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/DCAF1 regulates p53 function and stability through site-specific phosphorylation. Oncogene. 2023 04; 42(17):1405-1416.. View in PubMed
  • DNMT and EZH2 inhibitors synergize to activate therapeutic targets in hepatocellular carcinoma. Cancer Lett. 2022 11 01; 548:215899.. View in PubMed
  • MMP-9 drives the melanomagenic transcription program through histone H3 tail proteolysis. Oncogene. 2022 01; 41(4):560-570.. View in PubMed
  • VprBP directs epigenetic gene silencing through histone H2A phosphorylation in colon cancer. Mol Oncol. 2021 10; 15(10):2801-2817.. View in PubMed
  • MMP-2 is a novel histone H3 N-terminal protease necessary for myogenic gene activation. Epigenetics Chromatin. 2021 05 17; 14(1):23.. View in PubMed
  • Insight Into Pathological Integrin αIIbβ3 Activation From Safeguarding The Inactive State. J Mol Biol. 2021 04 02; 433(7):166832.. View in PubMed
  • A HOTAIR regulatory element modulates glioma cell sensitivity to temozolomide through long-range regulation of multiple target genes. Genome Res. 2020 02; 30(2):155-163.. View in PubMed
  • Epigenetic Modification as a Regulatory Mechanism for Spatiotemporal Dynamics of ANO1 Expression in Salivary Glands. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Dec 13; 20(24).. View in PubMed
  • p32 is a negative regulator of p53 tetramerization and transactivation. Mol Oncol. 2019 09; 13(9):1976-1992.. View in PubMed
  • DNMT and HDAC inhibitors modulate MMP-9-dependent H3 N-terminal tail proteolysis and osteoclastogenesis. Epigenetics Chromatin. 2019 04 16; 12(1):25.. View in PubMed