Seminar Series | Computer-based Predictions of RNA Structures: Where do we stand?
Join D2R for this hybrid seminar with Professor Eric Westhof from University of Strasbourg where he will discuss RNA-Puzzles and the advances in RNA 3D structure prediction
From its origins in the 1960s to today’s cutting-edge approaches, this keynote will highlight evolution of RNA 3D structure modeling and the progress of RNA-Puzzles, an international competition aimed at evaluating predictions of RNA 3D structures. With the rise of AI and cryo-EM technologies, accurate and unbiased evaluation methods have become crucial for understanding RNA architecture and function. Discover how these efforts are shaping the future of RNA research and structural biology.
Agenda
| 11:00am-11:05am | Welcome By Jérôme Waldispühl, Associate Professor, McGill University |
|---|---|
| 11:05am-11:45am | Keynote Presentation By Eric Westhof, Professor Emeritus of Structural Biochemistry, University of Strasbourg |
| 11:45Am-12:00pm |
Q&A |
| 12:00pm-12:05pm | Closing Remarks |
| 12:05pm-1:30pm |
Networking and light refreshments (for in-person attendees only) |
About the Speaker
Professor Eric Westhof studied biophysics at the University of Liège in Belgium and earned his PhD in Germany. At the Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology of the National Center for Scientific Research in Strasbourg, he assembled numerous 3D models of RNA, including group I introns (in collaboration with F. Michel) and RNaseP RNA, which were later validated through comparison with X-ray structures. Together with Neocles Leontis, he introduced a comprehensive nomenclature for annotating all types of nucleic acid base pairs.
Since 2010, Professor Westhof has been organizing RNA-Puzzles, an international competition aimed at evaluating predictions of RNA 3D structures. He is a member of both the French and German Academies of Sciences and serves as executive editor for Nucleic Acids Research and The RNA Journal. He currently holds the position of professor emeritus at the University of Strasbourg and principal investigator at the Wenzhou Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Wenzhou, China.
His research focuses on the principles of RNA folding and ribosomal translation. By integrating RNA and ribosome structures with sequence alignments, he seeks to extract and unify the architectural rules governing RNA. In the field of ribosomal translation, he continues to explore the role of tRNA sequences and modifications within the interconnected energy network of the ribosome.
Register
Be part of this transformative discussion on the future of RNA.
For those attending in-person, there will be a networking session with light refreshments following the keynote and Q&A. Space is limited!
Confirmation emails will be provided to registered participants a few days before the event.
