Welcome to the NZSBMB homepage
The Society aims to advance the science of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in NZ, facilitating research and education, and interfacing with business and the community.
Please contact the Secretary if you have any comments or suggestions about the NZSBMB.
The NZSBMB Web Site is intended to be a useful online resource for members and non-members alike:
* Find out more about the NZSBMB and its activities.
* Keep up to date with the latest NZSBMB news.
* Find out about the latest conferences, awards and fellowships.
* Follow links to sites of interest for Molecular Biologists and Biochemists.
The New Zealand Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology was formed in 1972 to promote this discipline in New Zealand and communication between those involved. It is open to all with an interest in biochemistry. This includes organisation and promotion of regional activities and a national meeting, held each year in conjunction with societies with overlapping interests in biology and chemistry. This is an important opportunity to interact with labware and new research capacity suppliers.
Nurturing those finding their way in biochemistry is a core activity, particularly through the support of students to participate in the national conference and to international conferences. In addition to the multiple student prizes awarded each year, we also recognise one senior member for his or her published research over the last three years with the Applied Biosystems Award and oration which is a centre-piece of the national conference.
We maintain dialogue throughout the year via NZ BioScience, recently been enhanced by the participation of the NZ Microbiological Society. The society and its executive committee contribute to government policy through the Royal Society of New Zealand and members of NZSBMB are affiliated members of the Royal Society of New Zealand.
Contact the NZSBMB with comments and suggestions so that we may continue to improve the site.
Activities
Conferences (link to more information from conference page)
Upcoming Conference: Combined with Combio in Christchurch Dec 6-10 2009.
Past conferences:
2008 NZSBMB Conference, Chemistry and the Biosphere, November 30th – Dec 4th 2008.
Video and Abstracts of the Education Symposium "Education at the Interface bewteen high school Biuology and University" are available here:
The
ABI award winner for 2008 was Dr Emily Parker for her work on evolving enzymes-
Evolving enzymes: Deciphering the evolutionary relationships in a family of crucial biosynthetic aldolases
Abstract of her Plenary talk:
How does nature evolve new functions for enzymes in order that organisms may exploit new opportunities? Some answers and new ideas are emerging from our recent studies of a family ofcrucial biosynthetic enzymes, the 3-deoxyald-2-ulosonate-phosphate synthases.
3-Deoxy-D-manno-octulosonate 8-phosphate (KDO8P) synthase and 3-deoxy-D-arabino-heptulosonate 7-phosohate DAH7P synthase are two members of this family that have been identified as targets for drug design. In concert with structural studies we have used substrate analogues and site-directed mutagenesis to probe small but significant differences in the active sites of these two enzymes. These studies have illuminated important mechanistic differences and have clarified the evolutionary relationship between these two enzymes.
Executive contacts
President: Dave Palmer, Agriculture and Life Sciences Division, PO Box 84, Lincoln University, Canterbury
Phone: Ph +64-3-325-2811 x8136
Email: Palmerd @ lincoln.ac.nz
Treasurer: Steven Gieseg, Free Radical Biochemistry, School of Biological Sciences,
University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140
Email: steven.gieseg @ canterbury.ac.nz
Secretary: Jim Morton,
Agriculture and Life Sciences Division, PO Box 84, Lincoln University, Canterbury
Email: MortonJ@lincoln.ac.nz
Website provided by the Royal Society of NZ