The Lab of Viruses and Molecular Genome Engineering is focusing on seeking creative and outstanding individuals for research and studying on innovative CRISPR-related technologies and the molecular mechanisms of virus-host interactions. Our lab aims to elucidate the biological functions of new types of CRISPR-Cas systems with potential applications in genome engineering, focusing particularly on RNA-associated CRISPR systems and molecular memory formation and applications related to CRISPR adaptation. Additionally, we are investigating the mechanisms of genome replication and transcription, as well as immune interactions of acute and chronic infectious viruses. We conduct groundbreaking and challenging researches using single-molecule biophysics and various molecular cell biology, biochemistry, and bioinformatics methodologies, eventually contributing research fields of genetic technologies and human healthcare.

Lab of virus and molecular genome engineering (바이러스 및 분자유전공학 연구실)에서는 혁신적인 CRISPR 관련 기반 기술에 대한 연구 및 바이러스와 숙주 간 상호작용에 대한 분자적 기전 연구를 위한 창의적이고 우수한 인재를 찾고 있습니다. 본 연구실은 진화적으로 다양한 CRISPR-Cas 시스템 중에서 유전 공학 기술로 응용 가능성이 큰 신규 유형에 대한 생물학적 기능을 밝히고자 하며, 특히 현재 RNA-연관 CRISPR 시스템 및 CRISPR adaptation과 관련된 분자 메모리 형성 및 응용 연구에 주목하고 있습니다. 한편 급성 및 만성 감염 바이러스의 유전체 복제 및 전사 기전, 면역적 상호작용에 대한 기전 연구에도 주목하고 있으며, 단일-분자 생물물리학 및 다양한 분자세포생물학, 생화학, 생물정보학적 방법론을 활용하여 획기적이고 도전적인 연구를 수행하고 있습니다.

< 주요 연구 주제 >
1. RNA-related CRISPR-Cas systems and novel applications
CRISPR-Cas는 21세기에 발견되고 2010년대에 들어서 활발히 연구되기 시작한 원핵 생물의 후천성 면역 체계입니다. 저희 연구실은 다양한 종류의 CRISPR-Cas 체계들의 기본적인 원리 규명에 기반한 응용 연구에 중심을 두고 있습니다. 특히, RNA-recording CRISPR Adaptation의 기전 연구와 RNA-targeting CRISPR Effector/Cofactor에 관한 기전 연구에 초점을 맞추고 있습니다.

2. Biophysical molecular mechanisms of human RNA viruses
저희 연구실은 코로나바이러스(SARS-CoV-2)를 포함하는 다양한 종류의 급성 RNA 바이러스들의 Replication 및 Pathogenesis, Mutagenesis에 관련된 기초적 사실을 규명하는 연구를 하고 있습니다. 더 나아가 RNA 바이러스에 대한 혁신적 백신 및 치료제 개발에 관한 기초 연구도 진행할 계획입니다.

< 핵심 연구 방법론 >
1. Single-molecule Biophysics
저희 연구실은 Single-molecule fluorescent imaging 기술에 전문성을 가지고 있습니다. Single-molecule FRET이라는 생물물리학적 기법을 활용하여 단일-분자 수준에서의 Sub-nanometer 정도의 거리 변화를 측정하여 분자적 거리 측량 혹은 역동적 분자 구조와 상호작용의 변화를 관찰하고 있습니다. 전반사형광 (TIRF) 현미경 기법의 사용상 최대 장점은 일반적인 epifluorescent microscopy들에 비해 매우 좋은 Signal-to-noise 비율을 가지고 있다는 것입니다. 그리고 Single-molecule photobleaching이나 FRET과 같은 생물물리학적 기법들과 결합하여, 저희 연구 그룹에서는 Molecular interaction, Molecular stoichiometry, 그리고 단백질과 핵산 분자들의 Transient ineraction과 Colocalization 등을 연구하고 있습니다.

2. Integrated Imaging Technology
본 연구실은 High-throughput peptide/protein screening 및 Cellular molecular recorder, Modified DNA/RNA/protein을 선택적으로 관찰하는 Super-resolution imaging을 위한 신개념 연구 기법을 개발하고 있습니다. 개념적으로 이러한 방법론들은 Single-molecule fluorescent imaging 기법을 High-throughput sequencing 및 CRISPR technology, CLICK chemistry, 최신 Biochemistry, Bioinformatics 기술과의 통합에 기반한 것들입니다.

• ㆍMolecular mechanisms of CRISPR adaptation and applications for molecular recorders
• ㆍDevelopment of RNA-protease-based CRISPR screening tools and applications
• ㆍSingle-molecule mechanism and improved engineering of CRISPR-transposase systems
• ㆍSingle-molecule and super-resolution imaging of RNA-related proteins in acute RNA viruses
• ㆍSingle-molecule-level high-throughput peptide/protein screening technology
• ㆍMolecular identity of glycoRNA

• ㆍSungchul Kim, Yong-geun Choi, Kirsten Janssen, Christian Büll, Bhagyashree S. Joshi, Adam Pomorski, Vered Raz, Marvin E. Tanenbaum, Pascal Miesen, Zeshi Li, Chirlmin Joo, N-glycosylated molecules as contaminants in RNA purification, BioRxiv, 03/2024,
• ㆍGyeong-Seok Oh, Seongjin An, and Sungchul Kim, Harnessing CRISPR-Cas adaptation for RNA recording and beyond, BMB Reports, 01/2024
• ㆍSungchul Kim, LncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory networks in skin aging and therapeutic potentials, Frontiers in Physiology, 10/2023
• ㆍHyejun Kim, Jae Won Yun, Gayun Baek, Sungchul Kim, Mihn-Sook Jue, Differential microRNA profiles in elderly males with seborrheic dermatitis, Scientific Reports,12/2022
• ㆍJi-Seon Lee, Seongchan Kim, Sungchul Kim, Kwangseog Ahn, and Dal-Hee Min, Fluorometric Viral miRNA Nanosensor for Diagnosis of Productive (Lytic) Human Cytomegalovirus Infection in Living Cells, ACS Sensors, 03/2021
• ㆍKwang-Hyun Park, Sungchul Kim, Su-Jin Lee, Jee-Eun Cho, Vinod Vikas Patil, Hyung-Nam Song, Woo-Chan Ahn, Chirlmin Joo, Seung-Goo Lee, Victoria Shingler and Eui-Jeon Woo, Tetrameric architecture of an active phenol-bound form of the AAA+ transcriptional regulator DmpR, Nature Communications, 06/2020
• ㆍSungchul Kim, Luuk Loeff, Sabina Colombo, Slobodan Jergic, Stan J.J. Brouns, and Chirlmin Joo, Selective prespacer loading and processing for precise CRISPR adaptation, Nature, 03/2020
• ㆍSungchul Kim, Daekwan Seo, Dongwoo Kim, Yujin Hong, Hyeshik Chang, Daehyun Baek, V. Narry Kim, Sungwook Lee, and Kwangseog Ahn, Temporal Landscape of MicroRNA-Mediated Host-Virus Crosstalk during Productive Human Cytomegalovirus Infection, Cell Host & Microbe, 06/2015 "Featured Article"
• ㆍJeongmin Ryoo, Jongsu Choi, Changhoon Oh, Sungchul Kim, Minji Seo, Seok-Young Kim, Daekwan Seo, Jongkyu Kim, Tommy E White, Alberto Brandariz-Nuñez, Felipe Diaz-Griffero, Cheol-Heui Yun, Joseph A Hollenbaugh, Baek Kim, Daehyun Baek, Kwangseog Ahn, The ribonuclease activity of SAMHD1 is required for HIV-1 restriction, Nature Medicine, 07/2014 "Cover Feature Article"
• ㆍSanghyun Lee, Jaewon Song, Sungchul Kim, Jongkyu Kim, Yujin Hong, Youngkyun Kim, Donghyun Kim, Daehyun Baek, Kwangseog Ahn, Selective Degradation of Host MicroRNAs by an Intergenic HCMV Noncoding RNA Accelerates Virus Production, Cell Host & Microbe, 06/2013 "F1000 Prime"
• ㆍYoungkyun Kim, Sanghyun Lee, Sungchul Kim, Donghyun Kim, Jin-Hyun Ahn, Kwangseog Ahn, Human cytomegalovirus clinical strain-specific microRNA miR-UL148D targets the human chemokine RANTES during infection, PLoS Pathogens, 03/2012
• ㆍSungchul Kim, Sanghyun Lee, Jinwook Shin, Youngkyun Kim, Irini Evnouchidou, Donghyun Kim, Young-Kook Kim, Young-Eui Kim, Jin-Hyun Ahn, Stanley R Riddell, Efstratios Stratikos, V Narry Kim, Kwangseog Ahn, Human cytomegalovirus microRNA miR-US4-1 inhibits CD8+ T cell responses by targeting the aminopeptidase ERAP1, Nature Immunology, 09/2011 "F1000 Exceptional"

• ㆍB.S., Seoul National University, Korea (2007)
• ㆍPh.D., Seoul National University, Korea (2013)

• ㆍ2024-Present : Assistant Professor, Department of Life Sciences, POSTECH, Korea
• ㆍ2021-2024 : Principal Research Scientist/Young Scientist Fellow (YSF), Center for RNA Research (at SNU), Institute for Basic Science, Korea
• ㆍ2018-2021 : Marie Sklodowska-Curie Experienced Researcher, Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Netherlands
• ㆍ2016-2018 : NWO-FOM Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Bionanoscience, Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), Netherlands
• ㆍ2013-2015 : Postdoctoral Researcher, School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Korea

• ㆍ2021 : Young Scientist Fellowship (YSF), Institute of Basic Science (IBS)
• ㆍ2019 : Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology, Young Investigator Research Award
• ㆍ2017 : Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action, Individual Fellowship (IF)
• ㆍ2016 : Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF)