Seok-Yong Lee | Scholars@Duke

Seok-Yong Lee
Professor of Biochemistry

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Professor of Biochemistry, Biochemistry, Basic Science Departments 2020
Professor of Cell Biology, Cell Biology, Basic Science Departments 2022
Member of the Duke Cancer Institute, Duke Cancer Institute, Institutes and Centers 2012

Contact Information

269 Sands, 303 Research Dr, Durham, NC 27710
Duke Box 3711, Sands 269, Durham, NC 27710
(919) 684-1005

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., University of California - Berkeley 2003
- B.S., Yonsei University (South Korea) 1998
Previous Appointments & Affiliations
- Associate Professor of Biochemistry, Biochemistry, Basic Science Departments 2016 - 2020
- Assistant Professor of Biochemistry, Biochemistry, Basic Science Departments 2009 - 2016
Recognition
In the News
- MAY 4, 2023 Duke Today
  
  Duke Awards 44 Distinguished Professorships
- JAN 24, 2023
  
  Cold Comfort
- DEC 19, 2019
  
  Cryo-Electron Microscope Captures Details of the ‘Wasabi Sensor’
- FEB 7, 2019
  
  Defining the Shape of Cool
- APR 17, 2017
  
  Time-Lapse Shows How Anticancer and Antiviral Drugs Get Into Cells
- JAN 15, 2016
  
  Scientists Discover Blueprint of Body's Temperature Sensor
Awards & Honors
Research
Selected Grants
- Catalysis and inhibition of chitin synthesis from pathogenic fungi awarded by National Institutes of Health 2022 - 2027
- Cell and Molecular Biology Training Program awarded by National Institutes of Health 2021 - 2026
- Structural and physiological studies on the human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 3 awarded by Helen Hay Whitney Foundation 2022 - 2025
- MRI: Acquisition of a Microscale Thermophoresis System awarded by National Science Foundation 2022 - 2025
- Pharmacological Sciences Training Grant awarded by National Institutes of Health 2020 - 2025
- Molecular principles of anti-COVID-19 drug uptake by human nucleoside transporters awarded by National Institutes of Health 2022 - 2024
- Structure, function, and pharmacology of neuronal membrane transport proteins awarded by National Institutes of Health 2016 - 2024
- TRPM8 in eye health and disease awarded by National Institutes of Health 2020 - 2024
- Structural and chemical biology of human equilibrative nucleoside transporters awarded by National Institutes of Health 2020 - 2024
- Structural studies of insect TRP channels awarded by BASF Corporation 2020 - 2023
- Structure guided design of novel adenosine reuptake inhibitors awarded by American Heart Association 2020 - 2021
- Structural and Mechanistic Characterization of MraY Catalysis and Inhibition awarded by National Institutes of Health 2017 - 2020
- Organization and Function of Cellular Structure awarded by National Institutes of Health 1975 - 2020
- Conformational ensembles associated with TRPV3 gating awarded by Scripps Research Institute 2018 - 2020
- Development of novel therapeutics for pain and itch relief awarded by National Institutes of Health 2014 - 2018
- Structure and Function of Concentrative Nucleoside Transporters awarded by National Institutes of Health 2013 - 2017
- Pharmacology and biophysics of the voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.7: a therapeutic target for pain awarded by National Institutes of Health 2011 - 2016
- Structural Biology and Biophysics Training Program awarded by National Institutes of Health 1994 - 2015
- High sensitivity multi-purpose electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy for biotechnological and biomedical research awarded by North Carolina Biotechnology Center 2014 - 2015
- Automated detection of protein crystals in high-throughput crystallography experiments awarded by North Carolina Biotechnology Center 2014 - 2015
- New Console and Cold Probe for the Duke 600 MHz NMR Spectrometer System awarded by National Institutes of Health 2013 - 2014
External Relationships
- The Korean Academy of Science and Technology
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Academic Articles
  - Nakaya T, Yabe M, Mashalidis EH, Sato T, Yamamoto K, Hikiji Y, et al. Synthesis of macrocyclic nucleoside antibacterials and their interactions with MraY. Nat Commun. 2022 Dec 20;13(1):7575.
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  - Yin Y, Zhang F, Feng S, Butay KJ, Borgnia MJ, Im W, et al. Activation mechanism of the mouse cold-sensing TRPM8 channel by cooling agonist and PIP2. Science. 2022 Oct 14;378(6616):eadd1268.
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  - Wright NJ, Fedor JG, Zhang H, Jeong P, Suo Y, Yoo J, et al. Methotrexate recognition by the human reduced folate carrier SLC19A1. Nature. 2022 Sep;609(7929):1056–62.
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  - Ren Z, Chhetri A, Guan Z, Suo Y, Yokoyama K, Lee S-Y. Structural basis for inhibition and regulation of a chitin synthase from Candida albicans. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2022 Jul;29(7):653–64.
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  - Kuk ACY, Hao A, Lee S-Y. Structure and Mechanism of the Lipid Flippase MurJ. Annu Rev Biochem. 2022 Jun 21;91:705–29.
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  - Wright NJ, Lee S-Y. Recent advances on the inhibition of human solute carriers: Therapeutic implications and mechanistic insights. Curr Opin Struct Biol. 2022 Jun;74:102378.
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  - Kwon DH, Zhang F, Fedor JG, Suo Y, Lee S-Y. Vanilloid-dependent TRPV1 opening trajectory from cryoEM ensemble analysis. Nat Commun. 2022 May 24;13(1):2874.
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  - Ji R-R, Lee S-Y. Molecular Sensors of Temperature, Pressure, and Pain with Special Focus on TRPV1, TRPM8, and PIEZO2 Ion Channels. Neurosci Bull. 2021 Dec;37(12):1745–9.
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  - Kwon DH, Zhang F, Suo Y, Bouvette J, Borgnia MJ, Lee S-Y. Heat-dependent opening of TRPV1 in the presence of capsaicin. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2021 Jul;28(7):554–63.
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  - Wright NJ, Lee S-Y. Toward a Molecular Basis of Cellular Nucleoside Transport in Humans. Chemical Reviews. 2021 May;121(9):5336–58.
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  - Kwak S-H, Lim WY, Hao A, Mashalidis EH, Kwon D-Y, Jeong P, et al. Synthesis and evaluation of cyclopentane-based muraymycin analogs targeting MraY. Eur J Med Chem. 2021 Apr 5;215:113272.
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  - Yin Y, Lee S-Y. Current View of Ligand and Lipid Recognition by the Menthol Receptor TRPM8. Trends Biochem Sci. 2020 Sep;45(9):806–19.
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  - Mashalidis EH, Lee S-Y. Structures of Bacterial MraY and Human GPT Provide Insights into Rational Antibiotic Design. J Mol Biol. 2020 Aug 21;432(18):4946–63.
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  - Suo Y, Wang Z, Zubcevic L, Hsu AL, He Q, Borgnia MJ, et al. Structural Insights into Electrophile Irritant Sensing by the Human TRPA1 Channel. Neuron. 2020 Mar 4;105(5):882-894.e5.
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  - Zubcevic L, Lee S-Y. The role of π-helices in TRP channel gating. Curr Opin Struct Biol. 2019 Oct;58:314–23.
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  - Yin Y, Wu M, Hsu AL, Borschel WF, Borgnia MJ, Lander GC, et al. Visualizing structural transitions of ligand-dependent gating of the TRPM2 channel. Nat Commun. 2019 Aug 20;10(1):3740.
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  - Mashalidis EH, Kaeser B, Terasawa Y, Katsuyama A, Kwon D-Y, Lee K, et al. Chemical logic of MraY inhibition by antibacterial nucleoside natural products. Nat Commun. 2019 Jul 2;10(1):2917.
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  - Wright NJ, Lee S-Y. Structures of human ENT1 in complex with adenosine reuptake inhibitors. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2019 Jul;26(7):599–606.
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  - Zubcevic L, Hsu AL, Borgnia MJ, Lee S-Y. Symmetry transitions during gating of the TRPV2 ion channel in lipid membranes. Elife. 2019 May 15;8.
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  - Zubcevic L, Borschel WF, Hsu AL, Borgnia MJ, Lee S-Y. Regulatory switch at the cytoplasmic interface controls TRPV channel gating. Elife. 2019 May 9;8.
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  - Kuk ACY, Hao A, Guan Z, Lee S-Y. Visualizing conformation transitions of the Lipid II flippase MurJ. Nat Commun. 2019 Apr 15;10(1):1736.
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  - Yin Y, Le SC, Hsu AL, Borgnia MJ, Yang H, Lee S-Y. Structural basis of cooling agent and lipid sensing by the cold-activated TRPM8 channel. Science. 2019 Mar 1;363(6430).
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  - Zubcevic L, Herzik MA, Wu M, Borschel WF, Hirschi M, Song AS, et al. Conformational ensemble of the human TRPV3 ion channel. Nat Commun. 2018 Nov 14;9(1):4773.
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  - Yoo J, Wu M, Yin Y, Herzik MA, Lander GC, Lee S-Y. Cryo-EM structure of a mitochondrial calcium uniporter. Science. 2018 Aug 3;361(6401):506–11.
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  - Zubcevic L, Le S, Yang H, Lee S-Y. Conformational plasticity in the selectivity filter of the TRPV2 ion channel. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2018 May;25(5):405–15.
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  - Yoo J, Mashalidis EH, Kuk ACY, Yamamoto K, Kaeser B, Ichikawa S, et al. GlcNAc-1-P-transferase-tunicamycin complex structure reveals basis for inhibition of N-glycosylation. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2018 Mar;25(3):217–24.
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  - Yoo J, Mashalidis EH, Kuk ACY, Yamamoto K, Kaeser B, Ichikawa S, et al. GlcNAc-1-P-transferase-tunicamycin complex structure reveals basis for inhibition of N-glycosylation. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2018 Mar;25(3):217–24.
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  - Bang S, Yoo J, Gong X, Liu D, Han Q, Luo X, et al. Differential Inhibition of Nav1.7 and Neuropathic Pain by Hybridoma-Produced and Recombinant Monoclonal Antibodies that Target Nav1.7 : Differential activities of Nav1.7-targeting monoclonal antibodies. Neurosci Bull. 2018 Feb;34(1):22–41.
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  - Chang W, Berta T, Kim YH, Lee S, Lee S-Y, Ji R-R. Expression and Role of Voltage-Gated Sodium Channels in Human Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons with Special Focus on Nav1.7, Species Differences, and Regulation by Paclitaxel. Neurosci Bull. 2018 Feb;34(1):4–12.
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  - Yin Y, Wu M, Zubcevic L, Borschel WF, Lander GC, Lee S-Y. Structure of the cold- and menthol-sensing ion channel TRPM8. Science. 2018 Jan 12;359(6372):237–41.
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  - Hirschi M, Herzik MA, Wie J, Suo Y, Borschel WF, Ren D, et al. Cryo-electron microscopy structure of the lysosomal calcium-permeable channel TRPML3. Nature. 2017 Oct 19;550(7676):411–4.
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  - Hirschi M, Johnson ZL, Lee S-Y. Visualizing multistep elevator-like transitions of a nucleoside transporter. Nature. 2017 May 4;545(7652):66–70.
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  - Kuk ACY, Mashalidis EH, Lee S-Y. Crystal structure of the MOP flippase MurJ in an inward-facing conformation. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2017 Feb;24(2):171–6.
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  - Pitt GS, Lee S-Y. Current view on regulation of voltage-gated sodium channels by calcium and auxiliary proteins. Protein Sci. 2016 Sep;25(9):1573–84.
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  - Chung BC, Mashalidis EH, Tanino T, Kim M, Matsuda A, Hong J, et al. Structural insights into inhibition of lipid I production in bacterial cell wall synthesis. Nature. 2016 May 26;533(7604):557–60.
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  - Zubcevic L, Herzik MA, Chung BC, Liu Z, Lander GC, Lee S-Y. Cryo-electron microscopy structure of the TRPV2 ion channel. Nat Struct Mol Biol. 2016 Feb;23(2):180–6.
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  - Johnson ZL, Lee S-Y. Liposome reconstitution and transport assay for recombinant transporters. Methods Enzymol. 2015;556:373–83.
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  - Wang C, Chung BC, Yan H, Wang H-G, Lee S-Y, Pitt GS. Structural analyses of Ca²⁺/CaM interaction with NaV channel C-termini reveal mechanisms of calcium-dependent regulation. Nat Commun. 2014 Sep 18;5:4896.
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  - Johnson ZL, Lee J-H, Lee K, Lee M, Kwon D-Y, Hong J, et al. Structural basis of nucleoside and nucleoside drug selectivity by concentrative nucleoside transporters. Elife. 2014 Jul 31;3.
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  - Johnson ZL, Lee J-H, Lee K, Lee M, Kwon D-Y, Hong J, et al. Structural basis of nucleoside and nucleoside drug selectivity by concentrative nucleoside transporters. Elife. 2014 Jul 31;3:e03604.
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  - Lee J-H, Park C-K, Chen G, Han Q, Xie R-G, Liu T, et al. A monoclonal antibody that targets a NaV1.7 channel voltage sensor for pain and itch relief. Cell. 2014 Jun 5;157(6):1393–404.
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  - Chung BC, Zhao J, Gillespie RA, Kwon D-Y, Guan Z, Hong J, et al. Crystal structure of MraY, an essential membrane enzyme for bacterial cell wall synthesis. Science. 2013 Aug 30;341(6149):1012–6.
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  - Chung BC, Zhao J, Gillespie RA, Kwon DY, Guan Z, Hong J, et al. Crystal structure of MraY, an essential membrane enzyme for bacterial cell wall synthesis. Science. 2013;341(6149):1012–6.
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  - Wang C, Chung BC, Yan H, Lee S-Y, Pitt GS. Crystal structure of the ternary complex of a NaV C-terminal domain, a fibroblast growth factor homologous factor, and calmodulin. Structure. 2012 Jul 3;20(7):1167–76.
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  - Johnson ZL, Cheong C-G, Lee S-Y. Crystal structure of a concentrative nucleoside transporter from Vibrio cholerae at 2.4 Å. Nature. 2012 Mar 11;483(7390):489–93.
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  - Lee S-Y, Letts JA, MacKinnon R. Functional reconstitution of purified human Hv1 H+ channels. J Mol Biol. 2009 Apr 17;387(5):1055–60.
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  - Lee S-Y, Banerjee A, MacKinnon R. Two separate interfaces between the voltage sensor and pore are required for the function of voltage-dependent K(+) channels. Plos Biol. 2009 Mar 3;7(3):e47.
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  - Lee SY, Banerjee A, Mackinnon R. Two separate interfaces between the Voltage sensor and pore are required for the function of Voltage-dependent K⁺ channels. Plos Biology. 2009 Mar 1;7(3):0676–86.
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  - Lee S-Y, Letts JA, Mackinnon R. Dimeric subunit stoichiometry of the human voltage-dependent proton channel Hv1. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2008 Jun 3;105(22):7692–5.
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  - Lee S-Y, Lee A, Chen J, MacKinnon R. Structure of the KvAP voltage-dependent K+ channel and its dependence on the lipid membrane. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005 Oct 25;102(43):15441–6.
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  - Kim HS, Damo SM, Lee S-Y, Wemmer D, Klinman JP. Structure and hydride transfer mechanism of a moderate thermophilic dihydrofolate reductase from Bacillus stearothermophilus and comparison to its mesophilic and hyperthermophilic homologues. Biochemistry. 2005 Aug 30;44(34):11428–39.
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  - Roberts A, Lee S-Y, McCullagh E, Silversmith RE, Wemmer DE. YbiV from Escherichia coli K12 is a HAD phosphatase. Proteins. 2005 Mar 1;58(4):790–801.
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  - Lee S-Y, MacKinnon R. A membrane-access mechanism of ion channel inhibition by voltage sensor toxins from spider venom. Nature. 2004 Jul 8;430(6996):232–5.
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  - Lee S-Y, De La Torre A, Yan D, Kustu S, Nixon BT, Wemmer DE. Regulation of the transcriptional activator NtrC1: structural studies of the regulatory and AAA+ ATPase domains. Genes Dev. 2003 Oct 15;17(20):2552–63.
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  - Hastings CA, Lee S-Y, Cho HS, Yan D, Kustu S, Wemmer DE. High-resolution solution structure of the beryllofluoride-activated NtrC receiver domain. Biochemistry. 2003 Aug 5;42(30):9081–90.
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  - Gardino AK, Volkman BF, Cho HS, Lee S-Y, Wemmer DE, Kern D. The NMR solution structure of BeF(3)(-)-activated Spo0F reveals the conformational switch in a phosphorelay system. J Mol Biol. 2003 Aug 1;331(1):245–54.
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  - Rubin SM, Lee S-Y, Ruiz EJ, Pines A, Wemmer DE. Detection and characterization of xenon-binding sites in proteins by 129Xe NMR spectroscopy. J Mol Biol. 2002 Sep 13;322(2):425–40.
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  - Lee SY, Cho HS, Pelton JG, Yan D, Berry EA, Wemmer DE. Crystal structure of activated CheY. Comparison with other activated receiver domains. J Biol Chem. 2001 May 11;276(19):16425–31.
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  - Lee SY, Cho HS, Pelton JG, Yan D, Henderson RK, King DS, et al. Crystal structure of an activated response regulator bound to its target. Nat Struct Biol. 2001 Jan;8(1):52–6.
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  - Cho HS, Lee SY, Yan D, Pan X, Parkinson JS, Kustu S, et al. NMR structure of activated CheY. J Mol Biol. 2000 Mar 31;297(3):543–51.
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  - Yan D, Cho HS, Hastings CA, Igo MM, Lee SY, Pelton JG, et al. Beryllofluoride mimics phosphorylation of NtrC and other bacterial response regulators. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1999 Dec 21;96(26):14789–94.
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  - Lee SY, Lee JH, Chang HJ, Cho JM, Jung JW, Lee W. Solution structure of a sweet protein single-chain monellin determined by nuclear magnetic resonance and dynamical simulated annealing calculations. Biochemistry. 1999 Feb 23;38(8):2340–6.
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  - Li HL, Sui HX, Ghanshani S, Lee S, Walian PJ, Wu CL, et al. Two-dimensional crystallization and projection structure of KcsA potassium channel. J Mol Biol. 1998 Sep 18;282(2):211–6.
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- Book Sections
  - Suo Y, Lee S-Y. Sample preparation of the human TRPA1 ion channel for cryo-EM studies. In 2021. p. 75–87.
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Teaching & Mentoring
Recent Courses

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Education, Training, & Certifications

Previous Appointments & Affiliations

In the News

Awards & Honors

Selected Grants

External Relationships

Selected Publications

Academic Articles

Book Sections

Recent Courses