On August 14, Professor Jae Kyung Sohng from Korea met researchers from the DTU Center of Pharmaceutical Engineering, where he presented his research results concerning the synthesis of bioactive secondary metabolites using genetically engineered microbial cultures.
Professor Jae Kyung Sohng
Professor Sohng is Dean of the Graduate School in the Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering at Sun Moon University (SMU) in Asan, Korea and an expert in Biotechnology, who served as Program Director of the BK21 (Brain Korea) project, from 2016 to 2020.
At SMU, Professor Sohng has established a Pharmacology laboratory specializing in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, known as the Institute of Biomolecule Reconstruction (iBR). He has taught several students from Asia and Africa, including 18 students from Vietnam, 8 of whom graduated from SMU with PhDs in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry.
The exchange meeting
Professor Sohng briefly presented an overview of his research results. His work focusses on the creation of new metabolites that can be applied to pharmaceutics and disease treatment. In the process, he has successfully synthesized a series of glucoside derivatives, such as astragalin, resveratrol, eugenol, quercetin, and vitamin C. These metabolites were then synthesized on a larger scale and applied to the manufacture of pharmaceutics and cosmetics. Notably, the successful synthesis of some gluisoeugenol and monoterpenes derivatives, using the host bacterium Corynebacterium glutamicum, has a high potential for practical application in the cosmetics and food industries.
“I graduated from the iBR lab at Sun Moon University in 2013,” said Associate Professor Nguyen Huy Thuan. “In 2014, I returned to work at DTU and, together with my colleagues here, we’ve continued to conduct research related to the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in Escherichia coli. Our projects have been funded by Nafosted and the IFS, and we’ve been mentored by Professor Sohng on research materials and implementation methods. As a result, we’ve published several papers in international scientific journals and Professor Sohng will continue to support u, from short-term research projects to ongoing issues at DTU, and in sending qualified students to study in the Master’s programs at SMU.”
(Media Center)