Kaang Bong-kiun

Kaang Bong-Kiun was born in Jeju-do, South Korea, on November 21, 1961. He is a professor of neuroscience in the Department of Biological Sciences of Seoul National University. He is a Fellow of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology.

Bong-Kiun Kaang
Born1961 (age 58–59)
South Korea
NationalitySouth Korean
Alma materB.S. Seoul National University (1984)

M.S. Seoul National University (1986)

Ph.D. Columbia University (1992)

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Center for Neurobiology and Behavior, Columbia University (1992 - 1994)
Known forAplysia, Neuroscience, Learning and Memory
AwardsThe Best Research Award, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University (2007)
Excellent Research Scientist, Korea Ministry of Science and Technology (2007)
Life Science Award, Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology (2008)
Fellow of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology (2010)
Scientific career
Fieldsneuroscience
InstitutionsSeoul National University, Dept. of Biological Sciences & Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Doctoral advisorEric R. Kandel, M.D.(Nobel Laureate, 2000)
Kaang Bong-kiun
Hangul
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGang Bong-gyun
McCune–ReischauerKang Ponggyun
This is a Korean name; the family name is Kang.

Education

He received his bachelor's degree in 1984 and his M.S. in 1986 from the Department of Microbiology, Seoul National University. During his M.S. course, he developed an interest in molecular neuroscience, particularly, in how memory is stored in the brain at the molecular level. He then went to Columbia University where he was supervised by a Nobel laureate Eric R. Kandel for his Ph.D. course and a brief postdoctoral study. He investigated the molecular mechanisms of learning and memory using a simple animal, the marine snail Aplysia. Under the supervision of Dr. Kandel, he received his Ph.D. in 1992. Kaang's Ph.D. thesis, which was entitled, “Studies of Long-Term Facilitation Using Gene Transfer Methods,” introduced the development of the gene delivery system in Aplysia neurons. He continued his research as a postdoctoral research fellow at the Center for Neurobiology and Behavior at Columbia University until 1994, when he was appointed to a faculty position at Seoul National University, Korea.

Work

Kaang's studies have mainly focused on the molecular mechanisms of learning and memory. In his Ph.D. course, he developed the microinjection-based gene transfer method for Aplysia neurons. This technology opened up a new era of molecular studies on the memory mechanisms in Aplysia, as well as of functional studies of receptors, signaling molecules, and ion channels, which play key roles in neuronal functions. He revealed that serotonin-induced transcription requires the protein kinase-A-mediated phosphorylation of the cAMP-response element-binding protein(CREB). Moreover, he found that multiple pulses of serotonin stimulate gene expression that is mediated by the cAMP-response element(CRE).[1][2]

He continued to study Aplysia when he set up his own laboratory in Korea. He started by establishing an expressed sequence tag database and transcriptome analyses of Aplysia. He identified a serotonin receptor involved in learning-related synaptic facilitation in Aplysia. In addition, he was successful in finding the novel signaling molecules ApLLP, CAMAP, ApPDE4, and ApAUF1, which are involved in long-term facilitation. With his colleagues at Columbia University, he delineated the molecular networks of the molecules that interplay with other regulatory molecules, such as ApCAM, CREB1, CREB2, C/EBP, and ApAF. Furthermore, Kaang reported that, by genetically controlling the expression of these key molecules in specific neurons, he could induce long-term facilitation that lasted days with a single pulse of serotonin that normally induces short-term facilitation that lasts only several minutes.[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]

In parallel with these studies in Aplysia, Kaang has expanded his research field to more complex mammalian models. Combining molecular, electrophysiological, and behavioral experimental tools, he began to explore the mechanisms of learning and memory in mice. One of the major findings from his group was proving the importance of synaptic protein degradation in memory reorganization. He found that postsynaptic proteins were degraded in the hippocampus by polyubiquitination after the retrieval of contextual fear memory. Moreover, the infusion of proteasome inhibitors into the CA1 of the hippocampus immediately after retrieval prevented anisomycin-induced memory impairment and the extinction of fear memory. Another major finding from his laboratory was the importance of a kinase, PI3Kγ, in long-term depression and behavioral flexibility.[12][13][14]

Recently, he has been expanding his interests to neurological symptoms such as pain and itch and psychiatric disorders, such as autism. One of his major investigations regarding pain was proving that PKMζ, a molecule known for its role in the maintenance of long-term potentiation and long-term memory, is important in maintaining chronic pain in the anterior cingulate cortex. In collaboration with Min Zhuo from the University of Toronto, he showed that the phosphorylation of PKMζ was increased in a neuropathic pain model in the anterior cingulate cortex. In addition, they showed that chronic pain behavior was alleviated by treating mice with the PKMζ blocker ZIP, suggesting that this could be a new therapeutic target for treating chronic pain.[15][16][17][18]

Recently, in collaboration with M.G. Lee and E. Kim, he has demonstrated that NMDAR-dependent synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus is impaired in a mouse model of autism, the Shank2 knockout. When they treated the mice with drugs that upregulate NMDA receptor function, the impairment was recovered, suggesting the possibility that these drugs could be used for treating patients with autism in the future.[19]

Kaang has published 110 research and review articles in a number of journals, including Nature, Science, Cell, Neuron, and Nature Neuroscience. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Molecular Brain. Kaang received the Life Science Award from the Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology (2008). He was awarded the Donghun Award from the Korean Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2012). He won the Kyung Ahm Prize (2012, $180,000) from the Kyung Ahm Foundation.

Kaang is currently a National Honor Scientist in Korea and continues to passionately unravel the mechanisms of learning and memory and related brain disorders.

Awards
  • The Best Research Award, College of Natural Sciences, Seoul National University (2007)
  • Excellent Research Scientist, Korea Ministry of Science and Technology (2007)
  • Life Science Award, Korean Society for Molecular and Cellular Biology (2008)
  • Fellow of the Korean Academy of Science and Technology (2010)
  • Donghun Award, Korean Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (2012)
  • National Honor Scientist Program, National Research Foundation, Korea (2012)
  • Kyung-Ahm Prize (2012)
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References
  1. Kaang BK, Pfaffinger PI, Grant SG, Kandel ER, Furukawa Y (1992). "Overexpression of an Aplysia shaker K+channel gene modifies the electrical properties and synaptic efficacy of identified Aplysia neurons". Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 89 (3): 1133–1137. doi:10.1073/pnas.89.3.1133. PMC 48400. PMID 1310540.
  2. Kaang BK, Kandel ER, Grant SG (1993). "Activation of cAMP-responsive genes by stimuli that produce long-term facilitation in Aplysia sensory neurons". Neuron. 10 (3): 427–435. doi:10.1016/0896-6273(93)90331-k.
  3. Lee YS, Choi SL, Lee SH, Kim H, Park H, Lee N, Lee SH, Chae YS, Jang DJ, Kandel ER, Kaang BK (2009). "Identification of a serotonin receptor coupled to adenylyl cyclase involved in learning related heterosynaptic facilitation in Aplysia". Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 106 (34): 14634–14639. doi:10.1073/pnas.0907502106. PMC 2732834. PMID 19706550.
  4. Kim H, Lee SH, Han JH, Lee JA, Cheang YH, Chang DJ, Lee YS, Kaang BK (2006). "A nucleolar protein ApLLP induces ApC/EBP expression required for long-term synaptic facilitation in Aplysia neurons". Neuron. 49 (5): 707–718. doi:10.1016/j.neuron.2006.01.035. PMID 16504946.
  5. Lee SH, Lim CS, Park H, Lee JA, Han JH, Kim H, Cheang YH, Lee SH, Lee YS, Ko HG, Jang DH, Kim H, Miniaci MC, Bartsch D, Kim E, Bailey CH, Kandel ER, Kaang BK (2007). "Nuclear translocation of CAM-associated protein activates transcription for long-term facilitation in Aplysia". Cell. 129 (4): 801–812. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2007.03.041. PMID 17512412.
  6. Lee YS, Choi SL, Jun H, Yim SJ, Lee JA, Kim HF, Lee SH, Shim J, Lee K, Jang DJ, Kaang BK (2012). "AU-rich element-binding protein negatively regulates CCAAT enhancer-binding protein mRNA stability during long-term synaptic plasticity in Aplysia". Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 109 (38): 15520–15525. doi:10.1073/pnas.1116224109. PMC 3458389. PMID 22949683.
  7. Jang DJ, Park SW, Lee JA, Lee C, Chae YS, Park H, Kim MJ, Choi SL, Lee N, Kim H, Kaang BK (2010). "N termini of apPDE4 isoforms are responsible for targeting the isoforms to different cellular membranes". Learn Mem. 17 (9): 469–479. doi:10.1101/lm.1899410. PMID 20813835.
  8. Lee JA, Kim H, Lee YS, Kaang BK (2003). "Overexpression and RNA interference of Ap-cyclic AMP-response element binding protein-2, a repressor of long-term facilitation, in Aplysia kurodai sensory-to-motor synapses". Neurosci Lett. 337 (1): 9–12. doi:10.1016/s0304-3940(02)01285-5. PMID 12524159.
  9. Lee JA, Kim HK, Kim KH, Han JH, Lee YS, Lim CS, Chang DJ, Kubo T, Kaang BK (2001). "Overexpression of and RNA interference with the CCAAT enhancer-binding protein on long-term facilitation of Aplysia sensory to motor synapses". Learn Mem. 8 (4): 220–226. doi:10.1101/lm.40201. PMC 311377. PMID 11533225.
  10. Lee JA, Lee SH, Lee CH, Chang DJ, Lee Y, Kim H, Cheang YH, Ko HG, Lee YS, Jun HJ, Bartsch D, Kandel ER, Kaang BK (2006). "PKA-activated ApAF-ApC/EBP heterodimer is a key downstream effector of ApCREB and is necessary and sufficient for the consolidation of long-term facilitation". J Cell Biol. 174 (6): 827–838. doi:10.1083/jcb.200512066. PMC 2064337. PMID 16966424.
  11. Lee YS, Bailey CH, Kandel ER, Kaang BK (2008). "Transcriptional regulation of long-term memory in the marine snail Aplysia". Mol Brain. 1: 3. doi:10.1186/1756-6606-1-3. PMC 2546398. PMID 18803855.
  12. Lee SH, Choi JH, Lee N, Lee HR, Kim JI, Yu NK, Choi SL, Lee SH, Kim H, Kaang BK (2008). "Synaptic Protein Degradation Underlies Destabilization of Retrieved Fear Memory". Science. 319 (5867): 1253–1259. doi:10.1126/science.1150541. PMID 18258863.
  13. Kaang BK, Lee SH, Kim H (2009). "Synaptic Protein Degradation as a Mechanism in Memory Reorganization". Neuroscientist. 15 (5): 430–435. doi:10.1177/1073858408331374. PMID 19264729.
  14. Kim JI, Lee HR, Sim SE, Baek J, Yu NK, Choi JH, Ko HG, Lee YS, Park SW, Kwak C, Ahn SJ, Choi SY, Kim H, Kim KH, Backx PH, Bradley CA, Kim E, Jang DJ, Lee K, Kim SJ, Zhuo M, Collingridge GL, Kaang BK (2011). "PI3K is required for NMDAR-dependent long-term depression and behavioral flexibility". Nat Neurosci. 14 (11): 1447–1454. doi:10.1038/nn.2937. PMID 22019731.
  15. Li XY; Ko HG; Chen T; Descalzi G; Koga K; Wang H; Kim SS; Shang Y; Kwak C; Park SW; Shim J; Lee K; Collingridge GL; Kaang BK*; Zhuo M.* (2010). "Alleviating neuropathic pain hypersensitivity by inhibiting PKMζ in the anterior cingulate cortex". Science. 330 (6009): 1400–1404. doi:10.1126/science.1191792.
  16. Lee B, Baek BJ, Deslcazi G, Kim JI, Lee HR, Lee K, Kaang BK, Zhuo M (2011). "Enhanced itch responses in mice lacking phosphoinositide 3-kinase-γ". Mol Pain. 7: 1744–8069–7–96. doi:10.1186/1744-8069-7-96.
  17. Kang SJ; Liu MG; Chen T; Ko HG; Baek GC; Lee HR; Lee K; Collingridge GL; Kaang BK*; Min Zhuo*. (2012). "Plasticity of metabotropic glutamate receptor dependent long-term depression in the ACC after amputation". J Neurosci. 32 (33): 11318–11329. doi:10.1523/jneurosci.0146-12.2012. PMID 22895715.
  18. Lee B, Baek BJ, Deslcazi G, Kim JI, Lee HR, Lee K, Kaang BK, Zhuo M (2011). "Enhanced itch responses in mice lacking phosphoinositide 3-kinase-γ" (PDF). Mol Pain. 7: 1744–8069–7–96. doi:10.1186/1744-8069-7-96.
  19. Won H; Lee HR; Gee HY; Mah W; Kim JI; Lee J; Ha S; Chung C; Jung ES; Cho YS; Park SG; Lee JS; Lee K; Kim D; Bae YC; Kaang BK*; Lee MG*; Kim E*. (June 2012). "Autistic-like social behaviour in Shank2-mutant mice improved by restoring NMDA receptor function". Nature. 486 (7402): 261–265. doi:10.1038/nature11208. PMID 22699620.

Publications
  • Jeong, Jaeseung; Kaang, Bong-kiun; Lee, Jung-Mo; 이, 현숙; Choi, Kiwoon (20 July 2012). 인간과 우주에 대해 아주 조금밖에 모르는 것들 [What don't we know? Science 125 Questions] (in Korean). 낮은산. p. 288. ISBN 9788989646822.
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