Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences
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Molecular Cell Biology Program

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Molecular Cell Biology Program

Graduate Student Coordinator: Stacy Kiel
Molecular Cell Biology Faculty Director: Phyllis Hanson and Jason Weber
Molecular Cell Biology Program Guidelines
Molecular Cell Biology Qualifying Exam Guidelines
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Students and faculty in the Program in Molecular Cell Biology are involved in a wide array of investigations into many fundamental cell processes and the mechanisms that control them. Among the subjects currently under investigation are: gene expression; mechanisms of transcription and tissue-specific transcription regulation; molecular mechanisms involved in cell proliferation; cell cytoskeleton, motility and chemotaxis; pathways for the trafficking of molecules into and out of cells; receptor-ligand interactions involved in regulation of cell growth and cell phenotype; signal transduction molecules and pathways; lipid metabolism; assembly of supramolecular structures including extracellular matrix; and mechanisms of enzyme catalysis and inhibition; and mechanisms of pathogenesis. A common theme uniting these research programs is the desire to understand essential cellular functions at the highest possible level of molecular resolution.

For information regarding career path and complete program guidelines, click here.

Program of Study

Typically a graduate student begins the Program in late August and enrolls in two core courses:

Fundamentals of Molecular Cell Biology (Bio 5068)
Nucleic Acids and Protein Biosynthesis (Bio 548)

Students will be required to take two advanced electives, one being Advanced Cell Biology (Bio 5384) and another of their choosing. Because of the diversity of interest within the Program, departments and laboratories sharing common interest have organized a number of more focused, advanced courses which are offered to second-, third-, and fourth-semester students. These include:

Molecular, Cell and Organ Systems (Mandatory course)
Microbial Physiology and Biochemistry (Bio 4490)
Foundations in Immunology (Bio 5051)
Macromolecular Interactions (Bio 5312)
Macromolecular Structure (Bio 5315)
Protein Structure and Function (Bio 5325)
Developmental Biology (Bio 5352)
Molecular Virology (Bio 5391)
Molecular Microbiology and Pathogenesis (Bio 5392)
Molecular Recognition (Bio 5461)
Advanced Genetics (Bio 5491)
Computational Molecular Biology (Bio 5495)

In addition, students will take 5 units of the courses listed below (special topics and journal clubs). A number of seminar courses are offered as advanced electives, according to student and faculty interest. Theses courses review literature on current fundamental questions in each field, emphasizing recent advances in knowledge.

Special Topics:
Special Emphasis Pathway Cancer Biology ( Bio 5196 - Spring only - odd dated year)
Ethics and Research Science (Bio 5011) Mandatory for all students
Central Questions in Cell Biology (Bio 5062)
Cell Biology of the Stress Response (Bio 5065)
Signal Transduction in Human Biology (Bio 5144)
Pathobiology of Human Disease States (Bio 5191 - Limited Enrollment)
Special Topics in Microbial Pathogenesis (Bio 5217)
Molecular Mechanisms of Disease (Bio 5261)
Advanced Immunology (Bio 5272)
Special Topics in Molecular Genetics: Molecular Basis of Cancer (Bio 5288)
Macrophage Development (Bio 5342)
Mech. of Prot. Target and Intercompart. Transport (Bio 5381)
Human Linkage and Association Analysis (Bio 5482)
Subversive Genetics, Attacks on the Central Dogma (Bio 5493)
Thursday Developmental Rave (5215) (every other Fall)

Journal Clubs are organized by several laboratories with overlapping interest.

Student-Run Cell Biology Journal Club (Bio 5125)
Extracellular Matrix and Cell Matrix Interactions Journal Club (Bio 5128)
Glycobiology Discussion Group (Bio 5129)
Cell Motility and Cytoskeleton Journal Club (Bio 5132)
Cancer Biology Journal Club (Bio 5192)
Proteins Journal Club (Bio 5225)
Genetics Journal Club (Bio 5235)
Molecular Virology Journal Club (Bio 5393)
Molecular Microbiology and Pathogenesis Journal Club (Bio 5416)
Hematology/Oncology Journal Club (Bio 5417)
Student-Run Molecular Genetics Journal Club (Bio 5481)

Along with courses, the program emphasizes laboratory experience. First-year students typically rotate through three laboratories and most have establishes themselves in a thesis laboratory by the summer of the first year.

Signaling and Cell Cycle Research Group.
This research group, which is supported in part by the Siteman Cancer Center, includes several members of the Molecular Cell Biology Program. For information about the Signaling and Cell Cycle Research Group, click here.

Molecular Cell Biology Program Faculty

Dana R. Abendschein, Ph.D. - Role of coaagulation proteases and inflammatory molecules in vascular remodeling.

Yousef Abu-Amer, Ph.D. - Cellular and molecular mechanisms in osteoclasts; TNF signaling in inflammatory bone disease.

Joseph J.H. Ackerman, Ph.D. - Magnetic resonance spectroscopy and imaging of intact functioning biological systems.

Usha P. Andley, Ph.D. - Small heat shock protein functions in ocular systems and stress.

Jeffrey M. Arbeit, M.D. - Molecular regulation of epithelial carcinogenesis.

Jacques U. Baenziger, M.D., Ph.D. - Synthesis and function of unique carbohydrate structures as information-bearing macromolecules.

Nancy L. Baenziger, Ph.D. - Bradykinin/Histamine receptor regulation, signal transduction, phosphorylation, and hyperactivity in Alzheimer’s disease.

Thomas J. Baranski, M.D., Ph.D. - Signal transduction mechanisms by hormone receptors and G proteins.

Steven Bassnett, Ph.D. - Cell and molecular biology of the ocular lens.

Roger N. Beachy, Ph.D. - Molecular and cellular basis of virus infection: Control via biotechnology.

David C. Beebe, Ph.D. - Growth factors in eye development; role of oxygen in cataract and glaucoma

Carlos Bernal-Mizrachi, M.D. - Novel mechanisms of cardiovascular disease in human and mouse models with insulin resistance and type 2 DM.

Monica Bessler, M.D., Ph.D. - We investigate the molecular and biochemical pathways causing bone marrow failure and screen for new therapeutic agents that might improve the production of blood cells

Deepta Bhattacharya, Ph.D. - Fate Decisions in the Hematopoietic and Immune System

Kendall J. Blumer, Ph.D. - Signal transduction in the cardiovascular, nervous and visual systems.

Irving Boime, Ph.D. - Placental and pituitary hormone genes.

Ron Bose, M.D., Ph.D. - Proteomic studies of signal transduction pathways in breast cancer.

Walter A. Boyle, III, M.D. - Molecular and cellular actions of anesthetics and septic stimuli on vascular tissue.

Paul C. Bridgman, Ph.D. - Cell biology of developing nerve and muscle cells.

Steven Brody, M.D. - Abnormalities of the airway epithelial cell differentiation that characterize many lung diseases

Guojun Bu, Ph.D. - Receptor biology focusing on endocytosis, intracellular protein trafficking and signaling, and related human pathobiology

Peter M.J. Burgers, Ph.D. - Molecular Biology of DNA replication and repair in yeast.

Valeria Cavalli, Ph.D. - Axonal Transport, Injury Signaling and Nerve Regeneration.

Emily Cheng, M.D., Ph.D. - Integration of apoptotic signaling cascades and the mitochondrion-sependent death program.

Kyunghee Choi, Ph.D. - Hematopoietic, Vascular and Cardiac Development in Mammalian System

Richard A. Chole, M.D., Ph.D. - Role of Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms in cholesteatoma.

Roberto Civitelli, M.D. - Connexins, cadherins and beta-catenin in bone cell function.

John A. Cooper, M.D., Ph.D. - Molecular mechanisms of cell motility and cytoskeleton assembly.

Peter A. Crawford, M.D., Ph.D. - Integrating systemic metabolism into mammalian myocardial energetic homeostasis

Erika C. Crouch, Ph.D., M.D. - Structure and function of surfactant protein D (SP-D).

Nicholas O. Davidson, M.D. - Mammalian gene expression: Regulation through mRNA editing and RNA stabilization.

Marc I. Diamond, M.D. -

Ram Dixit, Ph.D. - Molecular mechanisms of cytoskeleton organization and function

Tamara L. Doering, M.D., Ph.D. - Investigations of capsule synthesis in the pathogenic fungus Cryptococcus neoformans.

Gerald W. Dorn, II, M.D. - The multiple biochemical signaling pathways for growth and death of heart cells

Susan K. Dutcher, Ph.D. - Cilia, cytokinesis, tubulin superfamily, microtubules, cell division, obesity, ciliary signaling.

Igor R. Efimov, Ph.D. - Cardiac arrhythmia mechanisms, imaging, implantable devices, tissue engineering

Elliot L. Elson, Ph.D. - Mechanical properties of reconstituted tissues. Fluctuation spectroscopy of protein interactions.

Roberta Faccio, Ph.D. - osteoclasts, arthritis, inflammation, phospholipase gamma, bone resorption, cytoskeleton

Thomas A. Ferguson, Ph.D. - Cell death, apoptosis, immune tolerance, T-cells, lymphocyte, macrophages, angiogenesis, immune privilege.

Thomas W. Ferkol, M.D. - The development of cell and animal models to study cystic fibrosis.

Simon J. Fisher, Ph.D., M.D. - Role of nutritional and hormonal brain signaling in pathogenesis of obesity, diabetes, and impaired hypoglycemic counterregulation.

Timothy P. Fleming, Ph.D. - Isolation and characterization of cancer-related genes.

William A. Frazier, Ph.D. - Thrombospondin-1/CD47 regulation of mitochondria, nitric oxide and cardiovascular function

Carl Frieden, Ph.D. - Protein aggregation processes

N. Gautam, Ph.D. - Imaging signaling in living cells.

Robert W. Gereau, Ph.D. - Cellular and molecular mechanisms of chronic pain.

Jeffrey M. Gidday, Ph.D. - Endogenous mechanisms of vascular and parenchymal cell protection in CNS ischemia

Daniel E. Goldberg, M.D., Ph.D. - Biochemistry of malaria.

Susana Gonzalo, Ph.D. - Mechanisms regulating nuclear architecture, chromatin structure, and telomere biology and their impact on chromosome stability, tumorigenesis and radiosensitivity

Jeffrey I. Gordon, M.D. - Genomic and metabolic foundations of symbiotic host-microbial relationships in the mammalian gut

Gregory A. Grant, Ph.D. - Relationship of structure to function in allosteric control mechanisms.

Timothy A. Graubert, M.D. - The study of normal and leukemic hematopoietic stem cell biology.

Richard W. Gross, M.D., Ph.D. - The molecular mechanisms through which biologic membranes participate in cellular activation processes.

David H. Gutmann, M.D., Ph.D. - Using mouse models to understand normal growth control and tumor formation in the mammalian brain.

Dennis E. Hallahan, M.D. - The mechanisms of cell death in normal tissues during cancer therapy

Marc R. Hammerman, M.D. - Transplantation of developing organs.

Daniel F. Hanson, Ph.D. - Fever as an evolutionarily adaptive regulator of immune host defense.

Phyllis I. Hanson, M.D., Ph.D. - Regulation of membrane trafficking

J. William Harbour, M.D. - Role of developmental and cell cycle genes in cancer.

Elizabeth S. Haswell, Ph.D. - Mechanotransduction in plants.

Erik D. Herzog, Ph.D. - Cellular and molecular analysis of circadian behavior in mammals.

John E. Heuser, M.D. - Electron microscopy of cells and molecules.

Didier Hodzic, Ph.D. - Role of LINC complexes (Linkers of the Nucleoskeleton to the Cytoskeleton) in nucleokinesis and neuronal migration

David M. Holtzman, M.D. - Cellular/Molecular/Biomarkers studies of Alzheimer’s disease and neonatal brain injury.

Michael J. Holtzman, M.D. - Acute and chronic responses to respiratory viruses.

Keith A. Hruska, M.D. - Mechanisms and treatment of CKD and complications, renal osteodystrophy and vascular clacification.

Paul W. Hruz, Ph.D., M.D. - Structural Biology and Regulation of Glucose Transport; Molecular Mechanisms Leading to Insulin Resistance

James J. Hsieh, M.D., Ph.D. - Integrate development, cancer, and stem cell through a common proteolytic framework

Yina H. Huang, Ph.D. - IP4 regulation of lymphocyte activation, development and tumorigenesis.

Andrew J.W. Huang, M.D., M.P.H. - Corneal epithelial wound healing, neovascularization and stromal dystrophies

James "Jim" E. Huettner, Ph.D. - Glutamate receptors, synaptic transmission and stem cell differentiation.

Scott J. Hultgren, Ph.D. - Pilus and amyloid fiber formation in bacteria: Structure, function and role in diseases of the urinary tract.

Shin-ichiro Imai, M.D., Ph.D. - Understanding the molecular mechanism of aging and longevity in mammals.

Stephen L. Johnson, Ph.D. - Growth control of adult stem cells and regeneration.

Daniel Kerschensteiner, M.D. -

Raphael Kopan, Ph.D. - Studies of cell fate determination in mammalian system with focus on Notch mediated signal transduction.

S. Kerry Kornfeld, M.D., Ph.D. - Signal transduction and cell fate specification during development. Aging.

Stuart A. Kornfeld, M.D. - Intracellular protein trafficking, including targeting of acid hydrolases to lysosomes.

Paul T. Kotzbauer, M.D., Ph.D. - Mechanisms of neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease and related disorders.

Kristen Kroll, Ph.D. - Transcriptional regulation of neural cell fate, proliferation, and differentiation in embryos and embryonic stem cells.

Petra Anne Levin, Ph.D. - Temporal and spatial regulation of bacterial cell division.

Ellen Li, M.D., Ph.D. - Translational research in inflammatory bowel disease

Daniel C. Link, M.D. - Molecular regulation of normal and neoplastic hematopoiesis.

Jennifer K. Lodge, Ph.D. - Signal transduction, cell wall biosynthesis and resistance to oxidative and nitrosative stresses  in the pathogenic fungus, Cryptococcus neoformans

Fanxin Long, Ph.D. - Developmental and regenerative biology of the mammalian skeleton

Gregory D. Longmore, M.D. - Epithelia morphogenesis in development and disease - cancer metastasis

Michael Lovett, Ph.D. - Human genetic diseases, genome technologies, systems biology, functional genomics of hearing loss and craniofacial development.

Peter D. Lukasiewicz, Ph.D. - Synaptic function and retinal neurobiology.

Liang Ma, Ph.D. - Understanding genetic pathways regulating epithelial differentiation.

Elaine M. Majerus, M.D., Ph.D. - Studies of factors involved in pro-thrombotic conditions.

Philip W. Majerus, M.D. - Mechanisms of intracellular signalling through phosphorylation of inositols and proteins.

Michael L. McDaniel, Ph.D. - Growth and proliferation of pancreatic islets in Types 1 & 2 diabetes.

Robert P. Mecham, Ph.D. - Cell-matrix interactions, extracellular matrix and development, vascular development and disease.

Steven J. Mennerick, Ph.D. - Physiology of glutamate and GABA neurotransmission in the CNS.

Robert W. Mercer, Ph.D. - Molecular and cell biology of ion pumps and transporters in plasma membrane; cell polarity.

Loren Scott Michel, M.D., MBA - Mechanisms of genomic instability and tumor progression

James G. Miller, Ph.D. - Ultrasonic investigation of the viscoelastic properties of cardiovascular tissue and bone

Kathryn G. Miller, Ph.D. - Function of actin-binding proteins in development.

Jason C. Mills, M.D., Ph.D. - Developmental, molecular, and cellular biology of gastric epithelial stem cells

Jeffrey H. Miner, Ph.D. - Genetic analyses of mouse organogenesis.

Stanley Misler, M.D., Ph.D. - Electrophysiological approaches to stimulus-secretion coupling in endocrine cells and neurons.

Kelle H. Moley, M.D. - Murine preimplantation embryogenesis: the effects of maternal hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia on glucose transporter and blastocyst survival.

Aubrey R. Morrison, M.B.B.S. - RNA-binding proteins in mRNA stability and cancer biology.

Michael Mueckler, Ph.D. - Molecular biology of glucose transporters.

Kenneth M. Murphy, M.D., Ph.D. - T cell development, lineage commitment.

Anthony J. Muslin, M.D. - Growth factor signal transduction in vertebrate embryonic development and cardiovascular disease.

Jeanne M. Nerbonne, Ph.D. - Molecular determinants of ion channel expression, distribution and functioning

Colin G. Nichols, Ph.D. - Ion channel biology in health and disease

Deborah J. Novack, M.D., Ph.D. - Role of NF-KB signalling in osteoclasts.

David M. Ornitz, Ph.D., M.D. - Growth factor signaling in lung, skeletal, cardiovascular and CNS development and physiology; Otopetrin in vestibular mechanosensory development

Daniel S. Ory, M.D. - Study of regulation of cholesterol homeostasis, and role of cholesterol in atherosclerosis and neurodegeneration.

Philip Osdoby, Ph.D. - Bone remodeling cell and molecular events of osteoclast activity and development.

Karen L. O`Malley, Ph.D. - Mechanisms underlying the specification, regulation, and neurodegeneration of dopaminergic and glutamatergic systems.

Tej K. Pandita, Ph.D. - Identification and characterization of tumor cells specific targets for radiosensitization.

M. Alan Permutt, M.D. - Pancreatic islet cell genes and diabetes genetics research.

Linda J. Pike, Ph.D. - EGF receptor-mediated cell signaling and the control of cell growth

David R. Piwnica-Worms, M.D., Ph.D. - Molecular imaging of gene expression and protein function in vivo; multidrug resistance transporters; metallopharmaceuticals.

Helen M. Piwnica-Worms, Ph.D. - Cell cycle and checkpoint control.

Kenneth S. Polonsky, M.D. - Role of pancreatic beta cell in the development of diabetes.

Ralph S. Quatrano, Ph.D. - Mechanisms in establishing cell polarity and regulatory gene expression in plants.

Keith M. Rich, M.D. - Influence of trophic factors on neuronal dead and axonal regeneration.

Joseph L. Roti Roti, Ph.D. - Cell-cycle progression and response of the cells to ionizing radiation and heat shock.

Joshua B. Rubin, M.D., Ph.D. - Investigating the basis of CXCL12 actions in development and cancer.

John H. Russell, Ph.D. - CNS/lymphocyte interactions regulating inflammation and pathogenesis in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis

J. Evan Sadler, M.D., Ph.D. - Biochemistry and function of hemostatic proteases and von Willebrand factor.

Shelly Sakiyama-Elbert, Ph.D. - My research focuses on the delivery of protein growth factors to promote tissue regeneration.

Lawrence B. Salkoff, Ph.D. - How ion channels function in physiology and behavior.

Linda J. Sandell, Ph.D. - Gene regulation of extracellular matrix proteins and its influence on the phenotype of cells

Mark S. Sands, Ph.D. - Pathophysiology and novel therapies for lysosomal storage diseases.

Jean E. Schaffer, M.D. - Cellular responses to metabolic stress.

Paul Schlesinger, M.D., Ph.D. - Intracellular ion transport, chloride, protons, mitochondrial channels, phagosome, parasites.

Alan L. Schwartz, Ph.D., M.D. - Receptor-mediated protein targeting and protein degradation.

Robert M. Senior, M.D. - Mechanisms of lung remodeling during development and lung diseases.

Andrey S. Shaw, M.D. - Biochemistry and imaging of signaling pathways and genetic basis of kidney disease.

Philip D. Stahl, Ph.D. - Hominoid-specific genes such as TBC1D3, that regulate growth factor receptor signaling, may explain why human physiology and pathobiology differs from lower species.

Thaddeus S. Stappenbeck, Ph.D., M.D. - Molecular interactions between intestinal epithelial stem cells and their niche.

Joe Henry Steinbach, Ph.D. - Function and regulation of transmitter-gated membrane channels.

Thomas H. Steinberg, M.D. - Gap junctional communication, P2 receptors, and intercellular calcium signaling.

William Stenson, M.D. - We are interested in the epithelial response to injury in the intestine and in mucosal immununology in the intestine.

Sheila A. Stewart, Ph.D. - Telomere biology in human cancer and aging.

John-Stephen Taylor, Ph.D. - Structure-activity relationships in UV mutagenesis; nucleic acid-based chemotherapeutic and imaging agents

Steven L. Teitelbaum, M.D. - Molecular mechanisms of osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption.

Robert E. Thach, Ph.D. - Ecology of vector-borne diseases.

Douglas M. Tollefsen, M.D., Ph.D. - Biochemistry and physiology of protease inhibitors that regulate blood coagulation.

Michael Tomasson, M.D. - Chromosomal translocations, fusion oncogenes, and the molecular pathogenesis of leukemia.

Dwight A. Towler, M.D., Ph.D. - Regulation of vascular calcification and vascular mesenchymal cell fate.

Heather L. True-Krob, Ph.D. - Epigenetic regulation of phenotypes by propagation of prions in yeast

John W. Turk, M.D., Ph.D. - Phospholipid-derived mediators and insulin secretion.

Zsolt Urban, Ph.D. - Human genetic diseases of the elastic fiber system.

Joseph P. Vogel, Ph.D. - Intracellular replication of Legionella pneumophila inside macrophages.

Jason D. Weber, Ph.D. - Role of tumor suppressors and oncogenes in growth control.

Conrad C. Weihl, M.D., Ph.D. - The interplay between the ubiquitin-proteasome and autophagy pathways in skeletal muscle and neurodegenerative disorders.

Katherine N. Weilbaecher, M.D. - Molecular mechanisms through which tumor cells metastasize to bone.

Samuel A. Wickline, M.D. - Molecular imaging and targeted therapeutics with nanobiotechnology.

Robert S. Wilkinson, Ph.D. - Synaptic structure and function, particularly vesicle processing pathways.

Richard K. Wilson, Ph.D. - Genomic studies of C. elegans, yeast and humans.

Qin Yang, M.D., Ph.D. - Telomere recombination and maintenance, AKT oncogenic signaling

Nabeel R. Yaseen, M.D., Ph.D. - Molecular Pathogenesis of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Zhongsheng You, Ph.D. - Molecular mechanisms of genome surveillance and tumorigenesis

Dong Yu, Ph.D. - Human cytomegalovirus replication and pathogenesis

Lijuan Zhang, Ph.D. - Glycosaminoglycan structure and biology




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