Scientific programme

7th October 2006
18:00 Welcome cocktail and registration at the Grand Hotel Timeo


8th October 2006

8:30-9:10 Registration and workshop opening

First session Chairman: S. Magazù

9:10-9:55 R. McGreevy: Neutron Scattering in Europe 2006: alive and well
9:55-10:40 J. Finney: Probing biomolecular mechanisms by neutrons
10:40-11:05 S. Longeville: Hindered diffusion of proteins in crowded solutions: implication on oxygen capture by red blood cells

11:05- 11:30 Coffee break

Second session Chairman: A. Soper

11:30-12:15 W. Doster: The dynamical transition of proteins: concepts and misconceptions
12:15-12:40 A. Paciaroni: Conditioning action of the environment on the dynamics of biomolecules studied through elastic neutron scattering

Third session Chairman: R. Lechner

15:00-15:45 A. Deriu: Structure and dynamics of lipids interacting with polypeptides and polysaccharides: from model systems to complex macromolecular assemblies
15:45-16:30 A. Sokolov: Role of water of hydration in dynamics of biological macromolecules
16:30-17:15 A. A. van Well: Protein adsorption
17:30-21:00 Poster session at Taormina’s Ancient Theatre Chairman: F. Sacchetti


9th October 2006

Fourth session Chairman: J. Finney

9:00-9:45 A. K. Soper: Application of empirical potential structure refinement to the study of biological molecules in aqueous solution
9:45-10:30 J. Li: Inelastic neutron scattering studies of the structure and dynamics of water around DNA/proteins, amino acids and biopolymers
10:30-10:55 A. Cupane: Dynamics of myoglobin in confinement: an incoherent elastic and quasi-elastic neutron scattering study

10:55- 11:25 Coffee break

Fifth session Chairman: W. Doster

11:25-12:10 R. Lechner: Time-resolved and integrated neutron scattering studies of dynamic structure with biological relevance
12:10-12:35 E. Cornicchi: Picosecond-timescale fluctuations of biomolecules in glassy matrices: the role of viscosity

Sixth session Chairman: A. Sokolov

15:00-15:45 S. F. Parker: Vibrational spectroscopy with neutrons: molde compounds, proteins, bone and ab initio methods
15:45-16:30 H. D. Middendorf: Peptide dynamics by neutron scattering: from vibrational spectroscopy to quasielastic scattering
16:30-16:55 I. Daidone: Theoretical characterization of alpha-helix and beta-hairpin folding kinetics

16:55-17:25 Coffee break

Seventh session Chairman: A. Deriu

17:25-17:50 B. G. Vertessy: An integrated approach combining diffraction and scattering methods to reveal the mechanism of action of the DNA repair enzyme dUTPase
17:50-18:15 F. Affouard: Comparative study of disaccharides in water solutions by molecular modelling and neutron scattering experiments
18:15-18:40 N. P. Malomuzh: Death of biological cells as a consequence of the H-bond network destruction
18:40-19:05 D. Russo: The role of protein-solvent interactions in protein folding/unfolding: from a dynamics point of view

20:30 Gala dinner


10th October 2006

Eighth session Chairman: S. F. Parker

9:00-9:45 L. Cordone: FTIR as a tool for studying protein-solvent coupling and complement neutron scattering data
9:45-10:10 S. Pagnotta: Water structure around trehalose
10:10-10:35 G. Cottone: Molecular dynamics simulations complement experimental data on protein embedded in sugar-water systems
10:35:11:00 L. Lukacs: Modelling small molecules

11:15-13:00 Farewell party