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

  • 30 nm chromatin fibre decompaction requires both H4-K16 acetylation and linker histone eviction. J Mol Biol. 2008 Sep 12; 381(4):816-25.. View in PubMed
  • FACT-mediated exchange of histone variant H2AX regulated by phosphorylation of H2AX and ADP-ribosylation of Spt16. Mol Cell. 2008 Apr 11; 30(1):86-97.. View in PubMed
  • Isolation and characterization of a novel H1.2 complex that acts as a repressor of p53-mediated transcription. J Biol Chem. 2008 Apr 04; 283(14):9113-26.. View in PubMed
  • Purification and characterization of cellular proteins associated with histone H4 tails. J Biol Chem. 2007 Jul 20; 282(29):21024-31.. View in PubMed
  • Isolation and characterization of proteins associated with histone H3 tails in vivo. J Biol Chem. 2007 May 25; 282(21):15476-83.. View in PubMed
  • Histone acetylation and methylation: combinatorial players for transcriptional regulation. Subcell Biochem. 2007; 41:351-69.. View in PubMed
  • Mechanism of polymerase II transcription repression by the histone variant macroH2A. Mol Cell Biol. 2006 Feb; 26(3):1156-64.. View in PubMed
  • SWI/SNF remodeling and p300-dependent transcription of histone variant H2ABbd nucleosomal arrays. EMBO J. 2004 Oct 01; 23(19):3815-24.. View in PubMed
  • Ordered cooperative functions of PRMT1, p300, and CARM1 in transcriptional activation by p53. Cell. 2004 Jun 11; 117(6):735-48.. View in PubMed
  • Regulation of the p300 HAT domain via a novel activation loop. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2004 Apr; 11(4):308-15.. View in PubMed