Information

Related Research Units

Immunology Research
Molecular Medicine Research
Hur Laboratory Research
PCMM Research

Research Overview

The Hur laboratory studies various protein-nucleic acid interactions involved in the vertebrate immune system. The lab uses a combination of structural biology, biochemistry and cell biology to understand molecule mechanisms of the following proteins.

Innate immune receptors involved in antiviral immune response :

  • pattern recognition receptors
  • antiviral immune response
  • auto-inflammatory disease
  • immuno-oncology application


Transcription factors involved in T cell development of self-tolerance

  • Transcription factors
  • T cell development of self-tolerance
  • Nuclear organization

Research Background

Dr. Hur received her BS in physics from Ewha Women’s University in Korea in 2001, Ph.D. in physical chemistry with Dr. Thomas C. Bruice at the University of California, Santa Barbara in 2003 and obtained post-doctoral training in X-ray crystallography with Dr. Robert M. Stroud at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Hur joined Harvard Medical School in 2008 as an assistant professor and joined Boston Children's Hospital in 2010. In her own lab, she investigates immune mechanisms for self vs non-self discrimination. Her research on a family of viral RNA receptors, RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs), has led to the discovery of key mechanistic principles of foreign nucleic acid sensing. She was chosen as a Pew scholar (2010), Burroughs Wellcome Investigator in the Pathogenesis of Infectious Disease (2015), a recipient of the Vilcek Prize for Creative Promise in Biomedical Science (2015), Richard A. and Susan F. Smith President’s Innovation Award (2019) and NIH Director’s Pioneer Award (2019), a finalist for the Blavatnik National Awards in Life Sciences (2020 and 2021) and a winner of the Paul Marks Prize (2022). She was named the Oscar M. Schloss, MD Professor at Harvard University in 2020 and an investigator for Howard Hughes Medical Institute (2021).

Selected Publications

  1. Cadena C, Ahmad S, Xavier A, Willemsen J, Park S, Park JW, Oh SW, Fujita T, Hou F, Binder M, & Hur S, Ubiquitin-dependent and –independent roles of E3 ligase RIPLET in innate immunity, Cell, (2019). 177(5):1187-1200 PMID: 31006531
  2. Ahmad S*, Mu X*, Yang F*, Greenwald E, Park JW, Jacob E, Zhang C-Z and Hur S., Breaching self-tolerance to Alu duplex RNA underlies MDA5-mediated inflammation. Cell, (2018) 172:797-810. PMC5807104
  3. Yao H*, Dittmann M*, Peisley A, Hoffmann H-H, Gilmore RH, Schmidt T, Schmidt-Burgk J, Hornung V, Rice CM, and Hur S, ATP-dependent effector-like functions of RIG-I like receptors. Mol. Cell, (2015), 58:541-8. PMCID: PMC4427555
  4. Peisley A, Wu B, Xu H, Chen ZJ and Hur S., Structural basis for ubiquitin-mediated antiviral signal activation by RIG-I. Nature, (2014), 509:110-4. PMID: 24590070. PMC6136653.
  5. Wu B, Peisley A, Richards C, Yao H, Zeng X, Lin C, Chu F, Walz T, Hur S. Structural Basis for dsRNA recognition, filament formation and antiviral signaling by MDA5. Cell (2013). 152: 276-89. Non-NIH Support.
  6. Peisley A*, Wu B*, Yao H, Walz T and Hur S., RIG-I forms signaling-competent filaments in an ATP-dependent and ubiquitin-independent manner. Mol Cell, (2013), 51, 573-83, PMID: 23993742
  7. Peisley A*, Jo MH*, Lin C, Wu B, Orme-Johnson M, Walz T, Hohng S, Hur S. Kinetic Mechanism for Viral dsRNA Length Discrimination by MDA5 Filament. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. (2012), 109(49):E3340-9. PMCID: PMC3523859
  8. Peisley, A., Lin, C., Wu, B., Orme-Johnson, M., Liu, M., Walz, T., Hur S. Cooperative Assembly and Dynamic Disassembly of MDA5 Filaments for Viral dsRNA Recognition. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 2011, 108, 21010-5. PMCID: PMC3248507

Publications

  1. Cutting-Edge Technologies of Meat Analogs: A Review. Food Sci Anim Resour. 2025 Jan; 45(1):223-242. View Abstract
  2. Environmental Impact of Meat Protein Substitutes: A Mini-Review. Food Sci Anim Resour. 2025 Jan; 45(1):62-80. View Abstract
  3. An Investigation of the Status of Commercial Meat Analogs and Their Ingredients: Worldwide and South Korea. Food Sci Anim Resour. 2025 Jan; 45(1):31-61. View Abstract
  4. A review on the characterization of edible scaffolds for cultured meat: Physical, chemical, biocompatibility, and food safety evaluation methods. Food Chem. 2025 Mar 30; 469:142493. View Abstract
  5. Market Status of Meat Analogs and Their Impact on Livestock Industries. Food Sci Anim Resour. 2024 Nov; 44(6):1213-1251. View Abstract
  6. Study on the feasibility of using livestock blood as a fetal bovine serum substitute for cultured meat. J Food Sci. 2024 Nov; 89(11):7143-7156. View Abstract
  7. Comparative study on the bioavailability of peptide extracts from Jeju black pigs and three-way crossbred pigs. J Anim Sci Technol. 2024 Sep; 66(5):1049-1068. View Abstract
  8. Mechanism for controlled assembly of transcriptional condensates by Aire. Nat Immunol. 2024 Sep; 25(9):1580-1592. View Abstract
  9. Analysis of current technology status for the industrialization of cultured meat. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr. 2024 May 19; 1-32. View Abstract
  10. Study on the Digestion-Induced Changes in the Characteristics and Bioactivity of Korean Native and Overseas Cattle-Derived Peptides. Food Sci Anim Resour. 2024 May; 44(3):551-569. View Abstract
  11. Crusting-fabricated three-dimensional soy-based scaffolds for cultured meat production: A preliminary study. Food Chem. 2024 Sep 15; 452:139511. View Abstract
  12. The Color-Developing Methods for Cultivated Meat and Meat Analogues: A Mini-Review. Food Sci Anim Resour. 2024 Mar; 44(2):356-371. View Abstract
  13. Current Research, Industrialization Status, and Future Perspective of Cultured Meat. Food Sci Anim Resour. 2024 Mar; 44(2):326-355. View Abstract
  14. Preliminary study on comparison of egg extraction methods for development of fetal bovine serum substitutes in cultured meat. Food Chem X. 2024 Mar 30; 21:101202. View Abstract
  15. Current technology and industrialization status of cell-cultivated meat. J Anim Sci Technol. 2024 Jan; 66(1):1-30. View Abstract
  16. Current Technologies and Future Perspective in Meat Analogs Made from Plant, Insect, and Mycoprotein Materials: A Review. Food Sci Anim Resour. 2024 Jan; 44(1):1-18. View Abstract
  17. Study on the current research trends and future agenda in animal products: an Asian perspective. J Anim Sci Technol. 2023 Nov; 65(6):1124-1150. View Abstract
  18. FOXP3 recognizes microsatellites and bridges DNA through multimerization. Nature. 2023 Dec; 624(7991):433-441. View Abstract
  19. Mutations from patients with IPEX ported to mice reveal different patterns of FoxP3 and Treg dysfunction. Cell Rep. 2023 08 29; 42(8):113018. View Abstract
  20. Stress granules are shock absorbers that prevent excessive innate immune responses to dsRNA. Mol Cell. 2023 04 06; 83(7):1180-1196.e8. View Abstract
  21. The roles of growth factors and hormones in the regulation of muscle satellite cells for cultured meat production. J Anim Sci Technol. 2023 Jan; 65(1):16-31. View Abstract
  22. The transcription factor FoxP3 can fold into two dimerization states with divergent implications for regulatory T cell function and immune homeostasis. Immunity. 2022 08 09; 55(8):1354-1369.e8. View Abstract
  23. Death domain fold proteins in immune signaling and transcriptional regulation. FEBS J. 2022 07; 289(14):4082-4097. View Abstract
  24. The Role of RNA Editing in the Immune Response. Methods Mol Biol. 2021; 2181:287-307. View Abstract
  25. Structural analysis of RIG-I-like receptors reveals ancient rules of engagement between diverse RNA helicases and TRIM ubiquitin ligases. Mol Cell. 2021 02 04; 81(3):599-613.e8. View Abstract
  26. Substrate recognition by TRIM and TRIM-like proteins in innate immunity. Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2021 03; 111:76-85. View Abstract
  27. Dual functions of Aire CARD multimerization in the transcriptional regulation of T cell tolerance. Nat Commun. 2020 04 02; 11(1):1625. View Abstract
  28. Filament-like Assemblies of Intracellular Nucleic Acid Sensors: Commonalities and Differences. Mol Cell. 2019 10 17; 76(2):243-254. View Abstract
  29. N6-Methyladenosine Modification Controls Circular RNA Immunity. Mol Cell. 2019 10 03; 76(1):96-109.e9. View Abstract
  30. The FDA-Approved Oral Drug Nitazoxanide Amplifies Host Antiviral Responses and Inhibits Ebola Virus. iScience. 2019 Sep 27; 19:1279-1290. View Abstract
  31. Ubiquitin-Dependent and -Independent Roles of E3 Ligase RIPLET in Innate Immunity. Cell. 2019 05 16; 177(5):1187-1200.e16. View Abstract
  32. Double-Stranded RNA Sensors and Modulators in Innate Immunity. Annu Rev Immunol. 2019 04 26; 37:349-375. View Abstract
  33. An origin of the immunogenicity of in vitro transcribed RNA. Nucleic Acids Res. 2018 06 01; 46(10):5239-5249. View Abstract
  34. Breaching Self-Tolerance to Alu Duplex RNA Underlies MDA5-Mediated Inflammation. Cell. 2018 02 08; 172(4):797-810.e13. View Abstract
  35. Antiviral Immunity and Circular RNA: No End in Sight. Mol Cell. 2017 Jul 20; 67(2):163-164. View Abstract
  36. Filament assemblies in foreign nucleic acid sensors. Curr Opin Struct Biol. 2016 Apr; 37:134-44. View Abstract
  37. Measuring Monomer-to-Filament Transition of MAVS as an In Vitro Activity Assay for RIG-I-Like Receptors. Methods Mol Biol. 2016; 1390:131-42. View Abstract
  38. Helicases in Antiviral Immunity: Dual Properties as Sensors and Effectors. Trends Biochem Sci. 2015 Oct; 40(10):576-585. View Abstract
  39. How RIG-I like receptors activate MAVS. Curr Opin Virol. 2015 Jun; 12:91-8. View Abstract
  40. ATP-dependent effector-like functions of RIG-I-like receptors. Mol Cell. 2015 May 07; 58(3):541-548. View Abstract
  41. MDA5-filament, dynamics and disease. Curr Opin Virol. 2015 Jun; 12:20-5. View Abstract
  42. Molecular imprinting as a signal-activation mechanism of the viral RNA sensor RIG-I. Mol Cell. 2014 Aug 21; 55(4):511-23. View Abstract
  43. Gain-of-function mutations in IFIH1 cause a spectrum of human disease phenotypes associated with upregulated type I interferon signaling. Nat Genet. 2014 May; 46(5):503-509. View Abstract
  44. Structural basis for ubiquitin-mediated antiviral signal activation by RIG-I. Nature. 2014 May 01; 509(7498):110-4. View Abstract
  45. RIG-I forms signaling-competent filaments in an ATP-dependent, ubiquitin-independent manner. Mol Cell. 2013 Sep 12; 51(5):573-83. View Abstract
  46. Viral counterattack against the host innate immune system. Cell Res. 2013 Jun; 23(6):735-6. View Abstract
  47. Structural basis for dsRNA recognition, filament formation, and antiviral signal activation by MDA5. Cell. 2013 Jan 17; 152(1-2):276-89. View Abstract
  48. Kinetic mechanism for viral dsRNA length discrimination by MDA5 filaments. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Dec 04; 109(49):E3340-9. View Abstract
  49. Multi-level regulation of cellular recognition of viral dsRNA. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2013 Jun; 70(11):1949-63. View Abstract
  50. Cooperative assembly and dynamic disassembly of MDA5 filaments for viral dsRNA recognition. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011 Dec 27; 108(52):21010-5. View Abstract

Contact Sun Hur

Phone: 617-713-8250
Fax: 617-713-8260
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