Macromolecular Structure and Function B Study Section [MSFB]

[MSFB Membership Roster] [MSFB Meeting Rosters]

The Macromolecular Structure and Function B [MSFB] study section reviews applications that address basic structure-function relationships in a variety of systems, using biophysical and biochemical approaches, both experimental (e.g., X-ray crystallography, NMR, fluorescence spectroscopy) and computational modeling (e.g., molecular dynamics simulations).  The emphasis is on elucidating structural and dynamical characteristics of individual proteins and nucleic acids, and their complexes, and how those properties affect function of the molecules.  Specific areas covered by MSFB:

  • RNA structure and dynamics; RNA-protein interactions, RNA catalysis, folding and splicing and ribozyme-based therapeutics.
  • DNA structures, including of those of chemically modified DNAs, structural aspects of DNA replication and repair processes, aspects of protein-DNA systems, such as the effects of protein folding on histone-DNA interactions.
  • Properties of proteins: structural dynamics of proteins, folding and misfolding processes; engineering proteins to enhance function, computer-aided drug design, allostery and cooperativity in enzyme mechanism and control, chaperones, thermodynamic and electrostatic features of protein function.
  • Signal transduction in select systems, such as circadian rhythm proteins, and chemokines and their receptors.
  • Enzymology of protein glycosylation and the consequences thereof, structural aspects of ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of proteins in cells.


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

Macromolecular Structure and Function C [MSFC] 
Macromolecular Structure and Function D [MSFD]
Molecular Genetics A [MGA] 
Molecular Genetics B [MGB] 
Molecular Genetics C [MGC] 
Molecular and Integrative Signal Transduction [MIST]
Intercellular Interactions [ICI]



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