Yuh Min Chook

Dr. Yuh Min Chook is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She holds the Eugene McDermott Scholar in Biomedical Research award. Her research focuses on nucleocytoplasmic transport mechanisms, particularly the role of Karyopherin-β (Kapβ) proteins in molecular recognition, nuclear import/export pathways, and cellular function regulation. Dr. Chook earned an AB in Chemistry and Biology from Bryn Mawr College (1988) and a PhD in Biophysics from Harvard University (1994). Her postdoctoral training included studies on Ras signaling (Toronto) and nuclear import mechanisms at Rockefeller University.

• Education:
  • AB in Chemistry and Biology, Bryn Mawr College (1988)
  • PhD in Biophysics, Harvard University (1994)
• Research Interests:
  • Mechanisms of nuclear transport
  • Structural basis of nuclear localization/export signals
  • Kapβ-mediated regulation of cellular functions

Her work combines structural biology, biochemistry, and computational methods to elucidate how Kapβ proteins interact with cargoes like histones and RNA-binding proteins. Notable contributions include defining CRM1 (Exportin-1) inhibitors and their therapeutic applications in cancer and demyelinating diseases. Dr. Chook’s lab also maintains databases (NESdb, LocNES) to catalog nuclear export signals and predict CRM1 cargo proteins.

• Awards:
  • Eugene McDermott Scholar in Biomedical Research
• Grants & Collaborations:
  • Investigates XPO1 inhibitors in leukemia and inflammatory diseases
  • Studies histone chaperoning by importins

Her lab’s research bridges basic transport mechanisms with translational applications, emphasizing how nuclear transport dysregulation contributes to diseases like cancer and neurodegeneration.