Yunsun Nam, Ph.D. Titles and Appointments Professor Endowed Title Doris and Bryan Wildenthal Distinguished Chair in Medical Science; Southwestern Medical Foundation Scholar in Biomedical Research; UT Southwestern Presidential Scholar Schools Medical School | Graduate School Departments Biochemistry | Biophysics Graduate Programs Biological Chemistry, Molecular Biophysics Biography Yunsun Nam, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Departments of Biochemistry and Biophysics and holds the Doris and Bryan Wildenthal Distinguished Chair in Medical Science at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. She is also a Southwestern Medical Foundation Scholar in Biomedical Research and a member of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Nam earned her undergraduate degree (A.B.) in Biochemical Sciences from Harvard College and her Ph.D. in Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology from Harvard Medical School, where her doctoral research focused on the structure and function of intracellular Notch transcription complexes. During her postdoctoral fellowship, she expanded her expertise in nucleic acid-protein complexes, focusing on the regulation of let-7 microRNAs by Lin28. At UT Southwestern, the Nam Lab investigates the biochemical and biophysical mechanisms governing RNA-protein complexes. Her research elucidates how enzymes recognize, modify, and process RNA substrates, and how dysregulation of these pathways drives diseases like cancer. Ultimately, her work provides foundational insights into disease mechanisms and the development of novel RNA-based therapeutics. In recognition of her scientific impact, Dr. Nam has received numerous prestigious honors, including the 2026 Edith and Peter O’Donnell Award in Biological Sciences from TAMEST, a Packard Fellowship for Science and Engineering, and selection as a Pew Biomedical Scholar. Education Undergraduate Harvard Uni-Harvard College (1999), Biocchemical Sciences Graduate School Harvard University (2006) Research Interest Gene regulation RNA modifications RNA processing Structural mechanisms of RNA-protein complexes Publications Featured Publications Targeting the METTL1/m7G axis as a therapeutic strategy in myeloid leukemia. Ren L, Zhang H, Bobileva O, Nai F, Bi H, Chan A, Baker GE, Dong L, Guarin D, Hu W, Li W, Leite I, Wang X, Zhang X, Xue M, Wang H, Qin H, Wu X, Ghoda L, Xu L, Zhang B, Li L, Wunderlich M, Mulloy JC, Jones CL, O'Leary SE, Li H, Rosen ST, Chen CD, Heisterkamp N, Perry JJP, Nam Y, Chen J, Caflisch A, Li X, Su R, Blood 2026 Jun 147 25 3069-3085 Substrate selectivity of the human RNA m5C methyltransferase NSUN2. Canepa J, Ruiz-Arroyo VM, Schlamowitz NS, Nam Y, Nature 2026 May Cancer mutations rewire the RNA methylation specificity of METTL3-METTL14. Zhang C, Scott RL, Tunes L, Hsieh MH, Wang P, Kumar A, Khadgi BB, Yang YY, Doxtader Lacy KA, Herrell E, Zhang X, Evers B, Wang Y, Xing C, Zhu H, Nam Y, Sci Adv 2024 Dec 10 51 eads4750 Effects of METTL3-METTL14 on primary microRNA processing by Drosha-DGCR8. Khadgi B, Nam Y, bioRxiv 2024 Oct Structures and mechanisms of tRNA methylation by METTL1-WDR4. Ruiz-Arroyo VM, Raj R, Babu K, Onolbaatar O, Roberts PH, Nam Y, Nature 2023 Jan Dynamic Protein-RNA recognition in primary MicroRNA processing. Ruiz-Arroyo VM, Nam Y, Curr Opin Struct Biol 2022 Oct 76 102442 Cryo-EM Structures of Human Drosha and DGCR8 in Complex with Primary MicroRNA. Partin AC, Zhang K, Jeong BC, Herrell E, Li S, Chiu W, Nam Y, Mol. Cell 2020 Mar RNA Specificity and Autoregulation of DDX17, a Modulator of MicroRNA Biogenesis. Ngo TD, Partin AC, Nam Y, Cell Rep 2019 Dec 29 12 4024-4035.e5 Structural Basis for Regulation of METTL16, an S-Adenosylmethionine Homeostasis Factor. Doxtader KA, Wang P, Scarborough AM, Seo D, Conrad NK, Nam Y Mol. Cell 2018 Sep 71 6 1001-1011.e4 Heme enables proper positioning of Drosha and DGCR8 on primary microRNAs. Partin AC, Ngo TD, Herrell E, Jeong BC, Hon G, Nam Y Nat Commun 2017 Nov 8 1 1737 Results 1-10 of 33 1 2 3 4 Next Last Honors & Awards TAMEST Edith and Peter O'Donnell Award (2026) MAVEN scholar (2021) Kavli Fellow, National Academy of Sciences (2014) Pew Scholar in the Biomedical Sciences (2014) Cancer Prevention Research Institute of TexasFirst Time Faculty Recruitment Award (2013) Packard Fellowship for Science and EngineeringThe David and Lucile Packard Foundation (2013) Southwestern Medical Foundation Scholar in Biomedical ResearchEndowed Scholars Program, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (2013) Charles A. King Trust Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (2011) Damon Runyon Postdoctoral Fellowship (2007) The Jane Coffin Childs Postdoctoral Fellowship (2007)
