[BBM Roster]

The BBM Study Section will consider research applications focused on all biochemical and biophysical aspects of membrane structure and function.  Cell membranes play a vital role in many areas of cell biology, which means considerable overlap with cell biology-related IRGs.  The distinguishing characteristic of applications reviewed by the BBM study section is a direct focus on the molecular details of processes that occur on or within membranes.  Areas include the use of a variety of biochemical and biophysical techniques to understand the structure and function of membranes. 

Specific areas covered by BBM include:

• Membrane architecture
• Membrane protein folding, assembly, and dynamics
• Membrane protein structure
• Methods for membrane protein structure determination, including crystallization
• Membrane-based energy transduction
• Function of transporters, channels, receptors, and membrane-bound enzymes
• Enzyme mechanism within membranes and interfaces
• Lipid metabolism and function
• Biophysics of membrane interfaces and signaling
• Lipid-protein interactions
• Biophysics of membrane fusion mechanisms
• Computational and modeling approaches to membranes and membrane proteins
• Structure of membrane glycoproteins and glycolipids

BBM has the following shared interests within the BCMB IRG:

• With Synthetic and Biological Chemistry [SBCA & SBCB]:  The SBCA and SBCB study sections have shared interests in enzymology with the BBM study section.  Applications that focus extensively on enzymes that are potential targets for drug design and approach these targets using medicinal/synthetic chemistry methodologies may be assigned to SBCA or SBCB.  Studies that focus on membrane enzymes as potential targets for drugs and approach these targets using biochemical, structural or computational methodologies may be assigned to BBM. 
  
  
• With Macromolecular Structure and Function A [MSFA]: Enzyme mechanisms are a shared interest.  If the study of an enzyme mechanism does not take place within membranes or at membrane interfaces, assignment for review may be to MSFA. If the study involves an enzyme mechanism within or at the surface of a membrane, assignment for review may be to BBM.
  
  
• With Macromolecular Structure and Function B [MSFB]: Protein folding is a shared interest.  If applications concern folding processes or structures of domains of membrane associated-proteins that do not specifically involve membrane components, they may be assigned to MSFB. If applications concern folding processes that occur in membranes or aspects of macromolecular domain structure related to signaling through the membrane, they may be assigned to BBM.
  
  
• With Macromolecular Structure and Function C [MSFC]: Investigations of soluble domains of membrane-bound proteins (including receptors) may be reviewed by MSFC if the primary emphasis is on their extra-membrane function.
  
  
• With Enabling Bioanalytical and Biophysical Technologies [EBT]:  Studies of methods development are a shared interest. Applications focused on development of methods with general applicability could be assigned to EBT. Applications focused on development of methods for membrane protein structure determination, including crystallization, could be assigned to BBM.

BBM has the following shared interests outside the BCMB IRG:

• With the Cell Biology [CB] IRG:  Molecular studies of membrane, protein, and organelle trafficking are shared interests between the CB IRG and the BBM study section. Applications that focus on the cell biology of membrane and protein trafficking, transport, and organelles could be referred to the CB IRG.  Applications that focus on biochemical and biophysical aspects of these processes could be referred to the BBM study section.
  
  
• With the Immunology [IMM]; Infectious Diseases and Microbiology [IDM]; AIDS and Related Research [AARR]; and the Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Neuroscience [MDCN] IRGs: Membrane biochemistry and protein-protein interactions between cells and channels are shared interests with these IRGs and the BBM study section.  If an application focuses on an immunological, infectious disease, or neuroscientific question, then assignment to the appropriate organ or disease IRG may be appropriate. If an application focuses on biochemical or biophysical principles of membrane components, then assignment to BBM may be appropriate.