Faculty

Inkyu Hwang

Assistant Professor of Chemistry
Department of Chemistry
TSRI - 1996

Education

B.S., Seoul National University (Korea), 1984
M.S., Korean Institute of Science and Technology, 1986
Ph.D., University of Texas at Austin, 1996

Research Focus

Development of Immune Modulators via Chemical Genetics
The main focus of our laboratory is on utilizing concepts and techniques of chemical genetics to investigate complex biological systems and to develop new therapeutics. T lymphocytes play crucial roles in adoptive immunity such as humoral and cellular responses against viral and bacterial infections, allergic responses, and graft rejection. Modulating T cell immune responses, thus, has significant impacts on human health. T cell integrins typified by LFA-1 function as adhesion and costimulatory molecules pivotal for T cell immunity. We developed a cell-based high-throughput assay system that uses primary naïve T cells and screen chemical libraries for isolation of small molecules interfering with integrin functions. We work at the interface of biology and chemistry. The interdisciplinary approach provides novel strategies necessary for better understanding the biological systems.

Selected References

Hwang, I., J. F. Huang, H. Kishimoto, A. Brunmark, P. A. Peterson, M. R. Jackson, C. D. Surh, Z. Cai, and J. Sprent. 2000. T cells can use either T cell receptor or CD28 receptors to absorb and internalize cell surface molecules derived from antigen-presenting cells. J Exp Med 191:1137-1148.

Hwang, I., X. Shen, and J. Sprent. 2003. Direct stimulation of naive T cells by membrane vesicles from antigen-presenting cells: distinct roles for CD54 and B7 molecules. Proc Natl Acad Sci U.S.A. 100:6670-6675.

Kim, K., L. Wang, and I. Hwang. 2009. A novel flow cytometric high throughput assay for a systematic study on molecular mechanisms underlying T cell receptor-mediated integrin activation. PLoS One 4:e6044.

Kim, K., L. Wang, and I. Hwang. 2009. LFA-1-dependent Ca2+ entry following suboptimal T cell receptor triggering proceeds without mobilization of intracellular Ca2+. J Biol Chem 284:22149-22154.