Assistant Professor, Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics, Molecular & Cellular Biology, and Neuroscience; Programs in Developmental Biology and Cell & Molecular Biology; Huffington Center on Aging
Co-Director, Program in Developmental Biology

Ph.D., Chonnam National University, Korea, 2001
Postdoc, Salk Institute, San Diego, 2003

RESEARCH INTERESTS:

Our long-term research goal is to decode the combinatorial transcriptional regulatory network responsible for generating distinct classes of neurons that perform sensory and motor functions in the developing central nervous system (CNS). We utilize an ensemble of cellular models, extensive mouse genetic mutants, gain and loss of functional studies in chick embryos, molecular methods and biochemical approaches.

First, we characterize a series of important enhancer and silencer elements from genes specifically expressed in distinct neuronal subtypes. These studies, coupled with bioinformatics as well as DNA microarrays, serve as powerful tools to investigate the detailed combinatorial code of transcription factors and their regulatory circuits in cell type specification.

Second, we dissect the function of a number of transcriptional coregulatory proteins involved with cell type specification. Although much attention has been paid to define the function of transcription factors in neuronal specification, very little is known about the role of transcriptional coregulators during the CNS development. Thus, we have developed multiple mouse lines in which transcriptional cofactor genes are selectively deleted in embryonic CNS and been analyzing their CNS phenotypes.

Finally, we apply the differential regulatory circuits defined above to various stem cells in an effort to generate specific neurons at will. For instance, we have recently succeeded generating motor neurons from multi-potent embryonic stem cells. These studies will provide invaluable cellular model systems that should enable further studies of the CNS development through in vitro functional assays as well as different biochemical approaches.

Overall, our studies should provide critical insights into the basic principles involved with the proper formation of the nervous system as well as practical information for treatments of a variety of neuronal injuries and diseases.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS:

1. Lee S, Lee B, Joshi K, Pfaff S, Lee JW, Lee SK (2008). A novel regulatory network to segregate spinal neuronal identities. Dev. Cell 14: 877-889.

2. Visvanathan J, Lee S, Lee B, Lee JW, Lee SK (2007). The microRNA miR-124 antagonizes the anti-neural REST/SCP1 pathway during embryonic CNS development. Genes Dev. 21: 744-749.

3. Lee S, Lee DK, Dou Y, Lee J, Lee B, Kwak E, Kong YY, Lee SK, Roeder RG, Lee JW (2006). Coactivator as a target gene specificity determinant for histone H3 lysine 4 methyltransferases. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 103: 15392-15397.

4. Yeo M*, Lee SK*, Lee B, Ruiz EC, Pfaff SL, Gill G (2005). SCP1 phosphatase functions in neuronal gene expression. Science 307: 596-600. (*equal contributors)

5. Lee SK, Lee B, Ruiz EC, Pfaff SL (2005). Olig2 and Ngn2 function in opposition to modulate gene expression in motor neuron progenitor cells. Genes Dev. 19: 282-294.

6. Lee SK*, Jurata LW*, Nowak R, Lettieri KL, Pfaff SL, Gill G (2005). The nuclear Lim only protein LMO4 is required for neural tube closure. Mol. Cell. Neurosci. 28: 205-214. (*equal contributors)

7. Lee SK, Jurata LW, Fuanhashi J, Ruiz EC, Pfaff SL (2004). Analysis of embryonic motoneuron gene regulation: Derepression of general activators function in concert with enhancer factors. Development 131: 3295-3306.

8. Lee SK, Pfaff SL (2003). Synchronization of neurogenesis and motor neuron specification by direct coupling of bHLH and homeodomain transcription factors. Neuron 38: 731-745. This article was accompanied by a separate preview by D.W. Allan and S. Thor (Neuron 38: 675-677, 2003).

9. Thaler JP*, Lee SK*, Jurata LW*, Gill GN, Pfaff SL (2002). LIM factor Lhx3 contributes to the specification of motor neuron and interneuron identity through cell type-specific protein-protein interactions. Cell 110: 237-249. (*equal contributors)

10. Lee SK, Pfaff SL (2001). Transcriptional networks regulating neuronal identity in the developing spinal cord. Nat. Neurosci. 4: 1183-1191. (review)

For more publications, see listing on Pub Med.

AWARDS AND HONORS:

2005-2006: Junior Faculty Seed Funding Award, Baylor College of Medicine
2005-2006: MRDDRC New Project Development Award, MRDDRC
2005-2009: Pew Scholars Award, Pew Charitable Trusts
2005-2007: Basil O’Connor Starter Scholar Research Award, March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation
2001-2004: Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Army Breast Cander Fund (declined)
2001-2004: Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Human Frontier Program

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Soo-Kyung Lee, Ph.D.
Department of Molecular & Human Genetics
Baylor College of Medicine
One Baylor Plaza, 132C
Houston, TX 77030
Mail Stop: BCM225

Phone: 713-798-8524
Fax: 713-798-0545
E-mail:

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