The Department of Cell & Molecular Biology is composed of
three broad research areas, Cancer and Tissue Biology, Radiation
Biology and Environmental Toxicology, and DNA Repair.
The Cancer and Tissue Biology
group addresses addresses questions regarding the control of normal
growth and development of tissues and how these controls are disrupted
during carcinogenesis. Digital imaging resources and development
are a core technology of the group. Mammary gland is a major focus
of research. LBNL investigators have demonstrated the importance
of hormones and ECM in maintaining the balance between growth,
differentiation and death in normal tissue, in mediating the tissue
response to radiation, and their role in initiating neoplasia.
Additional research is directed toward identifying the intracellular
molecules and signaling pathways that mediate cellular responses
to ovarian hormones. Several investigators are studying the role
of protooncogenes and tumor suppressor genes in cell phenotypes
that result from environmental signals, as well as genetic programs.
The Radiation Biology
and Environmental Toxicology group brings together molecular
biologists, theoretical modeling, toxicologists and cell biologists.
Responses to low dose radiation in natural and occupational environments
and to natural chemicals in the diet are being studied to develop
accurate environmental risk assessment tools and effective intervention
strategies. The National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) sponsors Berkeley
Lab researchers to study possible health hazards that humans may
encounter in deep space travel as a result of solar and galactic
cosmic radiation exposure. Environmental toxicology focuses on
assessing which contaminants present an environmental risk to
animals and plants and the molecular evolution of prokaryotes
in damaged or extreme environments.
The DNA Repair
group encompasses a large multidisciplinary program to study structure-function
relationships in DNA repair machinery. Using mice, human cells,
and yeast models, investigators in this group collaborate to characterize
the fundamental contributions of specific proteins to DNA damage
responses. Additional research interests include strong programs
to elucidate mechanisms that control cell proliferation, differentiation
and genomic stability, and the abnormalities that occur in each
of these processes during tumorigenesis. Investigators are also
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.
