Yong-Jin Yoo
Korea University · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
About the Lab
Professor Yong-Jin Yoo's research lab focuses on the genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, and epileptic encephalopathies. The lab investigates disease-causing mutations in ion channels and neurotransmitter transporters—such as AMPA receptors and SLC6A1—linking specific genetic variants to clinical phenotypes. A key direction involves understanding the pathophysiological basis of Rett syndrome and related conditions through whole-exome sequencing and functional validation. The lab also explores cellular therapies, including microglia replacement strategies, to model and potentially treat neurological diseases.
Research Overview
Research Output Trend
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Selected Papers
15Abstract AMPA receptors (AMPARs) are tetrameric ligand-gated channels made up of combinations of GluA1-4 subunits encoded by GRIA1-4 genes. GluA2 has an especially important role because, following post-transcriptional editing at the Q607 site, it renders heteromultimeric AMPARs Ca 2+ -impermeable, with a linear relationship between current and trans-membrane voltage. Here, we report heterozygous de novo GRIA2 mutations in 28 unrelated patients with intellectual disability (ID) and neurodevelopm
OBJECTIVE: Pathogenic SLC6A1 variants were recently described in patients with myoclonic atonic epilepsy (MAE) and intellectual disability (ID). We set out to define the phenotypic spectrum in a larger cohort of SCL6A1-mutated patients. METHODS: We collected 24 SLC6A1 probands and 6 affected family members. Four previously published cases were included for further electroclinical description. In total, we reviewed the electroclinical data of 34 subjects. RESULTS: Cognitive development was impair
Hematopoietic cell transplantation after myeloablative conditioning has been used to treat various genetic metabolic syndromes but is largely ineffective in diseases affecting the brain presumably due to poor and variable myeloid cell incorporation into the central nervous system. Here, we developed and characterized a near-complete and homogeneous replacement of microglia with bone marrow cells in mice without the need for genetic manipulation of donor or host. The high chimerism resulted from
OBJECTIVE: Rett syndrome (RTT) and epileptic encephalopathy (EE) are devastating neurodevelopmental disorders with distinct diagnostic criteria. However, highly heterogeneous and overlapping clinical features often allocate patients into the boundary of the two conditions, complicating accurate diagnosis and appropriate medical interventions. Therefore, we investigated the specific molecular mechanism that allows an understanding of the pathogenesis and relationship of these two conditions. METH
There have been a few reports of GM3 synthase deficiency since the disease of the ganglioside biosynthetic pathway was first reported in 2004. It is characterized by infantile-onset epilepsy with severe intellectual disability, blindness, cutaneous dyspigmentation, and choreoathetosis. Here we report the cases of two Korean female siblings with ST3GAL5 variants, who presented with a Rett-like phenotype. They had delayed speech, hand stereotypies with a loss of purposeful hand movements, and chor
Recurrent somatic mutations in the JAK2, MPL, and CALR genes have been described in patients diagnosed with Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), including polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocythemia (ET), and primary myelofibrosis (PMF). These mutations are generally mutually exclusive, and their profiles in different disease entities are diverse. In PV, JAK2 mutations exist in approximately 95% of patients. However, in ET and PMF patients, JAK2, CALR, and MPL mutation
The SATB2-associated syndrome (SAS) was proposed recently, after the SATB2 gene was initially discovered to be associated with isolated cleft palate. This syndrome is characterized by intellectual disability with delayed speech development, facial dysmorphism, cleft or high-arched palate, and dentition problems. Here, we describe two novel SATB2 sequence variants in two unrelated patients presenting with Rett-like phenotypes. We performed trio-based whole-exome sequencing in a 17-month-old girl
Xenopus egg extract is capable of supporting mitosis in vitro, which makes it ideal for biochemical analysis of the cell cycle. Since several studies have implicated the ubiquitin system in cell cycle progression, we have measured ubiquitin conjugation rates, proteolysis of ubiquitin-lysozyme conjugates, and rates of isopeptidase activity in cycling Xenopus egg extracts. Although ubiquitin conjugation in cytostatic factor arrested extract was half that in activated extract, there were no changes
Encoding the slow skeletal muscle isoform of myosin binding protein-C, MYBPC1 is associated with autosomal dominant and recessive forms of arthrogryposis. The authors describe a novel association for MYBPC1 in four patients from three independent families with skeletal muscle weakness, myogenic tremors, and hypotonia with gradual clinical improvement. The patients carried one of two de novo heterozygous variants in MYBPC1, with the p.Leu263Arg variant seen in three individuals and the p.Leu259Pr
Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome is a rare genetic disorder characterized by short stature, hairy elbows, facial dysmorphism, and developmental delay. It can also be accompanied by musculoskeletal anomalies such as muscular hypotonia and small hands and feet. Mutations in the KMT2A gene have only recently been identified as the cause of Wiedemann-Steiner syndrome; therefore, only 16 patients from 15 families have been described, and new phenotypic features continue to be added. In this report, we desc
Research Areas
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