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Sung-hee Baek

Seoul National University · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

About the Lab

Professor Sung-hee Baek's research lab focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying post-translational modifications (PTMs) and their roles in regulating protein stability, transcriptional regulation, and cellular signaling pathways. The lab investigates how PTMs such as methylation, O-GlcNAcylation, and demethylation by enzymes like LSD1 and SET7/9 modulate key transcription factors (e.g., HIF-1α, androgen receptor, Pitx2) and signaling hubs (e.g., ULK1, β-catenin) in development, cancer, and metabolic adaptation. A central theme is the dynamic interplay between PTMs and cellular stress responses, particularly under hypoxia and nutrient stress, with implications for disease mechanisms and therapeutic targeting. The lab integrates molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetic models to uncover novel regulatory nodes in disease pathways, especially in cancer and prostate cancer resistance.

post-translational modificationsprotein stabilitytranscriptional regulationcancer signalingPTM-activated degrons

Research Overview

Papers
159
Total Citations
19,331
Papers (5y)
36
Primary Field
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
36total
2022
2023
2024
2025
2026
Citations per year (5y)
1,025total
20222023202420252026

Selected Papers

15
1
Review|745 citations·2023
Control of protein stability by post-translational modifications
Ji Min Lee, Henrik M. Hammarén, Mikhail M. Savitski, Sung Hee Baek
SJR Q1Nature CommunicationsOA

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) can occur on specific amino acids localized within regulatory domains of target proteins, which control a protein's stability. These regions, called degrons, are often controlled by PTMs, which act as signals to expedite protein degradation (PTM-activated degrons) or to forestall degradation and stabilize a protein (PTM-inactivated degrons). We summarize current knowledge of the regulation of protein stability by various PTMs. We aim to display the variety

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
2
Article|554 citations·2002
Exchange of N-CoR Corepressor and Tip60 Coactivator Complexes Links Gene Expression by NF-κB and β-Amyloid Precursor Protein
Sung Hee Baek, Kenneth A. Ohgi, David W. Rose, Edward H. Koo, Christopher K. Glass, Michael G. Rosenfeld
SJR Q1CellOA
Cancer ResearchBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
3
Article|446 citations·2016
AMPK–SKP2–CARM1 signalling cascade in transcriptional regulation of autophagy
Hijai R. Shin, Hyun-Kyung Kim, Sungryong Oh, Jun-Gi Lee, Minjung Kee, Hyun‐Jeong Ko, Mi–Na Kweon, Kyoung‐Jae Won, Sung Hee Baek
SJR Q1Nature
EpidemiologyMedicine
4
Article|290 citations·2005
Transcriptional regulation of a metastasis suppressor gene by Tip60 and β-catenin complexes
Jung Hwa Kim, Bogyou Kim, Ling Cai, Hee June Choi, Kenneth A. Ohgi, Chris Tran, Charlie Chen, Chin Ha Chung, Otmar Huber, David W. Rose, Charles L. Sawyers, Michael G. Rosenfeld
SJR Q1Nature
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
5
Article|246 citations·2012
EZH2 Generates a Methyl Degron that Is Recognized by the DCAF1/DDB1/CUL4 E3 Ubiquitin Ligase Complex
Ji Min Lee, Jason S. Lee, Hyun-Kyung Kim, Kyeongkyu Kim, Hyejin Park, Ji-Young Kim, Seung Hoon Lee, Ik Soo Kim, Joomyung Kim, Minkyoung Lee, Chin Ha Chung, Sang‐Beom Seo
SJR Q1Molecular CellOA
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
6
Article|207 citations·2016
Methylation-dependent regulation of HIF-1α stability restricts retinal and tumour angiogenesis
Yun-Ho Kim, Hye Jin Nam, Junyeop Lee, Do Young Park, Chan Kim, Young Suk Yu, Dongha Kim, Se Won Park, Jinhyuk Bhin, Daehee Hwang, Ho Lee, Gou Young Koh
SJR Q1Nature CommunicationsOA

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) mediates hypoxic responses and regulates gene expression involved in angiogenesis, invasion and metabolism. Among the various HIF-1α posttranslational modifications, HIF-1α methylation and its physiological role have not yet been elucidated. Here we show that HIF-1α is methylated by SET7/9 methyltransferase, and that lysine-specific demethylase 1 reverses its methylation. The functional consequence of HIF-1α methylation is the modulation of HIF-1α stability p

Cancer ResearchBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
7
Article|183 citations·2010
RORα Attenuates Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling by PKCα-Dependent Phosphorylation in Colon Cancer
Ji Min Lee, Ik Soo Kim, Hyun-Kyung Kim, Jason S. Lee, Kyeongkyu Kim, Kyeongkyu Kim, Hwa Young Yim, Jiyeong Jeong, Jung Hwa Kim, Ji-Young Kim, Hanna Lee, Sang‐Beom Seo
SJR Q1Molecular CellOA
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
8
Article|171 citations·2016
CD82/KAI1 Maintains the Dormancy of Long-Term Hematopoietic Stem Cells through Interaction with DARC-Expressing Macrophages
Jin Hur, Jae-Il Choi, Hwan Lee, Pniel Nham, Tae‐Won Kim, Cheong-Whan Chae, Ji-Yeon Yun, Jin-A Kang, Jeehoon Kang, Sang Eun Lee, Chang‐Hwan Yoon, Kyung-Jin Boo
SJR Q1Cell stem cellOA
HematologyMedicine
9
Article|164 citations·2010
Negative Regulation of Hypoxic Responses via Induced Reptin Methylation
Jason S. Lee, Yun-Ho Kim, Ik Soo Kim, Bogyou Kim, Hee June Choi, Ji Min Lee, Hijai R. Shin, Jung Hwa Kim, Ji-Young Kim, Sang‐Beom Seo, Ho Lee, Olivier Binda
SJR Q1Molecular CellOA
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
10
Article|148 citations·2003
Regulated subset of G 1 growth-control genes in response to derepression by the Wnt pathway
Sung Hee Baek, Chrissa Kioussi, Paola Briata, Degeng Wang, Hongtuyet Nguyen, Kenneth A. Ohgi, Christopher K. Glass, Anthony Wynshaw‐Boris, David W. Rose, Michael G. Rosenfeld
SJR Q1Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesOA

Pitx2 is a bicoid-related homeodomain factor that is required for effective cell type-specific proliferation directly activating a specific growth-regulating gene cyclin D2. Here, we report that Pitx2, in response to the Wntbeta-catenin pathway and growth signals, also can regulate c-Myc and cyclin D1. Investigation of molecular mechanisms required for Pitx2-dependent proliferation, in these cases, further supports a nuclear role for beta-catenin in preventing the histone deacetylase 1-dependent

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
11
Review|147 citations·2011
When Signaling Kinases Meet Histones and Histone Modifiers in the Nucleus
Sung Hee Baek
SJR Q1Molecular CellOA
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
12
Article|147 citations·2006
Roles of sumoylation of a reptin chromatin-remodelling complex in cancer metastasis
Jung Hwa Kim, Hee June Choi, Bogyou Kim, Mi Hyang Kim, Ji Min Lee, Ik Soo Kim, Moon Hee Lee, Soo Joon Choi, Keun Il Kim, Su‐Il Kim, Chin Ha Chung, Sung Hee Baek
SJR Q1Nature Cell Biology
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
13
Review|134 citations·2017
Epigenetic Control of Autophagy: Nuclear Events Gain More Attention
Sung Hee Baek, Keun Il Kim
SJR Q1Molecular CellOA
EpidemiologyMedicine
14
Review|119 citations·2009
Emerging roles of desumoylating enzymes
Jung Hwa Kim, Sung Hee Baek
SJR Q1Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis of DiseaseOA
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
15
Review|101 citations·2021
Roles of lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) in homeostasis and diseases
Dongha Kim, Keun Il Kim, Sung Hee Baek
SJR Q1Journal of Biomedical ScienceOA

Lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) targets mono- or di-methylated histone H3K4 and H3K9 as well as non-histone substrates and functions in the regulation of gene expression as a transcriptional repressor or activator. This enzyme plays a pivotal role in various physiological processes, including development, differentiation, inflammation, thermogenesis, neuronal and cerebral physiology, and the maintenance of stemness in stem cells. LSD1 also participates in pathological processes, including c

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Research Areas

Molecular BiologyEpidemiologyOncologyGeneticsCancer ResearchGastroenterology

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