GoingToMeet

Cross disciplinary in nature, with emphasis on isolated biomolecules and biomolecular interactions, theory and experiment, this meeting will provide an international forum for the presentation and discussion of frontier research on molecules of biological interest in the gas phase, and in solution. The past few years have witnessed remarkable advances in this field, revealing important properties of the building blocks of life that have heretofore been obscured by surrounding condensed phase environments. Our conference will put these results in perspective by comparing the properties of isolated molecules with their properties in the condensed phase, especially in solution. Following a brief tutorial on modern experimental methods in high resolution spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, the meeting will begin with a plenary lecture on "The Challenges that Lie Ahead" and continue with sessions devoted to noncovalent interactions, hydration, peptides and proteins, enzymes, nucleic acids, energy transduction, carbohydrates, and biopolymers in cells. Each session will feature a discussion leader and three invited talks; one on spectroscopy, one on computational methods, and one on mass spectrometry, each focused on the central topic of the session. In this way, we will compare and contrast the experimental and theoretical methods, and what can be learned from the application of these very different techniques to similar systems. Additionally, a scientist working in the field will be assigned the role of “reflector” for the session, who will help all conferees put the talks in a biological perspective, and identify key future areas of interest in that field. “Hot Topics” and “Poster” Sessions also are planned. The meeting will therefore provide an opportunity for young scientists to grow and be stimulated by the discussion of future research activities in this interdisciplinary field.