The Cancer and Tissue Biology group addresses questions regarding the control of normal growth and development in a variety of tissues and how these controls are disrupted during carcinogenesis. A large, multi-investigator program in mammary gland biology is a major component whose aim is to understand the extracellular signals and intracellular mediators that control mammary epithelial cell growth, development, functional differentiation and death, particularly as they relate the development of neoplasia.
In Radiation Biology studies rodent and human cells in culture and in vivo to examine how differentiation and malignant transformation are controlled in hematopoietic (blood-producing) stem cells. DNA damage due both to radiation in natural and occupational environments and to natural chemicals in the diet is being studied to develop accurate environmental risk assessment tools and effective intervention strategies. A central theme in the radiation biology program is the risk associated with radiation-induced cell damage during travel in outer space. Berkeley Lab leads a partnership with Colorado State University at Fort Collins (CSU), sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), known as a NASA Specialized Center of Research and Training or "NSCORT". This center is devoted to exploring possible health hazards that humans may encounter in deep spacetravel. It is engaged in basic research and training dedicated to understanding the biological impact of solar and galactic cosmic radiation exposure on astronaut health.
The Environmental Toxicology component of the Radiation Biology and Environmental Toxicology group unites molecular biologists, microbial physiologists, toxicologists and cell biologists to conduct research in three areas: Assessing what contaminants present an environmental risk to animals and plants; Molecular evolution of prokaryotes in damaged or extreme environments; and Polyphasic phylogeny of microorganisms for use in diagnostics (entailing structure and function investigations into their molecular and biochemical capabilities).
Aging -Age is the largest single risk factor for a panoply of diseases, including cancer, neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis and cataracts. The rate at which age-related disorders increase depends on both genetic and environmental risk factors. The Department has a small but growing interest in identifying the important genes that influence rates of aging, the genetic and epigenetic events that contribute to the aging of cells and organisms, and determining how the aged tissue environment may affect tissue function and the progression of disease, particularly cancer. Investigators are studying the role of subnuclear structure, telomeres, chromatin structure, DNA repair pathways, and extracellular and nuclear factors that influence growth and differentiation in cell and organismic aging.
Control of Growth, Differentiation and Genomic Stability-LBNL has strong programs in the elucidation of mechanisms that control cell proliferation, differentiation and genomic stability, and the abnormalities that occur in each of these processes during tumorigenesis.
Hormones and Extracellular Matrix-Research is directed toward identifying the intracellular molecules that mediate cellular responses to hormones, particularly the sex steroids, and the extracellular matrix (ECM). Investigators have demonstrated the importance of hormones and ECM in maintaining the balance between growth, differentiation and death in normal tissue, mediating the tissue response to radiation, and initiating neoplasia. Researchers are now working towards understanding the molecular bases for the actions of hormones and ECM and developing methods to modulate their activities.
Mammary Biology-A large, multi-investigator program in
mammary gland biology aims to understand the extracellular signals and
intracellular mediators that control mammary epithelial cell growth,
development, functional differentiation and death, particularly as it relates to
various stages of tumorigenesis. Investigators are studying epithelial-
stromal interactions, ECM-cell and cell-cell interactions, growth factor and
ECM receptors and the intracellular signaling pathways, and transcription
factors that are key regulators of growth and differentiation.
Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressor Genes-Another area of research is learning how protooncogenes (which, through mutation, become oncogenes) and tumor suppressor genes function in normal and neoplastic cells. Using both viral and cellular genes, investigators are determining the role of protooncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in the cell phenotype resulting from environmental signals -- such as growth factors, ECM and DNA damaging agents, as well as genetic programs, such as replicative senescence and terminal differentiation.