Conference Contact School of Biological Sciences University of Missouri-Kansas City 103 Biological Sciences Building 5007 Rockhill Road Kansas City, Missouri 64110

U.S. Organizing Committee and International Advisory Board

PRELIMINARY INFORMATION

INVITATION

You are cordially invited to participate in the 10th International Symposium on Vitamin B₆ and Carbonyl Catalysis and the 4th Meeting on PQQ and Quinoproteins to be held in Santa Fe, New Mexico, from October 31 to November 5, 1999. Santa Fe is the capital of the state of New Mexico. Founded in 1610, it is the second oldest town and the oldest capital in the United States. Santa Fe is a unique blend of English-American, Indian, and Spanish cultures nestled at 7,000 feet in the foothills of the great Rocky Mountains. Today's Santa Fe is a community of 65,000 people and has one of the largest art markets in the world. Around this time the average temperature range is 15^o/0^o C.

SCIENTIFIC PROGRAM

The scientific program will include invited lectures and oral and poster presentations on the following tentative topics:

1. Molecular and Cellular Biology of B₆ PQQ and Quinoprotein-dependent enzymes.
2. Structure and function of B₆, PQQ and Quinoprotein enzymes.
3. Enzymatic and nonenzymatic mechanisms of Vitamin B₆ catalysis.
4. Vitamin B₆ and B₆ enzymes in molecular medicine.
5. Protein engineering and biotechnology applications of Vitamin B₆, PQQ, Quinoproteins and pyruvoyl enzymes.

GENERAL INFORMATION

A circular for preliminary interest and interest of registration has been distributed to persons on our current mailing list and should be returned by June 15, 1998, although requests will be honored until the end of 1998. The second circular with registration, hotel reservation and abstract forms will be sent to pre-registrants and upon request, etc., around March/April 1999. To request the second announcement be sent to you, please complete the Second Circular Request Form now.)

A social program will be organized for the participants and accompanying persons to showcase the cultural and historic sites of the Santa Fe area.

To learn more about Santa Fe, visit the Santa Fe Convention and Visitors Bureau at www.santafe.org, or to preview hotel accommodations and amenities, check out the Hilton of Santa Fe at www.hiltonofsantafe.com. (Please note: As special rates will apply for conference-goers, those attending should not make hotel reservations until receipt of the second circular with more detailed information on accommodations.)

Please address correspondence to:

10TH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON
VITAMIN B₆ AND CARBONYL CATALYSIS
c/o Ms. Laura Batenic
University of Missouri-Kansas City
School of Biological Sciences
5100 Rockhill Road, BSB 109
Kansas City, MO 64110-2499

TELEPHONE (816) 235-2576
TELEFAX (816) 235-5158
E-MAIL batenicl@umkc.edu

Logo (upper left): Inside the pyridine ring is Mother Earth, taken from a NASA satellite photo into which molecular graphics of a transaminase and cell imaging have been incorporated. The central figure for our Santa Fe site is based on a petroglyph of Kokopelli, "the Hump-Back Flute Player." Kokopelli appears frequently in the myth and religion of many Southwest Indian cultures.

For the Mimbres culture which flourished in New Mexico around the 12th century, he plays an important role in the creation myth, which says that mankind was originally led up into the real world by a hump-backed flute player.

In Navaho religion, Kokopelli is often linked with fertility, the hump being made of clouds that contain the seeds of all vegetation. He is also associated with the god of moisture and mist, the hump symbolizing a rainbow. At times, he is portrayed as a mountain sheep and has supernatural control over these animals.

Among the Hopi there is a Kokopelli kachina, and again, he is tied to fertility and abundance.

Kokopelli is depicted in numerous guises throughout the history of rock art in the Southwest and may be found on cave and rock walls over the western U.S. and into South America.

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