May 1, 1996
TO: Preceptors, Pharmacology Research Associate (PRAT) Program
FROM: Program Assistant, Pharmacology Research Associate Program, NIGMS
SUBJECT: Revision of the Pharmacology Research Associate Brochure
Enclosed is a copy of the description of your laboratory as it appears in the most recent PRAT catalog.  Please review this carefully for accuracy and readability.  Remember that this description may be the deciding factor in a PRAT fellow choosing your laboratory over someone else's.  Try to convey in this summary of your laboratory's research the excitement you feel about that research.
If you wish this description to appear just as it is, please check the box marked ACCEPTABLE AS IS.  If you wish to change the description, please check the box marked CHANGE.  You may make changes directly on the page or attach a new version.
You may either fax this information to us at 301-480-2802 or e-mail us at 
PRAT@GMl.NIGMS.NIH.GOV by Monday, May 20, 1996.
Sandy Cain
Enclosure
[ ] ACCEPTABLE AS IS [ ] CHANGE
NAME OF PRECEPTOR:
Marshall W. Nirenberg, Ph.D.
Laboratory of Biochemical Genetics
Section on Molecular Biology
301-496-2401
Basic problems in molecular biology and biochemistry are studied, especially molecular mechanisms that regulate gene expression during embryonic development.  Current research focuses on characterizing DNA clones that 
correspond to novel mouse or Drosophila homeobox genes, defining mouse genomic DNA sequences that regulate gene transcription, and identifying regulatory sequences in cloned DNA that correspond to the gene for the a-subunit of an L-type voltage-sensitive calcium channel.  Clonal lines of neuroblastoma and
somatic hybrid cells are used in some studies.