Hanyang University · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
Professor Seong Eon Ryu's research lab specializes in structural biology and enzymology, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of key regulatory proteins involved in cellular signaling and redox homeostasis. The lab investigates enzymes such as HIF- and Eya-family transcriptional regulators, dual-specificity phosphatases, and thioredoxin superfamily proteins, with an emphasis on understanding their structural basis for substrate specificity and catalytic function. By combining X-ray crystallography with biochemical and functional analyses, the lab uncovers how these proteins control critical biological processes in development, cancer, and disease. Their work provides structural insights into therapeutic targets for cancer, metabolic disorders, and autoimmune diseases.
Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.
The master switch of cellular hypoxia responses, hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1), is hydroxylated by factor inhibiting HIF-1 (FIH-1) at a conserved asparagine residue under normoxia, which suppresses transcriptional activity of HIF-1 by abrogating its interaction with transcription coactivators. Here we report the crystal structure of human FIH-1 at 2.8-A resolution. The structural core of FIH-1 consists of a jellyroll-like beta-barrel containing the conserved ferrous-binding triad residues,
The Escherichia coli transmembrane protein DsbD transfers electrons from the cytoplasm to the periplasm through a cascade of thiol-disulfide exchange reactions. In this process, the C-terminal periplasmic domain of DsbD (DsbDgamma) shuttles the reducing potential from the membrane domain (DsbDbeta) to the N-terminal periplasmic domain (DsbDalpha). The crystal structure of DsbDgamma determined at 1.9 A resolution reveals that the domain has a thioredoxin fold with an extended N-terminal stretch.
Thioredoxin-related protein 14 (TRP14) is involved in regulating tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced signaling pathways in a different manner from human thioredoxin 1 (Trx1). Here, we report the crystal structure of human TRP14 determined at 1.8-A resolutions. The structure reveals a typical thioredoxin fold with characteristic structural features that account for the substrate specificity of the protein. The surface of TRP14 in the vicinity of the active site includes an extended loop and an ad
Eya proteins are transcription factors that play pivotal roles in organ formation during development by mediating interactions between Sine Oculis (SO) and Dachshund (DAC). Remarkably, the transcriptional activity of Eya proteins is regulated by a dephosphorylating activity within its Eya domain (ED). However, the molecular basis for the link between catalytic and transcriptional activities remains unclear. Here we report the first description of the crystal structure of the ED of human Eya2 (ED
Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) mediate a variety of cell signals regulating cell growth, differentiation, transcription, and metabolism. MAPKs are fully activated by dual phosphorylation on tyrosine and threonine in their activation loops. This process is thought to be counteracted by a family of proteins termed dual-specificity protein tyrosine phosphatases (DSPs). Inadequate production or action of MAPKs or DSPs has been associated with diverse human disorders, including cancer, dia
The oxidation of cysteine sulphydryl in proteins produces sulphenic acid that can form a reversible disulphide bond with another cysteine. The disulphide bond formation often triggers switches in protein structure and activity, especially when the distance between the two cysteine sulphur atoms is longer than the resulting disulphide bond distance. As an early example for the reversible disulphide bond-mediated functional switches, the reduced and oxidized forms of the bacterial transcription fa
The testis- and skeletal-muscle-specific dual-specificity phosphatase (TMDP) is a member of the dual-specificity phosphatase (DSP) subgroup of protein tyrosine phosphatases. TMDP has similar activities toward both tyrosine and threonine phosphorylated substrates, and is supposed to be involved in spermatogenesis. Here, we report the crystal structure of human TMDP at a resolution of 2.4 A. In spite of high sequence similarity with other DSPs, the crystal structure of TMDP shows distinct structur
Dual specificity protein tyrosine phosphatases (DSPs) play an important role in controlling various cellular processes, including cell growth, differentiation, transcription, and metabolism by catalyzing the hydrolysis of phosphorylated protein substrates.1 To meet the demand for distinct functions implicated in diverse cellular signaling, the human genome is estimated to encode 61 DSPs among 107 protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs).2 According to their structural and functional characteristics,
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