[MCE Roster]

The Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology Study Section [MCE] reviews studies that address the molecular and cell biology of endocrine organs and their products, both hormones and growth factors. This includes the synthesis and secretion of local and circulating hormones and growth factors (including, but not limited to, polypeptides and lipid-based ligands) and their mechanisms of action as they interact with cell-surface and nuclear receptors to influence cell structure, function, and the regulation of gene expression in both normal and pathologic states.

Specific areas covered by MCE:

• Molecular mechanisms of polypeptide hormone, steroid hormone, xenobiotic and endobiotic action (including: hormone synthesis, processing, secretion, signaling, and trafficking)
• Hormonal and growth factor regulation of gene expression, including: DNA-binding proteins, coactivators, corepressors, and other modulators of transcription
• Regulation of cell growth and differentiation by hormones and growth factors
• Structure/function relationships of hormone receptors
• Functional analysis of genomic and proteomic patterns of hormone action
• Nuclear receptors

MCE has the following shared interests within the EMNR IRG:

• With Integrative and Clinical Endocrinology and Reproduction [ICER]: There are shared interests with ICER concerning effects of hormones on growth and developmental disorders, and on key components of the hypothalamic-pituitary end-organ axis.  While ICER focuses on physiological processes and population-based studies, MCE addresses the mechanistic bases of these physiological changes.
  
  
• With Cellular, Molecular and Integrative Reproduction [CMIR]: CMIR focuses on the physiology and pathobiology of reproductive organs, including studies that link molecular mechanism with physiological outcomes.  Reproductive studies that focus on hormone mechanism and function at the molecular level may be better suited for MCE.
  
  
• With Cellular Aspects of Diabetes and Obesity [CADO] and Integrative Physiology of Obesity and Diabetes [IPOD]: Factors that affect adipocyte differentiation and biology (e.g., endocrine products that regulate gene expression) are typically referred to CADO or IPOD.  Studies that focus on hormone mechanism and function at the molecular level may be better suited for MCE.  Conversely, when the regulation of gene expression by endocrine agents is secondary to their impact on adipocyte differentiation, assignment may be to CADO or IPOD.
  
  
• With Integrative Nutrition and Metabolic Processes [INMP]: Applications focused on nutrient regulation of gene expression, generally would be referred to INMP.  However, when the nutrient acts through components of the endocrine system and the focus is on the role of the endocrine system, assignment may be to MCE.
  
  
• With all Study Sections in the EMNR IRG: Leptin effects on specific endocrine systems may be covered in several study sections within the EMNR IRG.  The mechanism by which leptin interacts with signaling cascades can be referred to MCE.

MCE has the following shared interests outside the EMNR IRG:

• With the Biological Chemistry and Macromolecular Biophysics [BCMB] IRG: Studies of protein structure, folding, or structure activity relationships directed toward hormones, growth factors, or their receptors could be referred to MCE or BCMB depending whether the utility of the study's outcome is uniquely related to endocrinological issues.
  
• With the Genes, Genomes, and Genetics [GGG] IRG:  Shared interests exist with regulatory mechanisms of gene expression as well as chromatin structure and dynamics.  Studies that consider these topics and focus on hormones, their cognate receptors or co-regulators, and their target genes could be referred to MCE.  Basic studies of regulatory mechanisms of gene expression or chromatin structure and dynamics or those involving emerging genetic approaches could be assigned to GGG.
  
• With the Cell Biology [CB] IRG:  Shared interests exist in areas of intra- and intercellular signaling; cell cycle control; apoptosis; cell junctions, and extracellular matrix.  Studies that focus on hormones and growth factors and their sources may be referred to MCE.  Studies that focus on the basic cell biology of intra- and intercellular signaling, cell cycle control, apoptosis, cell junctions, and extracellular matrix may be referred to CB.
  
• With the Biology of Development and Aging [BDA] IRG: Applications addressing the endocrinology of aging that focus on mechanisms of aging, such as oxidative stress, DNA damage, or cellular senescence could be referred to BDA when the study has implications that transcend a single organ system or discipline.  If the focus of the study is the effect of aging on a specific hormonal process, MCE could be appropriate.
  
• With the Bioengineering Sciences and Technologies [BST] IRG: Shared interest exists in the area of functional analysis of genomic and proteomic patterns. Studies that focus on the functional analysis of genomic and proteomic patterns of hormone action may be assigned to MCE.  Studies that focus on emerging technologies for obtaining functional analysis of genomic and proteomic patterns may be assigned to BST.
  
• With the Renal and Urological Sciences [RUS] IRG :  There is shared interest between MCE and RUS in male reproductive biology.  The perspective of the applicant should determine assignment, but in general the central focus of applications reviewed in RUS is urology (e.g., benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH), including its effect on urinary tract function), and the focus in MCE is on fundamental mechanisms of hormone action (e.g., mechanisms of testosterone signal transduction as found in the prostate). 
  
• With the Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Neuroscience [MDCN] IRG : MCE has shared interests with the MDCN IRG in the areas of neuropeptide/receptor interactions, second messengers and effectors, and neuropeptide processing enzymes.  Molecular and cellular studies of receptors for hypothalamic-releasing or -inhibiting factors and processing of neuropeptides with a role in the endocrine system, could be assigned to MCE, unless the focus is on neurons/glia in which case they could be assigned to MDCN.  Studies of other neuropeptides could be assigned to MDCN.