Jung Weon Lee | Tetraspanin-Mediated Liver Malignancy | Research Excellence Award

Published on by Cell Biologist

Prof. Jung Weon Lee | Tetraspanin-Mediated Liver Malignancy | Research Excellence Award

Seoul National University | South Korea

Jung Weon Lee is a distinguished researcher in pharmacology and biochemistry whose work integrates molecular pharmacology, biochemical pathway analysis, and disease-related mechanistic research. Trained across biochemical sciences and pharmacological disciplines, he has developed a robust program centered on understanding how cellular signaling networks, metabolic processes, and bioactive molecules regulate pathological conditions such as cancer, inflammation, and metabolic disorders. His research frequently explores the molecular basis of drug actions, enzyme regulation, and the interplay between biochemical pathways and disease progression. Through his faculty leadership at Seoul National University’s College of Pharmacy, he has advanced studies on cellular stress responses, protein modification systems, and molecular targets that influence cell survival, migration, and invasion. As a long-standing member of professional scientific societies and the Invadosome Consortium, he actively contributes to global investigations on cytoskeletal remodeling and matrix-degrading structures central to metastasis and tissue remodeling. His research group is known for integrating pharmacological assays with molecular and biochemical techniques to identify therapeutic candidates and elucidate mechanisms underlying disease-associated cellular behaviors. Overall, Lee’s scientific contributions strengthen translational links between biochemical research and pharmacological innovation, supporting the development of mechanism-based therapeutic strategies.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications:  

  • Lee, Y., Kim, J. E., Kim, W., Kim, S., Han, R., Suh, D., Kim, E., Shin, E.-A., Pyo, K.-h., Lee, J.-H., Yoon, S., Kim, Y.-I., Cho, J.-Y., Choi, S., & Lee, J. W. (2025). Unique molecular architecture of N-glycosylated TM4SF5 dimer highlights evolutionary and structural divergence among small four-transmembrane protein families. Journal of Advanced Research. (In press)

  • Ahn, J., Kim, S., Jeong, J. Y., Heo, S., Pyo, K.-h., Shin, E.-A., Kim, W., Lee, J.-H., Choi, N. R., Lee, H.-A., Kim, H.-P., Song, S.-H., Kim, H. Y., Kim, T.-Y., & Lee, J. W. (2025). Whole genome DNA methylation patterns in tissue and cfDNA associated with fibrosis reflect the complex signature of MASLD. PLoS One, 20(7), e0328207.

  • Lee, H. S., Kim, J. E., Shin, E.-A., Pinanga, Y. D., Pyo, K.-h., Lee, E. H., Kim, W., Kim, S., Lim, C. S., Yoon, K. C., & Lee, J. W. (2025). Hepatocyte TM4SF5-mediated cytosolic NCOA3 stabilization and macropinocytosis support albumin uptake and bioenergetics for hepatocellular carcinoma progression. Experimental and Molecular Medicine, 57(4), 836–855.

  • Jin, S. H., Kim, D. J., & Lee, J. W. (2025). Tetraspan(in)-mediated immune regulation in hepatocellular carcinoma. Clinical and Molecular Hepatology, 31(2), 650–653.

  • Kim, J. E., Kim, H. S., Lee, E. H., Kim, W., Kim, S., Kim, T., Shin, E.-A., Pyo, K.-h., Lee, H., Jin, S. H., Lee, J.-H., Byeon, S.-M., Kim, D. J., Yu, S. J., Kim, S., Yoo, J. Y., Lee, S.-C., Suh, Y.-G., & Lee, J. W. (2025). Isoxazole-based molecules restore NK cell immune surveillance in hepatocarcinogenesis by targeting TM4SF5 and SLAMF7 linkage. Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy, 10(1), 15.