[BPNS Membership Roster] [BPNS Meeting Rosters]

The Biophysics of Neural Systems [BPNS] Study Section reviews applications dealing with basic biophysical studies of neurons, muscle and other excitable cells and their components in both normal and diseased states. Emphasis is on fundamental structure and function relationships relevant to physiology and disease processes, but also includes studies involving the biophysical integration of neural function, mathematical modeling and computational studies. Included are studies of subunit structure, molecular dynamics, gating and selectivity, second messengers, protein folding and misfolding, and assembly and aggregation of molecules. General approaches may include molecular and structural biology, pharmacology, biophysics, electrophysiology, protein chemistry, imaging and labeling techniques. Specific areas covered by BPNS:

• Structure and function relationships of signal transduction molecules and neuromodulators; coupling to second messenger pathways, including G-proteins, cyclic nucleotides, lipid metabolites, and Ca2+; modulatory pathways; voltage-gated and ligand-gated ion channels;  voltage dependence, activation, inactivation, and ionic selectivity; gap junctions and connexins.
• Structure and function relationships in neural proteins, nucleic acids, carbohydrates, and their complexes; tomographic, crystallographic, spectroscopic, and imaging studies; three dimensional structural analysis including subunit multimerization, protein folding and misfolding, assembly and aggregation; protein dynamics; protein-protein and protein-ligand interactions; membrane interfaces and microdomains; molecular modeling.
• Biophysical integration of neural function; quantitative modeling of neural function, such as synaptic integration and spike encoding; mathematical modeling at the cellular and molecular level.
  

Study sections with most closely related areas of science listed in rank order are:

Neurotransporters, Receptors, Channels and Calcium Signaling [NTRC]
Biochemistry and Biophysics of Membranes Study Section [BBM]
Molecular Neuropharmacology and Signaling [MNPS]
Molecular and Integrative Signal Transduction study section [MIST]
Cellular and Molecular Biology of Neurodegeneration Study Section  [CMND]