Ho-Hyung Woo, PhD
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EducationDr. Woo received his PhD from the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and his undergraduate degree from the Korea University, Seoul, Korea. He did postdoctoral work at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York.Research goalsDr. Woo's research goal is to understand the molecular mechanisms of mRNA translation. He is interested particularly in how RNA-binding proteins are involved in translational regulation.His current research focuses on the molecular basis of metastasis in epithelial ovarian and breast cancers. Abnormal expression of proto-oncogenes c-fms and CSF-1 is an important prognostic factor. CSF-1 encodes colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) and c-fms encodes receptor tyrosine kinase, a sole receptor to CSF-1. His research focuses on post-transcriptional and translational regulation of c-fms and CSF-1 by means of RNA-binding proteins, miRNAs and their interactions with mRNA untranslated regions.Current researchTranslation Repression: In post-transcriptional regulation of mRNAs, RNA binding proteins (RBP) are important trans-acting regulators. RBPs work either as activator or repressor of translation. We are particulary interested in repressor loop formation by RBPs during translation repression. RBP vigilin is a repressor for c-fms mRNA translation and may be involved in reperssor loop formation.Our research indicates that both Vigilin and HuR work together to coordinate the translation of c-fms mRNA. Dysregulation of coordination between Vigilin and HuR can cause abnormal expression of c-fms mRNA.