학회소개 
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구승회 (성균관대학교 의과대학, 現 고려대학교 생명과학부) Professor Koo has been best known for his studies in elucidating roles of transcriptional coactivators in hepatic gluconeogenesis and insulin signaling. Tight control of hepatic gluconeogenesis is critical in maintaining glucose homeostasis in mammals, and dysregulation of such process due to the insulin resistance promotes hyperglycemia and causes a development of type 2 diabetes. During his postdoctoral training, he delineates the role of CREB regulated transcription coactivator 2 (CRTC2) in hepatic gluconeogenesis, showing that fasting-dependent activation of CRTC2 is critical in mediating adaptive response of hepatocytes to prolonged fasting (Nature. 2005). After establishing an independent laboratory, professor Koo continues his effort to elaborate the role of CRTC2 in hepatic energy metabolism that is regulated by kinase/phosphatase cascades. CRTC2 was shown to be responsible for the transcriptional activation of Lipin1, a mammalian phosphatidic acid phosphatase, in the livers of mouse models of obesity, thus suggesting that hyperactivation of CRTC2 promotes hepatic insulin resistance and further exacerbate hyperglycemia (Cell Metab. 2009). CRTC2 was also shown to function as a coactivator for an ER-bound bZip transcription factor, CREBH, thus suggesting a complex nature of transcriptional regulatory circuits in regulating hepatic gluconeogenesis that is coordinately controlled by CRTC2 (Cell Metab. 2010). In addition, a role for the protein phosphatase 4 complex in regulating CRTC2 function was reported, showing that the balance between the kinases and the phosphatases is required for the proper regulation of CRTC2-dependent hepatic glucose production (Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2010). These studies will be valuable to provide clues for the development of a potential therapeutics for metabolic diseases. Representative papers |