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Yun-Tae Lee

Pohang University of Science and Technology · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

About the Lab

Professor Yun-Tae Lee's research lab focuses on the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying immune regulation, development, and cancer pathogenesis, with a central emphasis on the transcriptional regulator Capicua (CIC). The lab investigates how CIC functions as a critical transcriptional repressor in diverse biological contexts, including T follicular helper cell differentiation, liver-resident memory T cell development, B-1 cell homeostasis, and hepatocellular carcinoma progression. By integrating genetic, molecular, and immunological approaches, the lab uncovers how CIC maintains immune tolerance and tissue homeostasis, and how its dysregulation contributes to autoimmunity and cancer. The research also extends to the enzymatic mechanisms of RNase III proteins, particularly Drosha, in microRNA biogenesis, highlighting the lab’s broad interest in post-transcriptional gene regulation.

Capicua (CIC)immune regulationliver T RM cellsB-1 cellshepatocellular carcinoma

Research Overview

Papers
52
Total Citations
11,452
Papers (5y)
19
Primary Field
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Research Output Trend

Figures are computed from collected data and may differ slightly.

Publications per year (5y)
19total
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025
Citations per year (5y)
247total
20212022202320242025

Selected Papers

15
1
Article|4,302 citations·2004
MicroRNA genes are transcribed by RNA polymerase II
Yoontae Lee, Minju Kim, Jinju Han, Kyu-Hyun Yeom, Sanghyuk Lee, Sung Hee Baek, V. Narry Kim
SJR Q1The EMBO JournalOA
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
2
Article|2,190 citations·2004
The Drosha-DGCR8 complex in primary microRNA processing
Jinju Han, Yoontae Lee, Kyu-Hyun Yeom, Young Kook Kim, Hua Jin, V. Narry Kim
SJR Q1Genes & DevelopmentOA

RNase III proteins play key roles in microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis. The nuclear RNase III Drosha cleaves primary miRNAs (pri-miRNAs) to release hairpin-shaped pre-miRNAs that are subsequently cut by the cytoplasmic RNase III Dicer to generate mature miRNAs. While Dicer (class III) and other simple RNase III proteins (class I) have been studied intensively, the class II enzyme Drosha remains to be characterized. Here we dissected the action mechanism of human Drosha by generating mutants and by cha

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
3
Article|1,534 citations·2006
Molecular Basis for the Recognition of Primary microRNAs by the Drosha-DGCR8 Complex
Jinju Han, Yoontae Lee, Kyu‐Hyeon Yeom, Jin‐Wu Nam, Inha Heo, Je‐Keun Rhee, Sun Young Sohn, Yunje Cho, Byoung-Tak Zhang, V. Narry Kim
SJR Q1CellOA
Cancer ResearchBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
4
Article|687 citations·2006
The role of PACT in the RNA silencing pathway
Yoontae Lee, Inha Hur, Seong Yeon Park, Young Kook Kim, Mi Ra Suh, V Narry Kim
SJR Q1The EMBO Journal
Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
5
Article|200 citations·2008
miR-19, miR-101 and miR-130 co-regulate ATXN1 levels to potentially modulate SCA1 pathogenesis
Yoontae Lee, Rodney C. Samaco, Jennifer R. Gatchel, Christina Thaller, Harry T. Orr, Huda Y. Zoghbi
SJR Q1Nature Neuroscience
Cellular and Molecular NeuroscienceNeuroscience
6
Article|124 citations·2017
Capicua suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma progression by controlling the ETV4–MMP1 axis
Eunjeong Kim, Donghyo Kim, Jeon‐Soo Lee, Jeehyun Yoe, Jongmin Park, Chang‐Jin Kim, Dongjun Jeong, Sanguk Kim, Yoontae Lee
SJR Q1HepatologyOA

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is developed by multiple steps accompanying progressive alterations of gene expression, which leads to increased cell proliferation and malignancy. Although environmental factors and intracellular signaling pathways that are critical for HCC progression have been identified, gene expression changes and the related genetic factors contributing to HCC pathogenesis are still insufficiently understood. In this study, we identify a transcriptional repressor, Capicua (CI

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
7
Article|110 citations·2011
ATXN1 Protein Family and CIC Regulate Extracellular Matrix Remodeling and Lung Alveolarization
Yoontae Lee, John Denis Fryer, Hyojin Kang, Juan Crespo-Barreto, Aaron B. Bowman, Yan Gao, Juliette J. Kahle, Jeong Soo Hong, Farrah Kheradmand, Harry T. Orr, Milton J. Finegold, Huda Y. Zoghbi
SJR Q1Developmental CellOA
Cancer ResearchBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
8
Article|86 citations·2022
The MARCHF6 E3 ubiquitin ligase acts as an NADPH sensor for the regulation of ferroptosis
Kha The Nguyen, Sang-Hyeon Mun, Jihye Yang, Jongeun Lee, Ok-Hee Seok, Eunjeong Kim, Dasom Kim, So Young An, Dong-Young Seo, Jeong‐Yong Suh, Yoontae Lee, Cheol‐Sang Hwang
SJR Q1Nature Cell Biology
Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine
9
Article|46 citations·2017
Capicua deficiency induces autoimmunity and promotes follicular helper T cell differentiation via derepression of ETV5
Sung Jun Park, Seungwon Lee, Choong‐Gu Lee, Guk Yeol Park, Hyebeen Hong, Jeon-Soo Lee, Young‐Min Kim, Sung Bae Lee, Daehee Hwang, Youn Soo Choi, John Denis Fryer, Sin‐Hyeog Im
SJR Q1Nature CommunicationsOA

Abstract High-affinity antibody production through the germinal centre (GC) response is a pivotal process in adaptive immunity. Abnormal development of follicular helper T (T FH ) cells can induce the GC response to self-antigens, subsequently leading to autoimmunity. Here we show the transcriptional repressor Capicua/CIC maintains peripheral immune tolerance by suppressing aberrant activation of adaptive immunity. CIC deficiency induces excessive development of T FH cells and GC responses in a

ImmunologyImmunology and Microbiology
10
Review|46 citations·2020
Regulation and function of capicua in mammals
Yoontae Lee
SJR Q1Experimental & Molecular MedicineOA

Capicua (CIC) is an evolutionarily conserved transcription factor. CIC contains a high-mobility group (HMG) box that recognizes specific DNA sequences to regulate the expression of various target genes. CIC was originally identified in Drosophila melanogaster as a transcriptional repressor that suppresses the receptor tyrosine kinase signaling pathway. This molecule controls normal organ growth and tissue patterning as well as embryogenesis in Drosophila. Recent studies have also demonstrated it

Plant ScienceAgricultural and Biological Sciences
11
Article|38 citations·2019
The Capicua/ETS Translocation Variant 5 Axis Regulates Liver‐Resident Memory CD8+ T‐Cell Development and the Pathogenesis of Liver Injury
Sung Jun Park, Ji‐Ho Park, Eunjeong Kim, Yoontae Lee
SJR Q1Hepatology

Liver‐resident memory T (liver T RM ) cells exert protective immune responses following liver infection by malaria parasites. However, how these T RM cells are developed and what the consequence is if they are not properly maintained remain poorly understood. Here, we show that the transcriptional repressor, Capicua (CIC), controls liver CD8 + T RM cell development to maintain normal liver function. Cic ‐deficient mice have a greater number of liver CD8 + T RM cells and liver injury phenotypes a

ImmunologyImmunology and Microbiology
12
Article|33 citations·2020
Capicua restricts cancer stem cell-like properties in breast cancer cells
Jeehyun Yoe, Donghyo Kim, Sanguk Kim, Yoontae Lee
SJR Q1Oncogene
OncologyMedicine
13
Article|13 citations·2022
Postnatal regulation of B-1a cell development and survival by the CIC-PER2-BHLHE41 axis
Hyebeen Hong, Jongeun Lee, Guk-Yeol Park, Soeun Kim, Ji‐Ho Park, Jong Seok Park, Youngkwon Song, Sujin Lee, Tae Jin Kim, You Jeong Lee, Tae‐Young Roh, Seung‐Ki Kwok
SJR Q1Cell ReportsOA

B-1 cell development mainly occurs via fetal and neonatal hematopoiesis and is suppressed in adult bone marrow hematopoiesis. However, little is known about the factors inhibiting B-1 cell development at the adult stage. We report that capicua (CIC) suppresses postnatal B-1a cell development and survival. CIC levels are high in B-1a cells and gradually increase in transitional B-1a (TrB-1a) cells with age. B-cell-specific Cic-null mice exhibit expansion of the B-1a cell population and a gradual

Molecular BiologyBiochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
14
Article|7 citations·2024
ETV5 promotes lupus pathogenesis and follicular helper T cell differentiation by inducing osteopontin expression
Ji‐Ho Park, Jongeun Lee, Yunjung Hur, C.C. Kim, Han Bit Kim, Dahun Um, Dasom Kim, June‐Yong Lee, Sungjun Park, Youngjae Park, Tae-Kyung Kim, Sin‐Hyeog Im
SJR Q1Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesOA

Follicular helper T (T FH ) cells mediate germinal center reactions to generate high affinity antibodies against specific pathogens, and their excessive production is associated with the pathogenesis of systemic autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). ETV5, a member of the ETS transcription factor family, promotes T FH cell differentiation in mice. In this study, we examined the role of ETV5 in the pathogenesis of lupus in mice and humans. T cell–specific deletion of Etv5

ImmunologyImmunology and Microbiology
15
Article|7 citations·2025
ETV5 reduces androgen receptor expression and induces neural stem–like properties during neuroendocrine prostate cancer development
Jongeun Lee, Ji‐Ho Park, Yunjung Hur, Dahun Um, Hyung-Seok Choi, Joonyoung Park, Yewon Kim, Jeon‐Soo Lee, Kyuha Choi, Eunjeong Kim, Young Bin Park, Jae-Mun Choi
SJR Q1Proceedings of the National Academy of SciencesOA

Neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), an aggressive subtype induced by hormone therapy, lacks effective treatments. This study explored the role of E26 transformation-specific variant 5 (ETV5) in NEPC development. Analysis of multiple prostate cancer datasets revealed that NEPC is characterized by significantly elevated ETV5 expression compared to other subtypes. ETV5 expression increased progressively under hormone therapy through epigenetic modifications. ETV5 induced neural stem–like feature

Pulmonary and Respiratory MedicineMedicine

Research Areas

Molecular BiologyImmunologyCellular and Molecular NeurosciencePulmonary and Respiratory MedicineCancer ResearchPlant Science

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