The original 17 articles of the Protein Modules Consortium (PMC) were drafted by Mario Gimona in April 2002. Initiating the PMC was an immediate reaction to the apparent success of the timely EURESCO conference on Modular Protein Domains. The conference was held in Seefeld, Austria in 2001 and was organized by Mario Gimona and Matti Saraste.

ARTICLES OF THE PROTEIN MODULES CONSORTIUM

I. LOCATION , OBJECT

ARTICLE 1

The "Protein Modules Consortium" is an international association with scientific goals.The specific aim of the Protein Modules Consortium is the promotion of scientific knowledge concerning the structure and function of protein modules, as well as the dissemination of scientific knowledge acquired by various means of communication.

The Protein Modules Consortium carries out actions directly or indirectly pertaining to its objective, primarily via the organization of or participation in congresses, conferences, and presentations, as well as the publication of books, periodicals, and other media.

The Protein Modules Consortium maintains an interactive web site at www.proteinmodules.org for the free exchange of ideas and comments on the development of the protein module field.

There is (and will be) no fees for membership to the Protein Modules Consortium.

The Protein Modules Consortium is intended an as international association with pure scientific goals, with coordinating offices situated in North America, Asia and Europe.

ARTICLE 2

The offices of the association are situated in the Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory at the Salk Institute for Biological Sciences in La Jolla, California, USA, in the Laboratory of Biological Sequence Analysis at EMBL in Heidelberg, Germany, in the Department of Chemistry of the University of Uppsala in Sweden, in the Mayer Laboratory at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, Connecticut, USA and in the Research Center for Molecular Medicine (CeMM) of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, in Vienna, Austria. [See CONTACT for full addresses and e-mails]. The offices may be transferred by resolution of the Board of the association. If seemed appropriate, the Board may also establish one or more administrative offices.

ARTICLE 3

The specific aim of the association is the promotion of the scientific knowledge concerning the structure and function of protein modules as well as the dissemination of the scientific knowledge acquired by various means of communication.

The annotation, and structural and functional characterization of protein modules is a pivotal element of functional genomics and proteomics and is relevant to practically all cell biological processes, pathological phenomena, and in silico applications for the prediction of structure and function.

The organization shall be entitled to carry out any actions directly or indirectly pertaining to its object, including the acquisition, rental or borrowing of property, offices, installations and other facilities, the organization of or participation in congresses, conferences and presentations and the publishing of books, periodicals and other publications. It shall be entitled at all times to call upon outside experts in so far as it considers this useful on scientific or practical grounds.

The Consortium maintains an interactive web site at www.proteinmodules.org for the free exchange of ideas and comments on the development of the field of protein modules.

II. MEMBERS

ARTICLE 4

The association consists of ordinary members and of supporting members. Admission to membership is open to private individuals and corporate entities of any nationality.

ARTICLE 5

All those persons are accepted as ordinary members by a resolution of the Board of the Consortium, on condition that the member takes an interest in the activities organized by the Consortium.

All private individuals or corporate entities (in addition to business, non-profit organizations, scientific institutions, etc.) which, without becoming ordinary members, wish to support the Consortium by financial means may be accepted as supporting member.

ARTICLE 6

All members shall be free to withdraw from the Consortium at all times on the condition that they inform the Board in writing of their intention to do so.

III. GENERAL ASSEMBLY

ARTICLE 7

The General Assembly possesses full power in order to realize the objectives of the Consortium.

It consists of all ordinary and supporting members. It is charted by one of the Leaders of the Board of the Consortium. The powers of the General Assembly are as follows:

1. to appoint and remove from Office the members of the Board of the Consortium

2. to amend the articles of the Consortium.

3. to wind up the organization.

ARTICLE 8

The General Assembly meets in full rights at least once in two years. A convening letter from the Leader(s) of the Board of the Consortium will inform of the scheduled dates, location and agenda. In case of necessity, a special General Assembly can be called by any of the Leaders.

ARTICLE 9

All members shall have equal voting rights at the General Assembly. Resolutions shall be passed by a simple majority of the votes present or represented. No valid decision may be taken on any matter not mentioned in the agenda.

The General Assembly's resolutions shall be entered in a regular register of minutes signed by the Leaders and at least one member of the Board.

IV. MODIFICATIONS OF THE STATUTES - DISSOLUTION

ARTICLE 11

Any proposition whose object is a modification of the statutes or dissolution of the Consortium must come from the Board or at least two-thirds of the members of the Consortium.

V. ADMINISTRATION

ARTICLE 12

The Consortium shall be run by a Board consisting of no less than two members.

The Board of the Consortium is appointed by the General Assembly.

ARTICLE 13

The Board of the Consortium shall appoint from among its members four to five Leaders and a Secretary-treasurer. If a Leader is unable to attend, his or her duties shall be taken over by the oldest member present.

ARTICLE 14

The Board of the Consortium shall meet as convened by the Leaders of the Board. The meeting of the Board will take place annually or biannually.

ARTICLE 15

The Board of the Consortium shall have full powers to manage and administer the Consortium with the exception of those powers explicitly reserved for the General Assembly.

ARTICLE 16

The decisions of the Board of the Consortium are taken by an absolute majority of votes. In the event of a tied vote, the Leaders shall have the casting vote. The decisions of the Board of the Consortium shall be entered in a special register, (computer file allowed) which shall be 'signed' by the Leaders. It shall be kept at the office of the Consortium and shall be available for consultation by members.

VI. BUDGETS AND ACCOUNTS

ARTICLE 17

The organization's financial year starts on January 1st, and shall end on December 31st. The accounts for the past financial year and the budget for the following financial year shall be submitted annually to the General Assembly by the Board of the Consortium.