Fei Wang, Ph.D. Titles and Appointments Assistant Professor Endowed Title Nancy Cain and Jeffrey A. Marcus Scholar in Medical Research, in Honor of Dr. Bill S. Vowell Schools Medical School | Graduate School Departments Cell Biology | Biochemistry Graduate Programs Biological Chemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology Biography Dr. Wang's research journey commenced in the field of gene therapy at Fudan University in China. His Ph.D. training at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst steered him towards investigating organelle biogenesis, specifically delving into the molecular intricacies of chloroplast protein import in Arabidopsis thaliana. Subsequently, he harnessed the formidable genetic and biochemical model system, yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), to dissect an alternative ER (endoplasmic reticulum) membrane protein targeting pathway known as the GET pathway (Guided Entry of Tail-Anchored Protein Insertion), operating independently of the SRP/Sec61 machinery. At present, his focus centers on unraveling the role of autophagy and RNA stress granules (SGs) in cell development and differentiation, aiming to decipher their underlying molecular mechanisms. Dr. Wang's productive endeavors (four publications from 2020 to 2025, in Developmental Cell, JCB, Cell Reports and Nature Communications) directly illuminate the functions and regulation of these pathways in yeast gametogenesis, shedding light on the generation of eukaryotic sperm (spermatogenesis) and oocytes (oogenesis). Moreover, his research extends to the broader exploration of how the autophagic machinery and SGs orchestrate intracellular remodeling for pivotal developmental processes under normal and various stress conditions. Beyond his scientific pursuits, he is a father of two kids and a Chinese poem writer. For students and postdocs interested in Dr. Wang's research, please contact him by email at fei.wang@utsouthwestern.edu; or simply walk into his office at NL6. 120F. Research Interest Autophagy meiosis Organelle Biogenesis Protein Trafficking and Targeting RNA Stress Granules (SGs) Publications Featured Publications Rim4-seeded stress granules connect temperature sensing to meiotic regulation. Zhang R, Li S, Feng W, Qian S, Chellappa AJ, Wang F, Nat Commun 2025 Jul 16 1 5566 Regulation of Rim4 Distribution, Function, and Stability during Meiosis by PKA, Cdc14, and 14-3-3 Proteins Rudian Zhang, Wenzhi Feng, Suhong Qian, Shunjin Li, Fei Wang Cell Reports 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113052 Autophagy-Mediated Surveillance of Rim4-mRNA Interaction Safeguards Programmed Meiotic Translation Rudian Zhang, Wenzhi Feng, Suhong Qian, Fei Wang Cell Reports 2023 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113051 Cdc14 spatiotemporally dephosphorylates Atg13 to activate autophagy during meiotic divisions. Feng W, Argüello-Miranda O, Qian S, Wang F, J Cell Biol 2022 May 221 5 Autophagy of an Amyloid-like Translational Repressor Regulates Meiotic Exit. Wang F, Zhang R, Feng W, Tsuchiya D, Ballew O, Li J, Denic V, Lacefield S, Dev. Cell 2020 Jan 52 2 141-151.e5 The Get1/2 transmembrane complex is an endoplasmic-reticulum membrane protein insertase. Wang F, Chan C, Weir NR, Denic V Nature 2014 Aug 512 7515 441-4 Autophagy-mediated post-transcriptional surveillance of meiotic translation in Saccharomyces Cerevisiae. Zhang R, Feng W, Qian S, Wang F, Autophagy 2023 Nov 1-3 The Autophagy, Inflammation and Metabolism Center international eSymposium - an early-career investigators' seminar series during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nieto-Torres JL, Durgan J, Franco-Romero A, Grumati P, Guardia CM, Leidal AM, Mandell MA, Towers CG, Wang F, J Cell Sci 2021 10 134 19 Autophagy prevents runaway meiotic divisions. Wang F, Denic V, Lacefield S, Autophagy 2020 05 16 5 969-970 The mechanism of tail-anchored protein insertion into the ER membrane. Wang F, Whynot A, Tung M, Denic V Mol. Cell 2011 Sep 43 5 738-50 Results 1-10 of 18 1 2 Next Last Honors & Awards Sara Elizabeth O'Brien Trust (Charles A. King Trust) Postdoctoral FellowshipThe Sara Elizabeth O'Brien Trust, Bank of America, N.A. (2013-2015)
