Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
Dr. Jong Yun studies the development of therapeutic agents for cancer and neurological diseases.
The Yun research group is currently pursuing two separate projects with a focus on development of novel therapeutic agents for cancer and neurological diseases.
The first project is centered around the discovery of our novel inhibitors of sphingosine kinases (SphK), on oncogenic sphingolipid metabolic enzyme associated multiple cancer types. Sphingolipid metabolites (i.e., ceramide, sphingosine, sphingosine-1-phosphate) are not only important structural components of biologic membranes, but are also essential signaling modulators of cell growth and/or cell death in response to various oncogenes, cytokines/growth factors, as well as multiple chemotherapeutic agents and select cannabinoids. In our “proof-of concept” in vivo studies using mouse leukemia models, we discovered that the anti-leukemia activity of our novel SphK inhibitor was very effective in immuno-competent mouse models, whereas it was minimally effective in immuno-deficient NOD-SCID mouse models. This observation led us to focus our research studies on investigating mechanisms associated with the role of sphingolipid metabolites in cancer immunogenic cell death and its’ innate/immune cell response associated with immunotherapy.
The second project is centered around our novel drug-like compound, SHY-1 that induces a unique cellular morphological change. Our initial KINOMEscan® screening assay revealed that SHY-1 is a potent poly-pharmacological inhibitor of multiple kinases. Using multiple in vitro cell culture models, we discovered that SHY-1 robustly stimulates neurite/axon formation/growth leading to extensive synaptic connections. Based on these and other evidence, we believe SHY-1 can be further developed as a novel pharmacological therapeutic agent for neurological injury and/or diseases. We are currently elucidating the signaling mechanisms associated with SHY-1 in induction of neuronal neurite/axon formation/growth. Further, we are exploring the potential applicability and feasibility of SHY-1/analog as a theranostic polypharmacological agent for translational research in spinal injury and neurodegenerative diseases.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 1 Finished
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Targeting the cysteine rich domain of protein kinase C
Yun, J. (PI)
7/1/01 → 6/30/04
Project: Research project
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Cannabinoid-Induced Immunogenic Cell Death of Colorectal Cancer Cells Through De Novo Synthesis of Ceramide Is Partially Mediated by CB2 Receptor
Hengst, J. A., Ruiz-Velasco, V. J., Raup-Konsavage, W. M., Vrana, K. E. & Yun, J., Dec 2024, In: Cancers. 16, 23, 3973.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Fanning the Flames of Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) Stress: Can Sphingolipid Metabolism Be Targeted to Enhance ER Stress–Associated Immunogenic Cell Death in Cancer?
Hengst, J. A., Nduwumwami, A. J., Sharma, A. & Yun, J. K., Mar 1 2024, In: Molecular pharmacology. 105, 3, p. 155-165 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access3 Scopus citations -
Characterization of Anticancer Effects of the Analogs of DJ4, a Novel Selective Inhibitor of ROCK and MRCK Kinases
Kale, V. P., Hengst, J. A., Sharma, A. K., Golla, U., Dovat, S., Amin, S. G., Yun, J. K. & Desai, D. H., Aug 2023, In: Pharmaceuticals. 16, 8, 1060.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
Inhibition of Sphingosine Kinase Activity Enhances Immunogenic Cell Surface Exposure of Calreticulin Induced by the Synthetic Cannabinoid 5-epi-CP-55,940
Hengst, J. A., Nduwumwami, A. J., Raup-Konsavage, W. M., Vrana, K. E. & Yun, J. K., Oct 1 2022, In: Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. 7, 5, p. 637-647 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
6 Scopus citations -
Regulatory Role of Sphingosine-1-Phosphate and C16:0 Ceramide, in Immunogenic Cell Death of Colon Cancer Cells Induced by Bak/Bax-Activation
Hengst, J. A., Nduwumwami, A. J. & Yun, J. K., Nov 2022, In: Cancers. 14, 21, 5182.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access5 Scopus citations
Prizes
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Outstanding Collaborative Research Team
Adair, J. H. (Recipient), Amin, S. (Recipient), Claxton, D. (Recipient), Desai, D. (Recipient), Hengst, J. (Recipient), Liao, J. (Recipient), Paulson, R. (Recipient), Sharma, A. (Recipient), Stanley, B. (Recipient), Wang, H.-G. (Recipient), Yun, J. (Recipient) & Zhu, J. (Recipient), 2015
Prize