Jung Lab

Currently, our research group has three major research topics (three sub-groups). Supramolecular protein assemblies (also called protein nanostructures) provide novel nano-architectures with molecular precision and unlimited functionalities. These well-defined artificial protein assemblies will be highly effective to understand and also manipulate biomolecular assemblages. Ideally, we would like to direct spatial organization of functional proteins with tailored structures and sizes. And, ultimately, we want to create artificial protein machines. A below figure shows several examples of artificial protein assemblies that were fabricated in our group. Protein multivalency, particularly multivalent protein interactions, is a key principle in many biological processes. However, little is known about the principles of multivalent protein interactions, which can achieve highly enhanced but also dynamic binding between various biological systems. High-order protein scaffolds, such as those fabricated in our lab, will be highly beneficial tools not only to study but also to use and control protein multivalency. One of our primary goals (with an ultimate ambition to understand bio-assemblies) is to elucidate the working mechanisms of biomolecular multivalent interactions (or multivalency) and also to apply these mechanisms to develop highly effective biosensors.