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

  • Regulation of Breast Cancer-Induced Osteoclastogenesis by MacroH2A1.2 Involving EZH2-Mediated H3K27me3. Cell Rep. 2018 07 03; 24(1):224-237.. View in PubMed
  • MacroH2A1.2 inhibits prostate cancer-induced osteoclastogenesis through cooperation with HP1α and H1.2. Oncogene. 2018 10; 37(43):5749-5765.. View in PubMed
  • H3K27me1 is essential for MMP-9-dependent H3N-terminal tail proteolysis during osteoclastogenesis. Epigenetics Chromatin. 2018 05 28; 11(1):23.. View in PubMed
  • Membrane Anchoring of α-Helical Proteins: Role of Tryptophan. J Phys Chem B. 2018 01 25; 122(3):1185-1194.. View in PubMed
  • Role of remodeling and spacing factor 1 in histone H2A ubiquitination-mediated gene silencing. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2017 09 19; 114(38):E7949-E7958.. View in PubMed
  • A Conserved Ectodomain-Transmembrane Domain Linker Motif Tunes the Allosteric Regulation of Cell Surface Receptors. J Biol Chem. 2016 08 19; 291(34):17536-46.. View in PubMed
  • MMP-9 facilitates selective proteolysis of the histone H3 tail at genes necessary for proficient osteoclastogenesis. Genes Dev. 2016 Jan 15; 30(2):208-19.. View in PubMed
  • Linker histone H1.2 establishes chromatin compaction and gene silencing through recognition of H3K27me3. Sci Rep. 2015 Nov 19; 5:16714.. View in PubMed
  • Analysis of a transgenic Oct4 enhancer reveals high fidelity long-range chromosomal interactions. Sci Rep. 2015 Oct 05; 5:14558.. View in PubMed
  • Cooperation between SMYD3 and PC4 drives a distinct transcriptional program in cancer cells. Nucleic Acids Res. 2015 Oct 15; 43(18):8868-83.. View in PubMed