A postdoctoral fellowship is available to study the function of mammalian polo-like kinase 4 and 1 (Plk4 and Plk1), which play central roles in regulating various biological events, including centriole duplication, bipolar spindle formation, chromosome segregation, cell division, and proliferation. Dysregulation of Plk4/Plk1-dependent processes, by mutations in their associated cellular components or HIV accessory proteins, is tightly linked to the development of aneuploidy and cancer. During the past several years, we have been taking cell biological, biochemical, biophysical, and structural approaches (e.g., super-resolution imaging, single molecule tracking, in vitro reconstitution, X-ray crystallography, and cryo-EM) to delineate the molecular bases and structural rules governing the centrosomal architecture and function, the deregulation of which can lead to the development of various human diseases, including cancers, microcephaly, and AIDS.  For additional information, please visit https://ccr.cancer.gov/staff-directory/kyung-s-lee.

To apply, please send a CV and three names of references to Dr. Kyung Lee (kyunglee@mail.nih.gov).

Selected papers:

1.   1. Ahn, J. I., ….., and K. S. Lee. 2026. Dual architectural Cep57: A lynchpin for organizing pericentriolar materials and preventing mosaic variegated aneuploidy in humans. Under review. 

2.   Park, J.-E, ….., and K. S. Lee. 2024. Centrosome amplification and aneuploidy driven by the HIV-1-induced Vpr-VprBP-Plk4 complex in CD4⁺ T cells. Nat. Commun. 15:2017. PMID: 38443376.

3.   Park, J.-E., K. ….., and K. S. Lee. 2023. Specific inhibition of an anticancer target, polo-like kinase 1, by allosterically dismantling its mechanism of substrate recognition. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 120:e2305037120 (Direct submission)

4.   Ahn, J. I., ….., and K. S. Lee. 2023. Architectural basis for cylindrical self-assembly governing Plk4-mediated centriole duplication in humans. Commun. Biol. 6:712 PMID:37433832.

5.   Lee, K. S. and M. Steinmetz. 2021. Centrosomes in the spotlight: from organization to function and their role in disease. Curr Opin Struct Biol. 66: iii–v. (Invited review). PMID: 33485756.

6.   Lee, K. S., et al. 2020. Constructing PCM with architecturally distinct higher-order assemblies. Curr Opin Struct Biol. 66:66-73. (Invited review). PMID: 33176265.

7.   Alverez, C. N., ….., and K. S. Lee. 2020. Identification of a new heterocyclic scaffold for inhibitors of the polo-box domain of polo-like kinase 1. J Med Chem. 63:14087-14117. PMID: 33175530.

8.   Lee, K. S., et al. 2020. A self-assembled cylindrical platform for Plk4-induced centriole biogenesis. Open Biol. 10:200102 (Invited review). Featured article (Cover art). PMID: 32810424.

9.   Park, J. -E., ….., and K. S. Lee. 2019. Phase separation of Plk4 by its autoactivation and noncatalytic clustering drives centriole biogenesis. Nat. Commun. 10: 4959. PMID: 31672968. Featured in “Protein Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation in Diseases” in Nat Commun (2022).

10.        Kim, T.-S., ….., and K. S. Lee. 2019. Molecular architecture of a cylindrical self-assembly at human centrosomes. Nat. Commun. 10:1151. PMID: 30858376. Featured article (Editors’ Highlights).