Toru Shimizu , Tohoku University, Institute of Multidisciplinary Research for Advanced Materials, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi, JP, 980-8577 | Ruma Banerjee | Daniel Peet

Accumulating evidence confirms the important roles of gas molecules, such as CO, NO, H2S and O2, as signals in physiology. The gas sensor enzyme is, in general, composed of an iron complex-containing sensing domain at the N-terminus and a functional domain at the C-terminus. Once the heme or non-heme iron complex receives the gas molecule as a signal, the protein structure of the sensing domain is altered. Structural changes in the sensing domain caused by gas binding represent a second signal, which transduces to the functional domain, leading to switching on/off of activities, such as synthase, kinase, phosphodiesterase, transcription, and other important physiological functions. The molecular mechanism(s) of gas sensing and subsequent intramolecular signal transduction are unclear. In this session, chemists and biochemists from Pan-pacific countries will congregate to present cutting-edge research and discuss the mechanisms of first signal sensing by the iron complex, second signal transduction and functional regulation of catalysis, and transcription associated with gas molecules. Elucidation of the mechanisms of gas sensing and signal transduction will undoubtedly enhance our understanding of the underlying molecular mechanisms of diseases, such as tuberculosis, skeletal and vascular abnormalities, mental retardation, and endothelium dysfunctions, with the aim of ultimately finding effective cures.