Yisang Yoon, PhD

Professor, Director Physiology Graduate Program

Dr. Yisang Yoon

Phone: (706) 721-7859
Fax: (706) 721-7299
Email: yyoon@augusta.edu
Office: CA-2096
Lab: CA-2095

Education and Training

Seoul National University, KOREA: BS, 1982
Seoul National University, KOREA: MS, 1984
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA: PhD. 1993
The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA: Postdoctoral Associate, 1994
Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA, Postdoctoral Research Fellow 1995 – 1999

Academic Appointments

2002 - Assistant Professor, Mayo Graduate School

2003 - Assistant Professor, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

2008 - Associate Professor, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry

2012 - Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University

2021 - Professor, Department of Physiology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University

Research Interests

My laboratory studies mitochondria, critical cellular organelles that produce most of the cellular energy. Mitochondria are specially equipped to produce chemical energy required for cellular processes. This energy-producing process involves carefully controlled electron transport within mitochondria. However, when this process is perturbed, electrons can uncontrollably react with oxygen molecules to produce oxygen radicals that can be further converted to various highly reactive toxic chemical compounds called reactive oxygen species (ROS). Mitochondria contain elaborately organized internal structures encapsulated in dynamically changing tubular networks. This dynamic shape change is mediated by fission and fusion of membrane tubules. Our research focus is to define the molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial shape change and to understand physiological significance of mitochondrial dynamics. Our studies have found that mitochondrial shape change is a key element participating in regulation of mitochondrial electron transport and ROS production.

Photo of Dr. Yoon's research of mitochondria

Current Projects

Identifying the underlying mechanisms of mitochondrial form-function relationship

Developing a new concept of targeting mitochondrial fission as a novel therapeutic strategy

Studying mitochondrial shape change in pathologies of hepatic and cardiovascular systems

Defining the role of mitochondrial fission in insulin secretion

Many shapes of mitochondria

Photos of the many shapes of mitochondria

Representative Publications

(Go to Pub Med)

Galloway CA, and Yoon, Y. What comes first, misshape or dysfunction? – View from metabolic excess. J. Gen. Physiol. 2012, 139: 455-463.
Huang P, Galloway CA, Yoon Y. Control of mitochondrial morphology through differential interactions of mitochondrial fusion and fission proteins. PLoS One. 2011, 6(5):e20655.
Yoon Y, Galloway CA, Jhun BS, Yu T. Mitochondrial dynamics in diabetes. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 2011, 14: 439-457.
Yu T, Jhun BS, Yoon Y. High glucose stimulation increases reactive oxygen species production through the calcium and MAP kinase-mediated activation of mitochondrial fission. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 2011, 14: 425-437
Serasinghe MN, Seneviratne AMPB, Smrcka AV and Yoon Y. Identification and characterization of unique proline-rich peptides binding to the mitochondrial fission protein hFis1. J. Biol. Chem. 2010, 285: 620-630.
Yu T, Sheu SS, Robotham JL and Yoon Y. Mitochondrial fission mediates high glucose-induced cell death through elevated production of reactive oxygen species. Cardiovasc. Res. 2008, 79: 341-351.
Yu T, Robotham JL and Yoon Y. Increased production of reactive oxygen species in hyperglycemic conditions requires dynamic changes of mitochondrial morphology. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 2006, 103: 2653-2658.
Yu T, Fox RJ, Burwell LS and Yoon Y. Regulation of mitochondrial fission and apoptosis by the mitochondrial outer membrane protein hFis1. J. Cell Sci. 2005, 118: 4141-4151.