Protein Termini 2026

Protein termini are critical hubs regulating protein fate, folding, localization, and degradation, yet they remain largely overlooked in mainstream conferences. Historically, research on termini has been fragmented across communities studying protein degradation, signaling, or structural biology. However, recent discoveries and technological advances demand a unified perspective.

Breakthroughs include the discovery of terminus-specific enzymes and substrates, mechanistic insights into how terminal modifications dictate protein stability, and new links to organelle homeostasis and stress responses. Cutting-edge approaches—such as N- and C-terminomics, cryo-EM structures of ribosomes bound to terminus modifiers, and terminus-inspired biotechnologies (e.g., PROTACs, tunable half-life tools)—highlight the transformative potential of this field. Yet, no dedicated international forum exists to integrate these advances across biological kingdoms and disciplines, representing both an opportunity and a pressing unmet need.