Medicinal Chemistry & Chemical Biology Laboratory
Where chemistry manipulates biology!
Welcome to the homepage of the Medicinal Chemistry & Chemical Biology (MCCB) Laboratory led by Prof. Hak Joong Kim at Korea University!
The current research topic of our laboratory includes chemistry and biology of siderophores and post-translational modifications as well as new methodology development based on C–H functionalization for efficient synthesis of bioactive molecules. In addition, we have recently embarked our program to develop a novel drug screening platform based on DNA-encoded library.
With the scientific knowledges gained from these studies, we aim to discover novel approaches to solve pending problems in treating bacterial infection and cancer by integrating the disciplines of organic synthesis and molecular biology.
Students who are interested in the MCCB laboratory are welcome to contact the advisor via email. Currently, we are recruiting graduate students (for Spring 2025) with motivation and enthusiasm and research internship students.
Contact: hakkim@korea.ac.kr
News!
[2024.02.19] A review article regarding targeted protein degradation authored by Do Young & Hyunhi was now on line in the Chem. Soc. Rev. homepage. This work was collaboration with Prof. Min Jae Lee's lab at Seoul National University. Many congratulations!
[2024.01.04] New MCCBians, Min Jae, Sumin, & Dong Hyon, joined in the lab. Welcome aboard!
[2023.12.09] Suyeon's manuscript was accepted by Organic Letters. Congratulation! The link will be provided when it becomes available online.
[2023.12.05] Do Young & Suyeon successfully passed the Ph.D. degree defense. Excellent job for both of you!
[2023.08.31] Suyeon's manuscript was accepted by Analytical Chemistry. Congratulation! The link will be provided when it becomes available online.
[2023.07.27] Continuation of the BK21+ program of Department of Chemistry, Korea University was approved! As a proud member laboratory of KU Chem BK21+ program, we congratulate ourselves!
[2023.06.15] We are awarded with a research grant about "Development of a new screening platform based on DNA-encoded library" (annual ￦400,000,000)!
A review article composed in collaboration with Prof. Min Jae Lee lab at Seoul National University was published in Chemical Society Reviews (IF 46.2 in 2022, ). Do Young & Hyunhi made significant contributions in the literature survey, logic development, and writing. Nice work, both of you!. This article presents the emerging targeted protein degradation technologies not relying on E3 ubiquitin ligases as PROTACs do, but directly engaging lysosomes and proteosomes, two key cellular machineries responsible for protein homeostasis. We sincerely hope our on-going efforts in this direction to be unveiled in the near future!
Citation: Chem. Soc. Rev. 2024 Advance Article. DOI: 10.1039/D3CS00344B. [link]
A new work by Suyeon Yeom was accepted in Organic Letters. This article describes the development of a new protocol to expedite the synthesis of N-methyl amino acid derivatives amenable for direct application to the solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). The key element of this protocol is the utilization of the C–H functionalization chemistry without need of an exogenous directing group. This work is anticipated to greatly facilitate the synthesis of therapeutically relevant N-methylated peptide molecules. ther MCCBians, Do Young, Seungwoo, Arjun, & Jimin, also contributed to this article. Congratulations on all these guys for excellent works!
Citation: Org. Lett. 2023, 25, 9008. DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.3c03616. [link]