XVI National Congress of Biochemistry

XVI NATIONAL CONGRESS OF BIOCHEMISTRY

Ponta Delgada, 22 – 25 October, 2008

October 22 (Wednesday)
10:00 – 17:30 – Registration
14:30 – 15:00 – Opening Cerimony
15:00–16:00-Plenary Lecture SPB (Prof. António Xavier)
CHAIR: Maria Leonor Pavão
PL1 - MITOCHONDRIAL FISSION AND FUSION IN ALZHEIMER DISEASE FIBROBLASTS AND NEURONS. George Perry
16:30 – 18:15 –Parallel sessions

16:30 – 18:15 – Symposium 6: Mechanisms of Gene Expression and RNA Metabolism

Symposium Chair
Cecilia Arraiano, Leonor Cancela

Invited Speaker
16:30 S6.IS – ANDROGEN RECEPTOR FUNCTION IS REGULATED BY HISTONE DEMETHYLASES: IMPLICATIONS FOR PROSTATE CANCER. Rolland Schule
Selected Communications
17:00 – 17:15 S6.C1 Biochemical characterization of specific amino acid-base contacts in AraR-DNA interactions.
Correia I., Franco, I., and I. de Sá-Nogueira

17:15 – 17:30 S6.C2 BolA inhibits cell elongation and regulates MreB expression levels
Patrick Freire, Ricardo A. Moreira, Cecilia M. Arraiano
17:30 – 17:45 S6.C3 sr45, a plant-specific splicing factor, negatively regulates sugar signaling in Arabidopsis. Raquel Carvalho and Paula Duque
17:45 – 18:00 S6.C4 The presence of two alternative oxidases in Perkinsus sp.: Characterization,expression patterns and evolutionary considerationsLeite R.B., Afonso R., Cancela M.L
18:00 – 18:15 S6.C5 Transcriptional and translational responses to mRNA mistranslation in yeast. João A. Paredes, Tatiana Lima-Costa, Laura Carreto and Manuel A. S. Santos
16:30 – 18:15 – Symposium 7: Toxicology and Environmental Biochemistry

Symposium Chairs:
Lourdes Bastos, Armindo Rodrigues
Invited Speaker
16:30 S7.IS - BIOMARKERS OF EXPOSURE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS IN CANCER EPIDEMIOLOGY. André Amaral
Selected Communications
17:10 – 17:25 S7.C1 Optimization of tyramine detection in portuguese wines by a HPLC-PDA system. Dias E., Passarinha L.A., Gallardo E., Almeida L.B., Queiroz J.A.

17:25 – 17:40 S7.C2 Mechanisms of Berberine [Natural Yellow 18, 5,6-dihydro-9,10-dimethoxybenzo(g)-1,3-benzodioxolo (5,6-a) quinolizinium]-induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction: Interaction with the Adenine Nucleotide Translocator Cláudia V. Pereira, Nuno G. Machado and Paulo J. Oliveira

17:40 – 17:55 S7.C3 The role of lipids in a toxicological context: some experimental approaches for drugs and pesticides. Amália S. Jurado and Romeu A. Videira

17:55 – 18:10 S7.C4 Environmental and biological monitoring in occupational exposure to formaldehyde. Susana Viegas; Carina Ladeira; Joana Vacas; Mário Gomes; Miguel Brito; Paula Mendonça; João Prista
16:30 –18:15 – Symposium 9: Biomembranes and Transport

Symposium Chairs:Manuel Prieto, Graça Soveral
Invited Speaker
16:30 S9.IS – NUCLEATION AND GROWTH OF SPONGE LIKE PRION AGGREGATES ON LIPID MENBRANES. Teresa Pinheiro
Selected Communications
17:10 – 17:25 S9.C1 Specificity of HIV fusion inhibitor peptides to rigid lipid domains correlates with their clinical efficacy. A combined fluorescence and atomic force microscopy approach. Henri G. Franquelim, Luís M. Loura, Nuno C. Santos, Miguel A.R.B. Castanho

17:25 – 17:40 S9.C2 How does Yeast (mis)behave under the influence of ethanol? Madeira, A, Dias, P, Leitão L, Soveral, G, Moura, TF and Loureiro-Dias, MC

17:40 – 17:55 S9.C3 The relationship between antimicrobial peptide activity and high peptide-to-lipid ratios in the membrane. Manuel N. Melo, Rafael Ferre, Ana D. Correia, Lidia Feliu, Marta Planas, Eduard Bardají and Miguel A. R. B. Castanho

17:55 – 18:10 S9.C4 Modulation of butyrate uptake by the caco-2 human colonic adenocarcinoma cell line. Gonçalves P, Araújo JR, Martel F
18:30 – 20:00 – Reception offered by Câmara Municipal de Ponta Delgada (Coliseu Micaelense)
October 23 (Thursday)

9:00 - 10:00 – Plenary Lecture
CHAIR:Catarina Oliveira
PL2 STUDIES ON BRAIN MEMAPSIN2 FROM ENZYMOLOGY TO DRUG DEVELOPMENT FOR ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE.Jordan Tang
10:00 - 10:30 – Coffee-break
10:30 - 12:15 – Parallel sessions
10:30 - 12:15 – Symposium 1 - Proteins-structure and function
Symposium Chairs:
Carlos Frazão, Sandra Ribeiro
Invited Speaker
10:30 S1.IS - WHAT WE CAN LEARN FROM STRUCTURE OF VIRAL REPLICATION COMPLEXES. Nuria Verdaguer
Selected Communications
11:10 – 11:25 S1.C1 The structure of the “nominal” transglutaminase: a snapshot of the evolution of crosslinking enzymes from papain-like thiol proteases. Adriano Henriques
11:25 – 11:40 S1.C2 Identification of a novel family of Carbohydrate-Binding Domains that bind decorations of complex polysaccharides. Márcia A.S. Correia
11:40 – 11:55 S1.C3 Folding and amyloidosis of proteins: The prevention of amyloidosis by osmolytes. Eduardo P. Melo
11:55 – 12:10 S1.C4 Structure Of Transthyretin Amyloid Fibrils Explored With AFM Imaging and Nanomanipulation. Ricardo H. Pires
10:30 - 12:15 – Symposium 3 - Cell Cycle and Development Biology

Symposium Chairs: Moreira da Silva, Álvaro Tavares
Invited Speaker
10:30 S3.IS - FROM CENTRIOLE BIOGENESIS TO CELLULAR. Ana Martins
Selected Communications
11:00 – 11:15 S3.C1 A biochemical pathway involved in human evolution. Amalia Gabriela Diaconeasa
11:15 – 11:30 S3.C2 Apoptosis and bovine embryo’s development. A. Chaveiro, G. Antunes, P. Santos, A. Marques, and F. Moreira da Silva

11:30 – 11:45 S3.C3 Maize endosperm transfer cell wall ingrowths: a developmental study on the pattern of microtubule, cellulose and callose organization. Monjardino P, Mendonça DM, Sampaio P, Tavares, C, and da Câmara Machado.

11:45 – 12:00 S3.C4 Notochord signaling regulates timely somite segmentation. Tatiana P. Resende, Raquel P. Andrade, Mónica Ferreira, Marie-Aimée Teillet and Isabel Palmeirim
12:00 – 12:15 S3C5 Phosphorylation dynamics of thr 3 and thr 32 of histone H3 in arabidopsis thaliana cell division. Ana D. Caperta, Marisa Rosa, Margarida Delgado, Wanda Viegas
10:30 - 12:15 – Symposium 10 - Computational Biochemistry Symposium Chairs:
Jorge Carneiro, Arsénio Fialho
Invited Speaker
10:30 S10.IS - A NEW STRATEGY FOR ASSEMBLING GLOBAL SENSITIVITY IN BIOCHEMICAL NETWORK. Pedro Mendes
Selected Communications
11:10 – 11:30 S10.C1 Computational Biochemistry: Perspectives for the future. Jorge Carneiro
11:30 - 11:50 S10.C2 Three-dimensional models for spatial patterning in cell polarization and embryo development. Filipa Alves
11:50 - 12:10 S10.C3 Bacterial Two Component Systems. Rui Alves
12:30 - 13:45 – Lunch
14:00 - 15:30 – Poster session

15:30 - 16:00 – Coffee break
16:00 – 17:45 – Parallel sessions
16:00 – 17:45 – Symposium 2 - Comparative and Functional Genomics and Proteomics
Symposium Chairs:
Manuel Santos, Nelson Simões
Invited Speaker
Palestra van Uden
16:00 S2.IS - COMPARATIVE GENOMICS OF PATHOGENIC CANDIDA SPECIES. Geraldine Butler
Selected Communications
16:40 – 16:55 S2.C1 Discover of cellular proteins essential in HIV-1 replication as novel potential antiviral targets. Sylvie Rato, Leonor Resende, Sara Maia,Rui Soares , Ana Espada de Sousa, Joana Cardoso, João Ferreira, João Barata, Luís Moita,João Gonçalves.
16:55 – 17:10 S2.C2 Protein expression profiles of Rhodospirillum rubrum under different nitrogen availability conditions.Tiago Toscano Selãoa, Stefan Nordlunda and Agneta Noréna
17:10 – 17:25 S2.C3 Proteomic analysis shows that two serine-proteases are involved in a pathogenic process. Toubarro, D., M. Lucena-Robles, G. Nascimento, G. Costa, R. Montiel, A. Coelho, N. Simões
17:25 – 17:40 S2.C4 S2.C4 Distinctive microRNA profiles in cervical cancer. Patrícia Pereira, Ana Raquel Soares, João Paulo Marques and Manuel A. S. santos
16:00 – 17:45 – Symposium 4 – Neurosciences

Symposium Chairs:
Rodrigo Cunha, Manuela Lima

Invited Speaker
16:00 S4.IS - PURINERGIC CONTROL OF SYNAPTIC PLASTICITY AND NEURODEGENERATION. Rodrigo Cunha
Selected Communications
16:40 – 17:00 S4.C1 Bilirubin-induced neuritic atrophy and cell dysfunction is aggravated by astrocytes and reversed by glycoursodeoxycholic acid. Sandra Leitão Silva, Ana Rita Vaz, Ana Sofia Falcão, Adelaide Fernandes, Maria Delgado-Esteban, Andreia Barateiro, Rui FM Silva, Juan Pedro Bolaños, Maria Alexandra Brito, Angeles Almeida, Dora Brites

17:00 – 17:20 S4.C2 Silencing neuropeptide Y in the CNS: the AAV-shRNA tool-kit. Lígia Sousa-Ferreira, Manuel Garrido, Isabel Nascimento-Ferreira, Sebastian Kügler, Claudia Cavadas, Luis Pereira de Almeida.

17:20 – 17:40 S4.C3 Kinetic analysis of L1 homophilic interaction: role of the Ig1-4 domains and implications on binding mechanism. Ricardo M. Gouveia, Cláudio M. Gomes, Marcos Sousa, Paula M. Alves, Júlia Costa,
16:00 – 17:45 – Symposium 13 - Plant Biochemistry
Symposium Chairs:
Margarida Oliveira, Manuela Chaves
Invited Speaker
16:00 S13.IS - UNCOVERING THE MOLECULAR SECRETS OF PLANT ADAPTATION TO DROUHGT STRESS. Jeff Leung
Selected Communications
16:40 – 16:55 S13.C1 Genetically modified Pinus pinaster with genes related with nitrogen metabolism. Lara Currais, Ana Millhinhos, Susana Tereso, Margarida Oliveira, Célia Miguel
16:55 – 17:10 S13.C2 Novel transcription factors regulating abiotic stress tolerance in rice (Oryza sativa l.). Nelson Saibo, Tiago Lourenço, Duarte Figueiredo, Tânia Serra, Subhash Chander, Pedro Barros, and M. Margarida Oliveira
17:10 – 17:25 S13.C3 Sage as source of natural medicines: phytochemical, biological and biotechnological aspects. Paulo S. Braga, Cristovão F. Lima, Alice A. Ramos, Cristina Pereira-Wilson, Maria João Sousa, Manuel Alexandre B.V. Fernandes-Ferreira, and Manuel Fernandes-Ferreira.
17:25 – 17:40 S13.C4 Changes in the pattern of grape berry skin proteins during ripening and under water deficit conditions. Francisco R, Zarrouk O, Regalado AP, Santos RR, Jenöe P, Ricardo CP, Chaves MM
17:45 – 18:45 – SPB meeting
19:00 – Round Table: Biotechnology

October 24 (Friday)

09:00-10:00 – Plenary Lecture EMBO
Chair: Claudina-Pousada
PL.3. MOLECULAR MECHANISMS INVOLVED IN BARS-DEPENDENT MEMBRANE FISSION. Daniela Corda
10:00-10:30 – Coffee-break
10:30 - 12:15 – Parallel sessions

10:30 - 12:15 – Symposium 8 - Stress, Ageing and Cell Death
Symposium Chairs:
Claudina R.- Pousada, Vitor Costa
Invited Speaker
10:30 S8.IS - REVISITING THE CELLULAR FUNCTIONS OF GSH IN A EUKARYOTE. Michel B. Toledano
Selected Communications
11:10 – 11:25 S8.C1 In vivo dynamics of nitric oxide and oxygen changes in the rat brain. João Laranjinha, Cátia F Lourenço, Ricardo M Santos, João Frade, Ana Ledo, Greg A Gerhard and Rui M Barbosa.
11:25 – 11:40 S8.C2 Molecular mechanisms of arsenic adaptation: role of Yap1 and Yap8. Menezes, R.A., Amaral, C., Batista-Nascimento, L., Santos, C., Ferreira, R.B. , Devaux, F., Eleutherio, E.C.A. and Rodrigues-Pousada, C.
11:40 – 11:55 S8.C3 Oxidative DNA damage protection and repair by new synthetic compounds. JP Silva, AC Gomes, MF Proença and OP Coutinho

11:55 – 12:10 S8.C4 Modulation of aged skeletal muscle mitochondrial proteome by lifelong physical activity. Renato Alves, Rui Vitorino, Pedro Figueiredo, José Alberto Duarte, Francisco Amado, Rita Ferreira.
10:30 - 12:15 – Symposium 12 –Biotechnology

Symposium Chairs:
Carlos Faro, Artur Câmara
Invited Speaker
10:30 S12.IS - BIOTECHNOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO FRUIT RELATED ALLERGENS. Margit Laimer Machado
Selected Communications
11:10 – 11:30 S12.C1 A new analgesic peptide: from biophysical screening to in vivo tests. Marta M. B. Ribeiro, M. Heras, E. Bardají, M. Pinto, I. Tavares, Miguel A.R.B. Castanho 11:30 – 11:50 S12.C2 Molecular phytopatology: from plant pathogens diagnosis to the research on resistance mechanisms Mendonça, D.; Foroni, I.; Lopes, M.S.; Leitão, S. and da Câmara Machado, A.

11:50 – 12:10 S12.C3 Improvement of naringinase activity and stability via immobilization techniques Amaro, M.I., Ribeiro, M.H.
10:30 - 12:15 – Symposium 14 – Careers and Education
Symposium Chairs
Carmo Barreto, Miguel Castanho
Invited Speaker
10:30 S14.IS1 Changing the road of your scientific future?Maurício R. M. P. Luz
11:00 S14.IS2 Marie Curie Actions: Funding Opportunities for Mobile Researchers.David G. Pina.
11:30 S14.IS3 Biochemistry and molecular biology in Portugal an overview of past.João Varela.
12:00 - Homenagem ao prof. Ruy Pinto
Maria Leonor Pavão S. Medeiros (Universidade dos Açores, Portugal)
12:30-13:45 – Lunch
14:00-15:30 – Poster Session Symposia 5,8,11,12,14
15:30-16:00 - Coffee-break
16:00 – 17:45 – Parallel sessions

16:00 – 17:45 – Symposium 5 – Clinical Biochemistry and Mechanisms of Disease

Symposium Chairs:
Manuel Bicho, Natércia Teixeira
Invited Speaker
16:00 S5.IS PLASMA MEMBRANE CYTOCHROME B5 REDUCTASE IN METABOLISM REGULATION. Placido Navas Lloret
Selected Communications
16:40 – 16:55 S5.C1 Green tea epigallocatechin-3-gallate binds transthyretin (TTR) and modulates its amyloidogenicity. Nelson Ferreira, Isabel Cardoso, Maria João Saraiva, Maria do Rosário Almeida. 16:55 – 17:10 S5.C2 CagA associates with c-Met, E-cadherin, and p120-catenin in a multiproteic complex that suppresses Helicobacter pylori-mediated cell invasive phenotype. Angela M Costa, Maria J Oliveira, Ana C Costa, Rui M Ferreira, Paula Sampaio, Jose Carlos Machado, Raquel Seruca, Marc Mareel, Ceu Figueiredo
17:10 – 17:25 S5.C3 Nitration of epidermal growth factor receptor hinders the proliferation of neural stem cells. Bruno P. Carreira, Maria Inês Morte, Ângela Inácio, António F. Ambrósio, Caetana Carvalho, Inês M. Araújo
17:25 – 17:40 S5.C4 Pollen Proteases, role in allergic disorders. Raquel Vinhas,Luísa Cortes,Euclides Pires,Paula Veríssimo
16:00 – 17:45 – Symposium 11 - Microbial Physiology and Genetics

Symposium Chairs:
Rogério Tenreiro, Carla Cabral
Invited Speaker
16:00 S11.IS COLONIZATION FACTORS IN A NEMATODE-BACTERIUM SYMBIOSIS.Heidi Boodrich-Blair
Selected Communications
16:40 – 16:55 S11.C1 Burkholderia cenocepacia J2315 acp: Identification of a potential target for the development of new antimicrobials. S. A. Sousa, C. G. Ramos, L. Soares, L. Eberl, and J. H. Leitão

16:55 – 17:10 S11.C2 TolC FROM Sinorhizobium meliloti is involved in the secretion of several molecules relevant for the symbiosis with legume plants. Ana M. Cosme, Mário R. Santos, Jörg D. Becker, and Leonilde M. Moreira
17:10 – 17:25 S11.C3 Two GH43 endo-arabinanases from Bacillus subtilis: non-redundant roles in arabino-polysaccharides digestion (?). José M. Inácio, and Isabel Sá-Nogueira I
17:25 – 17:40 S11.C4 Genomic Diversity between Strains of the Same Serotype and Multilocus Sequence Type among Pneumococcal Clinical Isolates. Nuno A. Silva, Jackie McCluskey, Johanna M. C. Jefferies, Jason Hinds, Andrew Smith, Stuart C. Clarke, Tim J. Mitchell, and Gavin K. Paterson,
16:00 – 17:45 – Commercial Presentations 16:00 – 16:15 Eduardo Lopes – BioRad
16:15 – 16:30 Nzytech: Produtos para biologia molecular made in Portugal – Carlos Fontes – Nzytech
16:30 – 16:45 Uma nova visão nas Ciências da Vida – Laura Machado – Grupo Taper
16:45 – 17:00 Roche
17:00 – 17:15 SOLID® – Transcriptome Analysis – João Caldeira – Applied Biosystems
17:15 – 17:30Serviço de calibração e manutenção de pipetas – Isabel Faria – Normax

19:00 – 19:30 – Closing Session 20:30 – CONGRESS DINNER

October 25 (Saturday) Touristic tour.