Seongjin Seo, Ph.D. | Email Address | This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it |
|---|---|
| Title | Assistant Professor |
| Service | Basic Science Research in Ophthalmology |
| Address | 4171 MERF |
| Phone | 319-353-4605 |
| Pager |
Education
- B.S. (Biology Education), Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea (ROK)
- M.Ed. (Science Education, Biology), Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
- Ph.D. (Molecular Biology and Pharmacology), Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Postdoctoral Education and Training
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Molecular Biology and Pharmacology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
- Postdoctoral Research Scholar, Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
- Postdoctoral Research Associate, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Research Interests and Current Projects
The research goal of my laboratory is to determine the molecular basis of eye diseases leading to blindness using cell biological and biochemical approaches and to develop therapeutic interventions to delay or prevent it. We are particularly interested in the photoreceptor degeneration (retinitis pigmentosa) caused by defects in ciliary and centrosomal proteins.
The primary cilium is a cellular antenna-like organelle sensing and transducing extracellular signals. Loss or dysfunction of cilia is associated with a variety of human diseases including obesity, retinal degeneration, polycystic kidney disease, and embryonic patterning defects in neural tube and limb.
Bardet-Biedl Syndrome (BBS) is a human genetic disorder associated with ciliary dysfunction. The cardinal features of BBS include retinitis pigmentosa, obesity, and polydactyly (presence of extra digits in hands and feet). BBS patients also frequently display diabetes, hypertension, cognitive impairment, and anosmia (loss of olfaction). Using biochemical (protein purification and interactions studies), cell biological (immuno-localization study, RNAi mediated gene knock-down), and genetic (knockout mouse models and transgenic animals) approaches, my lab has determined the molecular functions of BBS proteins and patho-physiological mechanisms underlying several components of the BBS phenotype.
Current projects in the lab are:
- Identification of cargos and regulators of BBSome in the photoreceptor cells
- Proteomic characterization of retinitis pigmentosa
- Structural and functional characterization of a BBSome interacting protein LZTFL1
- Analysis of protein-protein interaction network (interactome) in cilia biology
- Disease mechanisms of retinitis pigmentosa caused by mutations in centrosome and cilia related genes
- Functional characterization of Septin diffusion barrier in photoreceptor cells
- Roles of cilia and BBS proteins in Hedgehog signaling (relevant to polydactyly) and Leptin Receptor signaling (relevant to obesity)
