Seol Kyoung Jung, Ph.D.

Dr. Jung's research focuses on these main areas:

Transcription regulation and genomic architecture.

Transcriptional regulation is how cells coordinate the expression of individual genes or groups of genes. This process can be directly or indirectly affected by the genome architecture.

We explore how genome architecture is established and its connection to transcription and genome fragility. We also study how a transcriptional regulation component, called the mediator complex, works with the PolII complex to connect promoter, enhancer, and colocalization patterns of transcriptional components to decipher the syntax of this regulation.

Recent studies with single cells show that transcription is not a continuous activity but occurs in bursts. By developing a computer model to analyze single-cell transcriptomes, we provide a comprehensive view of bursting in a cell population for the first time. This approach allows us to computationally identify individual genes deficient in proteins that play key roles in transcription and determine whether they regulate bursting.

B cell V(D)J recombination activation and antibody generation.

Transcription controls several processes in maturing B cells. We explore how transcription controls B cell activation, B cell fate, and recombination. Through these studies, we can design and produce more efficient anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and explore how they target antigen crevices not recognized by bulkier antibodies.