Young-Jung Kim, PhD

Post-Doc

Young-Jung Kim received his undergraduate degree in pharmacy from Sungkyunkwan University, Korea, in 2017 and obtained a pharmacist license. He continued his adventure in the neuroscience of drug addiction and psychopharmacology. He received his PhD in investigating the biomolecular mechanisms and regulating targets of cocaine-induced reward behaviors in animals from the Sungkyunkwan University working under the supervision of Dr. Choon-Gon Jang in 2022. He worked as a postdoctoral researcher and lecturer at Sungkyunkwan University from 2022 to 2024. After two years of research experience, he joined the laboratory of Dr. Min-Ho Nam at KIST as a postdoctoral researcher.

Young-Jung Kim, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Researcher

Center for Brain Function, Brain Science Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea

E-mail: dhkcnghf@naver.com

Phone number: 010-2287-5919

Education

2010.03 - 2013.02	B.S. Korea University Department of Chemistry

2013.03 - 2017.02	B.S. Sungkyunkwan University School of Pharmacy

2017.03 - 2022.02	Integrated M.S. & Ph.D. Sungkyunkwan University School of Pharmacy Advisor: Choon-Gon Jang. Ph.D. Thesis: Role of CYFIP2 on medial prefrontal cortex to nucleus accumbens pathway in regulation of cocaine reward

Research Experiences

2022.03 - 2024.02	Post-doc Researcher Sungkyunkwan University, Republic of Korea Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Subsidiary Research Institutions Advisor: Choon-Gon Jang. Ph.D.

2023.02 - 2024.02	Lecturer Sungkyunkwan University, Republic of Korea School of Pharmacy: Human anatomy and Physiology, Pharmacology Research

2024.07 - Present	Post-doc Researcher Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Republic of Korea Center for Brain Function, Brain Science Institute Advisor: Min-Ho Nam. Ph.D.

Publications

Kim YJ*, Choi SJ*, Hong SI*, Park JC*, Lee Y, Ma SX, Hur KH, Lee Y, Kim KM, Kim HK, Kim HY, Lee SY, Choi SY, Jang CG. (2024) The ion channel TRPA1 is a modulator of the cocaine reward circuit in the nucleus accumbens. Molecular Psychiatry (*co-first author), DOI: 10.1038/s41380-024-02623-4.
Kim YJ, Kim K, Lee Y, Min HW, Ko YH, Lee BR, Hur KH, Kim SK, Lee SY, Jang CG. (2024) The mutated cytoplasmic fragile X messenger ribonucleoprotein 1 (FMR1)-interacting protein 2 (CYFIP2 S968F) regulates cocaine-induced reward behaviour and plasticity in the nucleus accumbens. British Journal of Pharmacology, DOI: 10.1111/bph.16427.
Kim YJ*, Kook WA*, Ma SX, Lee BR, Ko YH, Kim SK, Lee Y, Lee JG, Lee S, Kim KM, Lee SY, Jang CG. (2024) The novel psychoactive substance 25E-NBOMe induces reward-related behaviors via dopamine D1 receptor signaling in male rodents. Archives of Pharmacal Research (*co-first author), DOI: 10.1007/s12272-024-01491-4.
Hwang SB, Lee JG, Lee Y, Kook WA, Kim SK, Donio AL, Min HW, Kim YJ, Lee SY, Jang CG. (2023) Adinazolam, a Benzodiazepine-Type New Psychoactive Substance, Has Abuse Potential and Induces Withdrawal Symptoms in Rodents. ACS Chemical Neuroscience, DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00346.
Hur KH, Lee Y, Donio AL, Ma SX, Lee BR, Kim SK, Lee JG, Kim YJ, Kim M, Yoon S, Lee S, Lee YS, Lee SY, Jang CG. (2022) Mepirapim, a Novel Synthetic Cannabinoid, Induces Addiction-Related Behaviors through Neurochemical Maladaptation in the Brain of Rodents. Pharmaceuticals (Basel), DOI: 10.3390/ph15060710.
Lee BR, Sung SJ, Hur KH, Kim SE, Ma SX, Kim SK, Ko YH, Kim YJ, Lee Y, Lee SY, Jang CG. (2022) Korean Red Ginseng inhibits methamphetamine addictive behaviors by regulating dopaminergic and NMDAergic system in rodents. Journal of Ginseng Research, DOI: 10.1016/j.jgr.2021.05.007.
Hur KH, Kim SE, Ma SX, Lee BR, Ko YH, Seo JY, Kim SK, Kim YJ, Sung SJ, Lee Y, Jung YH, Lee YS, Lee SY, Jang CG. (2021) Methoxphenidine (MXP) induced abnormalities: Addictive and schizophrenia-related behaviours based on an imbalance of neurochemicals in the brain British Journal of Pharmacology, DOI: 10.1111/bph.15528.
Lee BR, Lee JH, Ko YH, Seo JY, Hur KH, Kim YJ, Kim SK, Kim SE, Lee SY, Jang CG. (2021) Korean Red Ginseng reduces chronic social defeat stress-induced mood disorders via N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor modulation in mice. Journal of Ginseng Research, DOI: 10.1016/j.jgr.2019.11.003.
Kim YJ*, Ma SX*, Hur KH*, Lee Y, Ko YH, Lee BR, Kim SK, Sung SJ, Kim KM, Kim HC, Lee SY, Jang CG. (2021) New designer phenethylamines 2C-C and 2C-P have abuse potential and induce neurotoxicity in rodents. Archives of Toxicology (*co-first author), DOI: 10.1007/s00204-021-02980-x.
Hur KH, Kim SE, Lee BR, Ko YH, Seo JY, Kim SK, Ma SX, Kim YJ, Jeong Y, Pham DT, Trinh QD, Shin EJ, Kim HC, Lee YS, Lee SY, Jang CG. (2020) 25C-NBF, a new psychoactive substance, has addictive and neurotoxic potential in rodents. Archives of Toxicology, DOI: 10.1007/s00204-020-02740-3.
Ko YH, Kwon SH, Kim SK, Lee BR, Hur KH, Kim YJ, Kim SE, Lee SY, Jang CG. (2019) Protective effects of 6,7,4'-trihydroxyisoflavone, a major metabolite of daidzein, on 6-hydroxydopamine-induced neuronal cell death in SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells. Archives of Pharmacal Research, DOI: 10.1007/s12272-019-01191-4.
Ko YH, Shim KY, Kim SK, Seo JY, Lee BR, Hur KH, Kim YJ, Kim SE, Do MH, Parveen A, Kim SY, Lee SY, Jang CG. (2019) Lespedeza bicolor Extract Improves Amyloid Beta25 - 35-Induced Memory Impairments by Upregulating BDNF and Activating Akt, ERK, and CREB Signaling in Mice. Planta Medica, DOI: 10.1055/a-1018-5402.
Seo JY, Hur KH, Ko YH, Kim K, Lee BR, Kim YJ, Kim SK, Kim SE, Lee YS, Kim HC, Lee SY, Jang CG. (2019) A novel designer drug, 25N-NBOMe, exhibits abuse potential via the dopaminergic system in rodents. Brain Research Bulletin, DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2019.07.002.
Ko YH, Kim SK, Kwon SH, Seo JY, Lee BR, Kim YJ, Hur KH, Kim SY, Lee SY, Jang CG. (2019) 7,8,4'-Trihydroxyisoflavone, a Metabolized Product of Daidzein, Attenuates 6-Hydroxydopamine-Induced Neurotoxicity in SH-SY5Y Cells. Biomolecules & Therapeutics, DOI: 10.4062/biomolther.2018.211.

Awards

2024-2026 NRF postdoctoral fellowship
2023.10.06 Best poster presentation award, KSAP 2023 Annual meeting
2020.10.23 Poster presentation award, PSK 2020 Fall meeting
2018.10.12 Best poster presentation award, KSAP 2018 Annual meeting

Poster presentations

2023 Annual Meeting of KSAP (Korea), Oct 6, Title: Cytoplasmic FMR1-interacting protein 2 regulates cocaine reward by modulating synaptic plasticity in the nucleus accumbens.
2023 Symposium of KSAP (Korea), Apr 5-7, Title: The novel psychoactive substance 25E-NBOMe induces reward-related behaviors via dopamine D1 receptor signaling.
2022 Federation of European Neuroscience Societies Form (Paris, France), Jul 9-13, Title: Role of CYFIP2 on medial prefrontal cortex to nucleus accumbens pathway in regulation of cocaine reward.
2022 Annual Meeting of KSBNS (Korea), May 19-21, Title: Role of CYFIP2 on medial prefrontal cortex to nucleus accumbens pathway in regulation of cocaine reward.
2021 International Convention of PSK (Korea), Dec 20-22, Title: Role of CYFIP2 on medial prefrontal cortex to nucleus accumbens pathway in regulation of cocaine reward.
2021 Annual Meeting of KSAP (Korea), Oct 15, Title: Role of CYFIP2 on medial prefrontal cortex to nucleus accumbens pathway in regulation of cocaine reward.
2020 Annual Meeting of KSBNS (Korea), Nov 16-17, Title: Role of CYFIP2 on medial prefrontal cortex to nucleus accumbens pathway in regulation of cocaine reward.
2020 International Convention of PSK (Korea), Oct 21-23, Title: 2C-C and 2C-P, new designer phenethylamines, have abuse properties and induce neurotoxicity in rodents.
2019 Annual Meeting of KSP (Korea), Nov 23-24, Title: 2C-C and 2C-P exhibit rewarding effects via dopaminergic system in nucleus accumbens and medial prefrontal cortex.
2019 International Brain Research Organization (Korea), Sep 22-25, Title: The new designer phenethylamines, 2C-C and 2C-P produce rewarding effects via dopaminergic system activation.
2019 International Convention of PSK (Korea), Apr 25-26, Title: Mutation of CYFIF2 attenuates sensitivity to cocaine reward in mice.
2018 Annual Meeting of KSAP (Korea), Oct 12, Title: CYFIP2 modulates cocaine-induced locomotor sensitization and conditioned place preference in mice.
2018 Annual Meeting of KSBNS (Korea), Aug 30-31, Title: CYFIP2 regulates behavioral sensitization and conditioned place preference induced by cocaine in mice.
2018 World Congress of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology (Kyoto, Japan), Jul 1-6, Title: The rewarding effects of 2C-C and 2C-P, the new designer drug of the 2C family, in rodents.
2017 Annual Meeting of KSP (Korea), Nov 7-8, Title: The rewarding effects of 2C-C, the new designer drug of the 2C family, in rodents.
2017 Annual Meeting of KSBNS (Korea), Aug 30-31, Title: 2C-C, the new designer drug of the 2C family, produces conditioned place preference and self-administration in rodents.

Techniques

Animal (mouse and rat) behavioral assay about addiction, locomotor activity, anxiety, depression, learning and memory, pain: open field test, conditioned place preference test, self-administration test, withdrawal symptom test, rota-rod test, climbing test, elevated plus maze, forced swim test, cliff avoidance test, tail suspension test, marble burying test, Y-maze test, novel object recognition test, passive avoidance test, acetic acid writhing test
Surgical procedure: catheter implantation in rat’s jugular vein for self-administration test, osmotic pump implantation, cardiac perfusion
Molecular biology: immunohistochemistry, Western blot, ELISA, GTPase activity assay, Golgi staining, RT-PCR, acetylcholinesterase inhibition assay
Stereotaxic surgery: microinfusion cannula or optic fiber implantation, viral vector microinjection for optogenetics, chemogenetics (DREADD), genetic manipulation
in vitro assay: cell culture, MTT assay