Ho-Hyung Woo, PhD

EducationDr. Woo received his PhD from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and his undergraduate degree from the Korea University, Seoul, Korea. He did postdoctoral work at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York.Research goalsDr. Woo's research goal is to understand the molecular mechanisms of mRNA translation. He is interested particularly in how RNA-binding proteins are involved in translational regulation.His current research focuses on the molecular basis of metastasis in epithelial ovarian and breast cancers. Abnormal expression of proto-oncogenes c-fms and CSF-1 is an important prognostic factor. CSF-1 encodes colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) and c-fms encodes receptor tyrosine kinase, a sole receptor to CSF-1. His research focuses on post-transcriptional and translational regulation of c-fms and CSF-1 by means of RNA-binding proteins, miRNAs and their interactions with mRNA untranslated regions.Current researchTranslation Repression: In post-transcriptional regulation of mRNAs, RNA binding proteins (RBP) are important trans-acting regulators. RBPs work either as activator or repressor of translation. We are particulary interested in repressor loop formation by RBPs during translation repression. RBP vigilin is a repressor for c-fms mRNA translation and may be involved in reperssor loop formation.Our research indicates that both Vigilin and HuR work together to coordinate the translation of c-fms mRNA. Dysregulation of coordination between Vigilin and HuR can cause abnormal expression of c-fms mRNA.