معرفی
Yeon-Kyun Shin is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology at Iowa State University. His laboratory focuses on studying membrane proteins and their functions using advanced EPR (Electron Paramagnetic Resonance) techniques. Key research interests include the structure and function of viral envelope proteins (e.g., influenza HA and HIV gp160), transmembrane signal transduction, and the mechanisms of secretory vesicle fusion with membranes.
Education: B.S. from Seoul National University (1982), Ph.D. from Cornell University (1990), and postdoctoral training at UCLA (1990-1993). His work integrates biophysical methods, such as spin labeling and single-vesicle assays, to explore SNARE complex assembly, fusion pore dynamics, and the role of proteins like α-synuclein and synaptotagmin in neuroexocytosis.
Research highlights include developing EPR approaches to study membrane topology without crystallization, elucidating cholesterol's role in fusion pathways, and investigating how plant extracts inhibit SNARE-mediated fusion. His lab also explores the molecular basis of neurodegenerative diseases linked to protein aggregation (e.g., α-synuclein's impact on synaptic vesicle fusion).
Key techniques include EPR lineshape analysis, single-vesicle fusion assays, and real-time imaging of protein interactions. Current projects aim to uncover fusion mechanisms in health and disease, with applications ranging from viral entry inhibition to neurodegenerative therapies.
