event
Divisional Seminar - Prof. Kyeng Min Park (Daegu Catholic University School of Medicine)
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Title: Ultrastable and tunable host-guest chemistry for bioimaging and spatiotemporal proteomics
Abstract:
High-affinity molecular recognition is a fundamental supramolecular principle underpinning
bioimaging and proteomics. The streptavidin-biotin (Sv-Bt) interaction has long served as the benchmark for
strong noncovalent binding; however, its practical application is often constrained by the large molecular size of
Sv, interference from endogenous Bt, and limited control over binding dynamics. In this talk, I introduce a
synthetic supramolecular platform based on ucurbit[7]uril (CB[7], a pumpkin-shaped macrocyclic host molecule)
and its ultrahigh-affinity small-molecule guests, including adamantyl ammonium (AdA) and ferrocenyl ammonium
(FcA). The CB[7]–guest interaction exhibits exceptionally high binding constants (Kₐ ≈ 10¹²–10¹⁵ M⁻¹), rivaling the
natural Sv-Bt system. Importantly, this platform combines extraordinary binding strength with bio-orthogonality
and chemical tunability. Crucially, unlike the nearly irreversible nature of Sv-Bt, the CB[7]–guest interaction offers
tunable controllability. Binding affinity and reversibility can be rationally modulated through guest design,
competitive displacement, and environmental cues, enabling on-demand control over molecular capture and
release. I will demonstrate how these unique features enable real-time bioimaging of autophagosome–lysosome
fusion, as well as spatiotemporal proteomics, including mitochondrial and nuclear proteome mapping and
putative biomarker discovery.
Bio:
Dr. Park received his Ph.D. in Supramolecular Chemistry from POSTECH, South Korea, in 2009. He
subsequently completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University. He then returned to South
Korea to serve as a Senior Researcher at the Semiconductor R&D Center of Samsung Electronics. In 2014, he
joined the Institute for Basic Science (IBS), South Korea, where he led a research group until 2021. He is currently
an assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry at Daegu Catholic University School of Medicine in
South Korea. His research focuses on the development of supramolecular tools and self-assembled materials
for applications in chemical biology, biomedicine and environmental science. Dr. Park is currently on sabbatical
in the Finn laboratory through summer, 2026.
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Summary
One in the series of the SoCB seminars.
Status
- Workflow status: Published
- Created by: mcurtis41
- Created: 01/02/2026
- Modified By: mcurtis41
- Modified: 01/02/2026
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