Wantae Kim Assistant Professor
Research introduction
Our lab is focused on elucidating two fundamental principles in biology.
1. Exploring organ size control, homeostasis, and cancer development.
Our laboratory focuses on studying organ size conrol, homeostasis, and cancer development driven by abnormal signaling pathways. Understanding the determination of organ size is essential not only in developmental biology but also in regeneration and disease pathology. Therefore, we aim to comprehend and devise therapeutic strategies by addressing fundamental questions such as:
(1) Determinants of Organ Size: What determines organ size during development or regeneration?
(2) Recognitive mechanism of organ growth: How do organs recognize when they have reached an appropriate size and stop further growth?
(3) Signaling pathways in organ size control: What are the key signaling pathway involved in organ size control, how do they function, and can they be manipulated?
(4) Disease relevance: Can abnormalities in the molecular mechanisms governing organ size control lead to various diseases, including cancer, and be utilized for therapy?
2. Investigating Transcription Factor Condensate Formation and Functions.
Our laboratory investigates the formation and function of transcription factor condensates through phase separation. Dysregulation of these condensates can serve as a pathological mechanism underlying the development of diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and immune disorders. To develop new therapeutic strategies, we conduct research based on the following topics:
(1) Mechanisms of formation: What environmental factors and mechanisms promote the formation of transcription factor condensates?
(2) Function and regulation: What roles do condensates play in the function of transcription factors, and how are they regulated?
(3) Disease implications: What are the fundamental principles underlying disease onset resulting from abnormalities in transcription factor condensates?
Through our research efforts in these areas, we aim to advance our understanding of organ size regulation, homeostasis, transcription factor condensates, and their implications in disease development.
1. Exploring organ size control, homeostasis, and cancer development.
Our laboratory focuses on studying organ size conrol, homeostasis, and cancer development driven by abnormal signaling pathways. Understanding the determination of organ size is essential not only in developmental biology but also in regeneration and disease pathology. Therefore, we aim to comprehend and devise therapeutic strategies by addressing fundamental questions such as:
(1) Determinants of Organ Size: What determines organ size during development or regeneration?
(2) Recognitive mechanism of organ growth: How do organs recognize when they have reached an appropriate size and stop further growth?
(3) Signaling pathways in organ size control: What are the key signaling pathway involved in organ size control, how do they function, and can they be manipulated?
(4) Disease relevance: Can abnormalities in the molecular mechanisms governing organ size control lead to various diseases, including cancer, and be utilized for therapy?
2. Investigating Transcription Factor Condensate Formation and Functions.
Our laboratory investigates the formation and function of transcription factor condensates through phase separation. Dysregulation of these condensates can serve as a pathological mechanism underlying the development of diseases such as neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and immune disorders. To develop new therapeutic strategies, we conduct research based on the following topics:
(1) Mechanisms of formation: What environmental factors and mechanisms promote the formation of transcription factor condensates?
(2) Function and regulation: What roles do condensates play in the function of transcription factors, and how are they regulated?
(3) Disease implications: What are the fundamental principles underlying disease onset resulting from abnormalities in transcription factor condensates?
Through our research efforts in these areas, we aim to advance our understanding of organ size regulation, homeostasis, transcription factor condensates, and their implications in disease development.
Papers
- [2022.08] Choi S, Lee HS, Cho N, Kim I, Kim EM*, Kim W*, Kim KK*. RBFOX2-regulated TEAD1 alternative splicing plays a pivotal role in Hippo-YAP signaling. Nucleic Acids Res 50(15):8658-8673. (*Co-corresponding authors) Selected as a Cover
- [2020.11] Choi EY, Park HH, Kim H, Kim HN, Kim I, Jeon S, Kim W*, Bae JS*, Lee W*. Wnt5a and Wnt11 as acute respiratory distress syndrome biomarkers for SARS-CoV-2 patients. Eur Respir J 26;56(5):2001531. (*Co-corresponding authors) - 연구자가 선정한 국내 바이오 성과 TOP5 –의과학부문, BRIC
- [2020.06] Kim J, Kwon H, Shin YK, Song G, Lee T, Kim Y, Jeong W, Lee U, Zhang X, Nam G, Jung HC, Kim W*, Jho EH*. MAML1/2 promote YAP/TAZ nuclear localization and tumorigenesis. PNAS 16;117(24):13529-13540. (*Co-corresponding authors)
- [2019.05] Kim W, Cho YS, Wang X, Park O, Ma X, Kim H, Gan W, Jho EH, Cha B, Jeung YJ, Zhang L, Gao B, Wei W, Jiang J, Chung KS, Yang Y. Hippo signaling is intrinsically regulated during cell cycle progression by APC/CCdh1. PNAS 67(9): 1692-1703.
- [2008.11] Kim W, Khan SK, Liu Y, Xu R, Park O, Cha B, Gao B, Yang Y. Hepatic Hippo signaling inhibits pro-tumoral microenvironment to suppress hepatocellular carcinoma. Gut 67(9): 1692-1703.
