Central carbon metabolism supplies energy and carbon backbones necessary for biomass and bioproduct synthesis. Despite its importance in proper cellular functioning and biotechnology, controlling the flux through central carbon metabolic pathways remains challenging. A key limitation is the incomplete understanding of how different regulatory mechanisms come together to control pathway fluxes. In conjunction with regulations by molecular interactions, shifting thermodynamic driving forces in pathway steps contributes to changing the pathway flux. Thus, by quantifying the Gibbs free energy of reaction (ΔG) values of constituent reactions in a pathway, the Park lab aims to determine the physiological role of each reaction step in modulating pathway fluxes during perturbations. The Park lab uses mass spectrometry, stable isotope tracing, and quantitative modeling of metabolism to measure metabolic fluxes and thermodynamic driving force. The Park lab applies this knowledge to engineer microorganisms for enhanced bioproduct synthesis and to selectively impair metabolism of cancer cells.

Dr. Junyoung Park is Assistant Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at UCLA. His research focus is on systems-level analysis of metabolic networks to elucidate key metabolic control points. Using this knowledge, he aims to engineer microorganisms for enhanced bioproduct synthesis and to selectively impair metabolism of cancer cells. Before moving to Los Angeles, Dr. Park conducted postdoctoral research at MIT. Dr. Park received his Ph.D. and master’s in Chemical Engineering from Princeton University, and bachelor’s degrees in Mathematics and Bioengineering from UC San Diego.