Knowledge of the molecular
mechanisms underlying steroid hormone biosynthesis has rapidly progressed
and expanded, and has begun to influence the basic concepts in biology
and medicine. Realizing the necessity of a venue for molecular biologists
working in the field of steroidogenesis to get together periodically
for discussing their recent achievements, Israel Hanukoglu, Michael Waterman,
and John Shenkman organized a Serono Symposium entitled “The First
International Symposium on a Molecular View of Steroid Biosynthesis and
Metabolism”in Jerusalem on October 14-17, 1991 (see J Steroid Biochem
Mol Biol 43: 745-1123, 1992). Following the initial meeting which was
highly successful, the scientists next convened for “The 2nd International
Symposium on Molecular Steroidogenesis” which was beautifully organized
by Walter L. Miller (Chair), Bon-Chu Chung, Israel Hanukoglu, Yuzuru
Isimura, Ian Mason, Synthia H. Mellon, Michael Waterman and Perrin White
in Monterey on June 7-11, 1996 (see Steroids 62: 1-211, 1997). The two
successful symposia seem to have achieved the founders’ aim of
establishing a series of symposia focusing on the molecular biological
aspects of steroidogenesis.
With the kind cooperation of the Honorary Advisory Board (Dr. David Y.
Cooper, Dr. Ronald W. Estabrook, Dr. Tsuneo Omura, and Dr. Toshio Yamano),
the International
Scientific Committee, composed of Rita Bernhardt, Bon-Chu Chung, J.-A. Gustafsson,
Israel Hanukoglu, Yuzuru Ishimura, Jean-Guy LeHoux, J. Ian Mason, Walter L. Miller,
Hajime Nawata, Mitsuhiro Okamoto, Evan R. Simpson, and Michael R. Waterman, was
set up to organize the third symposium to update our understanding of this field
which has developed during the past three years. The Yamada Science Foundation,
Osaka, Japan, decided to financially support the meeting. Thus Yamada Conference
LII “The 3rd International Symposium on Molecular Steroidogenesis ”was
held on August 25-28, 1999, at Nara New Public Hall in Nara, Japan, with 188
participants (86 from 20 foreign countries and 102 from Japan). At the meeting
49 invited lectures and 95 poster papers were presented. This book is the proceedings
of the symposium. We thank all the participants for stimulating discussions during
the meeting.
The members of the Organizing Committee make a grateful acknowledgment to staff
members and students of the Department of Molecular Physiological Chemistry,
Osaka University Medical School, for their hard work devoted to the meeting.
We also thank Masahito Sakui, Rie Sasaki and Ikuyo Nomura of Universal Academy
Press for their assistance in editing this book. Last, but not least, we would
like to acknowledge the generous support from the Yamada Science Foundation who
enabled us to organize such a successful meeting and publish this book.
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