The Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology (BCMP) is home to research and teaching focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of fundamentally important life processes. BCMP offers a broad range of medical and basic research topics using the analytical tools of biochemistry, molecular biology, biophysics, chemical biology, and structural biology. The research interests of the faculty include the structure and function of proteins with particular interest in large multimeric complexes; the control of all stages of gene expression; the mechanisms of DNA replication, recombination, and repair; the organization and regulation of chromatin structure; the biosynthesis of membrane lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins; principles of antibiotic and natural product synthesis, and the induction of morphological and biochemical differentiation of cells. Our faculty are deeply engaged in technology development specializing in new methods for single-molecule studies, optical microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance and x-ray crystallography approaches for atomic level resolution, protein analysis using mass spectroscopy, use of natural or synthetic organic molecules in biological studies, and high throughput methods for functional studies.
Our teaching mission includes core graduate courses in molecular biology and biochemistry, as well as medical courses in pharmacology. In addition, we offer advanced courses in a wide range of specialty areas reflecting the research interests of our faculty.
