Skip to main content

Kiwon Lee

Seoul National University · 農学・生物学

研究室紹介

Professor Kiwon Lee's research lab focuses on plant abiotic stress responses, particularly in the context of mineral nutrition, heavy metal toxicity, and environmental stressors such as aluminum toxicity, salinity, drought, heat, and iron deficiency. The lab investigates molecular and physiological mechanisms underlying stress tolerance in crops like alfalfa and perennial rye grass, with an emphasis on ion homeostasis, antioxidant systems, and symbiotic interactions with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Key research directions include the roles of key genes (e.g., Na+/H+ antiporters, HSPs, Fe-transporters) and nutrients (P, Ca, Mg, S) in enhancing stress resilience and productivity in agricultural plants.

abiotic stression homeostasismineral nutritionsymbiotic fungistress tolerance

Research Overview

Papers
261
Total Citations
4,102
Papers (5y)
44
Primary Field
農学・生物学

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
44total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
297total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Review|350 citations·2018
Importance of Mineral Nutrition for Mitigating Aluminum Toxicity in Plants on Acidic Soils: Current Status and Opportunities
Md Atikur Rahman, Sang‐Hoon Lee, Hee Chung Ji, Ahmad Humayan Kabir, Chris S. Jones, Ki‐Won Lee
SJR Q1International Journal of Molecular SciencesOA

) rapidly inhibits root growth, and subsequently affects water and nutrient uptake in plants. This review updates the existing knowledge concerning the role of mineral nutrition for alleviating Al toxicity in plants to acid soils. Here, we explored phosphorus (P) is more beneficial in plants under P-deficient, and Al toxic conditions. Exogenous P addition increased root respiration, plant growth, chlorophyll content, and dry matter yield. Calcium (Ca) amendment (liming) is effective for correcti

Plant ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences
2
Article|83 citations·2015
Dynamic enhancer–gene body contacts during transcription elongation
Ki‐Won Lee, Chris C.‐S. Hsiung, Peng Huang, Arjun Raj, Gerd A. Blobel
SJR Q1Genes & DevelopmentOA

Enhancers govern transcription through multiple mechanisms, including the regulation of elongation by RNA polymerase II (RNAPII). We characterized the dynamics of looped enhancer contacts during synchronous transcription elongation. We found that many distal enhancers form stable contacts with their target promoters during the entire interval of elongation. Notably, we detected additional dynamic enhancer contacts throughout the gene bodies that track with elongating RNAPII and the leading edge

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
3
Article|74 citations·2008
Vav3 oncogene activates estrogen receptor and its overexpression may be involved in human breast cancer
Ki‐Won Lee, Yin Liu, Jun Qin Mo, Jinsong Zhang, Zhongyun Dong, Shan Lu
SJR Q2BMC CancerOA

BACKGROUND: Our previous study revealed that Vav3 oncogene is overexpressed in human prostate cancer, activates androgen receptor, and stimulates growth in prostate cancer cells. The current study is to determine a potential role of Vav3 oncogene in human breast cancer and impact on estrogen receptor a (ERalpha)-mediated signaling axis. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry analysis was performed in 43 breast cancer specimens and western blot analysis was used for human breast cancer cell lines to deter

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
4
Article|64 citations·2022
Regulation of Na+/H+ exchangers, Na+/K+ transporters, and lignin biosynthesis genes, along with lignin accumulation, sodium extrusion, and antioxidant defense, confers salt tolerance in alfalfa
Md Atikur Rahman, Jae Hoon Woo, Sang‐Hoon Lee, Hyung Soo Park, Ahmad Humayan Kabir, Ali Raza, Ayman El Sabagh, Ki‐Won Lee
SJR Q1Frontiers in Plant ScienceOA

Accumulation of high sodium (Na + ) leads to disruption of metabolic processes and decline in plant growth and productivity. Therefore, this study was undertaken to clarify how Na + /H + exchangers and Na + /K + transporter genes contribute to Na + homeostasis and the substantial involvement of lignin biosynthesis genes in salt tolerance in alfalfa ( Medicago sativa L.), which is poorly understood. In this study, high Na + exhibited a substantial reduction of morphophysiological indices and indu

Plant ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences
5
Article|53 citations·2022
Heat Shock Proteins and Antioxidant Genes Involved in Heat Combined with Drought Stress Responses in Perennial Rye Grass
Md Atikur Rahman, Jae Hoon Woo, Yowook Song, Sang‐Hoon Lee, Md. Mahadi Hasan, Md Abul Kalam Azad, Ki‐Won Lee
SJR Q1LifeOA

The frequent occurrence of heat and drought stress can severely reduce agricultural production of field crops. In comparison to a single stress, the combination of both heat (H) and drought (D) further reduce plant growth, survival and yield. This study aimed to explore the transcriptional responses of heat shock protein (HSP) and antioxidant genes under H combined D stress in perennial rye grass (PRG). The results demonstrated that oxidative stress indicators (hydrogen peroxide, lipid peroxidat

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
6
Article|44 citations·2020
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis Mitigates Iron (Fe)-Deficiency Retardation in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Through the Enhancement of Fe Accumulation and Sulfur-Assisted Antioxidant Defense
Md Atikur Rahman, Monika Parvin, Urmi Das, Esrat Jahan Ela, Sang‐Hoon Lee, Ki‐Won Lee, Ahmad Humayan Kabir
SJR Q1International Journal of Molecular SciencesOA

Iron (Fe)-deficiency is one of the major constraints affecting growth, yield and nutritional quality in plants. This study was performed to elucidate how arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) alleviate Fe-deficiency retardation in alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). AMF supplementation improved plant biomass, chlorophyll score, Fv/Fm (quantum efficiency of photosystem II), and Pi_ABS (photosynthesis performance index), and reduced cell death, electrolyte leakage, and hydrogen peroxide accumulation in alf

Plant ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences
7
Article|38 citations·2021
Nitric Oxide Prevents Fe Deficiency-Induced Photosynthetic Disturbance, and Oxidative Stress in Alfalfa by Regulating Fe Acquisition and Antioxidant Defense
Md Atikur Rahman, Ahmad Humayan Kabir, Yowook Song, Sang‐Hoon Lee, Mirza Hasanuzzaman, Ki‐Won Lee
SJR Q1AntioxidantsOA

Iron (Fe) deficiency impairs photosynthetic efficiency, plant growth and biomass yield. This study aimed to reveal the role of nitric oxide (NO) in restoring Fe-homeostasis and oxidative status in Fe-deficient alfalfa. In alfalfa, a shortage of Fe negatively affected the efficiency of root andshoot length, leaf greenness, maximum quantum yield PSII (Fv/Fm), Fe, S, and Zn accumulation, as well as an increase in H2O2 accumulation. In contrast, in the presence of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a NO do

Plant ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences
8
Article|36 citations·2011
Suppression of HPV E6 and E7 expression by BAF53 depletion in cervical cancer cells
Ki‐Won Lee, Ah‐Young Lee, Yunhee Kim Kwon, Hyockman Kwon
SJR Q2Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
EpidemiologyMedicine
9
Article|32 citations·2018
Overexpression of the alfalfa DnaJ-like protein (MsDJLP) gene enhancestolerance to chilling and heat stresses in transgenic tobacco plants
Ki‐Won Lee, Md Atikur Rahman, Ki-Yong Kim, Gi Jun Choi, Joon‐Yung Cha, Mi Sun Cheong, Abdullah Mohammad Shohael, Chris S. Jones, Sang Hoon Lee
SJR Q2TURKISH JOURNAL OF BIOLOGYOA

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are generally considered as important molecular chaperones; they are known to perform critical functions in plant development and abiotic stress response processes. In this study, we examined the role of a HSP, the Medicago sativa DnaJ-like protein (MsDJLP), in alfalfa and its potential application for the development of abiotic stress tolerance in plants. We found that expression of the MsDJLP gene was induced by chilling (4 °C) and heat (42 °C), but not by cadmium (5

Plant ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences
10
Article|30 citations·2020
Glutathione Restores Hg-Induced Morpho-Physiological Retardations by Inducing Phytochelatin and Oxidative Defense in Alfalfa
Md Atikur Rahman, Ahmad Humayan Kabir, Abul Mandal, Swapan Kumar Roy, Yowook Song, Hee Chung Ji, Ki‐Won Lee
SJR Q1BiologyOA

Mercury (Hg) is toxic to plants, but the effect of glutathione in Hg alleviation was never studied in alfalfa, an important forage crop. In this study, Hg toxicity showed morphological retardation, chlorophyll reduction, and PSII inefficiency, which was restored due to GSH supplementation in alfalfa plants treated with Hg. Results showed a significant increase of Hg, but Fe and S concentrations substantially decreased in root and shoot accompanied by the downregulation of Fe (MsIRT1) and S (MsSu

Plant ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences
11
Article|28 citations·2007
Expansion of Chromosome Territories with Chromatin Decompaction in BAF53-depleted Interphase Cells
Ki‐Won Lee, Mi‐Jin Kang, Su Jin Kwon, Yunhee Kim Kwon, Ki Woo Kim, Jae‐Hwan Lim, Hyockman Kwon
SJR Q2Molecular Biology of the Cell

Chromosomes are compartmentalized into discrete chromosome territories during interphase in mammalian cells. A chromosome territory is generated by the tendency of chromatin to occupy the smallest shell volume, which is determined by the polymeric properties and interactions of the internal meshwork of the chromatin fiber. Here, we show that BAF53 knockdown by small interfering RNA interference led to the expansion of chromosome territories. This was accompanied by a reduction in chromatin compa

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
12
Article|23 citations·2025
Light Quality Plays a Crucial Role in Regulating Germination, Photosynthetic Efficiency, Plant Development, Reactive Oxygen Species Production, Antioxidant Enzyme Activity, and Nutrient Acquisition in Alfalfa
Md Atikur Rahman, Sang‐Hoon Lee, Hyung Soo Park, Changwoo Min, Jae Hoon Woo, Bo Ram Choi, Md. Mezanur Rahman, Ki‐Won Lee
SJR Q1International Journal of Molecular SciencesOA

Light is a vital regulator of photosynthesis, energy production, plant growth, and morphogenesis. Although these key physiological processes are well understood, the effects of light quality on the pigment content, oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, antioxidant defense systems, and biomass yield of plants remain largely unexplored. In this study, we applied different light-emitting diode (LED) treatments, including white light, red light, blue light, and a red+blue (1:1)

Plant ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences
13
Article|20 citations·2023
Mechanistic Basis of Silicon Mediated Cold Stress Tolerance in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.)
Md Atikur Rahman, Yowook Song, Md. Mahadi Hasan, Mohammad Shah Jahan, Manzer H. Siddiqui, Hyung Soo Park, Sang‐Hoon Lee, Deepti Singh, Francisco J. Corpas, Ahmad Humayan Kabir, Ki‐Won Lee
SJR Q2SiliconOA

Abstract Cold stress (CS) impact on crops is one of the critical constraints for sustainable and smart agricultural production. CS adversely affects plants leading to growth retardation, necrosis, chlorosis, and significant yield loss. The objective of this study was to explore the mechanistic basis of silicon (Si) in enhancing CS tolerance in alfalfa plants. The fluorescence staining indicated that Si-reduced the intensity of CS-induced superoxide radical (O 2 •– ) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O

Plant ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences
14
Article|17 citations·2012
Transgenic Expression of MsHsp23 Confers Enhanced Tolerance to Abiotic Stresses in Tall Fescue
Ki‐Won Lee, Gi Jun Choi, Ki-Yong Kim, Hee Jung Ji, Hyung Soo Park, Yonggoo Kim, Byung Hyun Lee, Sang‐Hoon Lee
Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal SciencesOA

Tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) is an important cool season forage plant that is not well suited to extreme heat, salts, or heavy metals. To develop transgenic tall fescue plants with enhanced tolerance to abiotic stress, we introduced an alfalfa Hsp23 gene expression vector construct through Agrobacterium-mediated transformation. Integration and expression of the transgene were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction, northern blot, and western blot analyses. Under normal growth condit

Insect ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences
15
Article|16 citations·2010
Genotypic variation of Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Italian ryegrass
Ki‐Won Lee, Choi Gi Jun, Ki-Yong Kim, Yoon Sei Hyung, Ji Hee Chung, Park Hyung Soo, Lim Young Chul, Sanghoon Lee
SJR Q3Electronic Journal of BiotechnologyOA
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Research Areas

Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and SystematicsMolecular BiologyPlant ScienceAgronomy and Crop ScienceEnvironmental ChemistryFood Science

Kiwon Leeの研究をNubintでさらに深く

この研究室の論文をアプリで開き、AIと共に読み、要約し、引用しましょう。