Pre-Meeting Workshop

"RNA Interference (small RNAs): Applications to neural systems"

Saturday, August 14, 2004; 8:15 am – 5:00 pm; Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City

| Registration | Participants | Program |

The purpose of the workshop is twofold: to present the latest techniques for using RNA interference in molecular neurochemistry and to discuss the likely roles RNAi plays in normal neuronal function. This workshop explores the use of RNA interference as a tool in reverse genetics and probes the way RNA interference may work physiologically in neural systems. RNA interference is a recently discovered mechanism whereby cells can control protein production by either temporally silencing (miRNAs) or degrading (siRNAs) a specific mRNA. In both cases regulation is achieved by a 20-22 nt RNA transcript that binds with complete (si) or incomplete (mi) complementarity to a specific message. In lower organisms RNAi has been linked to developmental timing and to processes of cell defense against invading genetic material. Many of the miRNAs found in lower organisms are highly conserved and have been found in the mammalian brain; several have been shown to be neuron specific.

The morning session presents a general overview of the field and then focuses on how to use state-of-the-art techniques to silence specific mRNAs. In the final talk of the morning, experiments will be presented in which siRNAs have been used successfully to silence abnormal proteins in a model of neurodegenerative disease. The afternoon session begins with a presentation of experiments in which RNAi has been used as a tool to investigate genes in Drosophila brain and is followed by a discussion of the RNAi pathway in neural plasticity and learning. Following a short break, talks will focus on miRNAs in developing neurons and in regenerating axons.

Workship Organizer: Nicolas Ingoglia

How to Register:

Sign up on the Registration Form

Registration Fee - $100 per person

Workshop Participants:

Program:
8:30 - 9:00 Registration, coffee
9:00 - 9:15 Welcome and Introduction "RNA Interference - What is it and why is it important to Neurochemists?" Nick Ingoglia
9:15 - 10:00. "Applications of siRNA Technology to Neural Systems" Doug Robinson
10:00 - 10:45 Coffee Break and Open Discussion - How to apply siRNA technology to solve problems in the nervous system
10:45 - 11:30 "Silencing of mutant forms of APP with siRNA" … Tae Wan Kim

11:30 - 1:00 Lunch
1:10 - 1:45 "RNA Interference and Neuropharmacology in Drosophila" Hari Manev
1:45 - 2:30 "Dicer Pathways in Neural Plasticity and Learning" Neil Smalheiser
Coffee Break and Open Discussion
3:00 - 3:45 "Micro RNAs During Brain development" Anna Krichevsky
3:45 - 4:30 "Are Micro RNAs present in Regenerating Axons?" Nick Ingoglia