Soo Lee, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics, Molecular & Cellular Biology, and Neuroscience; programs in Developmental Biology and Cell & Molecular Biology
Co-Director
Program in Developmental Biology
Education
Ph.D., Chonnam National University, Korea, 2001
Postdoc, Salk Institute, San Diego, 2003
Research Interests:
Unravelling the processes that generate the numerous neuronal subtypes and establish their appropriate connections to form a functional CNS is one of the main challenges in neuroscience today. Particularly, decoding the transcriptional regulatory network responsible for neuronal subtype specification is a fundamental step toward understanding the CNS development and advancing methods to generate specific neurons in regenerative medicine.
Our goal is to develop a comprehensive map of the complex gene regulatory networks that direct cell-fate specification and assembly of neuro-circuits. Our major model systems include the spinal cord , which consists of distinct classes of neurons to assemble motor and sensory circuits, and the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, which forms a core neuro-circuitry that mediates actions of peripheral adiposity-signals, leptin and insulin, for energy balance. To achieve our goals, we dissect multiple layers of gene regulatory steps that render neuronal cell-fate specification, taking the following steps; to define transcription complexes specifying each neuronal population, to identify their downstream effector genes conferring unique cell-identity, to understand epigenetic strategy orchestrating timely changes on gene transcription, to uncover the molecular mechanism by which the peripheral cues modulate neuronal gene expression, and to generate specific neuronal subtypes from stem cells by applying the developmental gene regulatory strategy that we define. Our study will eventually contribute to the design of a rational strategy to repair damaged neurons and to treat metabolic disorders in the human.
Having been pioneering combinatorial transcription code studies in the spinal cord development for the past years, we have developed many molecular tools and animal model systems that enable us to explore critical layers of transcriptional regulation, such as epigenetic control, and that are applicable to investigating other areas of the CNS. We are employing combined approaches of mouse genetics and chick embryology to take advantage of their complementary strengths as experimental systems. In addition, we are utilizing embryonic stem cells extensively and biochemical and molecular methods to dissect the development of spinal and hypothalamic neurons.
Awards and Honors:
- Excellence in Research Award, Dept Molecular Cellular Biology, BCM
- Junior Faculty Seed Funding Award, BCM
- MRDDRC New Project Development Award, MRDDRC
- Pew Scholars Award, Pew Charitable Trusts
- Basil O’Connor Starter Scholar Research Award, March of Dimes
- Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Human Frontier Program
Contact Information:
Soo-Kyung Lee, Ph.D.
Department of Molecular & Human Genetics
Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology
Baylor College of Medicine
One Baylor Plaza, S840
Houston, TX 77030
Mail Stop: BCM130
Phone: 713-798-8524
Fax: 713-798-8967
E-mail: