Update Your ProfileAcademic Title:
Assistant Professor
Primary Appointment:
Pediatrics
Email:
Location:
HSF-II, S103B
Phone (Primary):
410-706-1218
Fax:
410-706-5847
Education and Training
B.S.: Genetic Engineering, Cheongiu University, Cheongju, Korea (South)
M.S.: Genetic Engineering, Cheongiu University, Cheongju, Korea (South)
Ph.D.: Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX
Postdoctoral Training: Johns Hopkins University and University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
Biosketch
Dr. Kim has broad expertise in cellular and molecular biology, including working with animal models (mice and frogs). During postdoctoral studies, Dr. Kim’s research focuses on investigating the functional roles of microRNAs and their target genes in normal hematopoiesis, especially erythropoiesis and leukemia. In this study, Dr. Kim found that inhibition of microRNA-144 and/or microRNA-451 impaired human erythropoiesis, and identified RAB14 as a direct target of both microRNAs. Most interestingly, RAB14 knockdown in human CD34+ hematopoietic stem-progenitor cells (HSPCs) increased the frequency and total number of erythroid cells, and increased beta-hemoglobin expression. Taken together, Dr. Kim discovered that RAB14 functions as a novel physiological inhibitor of human erythropoiesis. Currently, Dr. Kim is further investigating the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which RAB14 regulates human erythropoiesis. Dr. Kim is also focused on studying erythroid-specific microRNAs, which were previously identified from our expression profiling data, and their target genes in human erythropoiesis. The overall goal of Dr. Kim’s research is to identify and develop erythroid-specific microRNAs and/or their target genes as therapeutic targets.
Research/Clinical Keywords
Hematopoiesis, Erythropoiesis, Leukemia, microRNA, Cell signaling
Highlighted Publications
Curt I. Civin, Tony Ward, Alison M. Skelley, Khushroo Gandhi, Zendra Peilun Lee, Christopher R. Dosier, Joseph L. D'Silva, Yu Chen, MinJung Kim, James Moynihan, Xiaochun Chen, Lee Aurich, Sergei Gulnik, George C. Brittanin, Diether J. Recktenwald, Robert H. Austin, James C. Sturm (2016) Automated leukocyte processing by microfluidic deterministic lateral displacement. Cytometry A. 89(12), 1073-1083.
MinJung Kim, Yee Sun Tan, Wen-Chih Cheng, Tami J. Kingsbury, Shelly Heimfeld, Curt I. Civin (2015) MiR-144 and miR-451 regulate human erythropoiesis via RAB14. Br J. Haematol. 168 (4), 583-597.
Yee Sun Tan, MinJung Kim, Tami J. Kingsbury, Curt I. Civin, Wen-Chih Cheng (2014) Regulation of RAB5C is important for the growth inhibitory effects of miR-509 in human precursor-B acute lymphoblastic leukemia. PLOS ONE. 9 (11), e111777.
Bryan J. McCranor, MinJung Kim, Nicole M. Cruz, Qian-Li Xue, Alan E. Berger, Jeremy D. Walston, Curt I. Civin, and Cindy N. Roy (2014) Interleukin-6 directly impairs the erythroid development of human TF-1 erythroleukemic cells. Blood Cells Mol Dis. 52, 126-133.
Ian M Kaplan, Sebastien Morisot, Diane Heiser, Wen-Chih Cheng, MinJung Kim, and Curt I. Civin (2011) Deletion of Tristetraprolin (TTP) caused spontaneous reactive granulopoiesis by a non-cell autonomous mechanism without disturbing LT-HSC quiescence. J. Immunol. 186 (5), 2826-2834.
Additional Publication Citations
MinJung Kim, Bhavita Patel, Kourtney E. Schroeder, Abbas Raza, and Jeff DeJong (2008) Organization and transcriptional output of a novel mRNA-like piRNA gene (mpiR) located on mouse chromosome 10. RNA 14(6), 1005-1011.
MinJung Kim, Dan Li, Yunxia Cui, Konrad Mueller, William C. Chears, and Jeff DeJong (2006) Regulatory factor interactions and somatic silencing of the germ cell-specific ALF gene. J. Biol. Chem. 281(45), 34288-34298.
LiJuan Xiao, MinJung Kim and Jeff DeJong (2006) Developmental and cell type-specific regulation of core promoter transcription factors in germ cells of frogs and mices. Gene Expr. Patterns, 6(4), 409-419. (Co-first author)