Joo Heon Shin

Abstract Divergent transcription from bidirectional promoters is frequently observed in eukaryotic genomes, but the biological relevance of divergent RNA transcripts (DT) is unknown. We identified and characterized BDNF-DT, a novel DT gene, and BDNF-AS-DT, a novel readthrough gene, in the locus containing BDNF, a gene with key roles in neuronal development, differentiation, and synaptic plasticity.

Abstract Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a common, complex disorder that is a leading cause of disability worldwide and a significant risk factor for suicide. In this study, we have performed the largest molecular analysis of MDD in postmortem human brains (846 samples across 458 individuals) in the subgenual Anterior Cingulate Cortex (sACC) and the Amygdala, two regions central to mood regulation and the pathophysiology of MDD.

Abstract Excessive alcohol consumption is a leading cause of preventable death worldwide. To improve understanding of neurobiological mechanisms associated with alcohol use disorder (AUD) in humans, we compared gene expression data from deceased individuals with and without AUD across two addiction-relevant brain regions: the nucleus accumbens (NAc) and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC).