2021 CAROTENOIDS GORDON RESEARCH CONFERENCE AND SEMINAR

This is a proposal to support the 2021 Carotenoids Gordon Research Conference (GRC) (August 8- 12, 2021, Ventura, California). Note that -due to the COVID-19 Pandemic -since the original submission of the proposal the above-mentioned conference has been postponed toJanuary 8-13, 2023 at the same location. The Carotenoids GRS that preceed this conference has been postponed toJanuary 7-8, 2023 at the same location.Carotenoids are isoprenoid pigments synthesized by plants and microorganisms with essential roles in photosynthesis, development and physiological responses. Animals utilize carotenoids obtained from the diet for pigmentation, protection from oxidative stress, vision and as vitamin A precursors. Carotenoids derivatives possess potent biological activities as nuclear receptor ligands that regulate critical mammalian cell signaling pathways. Thus, carotenoids impact on human health and chronic disease development with multiple mechanisms, throughout the lifecycle. Also, carotenoid research has focused on the biofortification of staple crops with provitamin A carotenoids to prevent vitamin A deficiency, an unresolved public health issue. This GRC provides a unique forum for investigators in the fields of plant and animal carotenoid biology. By covering different disciplines, including physiology, genetics, biochemistry, metabolism, cell biology, structural and systems biology, this conference fosters cross-disciplinary perspectives, sharing of technological expertise, and establishment of new collaborative efforts, ultimately facilitating the discovery of novel mechanisms and common properties of carotenoids across the kingdoms of life. The educational mission of the conference is strengthened by the accompanying Gordon Research Seminar (GRS), specifically for students and postdocs, and by selecting postdocs and graduate students for short talks at the GCR, promoting the contribution of women and minorities to this field of research.