1st SouthEast Amyloid-CONdensate (SEACON) symposium

Aug 14-15, 2025

Marine Education Center

The University of Southern Mississippi

Ocean Springs, MS

Mission and objectives

The genesis of SEACON is grounded on the realization that the interface between the rapidly developing field of Biomolecular condensates and the established area of Amyloids in biology remains enigmatic and under-investigated. The aggregation of proteins towards insoluble amyloid fibrils is well known to be associated with neurodegenerative diseases, which have also garnered interest in being developed as functional materials. Recently, biomolecular condensates, which are proteinaceous phase-separated viscoelastic materials, have been ubiquitously observed in cells with a wide range of functions in both normal and pathology. Both the formation of amyloids and biomolecular condensates involve protein phase transitions from soluble to insoluble states; the interface between viscoelastic liquids and solid fibers is critical in understanding how they affect biological functions.

SEACON symposium aims to bring together established investigators, junior researchers, post-docs, and graduate students to engage in scientific discussions and presentations in these two important fields of protein biochemistry. More importantly, the SEACON symposium will bridge the knowledge and communication gaps between amyloids and condensate fields. The objective is to conduct an annual or biannual symposium along the beautiful beach towns along the Gulf Coast of the USA, to share research ideas, foster new collaborations, forge partnerships, and educate young researchers. SEACON will maintain limited attendance, making it an ideal setting for discussion and learning.

Topics

Amyloid and proteinopathies, biomolecular condensates and membraneless organelles, nexus between amyloids and condensates, self-assembled biomolecular/polymer materials, novel methods for investigating amyloids and condensates.