We are interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms of signal transduction by various GPCRs and tyrosine kinase receptors. These signaling pathways are related with various metabolisms including perception, neurotransmitter, sensing tastes, hearing and many other cellular and physiological functions. We are particularly interested in deorphanizing the orphan GPCRs. By doing so, we can find out novel agonists/antagonists/inverse agonists and make it possible to regulate the function of GPCRs and other receptors and provide important clues to cure the receptor-related diseases. Our studies also allow us to generate antibodies and aptamers that bind and control the functions of these receptors. We are currently working on GPCRs that are involved in tumorigenesis and neurodegenerative diseases.

• ㆍStructural Biology of membrane receptor biology – signal transduction
• ㆍCellular Biochemistry and biophysics of Cancer; Tumor suppressors, DNA damage signaling
• ㆍNucleic acid biochemistry
• ㆍAnti-cancer drug discovery

• ㆍShin JW, Park JH & Cho Y. (2024) Constitutive activation mechanism of a class C GPCR. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology
• ㆍKim JH et al & Cho Y. (2023) Structural mechanism of Escherichia coli cyanase. Acta Crystallographica Section D
• ㆍKim J et al & Cho Y. (2022) Functional selectivity of insulin receptor revealed by aptamer-trapped receptor structures. Nature Comm.
• ㆍJung C. S. et al & Cho Y (2022) Regulation of BRCA1 stability through the tandem UBX domains of isoleucyl-tRNA synthetase 1. Nature Comm.
• ㆍJeong E, Kim Y et al. & Cho Y. (2021) Structure of the class C orphan GPCR GPR158 in complex with RGS7-Gβ5. Nature Comm.
• ㆍKim Y et al. & Cho Y. (2020) Structural Basis for Activation of the Heterodimeric GABAB receptor. J. Mol. Biol.

• ㆍB.S., Seoul National Univ., Seoul, Korea (1986)
• ㆍM.S., Iowa State Univ., Ames, U.S.A (1989)
• ㆍPh.D., Cornell Univ., Ithaca, U.S.A (1993)

• ㆍ1989-1993 : Ph. D., Protein Engineering, Cornell Univ. (Ithaca, USA)
• ㆍ1993-1995 : Post-doc, Cancer Biology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (N.Y. USA)
• ㆍ1995-2000 : Senior Scientist, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (Seoul)
• ㆍ2000-2004 : Associate Professor, Department of Life Sciences, POSTECH
• ㆍ2005-Present : Professor, Department of Life Sciences, POSTECH

• ㆍQueen Elizabeth II award, (British Government), Korea (1999)
• ㆍ2nd Young Scientist award (Presidential award), KAST, Korea (1999)
• ㆍDirector, National Creative Research Center (DNA damage signaling center) (2001-2010)
• ㆍA Rising Star Fellow (POSTECH) (2011)
• ㆍJongryeol Hong's Chair Professor (2013-2015)
• ㆍScience Prize 2016, POSCO TJ Park Foundation (2016)