Conferencia científica internacional que cubre todos los aspectos relacionados con la comunicación celular medida por conexinas, ponexinas e inexinas. El programa de estas conferencias cubre un amplio rango de temas de vanguardia que van desde la bioquímica estructural a la biología celular, la fisiología molecular hasta ensayos clínicos. La mayoría de los asistentes son científicos extranjeros provenientes de cinco continentes.

Comité Organizador invita a científicos, postdoctorales y estudiantes de todo el mundo para asistir y participar activamente en la Conferencia 2015 Internacional Gap Junction en Valparaíso, Chile. Esta conferencia es una excelente oportunidad para interactuar y discutir varios aspectos del campo con científicos de todo el mundo.

Esta conferencia internacional es organizada por el Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de la Universidad de Valparaíso.

Program Thursday April 2^nd, 2015

9:00-10:00      Platform session 13
Cancer and cell-cell communication
Chair: E. Martha Pérez Armendariz and Maria L. Z. Dagli

49) Targeting endothelial Connexin40 inhibits tumor growth by reducing angiogenesis and enhancing vessel function. Florian Alonso-Switzerland.
50) Osteocytic Connexin 43 hemichannels suppress breast cancer growth and bone metastasis. Jean Jiang-USA.
51) The role of Connexin43 in glioma migration and invasion. Christian Naus-Canada.
52) Pannexin1 regulates melanoma progression. Silvia Peñuela-Canada.

10:00-10:30         Coffee break

10:00-11:30    Platform session 14
Connexins as conduits and therapeutic targets
Chair: Patricia E. Martin and Mauricio A. Retamal

53) Drug discovery: lipidation of connexin mimetic peptides increases efficacy in gap junction inhibition. Maura Cotter-USA.
54) siRNA therapy: validation of gap junction delivery in vitro and in vivo. Virginijus Valiunas-USA.
55) Pannexin 1 regulation of inflammatory pathways in vascular cells. Scott Johnstone.-UK.
56) Discovery of a selective connexin hemichannel blocker and its use to revert and prevent progression of muscular dystrophy. Juan C. Sáez-Chile.

11:30-12:00    Closing Remarks

Afternoon:         Free transportation from the “Parque Cultural de Valparaíso” to Santiago´s airport or other connections (e.g., bus station or Metro station in Santiago).Lunch box will be provided.

Conferencia científica internacional que cubre todos los aspectos relacionados con la comunicación celular medida por conexinas, ponexinas e inexinas. El programa de estas conferencias cubre un amplio rango de temas de vanguardia que van desde la bioquímica estructural a la biología celular, la fisiología molecular hasta ensayos clínicos. La mayoría de los asistentes son científicos extranjeros provenientes de cinco continentes.

Comité Organizador invita a científicos, postdoctorales y estudiantes de todo el mundo para asistir y participar activamente en la Conferencia 2015 Internacional Gap Junction en Valparaíso, Chile. Esta conferencia es una excelente oportunidad para interactuar y discutir varios aspectos del campo con científicos de todo el mundo.

Esta conferencia internacional es organizada por el Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de la Universidad de Valparaíso.

Program Wednesday April 1^st, 2015

9:00-10:00      Keynote talk 4
Akio Suzumura: “Gap junction hemichannels as novel therapeutic targets in neurodegenerative disorders”

10:00-11:00    Platform session 11
Cell-cell communication and neuroinflammation
Chair: Juan A. Orellana and Silvia Peñuela

41) Connexin32 expression by NG2⁺ progenitor cell limits neurogenic capacity of nestin⁺type 1 and 2a progenitors in the injured hippocampus. Mark Akins-Canada.
42) Regulation of the hypoxic activation of Pannexin-1 by amyloid beta. Laura Palmer-Canada.
43) Death of neurons following injury requires conductive neuronal gap junction channels but not a specific connexin. Andrei Belousov-USA.
44) Therapeutically targeting Connexin43 in ischemic stroke. John Bechberger-Canada.

11:00-11:30     Coffee break

11:30-12:30    Platform session 12
Pannexins and connexins in genetic and acquired diseases
Chair: Fabio Mammano and Dale W. Laird

45) The cataract related mutation N188T in Connexin46 (Cx46) inhibits formation of functional gap junction channels by impairing docking process of Cx46 hemichannels. Anaclet Ngezahayo-Germany.
46) The cataract-linked mutant Cx50D47A causes ER stress in mouse lenses. Viviana M. Berthoud-USA.
47) Non-junctional channel function of Connexin26 (Cx26) in the cochlea for Cx26 deficiency induced hearing loss. Hong-Bo Zhao-USA.
48) Protective effects of Connexin43 signaling against experimentally induced acute liver failure in mouse. Michael Maes-Belgium.

12:30-13:30               Business meeting

– Presentation of the IGJC 2017
– Proposals for the IGJC 2019
– Presentation of student awards.

Free afternoon          Ideal for wine tasting in Casablanca or sightseeing Valparaíso and Viña del Mar. A lunch box will be provided.

19:00          Final Banquet at “Muelle Baron” (Baron Pier).  Attendees should arrive to “Muelle Prat” (Prat Pier) at 18:00 to board tipical Chilean boats that will bring us to Baron Pier for the banquet.

Conferencia científica internacional que cubre todos los aspectos relacionados con la comunicación celular medida por conexinas, ponexinas e inexinas. El programa de estas conferencias cubre un amplio rango de temas de vanguardia que van desde la bioquímica estructural a la biología celular, la fisiología molecular hasta ensayos clínicos. La mayoría de los asistentes son científicos extranjeros provenientes de cinco continentes.

Comité Organizador invita a científicos, postdoctorales y estudiantes de todo el mundo para asistir y participar activamente en la Conferencia 2015 Internacional Gap Junction en Valparaíso, Chile. Esta conferencia es una excelente oportunidad para interactuar y discutir varios aspectos del campo con científicos de todo el mundo.

Esta conferencia internacional es organizada por el Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de la Universidad de Valparaíso.

Program Tuesday March 31^st, 2015

9:00-11:00      Platform session 9
Peripheral diseases, inflammation-regeneration and cell-cell communication
Chair: Luc Leybaert and Christian C. Naus

33) Molecular characterization of gap junction mediated intercellular communication in platelets. Jon Gibbins-UK.
34) Pannexin 1 channels regulate leukocyte emigration through the venous endothelium during acute inflammation. Alexander Lohman-USA.
35) The cytoplasmic tail of Connexin43 mediates cytoskeletal rearrangements in B-lymphocytes. Farnaz Pournia-Canada
36) Cx43 scaffolding CT intracellular domain is required for achieving proper bone architecture and for some, but not all, anabolic actions of intermittent PTH administration. Lilian I. Plotkin-USA.

11:00-11:30     Coffee break

11:30-12:30    Platform session 10
Connexins in inherited and acquired diseases
Chair: Lilian I. Plotkin and Xavier F. Figueroa

37) Connexin40 abnormalities and atrial fibrillation. Eric C. Beyer-USA.
38) The Keratitis-ichthyosis-deafness (KID) syndrome mouse model Cx26S17F exhibits an altered calcium gradient and ceramide profile in the epidermis. Klaus Willecke-Germany.
39) Slow deactivation kinetics of hyperactive heteromeric hemichannels formed by Cx26 N-terminus KID-associated mutants and Cx43. Isaac García-Chile.
40) Possible role of connexins 39, 43 and 45 on muscular damage in dysferlinopathies. Luis Cea-Chile.

12:30-20:00    Trip  for dinner, a Chilean barbeque, which will be held in a nearby farm called “Puro caballo” (approx. 1 hour south of Valparaíso). Transportation and a lunch box will be provided.

20:00               Trip back to Valparaíso

Conferencia científica internacional que cubre todos los aspectos relacionados con la comunicación celular medida por conexinas, ponexinas e inexinas. El programa de estas conferencias cubre un amplio rango de temas de vanguardia que van desde la bioquímica estructural a la biología celular, la fisiología molecular hasta ensayos clínicos. La mayoría de los asistentes son científicos extranjeros provenientes de cinco continentes.

Comité Organizador invita a científicos, postdoctorales y estudiantes de todo el mundo para asistir y participar activamente en la Conferencia 2015 Internacional Gap Junction en Valparaíso, Chile. Esta conferencia es una excelente oportunidad para interactuar y discutir varios aspectos del campo con científicos de todo el mundo.

Esta conferencia internacional es organizada por el Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de la Universidad de Valparaíso.

Program Monday March 30^th, 2015

9:00-10:00      Keynote talk 3

Eduardo Macagno: “Roles of Innexins in Nervous System Development”

10:00-11:00    Platform session 5
Innexin, connexin and pannexin based-channels
Chair: Michael V.L. Bennett and John O’Brien

17) A different role for Innexin2 and Innexin3 proteins from Spodoptera litura in apoptosis under hemichannel-closed Sf9 cells infected by recombinant baculoviruses. Kaijun Luo-China.
18) Comparing innexin- and connexin-based channels using structure-function analysis. Martha Skerrett-USA.
19) ATP-evoked internalization of Pannexin 1 channels. Andrew Boyce-Canada.
20) Lack of Pannexin 1 alters permeability of cochlear supporting cells and induces sensorineural hearing loss. Pavel Prado-Chile.

11:00-11:30     Coffee break

11:30-12:30    Platform session 6
Pannexin based-channels
Chair: Jean X. Jiang and Anaclet Ngezahayo

21) Human development disorders linked to a germ-line missense PANX1 gene mutation. Dale Laird-Canada.
22) Pannexin 1 in smooth muscle cells of cerebral arteries can alter cerebral blood flow and response to ischemic stroke via regulation of myogenic tone. Miranda Good-USA.
23) Pannexin 1 in the response of developing neurons to stroke. Leigh Anne Swayne-Canada
24) α1-adrenergic receptor activation phosphorylates Pannexin 1 at tyrosine 198 via src family kinases.  Leon DeLalio-USA.

12:30-14:00    Lunch at Centro cultural de Valparaíso (PCDV)

14:00-15:00    Platform session 7
Regulation and traffic of hemichannels and gap junction channels (I)
Chair: Matthias Falk and Mathieu Vinken

25) Prevention of Cx37 de-phosphorylation at tyrosine 332 is pivotal for the inhibitory NO effect on GJC. Petra Kameritsch-Germany.
26) Control of astrocyte calcium signaling through NO-dependent regulation of hemichannel opening. Mariela Puebla-Chile.
27) Cx43 hemichannels in ventricular cardiomyocytes can be activated by an elevation of cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ and are a potential arrhythmogenic substrate in the heart. Luc Leybaert-Belgium.
28) Ca²⁺/calmodulin regulation of connexin. Jenny Yang-USA.

15:00-15:30     Coffee break

15:30-16:30    Platform session 8
Cell-cell communication channels in organ systems (II)
Chair: Sandra A. Murray and Jonathan M. Gibbins 

29) Regulation of gap junction channels and hemichannels by actin cytoskeleton and RhoA. Oscar Jara-Chile.
30) Hierarchical phosphorylation events in the Connexin 43 tail-domain signal gap junction internalization. Matthias Falk-USA.
31) Cx43 augments filopodia formation via activation of p21-activated protein kinase 1 (PAK1). Kristin Pogoda-Germany.
32) Signals and mechanisms regulating endocytosis across the connexin protein family. Charles Fisher-USA.

16:30- 18:30   Poster session II

18:30               Please find your preferred dinner at Valparaiso´s restaurants.  Information about restaurants will be available at the meeting.

Conferencia científica internacional que cubre todos los aspectos relacionados con la comunicación celular medida por conexinas, ponexinas e inexinas. El programa de estas conferencias cubre un amplio rango de temas de vanguardia que van desde la bioquímica estructural a la biología celular, la fisiología molecular hasta ensayos clínicos. La mayoría de los asistentes son científicos extranjeros provenientes de cinco continentes.

Comité Organizador invita a científicos, postdoctorales y estudiantes de todo el mundo para asistir y participar activamente en la Conferencia 2015 Internacional Gap Junction en Valparaíso, Chile. Esta conferencia es una excelente oportunidad para interactuar y discutir varios aspectos del campo con científicos de todo el mundo.

Esta conferencia internacional es organizada por el Centro Interdisciplinario de Neurociencia de la Universidad de Valparaíso.

Program Sunday March 29^th, 2015

9:00-10:00      Keynote talk 1

Tomás Pérez-Acle: “Structure-function relationships coded at the molecular architecture of Cx26 hemichannels”

 10:00-11:00    Platform session 1
Structural and biophysical aspects of hemichannels and gap junction channels (I)
Chair: Donglin Bai and Jorge E. Contreras

1)   The first transmembrane segment of connexins and voltage-dependent gating regulation of hemichannels. Bernardo Pinto-Chile.
2)   Effect of pH and phosphorylation on the secondary structure of the CT domain from different connexin isoforms. Paul Sorgen-USA.
3)   GJCs make-up in function of accurate ratios of Cx40/Cx43 and Cx43/Cx45. Thomas Desplantez-France.
4)   Cx43 channel gating: evaluating triggers and mechanisms. Jose Ek-Vitorin-USA.

11:00-11:30     Coffee break

11:30-12:30    Platform session 2
Structural and biophysical aspects of hemichannels and gap junction channels (II)
Chair: Janis M. Burt and Virginijus Valiunas

5)   Motifs in the permeation pathways of connexin channels that mediate Ca²⁺ sensing. Jorge E. Contreras-USA.
6)   Engineered Cx40 variants showed heterotypic colocalization and increased gap junctional coupling with Cx43. Donglin Bai-Canada.
7)   Differential properties of N14K and N14Y KID mutant hemichannels: structure-function implications. Vytautas Verselis-USA.
8)   The SH3-binding domain controls the activity of Cx43 hemichannels. Jegan Iyyathurai-Belgium.

12:30-14:00    Lunch at Parque Cultural de Valparaíso (PCDV)

14:00-15:00    Keynote talk 2
Alberto Pereda: “Properties and plasticity of synaptic transmission mediated by gap junctions in the vertebrate brain”

15:00-16:00    Platform session 3
Principles and cell biology of electrical synapses
Chair: Vytautas K. Verselis and Thomas Desplantez

9)   Electrical synapses: First principles last or some things never change. Michael V.L. Bennett-USA.
10) Modulation of the IH current enhances coincidence detection between electrically coupled neurons of the mesencephalic trigeminal (MesV) nucleus of the rat. Sebastian Curti-Uruguay.
11) Mechanisms underlying plasticity of electrical synapses in the thalamic reticular nucleus. Julie Haas-USA.
12) Calcium signaling at Cx36 gap junctions in cultured cells and retinal neurons. John O’Brien-USA.

16:00-16:30     Coffee break

16:30-17:30    Platform session 4
Pannexin channels in the nervous system
Chair: Roger J. Thompson and Julie S. Haas

13) A non-canonical signaling modality for NMDA receptors and Pannexin 1 in ischemia. Nicholas Weilinger-Canada.
14) Pannexin 1 sets the threshold of excitatory synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus from adult mice. Alvaro Ardiles-Chile.
15) A novel interaction between Pannexin 1 and Collapsin Response Mediator Protein 2 regulates neuronal development. Leigh Wicki-Stordeur-Canada.
16) Pannexin 1 activation is required to NMDAR and P2X₇R signaling of the nociceptive information in the spinal cord of neuropathic rats. David Bravo-Chile.

17:30-19:30    Poster session I

19:30               Please find your preferred dinner at Valparaiso´s restaurants.  Information about restaurants will be available at the meeting.