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Hyun Jin Kwun, PhD

Hyun Jin Kwun, PhD

Assistant Professor, Department of Microbiology and Immunology
Scientific Program:Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis
HXK479@psu.edu

Research Interests

Dr. Hyun Jin Kwun’s research focuses on identifying the molecular mechanisms of viral oncogenesis in Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC), a rare but fatal form of skin cancer, with a nearly-tripled annual incidence in the last 20 years. Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV), the only oncogenic human polyomavirus, is the cause for most MCC tumors. There are two relevant MCV viral oncoproteins: large T antigen (LT) and small T antigen (sT), which are implicated in oncogenesis through multiple mechanisms.

MCV LT phosphoprotein is required for MCV transcription, viral replication and cancer cell proliferation. MCV latency depends on controlling viral replication by initiating MCV LT turnover, via cellular Skp-Cullin-F box (SCF) ubiquitin complexes, reducing LT steady-state amounts to levels that prevent MCV replication. MCV sT is a main oncoprotein that plays a large role in the development of MCC. A unique domain of sT, known as the LT-stabilizing domain (LSD), previously identified by Dr. Kwun herself, has been reported to bind multiple E3-ubiquitin ligase complexes including FBW7 and beta-TrCP to increase and activate levels of cellular oncoproteins, such as c-myc and cyclin E. In addition, it also contributes to the viral transforming activity.

Currently, the primary focus in Dr. Kwun’s lab can be summarized in two sections:

  • Investigating the roles of cellular kinase-E3 ubiquitin ligase networks in MCV replication and persistent infection.
  • Investigating the mechanisms of sT-induced oncogenesis in MCC. 
  • Merkel cell polyomavirus
  • Polyomavirus Transforming Antigens
  • Proteins
  • Genes
  • Merkel Cell Carcinoma
  • Neoplasms
  • Oncogene Proteins
  • Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
  • Growth
  • hepatitis B virus X protein
  • Human Herpesvirus 1
  • Viral Tumor Antigens

Recent Publications

2023

Pham, AM, Ortiz, LE, Lukacher, AE & Kwun, HJ 2023, 'Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Large T Antigen Induces Cellular Senescence for Host Growth Arrest and Viral Genome Persistence through Its Unique Domain', Cells, vol. 12, no. 3, 380. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells12030380

2022

Koubek, EJ, Weissenrieder, JS, Ortiz, LE, Nwogu, N, Pham, AM, Weissenkampen, JD, Reed, JL, Neighbors, JD, Hohl, RJ & Kwun, HJ 2022, 'Therapeutic Potential of 5′-Methylschweinfurthin G in Merkel Cell Polyomavirus-Positive Merkel Cell Carcinoma', Viruses, vol. 14, no. 9, 1848. https://doi.org/10.3390/v14091848

2021

Ortiz, LE, Pham, AM & Kwun, HJ 2021, 'Identification of the merkel cell polyomavirus large tumor antigen ubiquitin conjugation residue', International journal of molecular sciences, vol. 22, no. 13, 7169. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22137169

2020

Nwogu, N, Ortiz, LE & Kwun, HJ 2020, 'Merkel Cell Polyomavirus Large T Antigen Unique Domain Regulates Its Own Protein Stability and Cell Growth', Viruses, vol. 12, no. 9, 1043. https://doi.org/10.3390/v12091043
Nwogu, N, Ortiz, LE, Whitehouse, A & Kwun, HJ 2020, 'Merkel cell polyomavirus small tumor antigen activates matrix metallopeptidase-9 gene expression for cell migration and invasion', Journal of virology, vol. 94, no. 19, e00786. https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.00786-20
Orellana, JA, Kwun, HJ, Artusi, S, Chang, Y & Moore, PS 2020, 'Sirolimus and Other Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Inhibitors Directly Activate Latent Pathogenic Human Polyomavirus Replication', Journal of Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiaa071
Nwogu, N, Ortiz, LE & Kwun, HJ 2020, 'Surface charge of Merkel cell polyomavirus small T antigen determines cell transformation through allosteric FBW7 WD40 domain targeting', Oncogenesis, vol. 9, no. 5, 53. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41389-020-0235-y