Soo and Jae Study the FOXG1 Syndrome at UB-Biological Sciences

Soo Lee, Ph.D., Empire Innovation Professor, & Om P. Bahl Endowed Professor at University at Buffalo-Dept. Biological Sciences

Soo Lee, a well-known neurodevelopmental biologist, holds two named professorships at UB (aka, SUNY-Buffalo). Her studies have been centered around how our motor neurons develop. When Yuna arrived, however, Soo learned that Yuna has a mutation in FOXG1 gene, which masterminds the development of the forebrain. As a result, Yuna developed the neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by poorly developed forebrain,. Soo was initially devastated but quickly developed strong urge to fight this disorder named FOXG1 syndrome for Yuna. Soo has been studying FOXG1 gene and the FOXG1 syndrome using various mouse models combined with multi-faceted approaches including deep sequencing-based genomics technologies. Soo's lab is rapidly making progresses in several key areas of research for treating the FOXG1 syndrome.

Jae W. Lee, Ph.D. & Professor at University at Buffalo-Dept. Biological Sciences

Jae Lee is Soo Lee’s husband and Yuna’s dad. He discovered the MLL4-complex, which contains two enzymes that play critical roles in epigenetic gene regulation, MLL4 and UTX.  MLL4 facilitates gene expression by opening target chromatin loci by methylating histone H3-lysine 4 residues.  UTX supports the activity of MLL4 by removing methyl group attached at H3-lysine 27, which directs chromatin compaction.  Inactivating mutations in MLL4 and UTX genes have been found to cause a developmental disroder named Kabuki syndrome (KS), which also includes neurodevelopmental deficits.  Jae has been exploring the enzymatic activity of MLL4 and UTX as novel therapeutic targets to treat KS. Since Yuna arrived with the FOXG1 syndrome, Jae joined Soo for the journey to develop the cures for the FOXG1 syndrome.