Scientists: Kwang Mook Jung, Ph.D.

Research

Working to understand: Alzheimer’s disease, Fragile X mental retardation syndrome and other CNS disorders which are associated with abnormal lipid regulations

Scientific Focus: My long-term goal is i) to define the molecular mechanism underlying the physiological regulation of endocannabinoids and other bioactive lipids, and ii) to determine their relevance to the pathogenesis of neurological diseases.

RECENT PUBLICATIONS ON PUBMED

Selected Publications

Jung, K.-M.*, Sepers, M*., Henstridge, C.M.*, Lassalle, O., Neuhofer, D., Martin, H., Ginger, M., Frick, A., DiPatrizio, N.V., Mackie, K., Katona, I.#, Piomelli, D. #, Manzoni, O.J.#
(2012) Uncoupling of the endocannabinoid signaling complex in a mouse model of fragile X syndrome. Nat. Commun. in press.
(*,#; Equal contribution)

Greg. L.C.*, Jung K.-M.*, Spradley, J.M., Nyilas, R., Suplita II, R. L., Zimmer, A., Watanabe, M., Mackie,K., Katona, I., Piomelli, D., Hohmann, A.G..
Activation of type-5 metabotropic glutamate receptors and diacylglycerol lipase-a inititates 2-arachidonoylglycerol formation and endocannabinoid-mediated analgesia. J. Neuroscience. (in press). (*; Equal contribution)

Jung K.-M., Clapper JR, Fu J, D'Agostino G, Guijarro A, Thongkham D, Avanesian A, Astarita G, DiPatrizio NV, Frontini A, Cinti S, Diano S, Piomelli D.
2-arachidonoylglycerol signaling in forebrain regulates systemic energy metabolism. Cell Metab. 2012 Mar 7;15(3):299-310.

Jung K.-M.*, Astarita G*, Yasar S, Vasilevko V, Cribbs DH, Head E, Cotman CW, Piomelli D.
An amyloid β(42)-dependent deficit in anandamide mobilization is associated with cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging. 2012 Aug;33(8):1522-32. Epub 2011 May 4.

Astarita G, Jung K.-M., Vasilevko V, Dipatrizio NV, Martin SK, Cribbs DH, Head E, Cotman CW, Piomelli D.
Elevated stearoyl-CoA desaturase in brains of patients with Alzheimer's disease.
PLoS One. 2011;6(10):e24777. Epub 2011 Oct 26.

Jung K.-M., Astarita G, Thongkham D, Piomelli D.
Diacylglycerol lipase-alpha and -beta control neurite outgrowth in neuro-2a cells through distinct molecular mechanisms. Mol Pharmacol. 2011 Jul;80(1):60-7. Epub 2011 Apr 14.

Jung, K.-M.*, Astarita, G.*, Zhu, C., Wallace, M., Mackie, K., Piomelli, D.
A key role for diacylglycerol lipase-alpha in metabotropic glutamate receptor-dependent endocannabinoid mobilization.
Mol. Pharmacol. Mol Pharmacol. 2007 Sep;72(3):612-21. Epub 2007 Jun 21. (*; Equal contribution)

Jung, K.-M., Mangieri, R., Stapleton, C., Kim, J., Fegley, D., Wallace, M., Mackie, K., Piomelli, D.
Stimulation of endocannabinoid formation in brain slice cultures through activation of group I metabotropic glutamate receptors. Mol. Pharmacol. 2005 Nov;68(5):1196-202. Epub 2005 Jul 28.

Jung, K.-M., Tan, S., Landman, N., Petrova, K., Murray, S., Lewis, R., Kim, P., Kim, D.S., Ryu, S.H., Chao, M.V., Kim, T.-W.
Regulated intramembrane proteolysis of the p75 neurotrophin receptor modulates its association with the TrkA receptor. J. Biol. Chem. 2003 Oct 24;278(43):42161-9. Epub 2003 Aug 11.

Lee, H.J.*, Jung, K.-M.*, Huang, Y.Z., Bennett, L.B., Lee, J.S., Mei, L., Kim, T.-W.
Presenilin-dependent gamma-secretase-like intramembrane cleavage of ErbB4. J. Biol. Chem. 2002 Feb 22;277(8):6318-23. Epub 2001 Dec 10. (*; Equal contribution)