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Yeerin Choi

Yonsei University · Materials Science

About the Lab

Professor Yeerin Choi's research lab specializes in the design and synthesis of synthetic receptors and foldamers for selective ion transport and sensing, with a focus on anion recognition and transport across lipid and cellular membranes. The lab develops stimuli-responsive systems, including light- and enzyme-activated carriers, to achieve precise spatiotemporal control over ion flux. A key theme is the creation of functional molecular architectures—such as helical foldamers and macrocycles—that exhibit responsive optical properties (e.g., fluorescence turn-on) upon anion binding, enabling applications in biosensing. The research integrates supramolecular chemistry, physical organic chemistry, and bioorganic chemistry to address challenges in membrane transport and molecular recognition.

ion transportfoldamersanion sensingstimuli-responsive systemssupramolecular chemistry

Research Overview

Papers
15
Total Citations
400
Papers (5y)
7
Primary Field
Materials Science

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
7total
2017
2018
2023
2024
2026
Citations per year (5y)
83total
20172018202320242026

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|100 citations·2014
Azobenzene-based chloride transporters with light-controllable activities
Ye Rin Choi, Gyu Chan Kim, Hae‐Geun Jeon, Jin‐Hong Park, W. Namkung, Kyu‐Sung Jeong
SJR Q1Chemical Communications

Synthetic chloride transporters containing two urea groups linked through a diazobenzene spacer have been prepared and the trans-to-cis isomerization by light stimulation results in dramatic changes in the chloride transport activities across lipid and cell membranes.

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
2
Article|62 citations·2016
Enzyme-Responsive Procarriers Capable of Transporting Chloride Ions across Lipid and Cellular Membranes
Ye Rin Choi, Bom Lee, Jin‐Hong Park, W. Namkung, Kyu‐Sung Jeong
SJR Q1Journal of the American Chemical Society

Adopting the concept of procarrier for the first time, we demonstrated the controlled transport of chloride ions across lipid and cellular membranes. Procarriers containing highly hydrophilic appendages were initially inactive due to the lack of their partitioning into lipophilic membranes but were activated to transport chloride ions in the presence of specific enzymes that were able to hydrolyze off the appendages to generate an active carrier under specific conditions. Namely, the procarrier

SpectroscopyChemistry
3
Article|51 citations·2014
Synthetic K+/Cl–-Selective Symporter across a Phospholipid Membrane
Jung Ha Lee, Ji Hyun Lee, Ye Rin Choi, Philjae Kang, Moon‐Gun Choi, Kyu‐Sung Jeong
SJR Q2The Journal of Organic Chemistry

Synthetic molecules which selectively transport sodium or potassium chloride across a lipid membrane have been prepared. The salt carriers consist of two heteroditopic binding sites, an anion-binding cavity with three hydrogen bond donors and an azacrown ether for binding an alkali metal cation. The association constants between the carriers and chloride ion have been enhanced by 1 order of the magnitude in the presence of sodium or potassium ion in 10% (v/v) CD3OH/CD3CN, due to the formation of

SpectroscopyChemistry
4
Article|42 citations·2013
A helically twisted imine macrocycle that allows for determining the absolute configuration of α-amino carboxylates
Min Jun Kim, Ye Rin Choi, Hae‐Geun Jeon, Philjae Kang, Moon‐Gun Choi, Kyu‐Sung Jeong
SJR Q1Chemical Communications

Binding of α-amino carboxylates to a helically twisted imine macrocycle based on the indolocarbazole scaffold gives rise to characteristic circular dichroism spectra, and the patterns of the Cotton effects are consistent with the absolute configuration of α-amino carboxylates.

SpectroscopyChemistry
5
Article|39 citations·2016
Helical Aromatic Foldamers Functioning as a Fluorescence Turn-on Probe for Anions
Hae‐Geun Jeon, Han Bit Jang, Philjae Kang, Ye Rin Choi, Jun‐Young Kim, Ji‐Hyun Lee, Moon‐Gun Choi, Kyu‐Sung Jeong
SJR Q1Organic Letters

Indolocarbazole-pyridine hybrid foldamers are strongly fluorescent in an extended random conformation, but the fluorescence is completely quenched upon folding to a helical conformation due to the compact stacking between aryl planes in the backbone. Anion binding disturbs the helical conformation, thus regenerating the fluorescence of the foldamers. This unique property has been utilized to develop a fluorescence turn-on probe for anions such as sulfate and fluoride.

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
6
Article|35 citations·2017
Aromatic Hybrid Foldamer with a Hydrophilic Helical Cavity Capable of Encapsulating Glucose
Ji Young Hwang, Hae‐Geun Jeon, Ye Rin Choi, Jun‐Young Kim, Philjae Kang, Seungwon Lee, Kyu‐Sung Jeong
SJR Q1Organic Letters

An indolocarbazole–naphthyridine hybrid oligomer capable of adopting a stable helical conformation was prepared, and its folding properties were thoroughly studied in the solid state and in solution. As a result of folding, a hydrophilic cavity was generated inside the helix wherein monosaccharides were able to be encapsulated in the order of glucose (9.6 × 10 4 M –1 ) > galactose (1.0 × 10 4 M –1 ) ≫ mannose (∼0) in 10% (v/v) DMSO/CH 2 Cl 2 .

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
7
Article|29 citations·2023
Thio(seleno)cyano-difluoroalkylation of Alkenes Using Visible-Light Photocatalysis
Ye Rin Choi, Seok Beom Lee, Jae Kyun Lee, Yoonna Kwak, Hongchan An, Sungwook Choi, Ki Bum Hong
SJR Q1Organic Letters

A mild and efficient three-component thio(seleno)cyano-difluoroalkylation of simple alkenes is demonstrated using an iridium(ruthenium) photocatalyst. This protocol provides a direct and regioselective installation of both C–S(Se)CN [thio(seleno)cyanation] and C–C F (difluoroalkylation) bonds.

Pharmaceutical SciencePharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics
8
Article|23 citations·2012
Synthetic chloride transporters with the binding mode observed in a ClC chloride channel
Ye Rin Choi, Min Kyung Chae, Dongwook Kim, Myoung Soo Lah, Kyu‐Sung Jeong
SJR Q1Chemical Communications

A series of synthetic molecules bearing the same hydrogen bonding mode observed in StClC were prepared and their transport ability of chloride ion across a lipid membrane was systematically optimized.

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
9
Article|11 citations·2018
Matched and Mismatched Phenomena in the Helix Orientation Bias Induced by Chiral Appendages at Multiple Positions of Indolocarbazole-Pyridine Hybrid Foldamers
Han Bit Jang, Ye Rin Choi, Kyu‐Sung Jeong
SJR Q2The Journal of Organic Chemistry

A series of indolocarbazole-pyridine (IP) hybrid foldamers containing chiral residues at multiple different positions were prepared to reveal the matched and mismatched phenomena of local stereocenters on the induction of helical bias. These foldamers adopted stable helical conformations, thus affording well-resolved separate sets of <sup>1</sup>H NMR signals for right- ( P) and left-handed ( M) helices in water saturated organic solvents such as toluene and dichloromethane. The ratios of P- and

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
10
Article|5 citations·2024
Trifluoromethylative and Pentafluoroethylative Heterofunctionalization (C–O, C–S, and C–N) of Alkenes Using Visible Light Photocatalysis
Ye Rin Choi, Seongeun Kang, Joon Hwang, Hongchan An, Ki Bum Hong
SJR Q1ACS OmegaOA

High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide A mild and general method for photoredox-catalyzed trifluoromethylative and pentafluoroethylative heterofunctionalization of alkenes is proposed. In this reaction, the Togni reagent serves as a CF 3 - or CF 2 CF 3 -radical source for the regioselective formation of the C–CF 3 and C–CF 2 CF 3 bonds from alkenes, and additional nucleophiles (O, S, N) provide C–O, C–S, and C–N bonds, respectively. These reactions provide a common gateway to access

Pharmaceutical SciencePharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics
11
Article|3 citations·2023
Hypervalent Iodine‐Mediated Alkyne Functionalization: Facile Access to Trifluoromethyl‐ and Pentafluoroethyl‐Substituted Thiazoles
Yoonna Kwak, Ye Rin Choi, Jaeni Yu, Sungwook Choi, Ki Bum Hong
SJR Q2Asian Journal of Organic ChemistryOA

Abstract The use of hypervalent iodine with Lewis acid provided alkyne trifluoromethylation and pentafluoroethylation to access trifluoro‐and pentafluoro‐substituted thiazoles. This simple and efficient method is compatible with a broad range of aryl‐ and alkyl‐substituted thiourea starting materials. Additionally, a gram‐scale reaction proves the practicality of this transformation.

Pharmaceutical SciencePharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics
12
Article|0 citations·2026
1920~30년대 식민지 조선의 축산 정책과 기록/문학 -부업 축산과 개량종 담론을 중심으로
최예린

본 논문은 1920~30년대 식민지 조선의 축산 정책을 ‘부업 축산’과 ‘개량종’ 장려라는 두 축을 중심으로 고찰했으며, 이에 대한 피식민자의 반응을 당대의 기록/문학을 통해 분석하고자 했다. 다양한 축산 형태 가운데서도 특히 양돈과 양계를 주요 사례로 삼았다. 그로써 이러한 과정이정업/부업, 개량/재래, 식민본국/식민지, 식민자/피식민자 사이의 위계를 어떻게 구성하고 강화했는지를 밝히고자 했다. 먼저 ‘부업 축산’은 부업 장려 정책의 일환으로 권장된 가정 내 소규모 동물 사육을 가리킨다. 본 논문은 조선을 식민본국 산업의 부차적 생산지로 위치시키고, 저렴한 가내 노동력을 활용해 자본 축적을 도모하고자 했던 식민지 부업 장려책의 맥락 속에서 부업 축산의 성격을 검토했다. 다음으로 ‘개량종’ 장려는 재래종 돼지와 닭이 외래 품종 또는 교잡종으로 대체되어 간 일련의 과정이다. ‘개량’이라는 용어에 내포된, 재래의 것을 열등한 것으로 전제하고 개량된 것을 우위에 두는 위계적 관점이 피식민

13
dataset|0 citations·2017
CCDC 1566913: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
Ji Young Hwang, Hae‐Geun Jeon, Ye Rin Choi, Junyoung Kim, Philjae Kang, Seungwon Lee, Kyu‐Sung Jeong
The Cambridge Structural DatabaseOA

An entry from the Cambridge Structural Database, the world’s repository for small molecule crystal structures. The entry contains experimental data from a crystal diffraction study. The deposited dataset for this entry is freely available from the CCDC and typically includes 3D coordinates, cell parameters, space group, experimental conditions and quality measures.

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
14
dataset|0 citations·2016
CCDC 1481584: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
Hae‐Geun Jeon, Han Bit Jang, Philjae Kang, Ye Rin Choi, Junyoung Kim, Ji Hyun Lee, Moon‐Gun Choi, Kyu‐Sung Jeong
The Cambridge Structural DatabaseOA

An entry from the Cambridge Structural Database, the world’s repository for small molecule crystal structures. The entry contains experimental data from a crystal diffraction study. The deposited dataset for this entry is freely available from the CCDC and typically includes 3D coordinates, cell parameters, space group, experimental conditions and quality measures.

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science
15
dataset|0 citations·2016
CCDC 1481639: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
Hae‐Geun Jeon, Han Bit Jang, Philjae Kang, Ye Rin Choi, Junyoung Kim, Ji Hyun Lee, Moon‐Gun Choi, Kyu‐Sung Jeong
The Cambridge Structural DatabaseOA

An entry from the Cambridge Structural Database, the world’s repository for small molecule crystal structures. The entry contains experimental data from a crystal diffraction study. The deposited dataset for this entry is freely available from the CCDC and typically includes 3D coordinates, cell parameters, space group, experimental conditions and quality measures.

Materials ChemistryMaterials Science

Research Areas

Materials ChemistryMolecular BiologySpectroscopyPharmaceutical Science

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