Fei Wang, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor

Endowed Title: Nancy Cain and Jeffrey A. Marcus Scholar in Medical Research, in Honor of Dr. Bill S. Vowell
School: Medical School
Department: 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 in cell development and differentiation, aiming to decipher its underlying molecular mechanisms. Dr. Wang's productive endeavors (four publications from 2020 to 2023, in Developmental Cell, JCB, and Cell Reports) directly illuminate the functions and regulation of autophagy 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 orchestrates 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
Cell Development and Aging
meiosis
Organelle Biogenesis
Protein Trafficking and Targeting

Publications

Featured Publications

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 in press
Autophagy-Mediated Surveillance of Rim4-mRNA Interaction Safeguards Programmed Meiotic Translation: Rudian Zhang, Wenzhi Feng, Suhong Qian, Fei Wang Cell Reports 2023 in press
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
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
Structural basis for tail-anchored membrane protein biogenesis by the Get3-receptor complex.: Stefer S, Reitz S, Wang F, Wild K, Pang YY, Schwarz D, Bomke J, Hein C, Löhr F, Bernhard F, Denic V, Dötsch V, Sinning I Science 2011 Aug 333 6043 758-62
Substrate binding disrupts dimerization and induces nucleotide exchange of the chloroplast GTPase Toc33.: Oreb M, Höfle A, Koenig P, Sommer MS, Sinning I, Wang F, Tews I, Schnell DJ, Schleiff E Biochem. J. 2011 Jun 436 2 313-9

Honors & Awards

Sara Elizabeth O'Brien Trust (Charles A. King Trust) Postdoctoral Fellowship
The Sara Elizabeth O'Brien Trust, Bank of America, N.A. (2013-2015)