Outline
In eukaryotes, nuclear architecture and dynamics affect chromatin structure, and regulate biological functions such as embryonic development, cellular differentiation, aging and/or diseases. Nucleoskeleton proteins such as nuclear actin and lamin have attracted much attention as regulators of nuclear architecture and dynamics, and it has been recently demonstrated that these nucleoskeleton proteins play important roles in regulating genomic functions such as transcription and DNA repair. In this symposium, we will introduce the recent progresses in the field of nucleoskeleton proteins and discuss how those proteins control nuclear and chromatin structures. Furthermore, we will introduce state-of-the-art technologies to manipulate nuclear dynamics by taking advantage of optogenetic tools and specific peptides that bind to nucleoskeleton. We seek to understand principles of organizing nuclear architecture and the contribution to biological functions.

Outline
Mitochondria are essential organelles that not only produce the cell’s energy in form of ATP through oxidative respiration but also participate in other processes such as the regulation of cell death or metabolism. Mitochondria are highly dynamic and motile in the cytoplasm and frequently divide and fuse with each other. Furthermore, mitochondria produce large amounts of reactive oxygen species that are fatal to cellular functions. Defects of these mechanisms cause various disorders, including neurodegenerative diseases, heart failure, metabolic disorders, and aging. Recent research have been clarified the molecular details of pathophysiological functions of mitochondria in vitro and in vivo. In this symposium, recent advances in mitochondrial research will be discussed.