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POSTECH Life Science

KOR

Faculty

Professor
Jie Oh Lee

LIFE SCIENCES

Jie Oh Lee Professor

Structural Biology

ㆍLab
Lab. of Antibody Structure and Engineering
ㆍDetail research field
structural biology, innate immunity, antibody engineering
ㆍPhone
+82-54-279-2323
ㆍE-mail
jieoh@postech.ac.kr
ㆍHomepage
https://jieoh1.wixsite.com/jieoh

Research introduction

TLRs play central roles in innate immune defense against viral and bacterial infection. They recognize common patterns in a large number ofmicrobial molecules and initiate potent immune responses against them. My research group has determined the first crystal structures ofTLR-ligand complexes.
These structures have revealed the extraordinary diversity of TLR-ligand interactions. From our structural observations, we have proposed a mechanism for receptor activation: ligand binding to the extracellular domains of receptors induces dimerization of the intracellular domains, which initiates signaling inside the cell by recruiting adaptor proteins to the receptor. In order to prove this hypothesis, we are trying to determine structures of complete TLR signaling complexes containing extracellular ligands and intracellular signaling proteins using cryo-EM.
The second research focus of my lab is developing therapeutic antibodies targeting membrane receptors. Monoclonal antibodies are the larges groups of biological therapeutics.The successful development of therapeutic antibodies often requires generation of a selective and potent molecule,
humanization of sequences, affinity maturation, Fe engineering to modulate effector functions.
My lab is interested in determining large number of antibody structures in complex with their target proteins using a high speed cryo-EM method.
Based on these structures, we design amino acid sequences that can improve performance of the antibodies. Affinity, specificity, stability and manufacturability of antibodies can be improved by this "structure based antibody optimization process".

Research Area

  • Cryo-EM study of Toll-like Receptors
  • Activation mechanism of cell surface receptors
  • Structure based engineering of therapeutic antibodies

Major publications

  • V.A. al., (2023) IL9 polarizes macrophages to M1 and induces the infiltration of antitumor imuune cells via MIP-1 and CXCR3 chmokines. Cancer Research Comm., 3 (1): 80-96
  • Lim et al., (2022) TLR3 forms a highly organized cluster when bound to a poly(I:C) RNA ligand. Nat. Commun. 13: 6876
  • Jeong et al., (2016) Connecting two proteins using a fusion alpha helix stabilized by a chemical cross linker. Nat. Commun. 7: 11031
  • Eckert JK et al., (2013) The Crystal Structure of Lipopolysaccharide Binding Protein Reveals the Location of a Frequent Mutation that Impairs Innate Immunity. Immunity, 39: 647
  • Kang JY et al., (2009) Recognition of Lipopeptide Patterns by Toll-like Receptor 2-Toll-like Receptor 6 Heterodimer. Immunity, 31: 873
  • Park BS et al., (2009) The structural basis of lipopolysaccharide recognition by the TLR4–MD-2 complex. Nature 458: 1191.
  • Jin MS, Lee J-O, (2008) Structures of TLR–ligand complexes. Immunity 29: 182
  • Jin MS et al., (2007) Crystal Structure of the TLR1-TLR2 Heterodimer Induced by Binding of a Tri-Acylated Lipopeptide. Cell, 130: 1071
  • Kim HM et al., (2007) Crystal Structure of the TLR4-MD-2 Complex with Bound Endotoxin Antagonist Eritoran. Cell, 130: 906

Education

  • B.S., Seoul National University, Korea (1987)
  • Ph.D., Harvard University (1995)

Career

  • 2004 : FEBS Letters Young Scientist Award (FEBS Letters)
  • 2007 : Scientist of the Year (Korea Science Reporters Association)
  • 2008 : KAIST Man of the Year (KAIST)
  • 2008 : Scientist of the Month (KOSEF)
  • 2008 : DuPont Science and Technology Award (DuPont, Korea)
  • 2008 : ShimK2008: 100 Outstanding Research Accomplishments, 2007 (KISTEP)
  • 2010 : 100 Future Leaders of Korea (Donga-llbo, daily newspaper)
  • 2010 : Nowotny Science Prize (International Endotoxin and Innate Immunity Society)
  • 2018 : Cheong-San Award (Korean Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology)

Research Image

Jie Oh Lee_Research image

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