고준석

Koh, Junseock

Associate Professor

고준석

Associate Professor

Koh, Junseock

고준석
Research
Biochemistry Biophysics Cell Biology Molecular Biology

A central theme of our research is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms governing fundamental biological processes by quantitative characterization of the underlying macromolecular interactions. In particular, we use the concepts and methods from biophysical chemistry (structure, thermodynamics, and kinetics) to scrutinize the multi-component interactions involved in two different systems: Nuclear Pore Complex (NPC) in nucleocytoplasmic transport and Mediator Complex in transcriptional regulation. A remarkable feature of these molecular machines is that many of their protein subunits, collectively termed Nups in the NPC and Meds in the Mediator Complex, contain intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) dynamically interconverting among multiple conformational states. Our specific aim is to explore novel regulatory roles of these IDRs in the following processes:

1) Assembly of the NPC and the Mediator Complex from their ~30 distinct subunits.
2) Interactions of the NPC with nucleocytoplasmic transport receptors and of the Mediator complex with transcription factors.
3) Conformational changes in these complexes coupled to the interactions with their binding partners. 

In parallel, we aim to devise cellular systems to probe the effects of such conformational changes on nucleocytoplasmic transport and transcription in vivo.

Given the abundance of IDRs in the eukaryotic proteome, the molecular principles and quantitative methods established in the proposed research will be applicable to other complex biological systems. These basic studies will also provide invaluable information for future medical investigations, culminating in innovative therapeutic approaches targeting IDRs in human diseases.

Education/Career
Education
  • - 1997-2003 B.S. in Biological Sciences, Seoul National University (1999-2001: Mandatory military service)
  • - 2003-2008 Ph.D. in Biophysics, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Career
  • - 2022-현재 Associate Professor, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University
  • - 2017-2022 Assistant Professor, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University
  • - 2009-2017 Postdoctoral Research Associate, Howard Hughes Medical Institute at the Rockefeller University
  • - 2008 Postdoctoral Research Associate, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Publications
  1. Koh J* and Blobel G* (2015) Allosteric regulation in gating the central channel of the Nuclear Pore Complex. Cell 161(6): 1361-1373 * corresponding authors
  2. Kim J, Xiao H, Koh J, Wang Y, Bonanno JB, Thomas K, Babbitt PC, Brown S, Lee YS, and Almo SC (2015) Determinants of the CmoB carboxymethyl transferase utilized for selective tRNA wobble modification. Nucleic Acids Res 43(9): 4602-4613
  3. Koh J*, Shkel I, Saecker RM, and Record MT Jr*. (2011) Nonspecific DNA binding and bending by HUαβ: interfaces of the three binding modes characterized by salt-dependent thermodynamics. J Mol Biol 410(2): 241-267 * corresponding authors
  4. Koh J, Saecker RM, and Record MT Jr. (2008) DNA binding mode transitions of Escherichia coli HUαβ: evidence for formation of a bent DNA-protein complex on intact, linear duplex DNA. J Mol Biol 383(2): 324-346
  5. Youn H, Koh J, and Roberts GP (2008): Two-state allosteric modeling suggests protein equilibrium as an integral component for cyclic AMP (cAMP) specificity in the cAMP receptor protein of Escherichia coli. J Bacteriol 190(13): 4532-4540