[GCMB Roster]

The Gastrointestinal Cell and Molecular Biology [GCMB] Study Section reviews applications concerning cell and molecular biology of gastrointestinal and liver function.  Studies using cellular, molecular, genetic, structural, biochemical, electrophysiological and pharmacological approaches to define mechanisms and pathways of GI and liver growth, differentiation, development, physiology and pathophysiology in humans or model organisms generally at the level of the gene, protein or cell are considered.

Specific areas covered by GCMB:

• Regulation of gene expression including transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms: transcription factors, promoter analyses, DNA-protein interaction, protein-protein interaction, chromatin structure and remodeling, epigenetic phenomenon, nuclear transport including import and export, mRNA processing including splicing and editing, covalent posttranscriptional control of gene expression including splicing, polyadenylation, mRNA stability, mRNA editing and translational control, genomics and proteomics.

• Mechanisms controlling growth, differentiation and development: origin, commitment, specification and differentiation of all cell types in the digestive system; cell-cell cell-tissue and tissue-tissue interactions that regulate organ development; inductive mechanism of tissue and organ development; lineage determination; pattern formation; cell cycle and cell division including cyclins, cyclin-dependent kinases and cyclin inhibitors; checkpoints; growth factors, mitogens, morphogens and cytokines.

• Signal transduction: receptor-ligand interactions; receptor-mediated gene regulation and signal pathways; intracellular signaling pathways in response to endogenous and exogenous stimuli; paracrine and autocrine signaling; second messengers; adaptor proteins; kinases; phosphatases; signaling involving cell cycle regulation and apoptosis; regulation by reactive oxygen species and nitric oxide.
  
• Intracellular trafficking: endocytosis; receptor and ligand internalization and recycling; intracellular compartmentalization; protein sorting; vesicular fusion, trafficking and docking; ER translocation; molecular chaperones; proteosomes.
  
• Gene and somatic cell therapy: viral-, liposome- and DNA-mediated gene transfer and delivery, somatic cell transplantation, tissue engineering, antisense RNA, RNA interference, transgenic mouse.
  
• Stem cell biology as relates to the digestive system including differentiation of embryonic and adult stem cells into the gastrointestinal epithelium and smooth muscle cells, hepatocytes and cholangiocytes.
  
• Mechanisms of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and senescence: telomere biology, genotoxic responses, DNA damage, death receptors and ligands, oxidative stress, cellular aging.
  
• Molecular physiology of ion channels, pumps and transporters of water, electrolytes, and organic solutes: vectorial secretion and absorption, membrane potential, water channel, cell volume control, structural-functional analysis, protein-protein interaction.
  
• Molecular mechanisms of GI and liver secretion or absorption: vesicle formation, membrane trafficking, polarity determination, tight junction regulation, and scaffolding.
  
• GI and liver dysplasia and pre-neoplasia: mechanisms of transformation, immortalization and mutagenesis, DNA damage and repair, epigenetics, angiogenesis in relation to regeneration, imprinting, genomic and chromosomal instability, molecular screening, detection and diagnosis, mechanisms of hereditary syndromes.
  
• Genetic basis of GI diseases: structure-function analysis of identified disease-causing genes, genotype-phenotype correlation, and transgenic mouse model of hereditary human diseases.
  
• Epithelial repair, regeneration and adaptation: molecular mechanisms of liver regeneration in response to hepatectomy and injuries, gut adaptation in response to resection, nutritional depletion and other injuries; intestinal epithelial restitution and wound healing following injuries.
  
• Extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell-cell interaction: cell adhesion, migration, cell-cell communication, gap junction, endoderm-mesoderm interaction during development.
  
• Epithelial cell biology and barrier function: basal lamina formation, cytoskeleton, motor and motility, cell polarity determination, tight junction formation and regulation, cell-cell communication, permeability.  Mechanics, biomechanics and cellular basis including the contractile proteins and crossbridge cycling in GI smooth muscle.

GCMB has the following shared interests within the DIG IRG:

• With Xenobiotic and Nutrient Disposition and Action [XNDA]:  Studies that address the effect of drugs or xenobiotics on cellular and molecular function, or the cellular and molecular effects on drug disposition should be assigned to XNDA.

• With Gastrointestinal Mucosal Pathobiology [GMPB]:  Shared interests exist between GMPB and GCMB with regards to GI pre-neoplasia and genetic basis of GI diseases.  Whereas studies of pre-neoplasia, genetic causes and changes in epithelial cell biology and barrier functions due to inflammatory bowel disease or other inflammatory or infectious conditions of the lower digestive tract could be assigned to GMPB, those involving characterization of disease-causing genes other than inflammatory bowel disease could be assigned to GCMB.

• With Hepatobiliary Pathophysiology [HBPP]:  Shared interests exist between HBPP and GCMB in the areas of stem cell biology, cell transplantation and liver regeneration.  Where studies that concern these areas at the organ level (i.e. liver) are assigned to HBPP, those that address these processes at a molecular level should be assigned to GCMB.  In addition, studies that examine signal transduction, intracellular trafficking, cell matrix, cell-cell interaction, ion channels and transporters in the liver could be assigned to HBPP.
• With Clinical and Integrative Gastrointestinal Pathobiology [CIGP]:  In general, whereas studies concerning the use of molecular and cell biological techniques to address digestive functions except the pancreas should be assigned to GCMB, those involving an integrated approach should be addressed by CIGP.   In genetic basis of diseases, CIGP will be assigned studies involving identification of disease-causing genes including those involved in complex traits. GCMB will be assigned applications on the functional characterization of previously identified disease-causing genes from a cellular and molecular biologic perspective.  In GI pre-neoplasia of the upper digestive tract, studies involving etiology, diagnosis and prevention of conditions, including the identification of the genetic changes involved, that are a direct result of acid-related injuries (Barrett’s esophagus) and H. pylori infection (intestinal metaplasia) may be assigned to CIGP, where studies that address the functions of genes and the consequences of mutation in these genes in all GI pre-neoplastic tissues will be referred to GCMB.

GCMB has the following shared interests outside the DIG IRG:

• With the Biological Chemistry and Macromolecular Biophysics [BCMB] IRG and Cell Biology [CB] IRGs:  The GCMB Study Section may be assigned applications as they relate to GI- or liver- specific cell function whereas applications dealing with general biochemical mechanisms of cell functions could be assigned toward BCMB or CB IRGs.

• With the Genes, Genomes & Genetics [GGG] IRG: The GCMB Study Section may be assigned applications as they relate to GI- or liver- specific gene transcription and gene expression, as well as functional determination of previously identified genes that cause diseases of the GI tract and liver.  Studies of general mechanisms of gene regulation, quantitative genetics, genetic epidemiology and genetic analysis of complex traits, and genetically engineered animals with an emphasis on genetics rather than digestive system diseases may be assigned to the GGG IRG.

• With the Biology of Development and Aging [BDA] IRG:  In general, applications related to investigation of growth, differentiation, development, and stem cell biology of the gastrointestinal tract and liver at the molecular and cellular level would be assigned to GCMB. Similarly, applications that focus on early developmental mechanisms involved in formation of organ primordia (such as cell cycle control, apoptosis, cell fate, or early pattern formation) would be assigned to the BDA IRG.  When the question being addressed is germane to the development of more than a single organ system, either because it addresses the "primordial organ" or because of the generality of the process being studied, the application generally would be assigned to the BDA IRG.  The overall philosophy is that assignment should be made based on the central focus of the application.

• With the Bioengineering Sciences and Technologies [BST] IRG: Grant applications focused on GI specific biological mechanisms and therapies could be assigned to GCMB. On the other hand, grant applications focused on developing technologies to introduce genes and drugs in a general cellular context could be assigned to the BST IRG

• With the Oncological Sciences [ONC] IRG:  In general, studies of the biology, genetics, interactions of cells with their microenvironment, or biomarkers for early detection of GI dysplasia, pre-neoplastic conditions and pre-neoplastic conditions of the liver would be assigned to GCMB.  Those that involve GI and liver cancers (invasive and metastatic cancers) and all other cancers including chemo- and radiation therapy would be assigned to the ONC IRG. Studies of familial adenomatous polyosis (FAP) as well as the pathology and treatment of polyps in the GI system would be assigned to GCMB.  In general, cell biological studies of GI or liver cancers would also be assigned to the ONC IRG. Molecular and genetic studies of Barrett's Esophagus would be assigned to GCMB.

• With the Endocrinology, Metabolism, Nutrition, and Reproductive Sciences [EMNR] IRG:  Shared interests exist with EMNR IRG regarding hormone physiology and biochemistry, and nutrient metabolism.  In general, studies involving hormones and hormone receptors that originate from the gastrointestinal tract, and digestion and absorption of nutrients by the digestive system would be assigned to GCMB, whereas signal transduction studies involving hormones of endocrine system origin would be assigned to the EMNR IRG.