Small DNA Binding Proteins in Bacteria

Integrity of the bacterial genome is essential to survival of the organism. Further, the size of the bacterial cell necessitates significant compaction of the genomic DNA, yet availability to various cellular machineries is important for cell growth. A variety of small DNA-binding proteins encompass these functions. These proteins are sometimes referred-to as histone-like, not because of sequence or structural similarity to eukaryotic histones, but because of comparable roles in nucleoid compaction. A number of such nucleoid-associated proteins have been identified in Escherichia coli, including H-NS, Fis, Dps (DNA protection during starvation), HU, and IHF (Integration Host Factor), all of which are present at concentrations up to or even exceeding 10 mM, depending on growth conditions. These proteins have different DNA-binding properties and function together (and sometimes opposing each other) to organize genomic DNA and to regulate DNA-dependent activities.

Further reading: Functional Evolution of Bacterial Histone-Like HU Proteins

Microbial Biotechnology in Agriculture

November 1 - 3, 2010 Bio-Processing and Application of Microbial Biotechnology in Agriculture
Cairo, Egypt Further information
1st International Conference of Bio-Processing and Application of Microbial Biotechnology in Agriculture
Suggested reading: Microbiology Books

Getting The Most Out of PCR

We would like to draw your attention to an online seminar series "Getting The Most Out of PCR", which is being broadcast by the popular life science blog, Bitesize Bio. Bitesize Bio is headed by Nick Oswald and Suzanne Kennedy, who co-edited our recent title "PCR Troubleshooting and Optimization".

The series lineup includes many of the authors from this book and kicks off on 18 May with a talk from LightCycler co-inventor, Carl Wittwer, entitled "Magic in Solution: An Introduction and Brief History of PCR". This will be a great learning experience with an opportunity to ask questions and learn from experts and pioneers in the PCR field. The full program is shown below.

Click here to book your place on these excellent events.

  • Magic in Solution: An Introduction and Brief History of PCR
    Speaker: Carl Wittwer
    18 May 2010 / 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 5pm GMT / 6pm CET

  • Obtaining Maximum PCR Sensitivity and Specificity
    Speaker: Cameron N. Gundry
    25 May 2010 / 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 5pm GMT / 6pm CET

  • Significance of Controls and Standard Curves in PCR
    Speaker: Ian Kavanagh
    01 June 2010 / 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 5pm GMT / 6pm CET

  • The MBD2-based Enrichment Approach for Analyzing DNA methylation
    Speaker: Chris Adams
    08 June 2010 / 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 5pm GMT / 6pm CET

  • The MIQE Guidelines Uncloaked
    Speaker: Greg Shipley
    15 June 2010 / 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 5pm GMT / 6pm CET

  • High Resolution Melting Analysis - Beyond the SNP
    Speaker: John Mackay
    22 June 2010 / 9am Pacific / 12pm Eastern / 5pm GMT / 6pm CET


Recommended reading: PCR publications

Conference announcement

September 28 - 29, 2010 Probe Discovery
Washington, DC, USA Further information
2nd annual Probe Discovery conference and exhibition. The word probe is a broad term which can be interpreted to mean any one of a wide variety of agents. These include active chemistries discovered in academic screening labs or in government (MLPCN or the NIH), commercially available probes (i.e. dyes, antibodies, fluorescent proteins), failed drug candidates from Pharma, whole body or cellular imaging agents, specific biomarkers or tool molecules from chemogenomics and/or systems biology efforts. The goal of this conference is to bring all of the various incarnations of probe hunters together to share experience and network to a common purpose.
Suggested reading: Real-Time PCR: Current Technology and Applications

September 28 - 29, 2010 Ion Channel Targets
Washington, DC, USA Further information
6th annual Ion Channel Targets conference and exhibition. Agenda Topics: Ion Channels in Drug Discovery, Target Identification and Validation, Advances in Ion Channel Technology, Ion Channels & Drug Safety (including hERG), Outsourcing, Ion Channels in Disease Biology, Transporter Protein
Suggested reading: Molecular Biology Books

September 27 - 30, 2010 Horizons in Molecular Biology
Gottingen, Germany Further information
The international PhD student symposium will feature talks from cell biology, developmental biology, structure biology, neuroscience and from this year's special session, future biology. Maria Leptin, Facundo Batista, Luis Serrano and last year's Nobel Prize winner Venki Ramakrishnan are some of the confirmed speakers. Student talks and poster sessions are traditionally included in the program and give mainly young scientists the possibility to get valuable input for their own work. There is the possibility to apply for travel grants.
Suggested reading: Molecular Biology Books