Referral & Review

The Study Sections of the Biochemical Sciences [BCS] IRG review basic and clinically oriented Biochemistry, including mechanistic enzymology in biosynthesis, transport, assimilation, regulation and degradation of proteins, carbohydrates and lipids in in vivo and in vitro systems; signal transduction; structure-function relationships of proteins and components of extracellular matrix and associated biological phenomenon; role of the extracellular matrix in normal biological and disease processes; molecular basis of metabolic diseases including inborn errors of metabolism; applications of drugs, enzymes, and gene therapies in the treatment of disease states associated with inborn errors of metabolism.

Note: The last meeting of the Medical Biochemistry (MEDB) study section will be February 2003. For the next review cycle (February/March 2003 receipt dates, June study section meetings, October 2003 Council, and until reorganized study sections are implemented February 2004-February 2005), applications that would have been reviewed by MEDB will be assigned principally in two clusters to either the Gene Therapy Inborn Errors SEP (ZRG1 GTEI-G 90S) or to Physiological Chemistry (PC). Please visit the descriptions of those study sections for more information or see the document "Guidelines for Gene Therapy Inborn Errors (GTIE) SEP and Physiological Chemistry (PC) Study Section After closing of Medical Biochemistry Study Section".

The following Study Sections are included within the BCS IRG:

Biochemistry Study Section [BIO] 
Medical Biochemistry Study Section [MEDB]
Pathobiochemistry Study Section [PBC] 
Physiological Chemistry Study Section [PC] 
BCS Small Business Activities

Biochemistry Study Section [BIO]

[BIO Roster]

The Biochemistry [BIO] Study Section reviews applications on mechanistic enzymology, as well as biochemical and molecular biological approaches to determine protein folding, structure-function relationships.

Specific areas covered by BIO:

·         Mechanistic enzymology and protein structure-function of enzymes from metabolic pathways

·         Protein structure function and enzymology of proteases including intracellular proteases, ubiquitin-mediated pathways, signalosomes, and proteasomes

·         Protein structure, function, and enzymology in signal transduction pathways including C kinase, MAP kinase, and A kinase

·         Nucleic acid-protein interactions including DNA replication enzymology, structure and function of transcription factors

·         RNA enzymology, catalytic RNA and ribozymes.

BIO has the following shared interests within the BCS IRG:

·         There is significant overlap between PC and BIO, especially in the areas of in the areas of signal transduction, transcription, DNA replication, and enzyme structure-function. For example, BIO reviews DNA replication whereas PC emphasizes on DNA repair mechanisms.

·         There also is overlap with MEDB regarding the Biochemistry of signal transduction pathways and mechanistic enzymology relevant to the genetic diseases.

·         There is overlap with PBC regarding the Biochemistry of proteases. BIO reviews structure/function-oriented applications, as well as those on intracellular proteases.

BIO has the following shared interests outside the BCS IRG:

·         With the CDF-1 Study Section regarding nucleic acid enzymology, DNA- and RNA-protein interactions, and protein ;kinase signaling mechanisms

·         With the CDF-2 Study Section regarding DNA replication, protein degradation, and transcription

·         With the BBCA Study Section regarding the structure and function of enzymes, proteins, and nucleic acid structures.

·         With the BNP Study Section for some enzyme and biosynthetic studies

·         With the PB Study Section for some studies involving enzyme kinetics and other enzyme studies

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Medical Biochemistry Study Section [MEDB]

[MEDB Roster]

Note: The last meeting of the Medical Biochemistry (MEDB) study section will be February 2003. For the next review cycle (February/March 2003 receipt dates, June study section meetings, October 2003 Council, and until reorganized study sections are implemented February 2004-February 2005), applications that would have been reviewed by MEDB will be assigned principally in two clusters to either the Gene Therapy Inborn Errors SEP (ZRG1 GTEI-G 90S) or to Physiological Chemistry (PC). Please visit the descriptions of those study sections for more information or see the document "Guidelines for Gene Therapy Inborn Errors (GTIE) SEP and Physiological Chemistry (PC) Study Section After closing of Medical Biochemistry Study Section ".

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Pathobiochemistry Study Section [PBC]

[PBC Roster]

The Pathobiochemistry [PBC] Study Section reviews applications in the following areas:

·         Biochemical structure, synthesis, breakdown, interactions and functional analysis of extracellular matrix components [such as collagens, laminins, fibronectin, thrombospondins, fibrillins, elastin, proteoglycans]

·         Structure and expression of cell adhesion molecules [such as integrins, syndecans and cadherins] and their cell:cell and cell:matrix interactions [including matrix ligands, growth factors, cytoskeleton, signaling assemblies] and associated cellular phenomena such as signal transduction, cell motility, phenotypic expression, apoptosis, etc.

·         Mechanism of action of extracellular proteases involved in matrix modeling, remodeling, and degradation

·         Role of the extracellular matrix in normal biological processes [such as development], as well as in disease and injury [for example, wound healing/repair, tumor invasion/metastasis, angiogenesis, vascular diseases, degenerative diseases such as arthritis, etc.]

·         Biochemical structure and biosynthesis of glycosyltransferases and sugar nucleotide transporters

·         Metabolism of glycosidases

·         Intracellular trafficking of lipid and protein-linked carbohydrates

·         Functions of carbohydrates in, for example, mediating cell adhesion, promoting metastasis and ligand binding

PBC has the following shared interests within the BCS IRG:

·         PBC and PC have shared interests in the Biochemistry of glycoproteins and glycolipids.

PBC has the following shared interests outside the BCS IRG:

·         With the CDF-4 and CDF-5 Study Sections regarding cell matrix and cell-cell interactions

·         With the BBCB Study Section regarding the structural analysis of glycoproteins and lipoproteins

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Physiological Chemistry Study Section [PC]

[PC Roster]

Other areas formerly reviewed by MEDB, will now be reviewed by GTIE. The Gene Therapy Inborn Errors SEP reviews applications focused on the molecular genetic basis of metabolic diseases, including inborn errors of metabolism and associated enzymology.

PC has the following shared interests within the BCS IRG:

• PC and PBC both review applications dealing with mucins and glycoproteins PBC reviews cell biology and disease related applications; PC reviews applications that are more fundamental biochemistry/chemistry oriented.
• PC and BIO share applications related to protein biochemistry and the regulation of metabolism with special emphasis on receptors/signal transduction, and the biochemistry of lipids. Applications that focus on enzymology could be reviewed by BIO. Applications that focus on lipid signaling could be reviewed by PC.

PC has the following shared interests outside the BCS IRG:

• With BPC regarding the structure and function of enzymes and polysaccharides: Applications that focus on structural/biophysical aspects may be assigned to BPC; applications that focus on functional/biochemical aspects may be assigned to PC.
• With the CDF IRG: Regarding ion transport and signaling, if the focus is cell biology, assignment can be to CDF-3; if the focus is biochemistry, assignment can be to PC. With regard to mitochondria: if the focus is at the organelle level assignment can be to CDF; if the focus is at the protein/RNA structure function level, assignment can be to PC; if the focus is disease orientated, then assignment can be to GTIE.
• With the CVS IRG with respect to lipoproteins and signaling. If the focus of an application is pathology of lipoproteins as in atherosclerosis, assignment could be to CVS (e.g., PTHA). If the focus is mechanism of lipid signaling, biochemistry of multi-organ disease, or an emerging approach, assignment could be to PC.
• With the ENR/NMS IRG with respect to metabolism of protein, carbohydrates, and lipids. If the focus of an application is metabolic pathology as in diabetes or obesity, assignment could be to ENR/NMS (e.g., MET). If the focus is biochemistry, multi-organ disease, or an emerging approach, assignment could be to PC.
• PPS and other disease IRGs and PC share interests in signaling. PC may handle receptor and anchor protein applications, particularly if lipid signaling or emerging approaches are involved. However, such applications may also be assigned to the appropriate organ/disease IRG.