ABZ Science

The Structure, Function and Genetics of Z-DNA and Z-RNA


In contrast to the common right-handed A- and B-conformations of RNA and DNA, their Z-conformations are left-handed. Starting with the crystallization of Z-DNA in 1979, biophysical and biochemical studies have yielded many unanticipated and fascinating insights into this class of higher energy nucleic acid conformations.

Recent discoveries of biological functions for Z-conformations have demonstrated important roles in immunity against infectious agents and cancers. More generally, research on Z-conformations underscore the impact of alternative RNA and DNA conformations in both normal cellular function and disease. They further emphasize that regulatory information is encoded by structure in addition to sequence.

We are excited to announce the second rendition of the “ABZ Meeting” (A, B and Z: The Structure, Function and Genetics of Z-DNA and Z-RNA). This year we split the conference into two sessions. The meetings are virtual, held in two legs. The first was held on


May 25th, 2022 (Western Time Zone) 10am-2pm EST, 11pm (May 25th)-3am (May 26th) JST


and the second will be held on


September 7th, 2022! (Eastern Time Zone) 10am-2pm JST, 9pm-11am (September 6th) EST

  • Participation is free of charge.


The program of the second leg of the 'ABZ Meeting 2022' virtually held on September 7th is here!

September 7th 10 am-2 pm JST, KST/11 am-3 pm AEST/9 am-1 pm CST (China)/9 pm-1 am (September 6th) EST/8 pm-12 pm (September 6th) CST (US)

  • If you have registered for the first leg you are automatically registered for the second leg.

New registration here

Questions to info@abz.bio

We congratulate the ABZ Meeting 2021 winners of a free RNA Society membership:

Lauren Herron,

Ghent University, Belgium


David Michalik,

Institute of Science and Technology, Austria


Aleksandr Fedorov,

HSE University, Russia




Contacts:


E-mail: info@abz.bio


Dr. Quentin Vicens

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, and RNA BioScience Initiative, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA

E-mail: quentin.vicens@cuanschutz.edu


Dr. Beat Vögeli

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA

E-mail: beat.vogeli@cuanschutz.edu


Dr. Maria Poptsova

Faculty of Computer Science, Big Data and Information Retrieval School, HSE University, Moscow, Russia

E-mail: mPoptsova@hse.ru


Dr. Alan Herbert

Discovery, InsideOutBio, Inc., Charlestown, MA, USA

E-mail: alan.herbert@insideoutbio.com

E-mail: alan.herbert@insideoutbio.com


Dr. Karen Vasquez

University of Texas at Austin

E-mail: karen.vasquez@austin.utexas.edu


Dr. Yukio Kawahara

Osaka University

Email: ykawahara@rna.med.osaka-u.ac.jp


Dr. Andrew Oberst

University of Washington

Email: oberst@uw.edu