Woojin An, PhD

Professor of Cancer Biology

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Overview

Dr. An is a Professor of Cancer Biology at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. His research program is focused on using multi-disciplinary biochemical and cellular approaches to understand fundamental concepts and mechanisms of action of epigenetic histone remodeling in various cellular events. Specifically, his laboratory employs multiple assay systems and methods to dissect molecular details of how histone modification, histone variant exchange, and histone tail proteolysis regulate chromatin structure and control gene expression processes. Current projects involve genome-wide location analysis and functional characterization of histone marks and downstream effectors that are crucial for epigenetic regulation of cell growth, differentiation, and transformation. Dr. An received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Biophysics in 1998 from the Oregon State University and did his postdoctoral training at the Rockefeller University. He began his career on the faculty at USC in 2004.

Research Funding

  • Epigenetic Regulation of Osteoclastogenic Gene Expression: Factors, Targets, and Mechanisms
    NIH · R01AR073233 · Aug 1, 2019 – Nov 30, 2024 · Role: Principal Investigator
  • Role of histone kinase VprBP in gene silencing: mechanisms, targets, and regulation
    NIH · R01CA201561 · Jul 15, 2016 – Jun 30, 2021 · Role: Principal Investigator
  • ROLE OF HISTONE H4 N-TERMINAL TAIL IN TRANSCRIPTION REGULATION
    NIH · R01GM084209 · Aug 1, 2008 – Jul 31, 2014 · Role: Principal Investigator

Publications

  • VprBP drives prostate tumorigenesis by its kinase activity targeting histone H2A. Cell Commun Signal. 2026 May 26; 24(1).. View in PubMed
  • HDAC1 has intrinsic protease activity and regulates transcription through clipping histone H3 N-terminal tail. Cell Death Differ. 2026 May; 33(5):1036-1049.. View in PubMed
  • Functional unfolding of the integrin αX transmembrane helix. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2025 Sep 23; 122(38):e2507966122.. View in PubMed
  • VprBP regulates osteoclast differentiation via an epigenetic mechanism involving histone H2A phosphorylation. Epigenetics Chromatin. 2024 11 26; 17(1):35.. View in PubMed
  • Promoter hypermethylation as a novel regulator of ANO1 expression and function in prostate cancer bone metastasis. Sci Rep. 2024 05 21; 14(1):11595.. View in PubMed
  • MMP-9-dependent proteolysis of the histone H3 N-terminal tail: a critical epigenetic step in driving oncogenic transcription and colon tumorigenesis. Mol Oncol. 2024 08; 18(8):2001-2019.. View in PubMed
  • Non-canonical MLL1 activity regulates centromeric phase separation and genome stability. Nat Cell Biol. 2023 11; 25(11):1637-1649.. View in PubMed
  • VprBP/DCAF1 Triggers Melanomagenic Gene Silencing through Histone H2A Phosphorylation. Biomedicines. 2023 Sep 17; 11(9).. View in PubMed
  • Phosphorylation and stabilization of EZH2 by DCAF1/VprBP trigger aberrant gene silencing in colon cancer. Nat Commun. 2023 04 17; 14(1):2140.. View in PubMed
  • VprBP/DCAF1 regulates p53 function and stability through site-specific phosphorylation. Oncogene. 2023 04; 42(17):1405-1416.. View in PubMed