne Rafelski, Allen Institute for Cell Science, Mark Chan, San Francisco State University
Modern cell biology has made great strides in understanding cell structure and function. Cells also face an important engineering challenge: assembly. How are the complex three-dimensional structures found within the cell specified and regulated by instructions from a one-dimensional genome? In Building the Cell we explore this question, which lies at the interface of biology and physics. This session will be highly interdisciplinary with speakers whose interests span physics, mathematical modeling, biochemistry, cell biology and more. This year the entire subgroup agenda will be based on submitted abstracts.
Scientific Tracks: Cellular Dynamics, Cells in Distress and Disease
Organizers: Jeffrey Field, University of Pennsylvania, Carol Gregorio, University of Arizona
Actin dynamics is an important component of cellular dynamics and mutations in actin or actin regulatory proteins underlie a number of myopathies. Sessions on sarcomere structure and contractility have been well represented in the ASCB in the past but less attention has been given to end filament dynamics. Actin filaments grow by polymerization primarily at the barbed end and shrink by depolymerization at the pointed end. Though the basic polymerization kinetics have been known for some time, over the last few years there have been significant advances in the mechanisms of end dynamic regulation and their biological impact. This session is organized by investigators primarily studying two groups of proteins that regulate filament end dynamics, Tropomodulins/Leiomodins and CAP/cofilin/twinfilin. Through different mechanisms the two groups of proteins depolymerize the pointed ends. Leiomodins additionally have a nucleation activity. Though mechanistically different, the two groups are connected by the severe cardiomyopathies and muscle pathologies associated with mutations in the proteins. We recognize that important contributions have been made by investigating actin dynamics in model organisms and welcome abstracts from labs studying the models. We anticipate the session will include talks on kinetics, structure, cell biology, model organisms and clinical correlates.
Scientific Tracks: Cellular Dynamics, Cellular Genome
Organizers: Chenshu Liu, University of California, Berkeley, Needhi Bhalla, University of California, Santa Cruz
Meiosis is the specialized cell division cycle that generates haploid gametes from diploid progenitors, and is an integrated process that encompasses unique molecular mechanisms underlying cell cycle control and checkpoint activation, DNA repair and recombination, chromosome organization and motility, nuclear envelope dynamics, as well as gene expression. Thus, the immense complexity of the meiotic cell cycle can inform a wide array of cell biological sub-fields including cell signaling, DNA damage and repair, epigenetics and gene regulation, as well as mechanoregulation of nuclear/chromosome/spindle dynamics. Recent progress in the field has been accelerated by integrating emergent principles (including liquid-liquid phase separation) and by the development/deployment of new molecular tools and techniques that enable dissecting meiosis at unprecedented resolution. Thus, this Special Interest Subgroup at Cell Bio 2022 will be a unique forum for scientists in the field of meiotic cell cycle regulation, germ cell differentiation and quality control to exchange new data and ideas in an immersive setting. We will deep-dive into current understanding in the field by consolidating investigations across a broad range of eukaryotic organisms using novel experimental approaches, that shed light on mechanisms and control principles of meiotic cell cycle progression, chromosome segregation, DNA repair, and checkpoint-based quality control during gametogenesis.
Scientific Tracks: Physical Cell, and Cellular Genome
Organizers: Yekaterina Miorshnikova, National Institutes of Health, and Verena Ruprecht, Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona
Tissues, cells and organelles sense and respond to a wide range of biochemical and biophysical aspects of their microenvironments. Mechanical force is one central environmental signaling input that regulates cell behavior. Cells have evolved a number of mechanisms to sense mechanical forces, and recent work implicates the nucleus itself as a mechanosensor, where forces directly or indirectly remodel nuclear shape and architecture, impact chromatin state, and tune signaling pathways and global patterns of gene expression. Mechanical forces also modify physical properties of nucleus, demonstrating that the nucleus itself can undergo mechanoadaptation in a manner bearing resemblance to the cytoskeleton or cellular adhesions. Failure to adapt can lead to nuclear rupture with profound implications on the maintenance of genome integrity. This special interest subgroup will focus on the emerging field of nuclear mechanotransduction and provide a forum to discuss the most recent advances in understanding the role of mechanical forces in modulating cellular decision-making by altering nuclear and chromatin biophysics and the role these processes play in fundamental cell biological processes such as cell migration, differentiation and malignant transformation. This subgroup will be of immediate interest to those beginning to consider the role of the biophysical properties of the nucleus and chromatin and nucleus mechanotransduction pathways on their function and cell fate regulation.
Scientific Tracks: Cellular Genome, Physical Cell
Organizers: Jonathon Ditlev, Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Lindsay Case, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Liquid-liquid phase separation has emerged as a general mechanism by which proteins and nucleic acids can self-organize in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and on membranes. The phase separation of signaling proteins into discrete condensates can precisely control local actin polymerization, cell adhesion, and enzyme activity on the plasma membrane. Recently, intracellular membranes have been implicated in controlling RNA and protein condensate localization and size distribution in cells. This session will highlight new advances in our understanding of the formation and function of phase separated protein condensates on plasma membranes and the emerging role of intracellular membranes in regulating RNA and protein condensate behavior.
Scientific Tracks: Cellular Dynamics, Signaling and Metabolism
Organizers: John Calise, University of Washington, Justin Kollman, University of Washington, Songon An, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Over the last decade, our understanding of the spatiotemporal regulation of cellular metabolism has undergone a revolution, with growing optimism that new findings would answer long-lasting questions of how cells organize enzymes to regulate metabolism. The traditional “textbook” paradigm of compartmentalizing specialized metabolic pathways into membrane-bound organelles has significantly evolved by embracing new discoveries of dynamic, reversible assemblies of enzymes into micron-scale filaments and “metabolons.” Unfortunately, however, the metabolic filament and metabolon fields have advanced independently rather than cooperatively. Answers to many fundamental questions of how metabolism is regulated by these structures have largely remained elusive. This subgroup will focus on coordinating recent advances in the biology, structure, and function of metabolic enzyme assemblies, thus promoting collaboration between the fields. A diverse selection of speakers will discuss an array of methodologies, from in vivo animal models to in vitro biochemical and structural analysis, used to investigate molecular mechanisms and biological functions of these important macromolecular structures.
Scientific Tracks: Communal Cell, and Cellular Dynamics
Organizers: Carsten Janke, Institut Curie, Orsay, Beata Mierzwa, Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research and the University of California, San Diego, and Thomas Müller-Reichert, Technical University, Dresden, Germany
In biology, great scientific discoveries have been made by scientists who used artistic techniques, such as hand-drawing, to represent their discoveries. These artistic representations are not only beautiful, but they provide a meaning that goes beyond a simple reproduction of the observed specimen. Artistic representations can visualise time and scale in a manner that is easy for a reader to appreciate, thus allowing them to conceptualize scientific research in an intuitive manner. Today, science-art projects can open up new avenues of scientific research by bolstering ideas and concepts, changing the “classic” ways we reflect on our scientific methods, and most importantly, allowing scientists with often highly specialized expertise to better communicate with peers in other domains. Beyond their impact on research, collaborations between scientists and artists will create artistic works that will be highly valuable for scientific outreach, public engagement, and education, thereby giving new life to work that started as a research-oriented project. Fostering new and lasting collaborations between science and art has the potential to have a broad impact on science, art and society. We will discuss how science and art can be brought together on a larger scale and foster long-lasting collaborations between research scientists and artists. We aim to open new avenues to make more of such collaborative projects within the scientific research sphere possible.
Monday, December 5 | 3:30 to 6:00 pm
Scientific Tracks: Cellular Dynamics, Physical Cell
Organizers: Matthew Good, University of Pennsylvania, Jan Skotheim, Stanford University
Proliferating eukaryotic cells coordinate growth, division, and differentiation processes. A broad variety of cell types, from yeast to human, contain a size checkpoint - a mechanism ensuring that they achieve a defined amount of growth or achieve a specific size in order to trigger the cell division cycle or differentiation. New efforts are uncovering the molecular basis of cell size regulation both in cultured cells in vitro and in stem cells in situ. Functionally, perturbations to cell size are sufficient to alter cell physiology, mechanics, and gene expression. Evolution has leveraged changes in cell size to regulate decision-making events in the context of tissue biology and early embryo development. This session will feature cutting-edge research on how cells sense and regulate their sizes and how this regulation contributes to function. We will highlight new concepts and techniques used to characterize cell size and growth regulation, as well as survey the latest insights on the mechanistic basis of cell size control. Additional topics may include the interdependence of cell growth, biosynthesis, and cell division that maintains protein, RNA, and organelle homeostasis. Moreover, we will discuss the dysregulation of cell size in disease, the role of cell size and shape in fate control, and the scaling of organelle dimensions and signaling gradients in tissues and embryos.
Scientific Track: Specialized Cell and Evolution
Organizers: Courtney Schroeder, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Holly Goodson, University of Notre Dame, Masayuki Onishi, Duke University, Pavan Vedula, University of Pennsylvania, Michael McMurray, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Center, Michelle Momany, University of Georgia
Evolutionary cell biology (ECB) has two complementary aspects: One is using the perspectives and methods of evolutionary biology to gain insight into cell biological processes; the other is to use the biology and diversity of cells to gain insight into the process of evolution. These different perspectives are united by the fact that cells are the fundamental unit of life, and by the expectation that study of ECB will both illuminate the diversity of life at (sub)cellular scales and help elucidate the fundamental principles of living systems. Because cells and cellular processes lie at the interface between chemistry, physics, and biology, biophysics and biochemistry have central roles in ECB. Speakers will address topics across the range of ECB, with possible examples including the use of patterns of protein evolution to dissect protein structure and function, the study of comparative cell biology to illuminate the characteristics of the last universal (or eukaryotic) common ancestor, and the application of biophysics to elucidate the role of physical mechanisms in determining phenotype. We have held this session for several years, and due to the popularity, we believe it should continue to be held annually. Last year, we focused on the evolution of the cytoskeleton and cell division machinery with an emphasis on the early-diverging lineages, including bacteria, protists, algae, and fungi; this year, we would like to make it broader to garner even more interest.
Scientific Tracks: Cellular Dynamics, and Signaling and Metabolism
Organizers: Subhojit Roy, University of California, San Diego, and Stephanie Gupton, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Structural and functional interplay of neurons and glia is arguably the fundamental basis of all thoughts and actions - at least from a cell biology perspective. Most will agree that the traditional view of neurons as the sole functional unit, with glia as the supporting cast, is a gross oversimplification of a complex reality. While systems-level studies can link neuroglial circuits and behavior, only cell/molecular biology can provide the functional "parts-list" that is necessary to understand mechanisms. For example, knowledge of the synapse would be woefully incomplete without an appreciation of the interplay of molecules in exoendocytic cycle and SNARE-assembly, largely revealed by cell biology. This special interest session will feature speakers who are contributing to the contemporary understanding of neuronal and glial cell biology - focusing on developmental, architectural and functional aspects that ultimately allow the neuroglial unit to operate in the brain. Our goal is not only to inform the audience of recent discoveries that shape our understanding of neuroglia, but also to advocate closer ties between neuronal and glial cell biologists; who typically focus on one cell type or the other.
Scientific Tracks: Cells in Distress and Disease, Cellular Dynamics
Organizers: Sandra Encalada, The Scripps Research Institute, Thierry Galli, Institute Psychiatry and Neuroscience of Paris, Swetha Gowrishankar, University of Illinois, Chicago, Sandra Maday, University of Pennsylvania
Description:
How are autophagy and endolysosomal pathways uniquely coordinated in neurons to maintain protein and organelle homeostasis? These pathways are critical to regulate the composition and quality of the neuronal proteome through clearance of aggregated, misfolded proteins and damaged organelles. In fact, dysfunction in autophagic and endolysosomal trafficking is linked to many neurodegenerative diseases. Disturbances in these pathways are among the earliest neuronal pathologies in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and prion diseases.
This special interest subgroup will bring together investigators interested in the molecular and cellular mechanisms of autophagic and endolysosomal trafficking in neurons and how these processes fail in neurodegeneration. Topics will cover: (1) different levels of resolution (molecular to cellular to systems-level studies), (2) compartment-specific pathways (presynaptic vs. postsynaptic mechanisms), (3) basic cell biology to disease mechanisms, and (4) comparison of neuronal mechanisms to those in astrocytes.
Scientific Tracks: Physical Cell, Cellular Dynamics
Organizers: Yan Yu, Indiana University, Ying Hu, University of Illinois Chicago
The intricate network of immune cells and diverse biomolecules that summon, rile, calm, and transform these cells create a complex puzzle. Solving this puzzle requires highly sensitive techniques to connect the molecular pieces at the nanoscale. The Nanoscale ImmunoBiophysics subgroup brings together researchers from diverse backgrounds with the common goal of understanding the immune response from the bottom up. A common theme of the research is the development and utilization of highly sensitive biophysical and biochemical techniques, biomaterials and nanotechnologies, and computational tools to dissect the fundamental mechanisms of immunity.
Scientific Tracks: Physical Cell, and Cellular Dynamics
Organizers: Rikki Garner, Harvard Medical School, and Arthur Molines, University of California, San Francisco
The cytoplasm is an extremely complex and crowded solution of macromolecules that can behave as a liquid, a gel, or a glass, depending on the context. There has been a recent explosion of new reports implicating physical properties of the cytoplasm, such as its crowdedness and viscosity, in a diverse range of critical biological processes - including differentiation, cell viability, cellular aging and senescence, cytoskeleton dynamics, and phase separation. In addition, it is becoming increasingly clear that a variety of cell types precisely regulate properties such as their intracellular density, particularly throughout the cell cycle and in response to changes in their environment. These striking discoveries were largely facilitated by the creation of new physical tools to measure and predict cytoplasm behavior. For example, genetically encoded nanoparticles (GEMs) have enabled extremely high-quality measurements of cytoplasmic diffusion across evolutionarily-diverse eukaryotes. In addition, quantitative phase microscopy permits estimations of intracellular density variation in space and time, and Brillouin microscopy provides a non-perturbative approach to assess mechanical properties of the cytoplasm such as viscous and elastic moduli at subcellular resolution. It is an exciting time in the field, as a rapidly-growing and diverse assemblage of scientists and engineers are becoming (a) increasingly interested in the physical properties of the cytoplasm and their consequences for cell biology, and (b) increasingly enabled by a suite of new methods and technologies to explore this fertile ground within their respective subfields. Our Special Interest Subgroup will bring together an outstanding international group of theorists and experimentalists to showcase these recent discoveries and new methodologies in the field, and present modeling approaches for predicting and understanding cytoplasm behavior. Special emphasis will be given to the physiological consequences and regulation of cytoplasmic characteristics, including the effects of viscosity homeostasis, temperature gradients, and viscoelasticity. Looking more broadly, we will also highlight related themes observed in the study of organelles (e.g., nucleoplasm, ER lumen) and membraneless cellular compartments. Our goal is to expose a broad biological audience to this emerging field, and inspire the use of modern methodologies to discover new roles for cytoplasm biophysics in diverse biological processes.
Scientific Tracks: Cell in Distress and Disease
Organizers: Maddalena Nano, University of California, Santa Barbara
Cells are resilient to damage and can overcome death even after terminal events of dismantling. This session explores the mechanisms supporting cell survival, the consequences of damage in undead cells, and the tools available to study them.
Scientific Tracks: Cellular Genome, and Cells in Distress and Disease
Organizers: Thoru Pederson, University of Massachusetts Chan School of Medicine, and Sui Huang, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
The nucleolus has been known to have functions beyond its classically defined role in ribosome biosynthesis but these have recently been expanding and diversifying significantly. This session will feature, inter alia, a nucleolus-targeting, anti-metastatic drug now in clinical trials, the discovery of a link between nucleolar homeostasis and the integrity of distal nuclear bodies, the characterization of a nucleolus-resident mRNA, and the impact of nucleolar stress on the 3-D organization of the vicinal genome.
Wednesday, December 7 | 8:15 to 10:45 am
Scientific Tracks: Cellular Genome, Cellular Dynamics
Organizers: Fei Li, New York University , Barbara Mellone, University of Connecticut
Centromeres guide the assembly of kinetochores to ensure proper segregation of chromosomes during mitosis and meiosis. Despite their universally conserved function, centromeres vary in their organization, DNA sequence, and associated proteins. Dysfunctional centromeres have long known to be associated with diseases, including cancer. The study of centromeres has led to major leaps in our understanding of chromosome segregation, epigenetic mechanisms, cell cycle regulation, chromosome evolution, and disease. The centromere field recently has made rapid progress by exploiting the latest technical advances including super-resolution imaging and long-read DNA sequencing. These new technologies enable groundbreaking discoveries in centromere biology and pave the way towards potential novel therapies for diseases resulting from mis-regulation of centromeres. This subgroup will bring together researchers across the globe and spanning career stages to present and discuss the latest exciting findings on the fundamentals of centromere biology as well as new concepts within the field, ranging from centromere inheritance to centromere evolution. We will approach these themes in a variety of model organisms. The role of centromeres in physiology and disease will also be highlighted.
Scientific Tracks: Physical Cell
Organizers: Bojana Gligorijevic, Temple University, and Ryan Petrie, Drexel University
The increasing interest in the mechanobiology of dynamics and forces involved in the cell-cell and cell-matrix interactions is bringing physicists, engineers and chemists into the field of cell biology. Understanding the regulation and impact of force generation at the cellular level has enhanced the understanding of processes, like cancer metastasis . Next, DNA damage in mechanically challenged nuclei was shown to affect the invasion of early tumors. Importantly, a session highlighting the connections between forces and cell biology will not only introduce cell biologists to physical aspects of tissue organization and dynamics, but also enhance the interest of our society and meeting to the bioengineers and biophysicists engaged in such topics.
Scientific Tracks: Cellular Dynamics, and Physical Cell
Organizers: Ishier Raote, Institut Curie, Paris, Anđela Šarić, Institute of Science and Technology, Austria, Gautam Dey, EMBL Heidelberg, and Padmini Rangamini, University of California, San Diego
A small number of protein families, many traceable through two billion years of evolutionary time to the common ancestors of all eukaryotes, together shape lipid membranes into the breathtaking diversity of dynamic compartments and structures that define eukaryotic cells. Biochemistry and structural studies reveal the physicochemical basis for the ability of proteins to shape, bend, and remodel membranes; mechanical modeling shows that stresses acting on the membrane can be common factors across different curvature-generating mechanisms; phylogenetics links orthologs across evolutionary time; finally, genetics and microscopy anchor this understanding within a sub-cellular and organismal context. Building on successful events from CellBio2020 and CellBio2021, we will once again bring together leaders in biochemistry, evolutionary biology and cell biology, linking these disparate strands of research under the umbrella of “evolutionary biochemistry” (Harms, Thornton 2013). We expect that this holistic perspective will lead to a better understanding of how and why biological molecules have the properties that they do - shedding light on the key membrane remodelling processes that power cellular life.
Scientific Tracks: Cellular Dynamics, and Cellular Genome
Organizers: Weihan Li, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and Robert H. Singer, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
The spatial regulation of RNA and translation controls a broad range of biological processes, including development, stress response, and synaptic activities. In recent years, new technologies have been developed to image translation at single-molecule resolution. This has greatly advanced our understanding on the intricate regulation of gene expression. In this subgroup, we will discuss the emerging biology and novel imaging methods on the topic of subcellular localization of RNA and translation.
Scientific Tracks: Cellular Dynamics, and Cells in Distress and Disease
Organizers: Alissa M. Weaver, Vanderbilt University, Laura M. Machesky, Beatson Institute, Glasgow, and Mark A. McNiven, Mayo Clinic
This proposed workshop will focus on understanding the important and widespread process of how tumor cells actively remodel the surrounding microenvironment through a combination of migration and matrix degradation during the metastatic process. The program will feature experts in protease biology, cytoskeletal dynamics, in situ live cell imaging, mouse and other genetic model systems, and human pathology to provide a state-of-the-art update on new findings and technologies to both understand and curtail metastatic disease.
Scientific Tracks: Cellular Dynamics, and Signaling and Metabolism
Organizers: Joel Rosenbaum, Yale University, and Maureen Barr, Rutgers University
Cilia, both primary non-motile and motile, are able to both receive and send signals. Most research has concentrated on signal reception ie. Shh, but in the past few years it has been shown that sending signals outward from the cilia, via vesicle release, may e just as important. This Subgroup will present recent research on the release of bio-active vesicles from cilia and how these vesicles influence nearby cells and organisms. Recent research using neurons in situ, C elegans Chlamydomonas and cells in culture will be presented.
For Session Organizers:
- Login to your ASCB account. If you do not have an account, you will need to create one before applying.
- You must:
- Select a primary scientific track, with an optional secondary scientific track.
- Identify a Title and Description for the session.
- Propose desired speakers to participate in the session.*
- Indicate those who identify as historically excluded persons (HEPs).
- Indicate those who work at a primarily undergraduate institution (PUI), minority-serving institution (MSI), Hispanic-serving institution (HSI), historically black colleges and universities (HBCU), or tribal college.
- Provide names, emails, institutions, and career levels for all co-organizers.
- Read and agree to the following affirmations:
- I confirm all co-organizers are ASCB members.
- I understand that the reviewers may ask me to merge my session with another proposal or slightly alter the topic.
- I understand that I (and my co-organizers) can only organize one scientific session this year. If I apply and am accepted to more than one scientific session (i.e. another Subgroup or a Minisymposium), I must choose one and notify ASCB staff immediately.
- I confirm that all co-organizers understand the guidelines for selecting speakers. This includes ensuring diverse speakers in all sessions. Diversity of speakers includes: institution, career level, geographic location, gender, and race/ethnicity.
- I will not invite my speakers until my application is accepted and I receive notification to do so.
- I understand speakers can only give a talk in one scientific session this year. If speakers are accepted to give multiple talks, they must select one and notify ASCB staff immediately.
- If selected, I understand I will have to ensure all desired speakers submit abstracts by the August 2 deadline. If selected, I understand I will need to be available to review abstracts and complete the final session schedule from August 4 to August 16.
- I understand all co-organizers and all speakers must pay for meeting registration and abstract fees (if applicable).
Speaker Selection
All speakers are selected from submitted abstracts. Speakers interested in speaking in your Subgroup must select your session's title during the submission process to be considered. You will be able to review all abstracts submitted to your Subgroup.
All speakers are required to:
- submit an abstract by the August 2 talk deadline. (Late submissions will NOT be accepted.)
- pay the abstract submission fee
- pay the meeting registration fee
You may encourage desired speakers to submit an abstract for a chance to speak in your session. During your session proposal, you are asked to provide the names of desired speakers*. If your session is accepted, contact your desired speakers and ask them to submit an abstract. During the review process, you can choose to select from those on your list of desired speakers to give a talk.
*Note: Subgroup speakers are not considered "Invited Speakers" and get no special privileges. They must all meet the requirements listed above and pay all required fees to participate.
Diversity and Inclusion
ASCB is committed to ensuring that we offer attendees a diverse and inclusive program. Subgroup organizers must select talks from those with diverse ethnicity, gender, research, career levels, institutions, and geographic locations.
If your session is accepted, organizers MUST:
- Inform all desired speakers to submit abstracts by the August 2 talk deadline. Late submissions will not be accepted. ASCB will provide organizers with an email template for notifying desired speakers upon selection notification.
- Review abstracts submitted to your Subgroup topic and assign talks to your session. The review period will take place from August 4 through August 16.
- Register for Cell Bio 2022. All speakers and organizers must be registered for Cell Bio 2022. Admission will not be granted if individuals are not registered.
- Ensure your speakers and co-organizers are aware of these policies:
- Abstract Submission - all speakers must submit an abstract by the August 2 deadline and pay the associated fee.
- Registration - anyone attending a session in any capacity (including speakers and organizers) must be paid registrants of the Cell Bio 2022 meeting. Admission will not be granted to individuals who are not registered for the meeting.
- Expenses - ASCB does not pay any expenses beyond what is listed below under "ASCB & EMBO Responsibilties". This includes travel expenses for speakers and organizers, registration fees, abstract submission fees, and any other expenses.
- Participating in multiple scientific sessions:
- Subgroup organizers can only organize ONE scientific session. If you are accepted as an organizer for another Subgroup, or co-chair for a Minisymposium, you must choose ONE and notify ASCB immediately.
- Subgroup speakers can only speak in ONE scientific session. If a speaker is selected to give a talk for another Subgroup or Minisymposium, they must choose ONE and notify ASCB and the session organizers immediately.
- A Subgroup organizer may give a talk in a Subgroup session (their own or another Subgroup) or a Minisymposium.
Organizers may incur optional expenses, beyond what ASCB provides.
The ASCB will NOT pay for the following expenses:
- Food or beverage. This must be ordered through Aramark at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. No outside food or beverage can be served. You will be billed directly by Aramark.
- Audiovisual equipment in addition to what is listed below. This must be ordered through Projection (PPT) by contacting Holly Alderton at 301-575-2754, or email at halderton@projection.com. You will be billed directly by PPT.
- Speaker expenses. Anyone attending a Special Interest Subgroup, including speakers and organizers, must be registered for Cell Bio 2022.
Fundraising
Contact SPARGO, Inc., Exhibit, Sponsorship and Advertising Sales and Management, to discuss fundraising opportunities. If ASCB acknowledges the sponsor, the majority of the funds collected will be used by ASCB to offset the costs and overhead to do so.
Diversity and Inclusion
ASCB is committed to ensuring that we offer attendees a diverse and inclusive program. Subgroup organizers must select talks from those with diverse ethnicity, gender, research, career levels, institutions, and geographic locations.
Availability Requirements
Subgroup Organizers must be available during the following time periods:
- Thursday, August 4 through Tuesday, August 16 - Abstract Review and Selection Period
- Saturday, December 3 through Wednesday, December 7- Available on the day of Subgroup session at a designated date and time
Miscellaneous
You and your accepted speakers must agree to the following terms and conditions:
- Not to defame or slander/libel anyone
- Not to use copyright/trademark materials without permission
- Not to speak on anything other than what was agreed to
ASCB & EMBO Responsibilities
ASCB & EMBO will provide the following facilities and services and incur the expenses associated with hosting a Subgroup session:
- A meeting room in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, set theater-style with signage outside of the room.
- The following audiovisual equipment: screen; MAC* computer with mouse and keyboard; lighted lectern; LCD projector; confidence monitor; laser pointer; microphones for the lectern, table, and aisle; and a video switcher. A projectionist will be assigned to your session. *If a PC is needed in the room, contact aharris@ascb.org.
- Inclusion of the session on the Cell Bio 2022 website and in the mobile app.
Timeline & Key Dates
| Subgroup Organizer Applications | Applications accepted for consideration in organizing a Subgroup session. | Opens March 1; Deadline: May 2 |
| Subgroup Organizer Review | Program Committee Chairs review applications. | May 13 to 23 |
| Subgroup Organizer Notifications | Applicants receive selection notifications. | May 27 |
| Abstract Submission | Abstracts received for talk consideration in Subgroups. | Opens early June; Closes August 2 |
| Abstract Review | Subgroup organizers review and assign abstracts to their sessions. | August 5 to 16 |
| Session Scheduling | Subgroup organizers finalize Subgroup talk schedules. | August 5 to 16 |
| Speaker Notifications | Abstract submitters receive selection notifications. | Week of September 15 |