2000.09 - 2004.06  B.Sc. in Biology (cum laude), College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan

2004.09 - 2009.06   Ph.D in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics (IBP), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing (Supervisor: Prof. Chih-chen Wang)

2009.07 - 2011.12  Assistant Research Scientist, National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, IBP, CAS

2011.02 - 2011.07  Visiting Scholar at San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy

2012.01 - 2019.12  Associate Research Professor, National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, IBP, CAS

2020.01 -                Professor, National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, IBP, CAS

2020.01 -                Professor, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences

2022.04- 《Traffic》Editorial Board Member

08/2021-08/2025  Deputy Secretary General of Subcellular Structure and Function Subgroup, Biophysical Society of China

2021  Excellent Member of the Youth Innovation Promotion Association, CAS

2016  Member of the Youth Innovation Promotion Association, CAS

01/2015-12/2018  Committee Member of the Stress Physiology Society, China Association for Physiological Sciences

2009  "The Young Scientist Program Fellowship" of the 21st IUBMB and 12th FAOBMB International Congress of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

2009  "Zhuli Yuehua" Award of CAS

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the largest part of the endomembrane system in eukaryotic cells, and is the factory for protein folding and processing. The ER contains a 'quality control' system, which is comprised of a large number of folding enzymes and chaperones, to maintain the protein homeostasis (proteostasis) in the ER. The ER provides an optimal redox environment for the correct folding of disulfide-containing proteins (e.g. secretory and membrane proteins), namely oxidative protein folding. The relationship between ER redox homeostasis (redoxtasis) and human health has attracted considerable attention in recent years. Dr. Lei Wang worked on the reconstitution of ER oxidative protein folding system during his Ph.D study, together with his mentor Prof. Chih-chen Wang. After graduation, he has extended his work to the regulation of ER redoxtasis and human health.

Recent Work Progresses：

1. Mechanism of oxidative protein folding in the ER

The ER sulfhydryl oxidase Ero1, protein-disulfide isomerase (PDI) and the ER peroxidase (e.g. GPx7) constitute the pivotal pathway for oxidative protein folding in the ER. The synergistic cooperation of the Ero1/PDI/GPx7 triad guarantees the efficiency and fidelity of oxidative protein folding. Our studies provide mechanistic insights into the ER oxidative protein folding system. Hopefully, future studies on oxidative protein folding will deepen our understanding of the principles of protein folding, and help design more efficient "cell factories" for the production of protein drugs.

2. Redoxtasis in the secretory pathway and human health

Emerging evidences have shown that the imbalance of ER redoxtasis is closely related to many diseases. Our studies have revealed that the Ero1/PDI/GPx7 oxidative protein folding system in the ER plays an important role in aging, cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Recently, it has been found that the oxidative protein folding system also exists on the cell surface, and it is involved in the regulation of many cellular processes (such as platelet activation, virus invasion and inflammatory response). The study of the redoxtasis in the secretory pathway will help to develop new intervention methods and provide new strategies for the prevention and treatment of related diseases.

3. Secretory pathway kinases and human diseases

The secretory pathway kinase represented by Fam20C is a new type of kinase family discovered in recent years. Our research found that Fam20C is a type II transmembrane protein in the Golgi apparatus. The secretion and kinase activity of Fam20C are governed by site-1 protease (S1P), a key regulator of cholesterol homeostasis. The maturation of Fam20C processed by S1P functions in osteoblast differentiation and mineralization. We also revealed a new mechanism for Fam20C to quickly and accurately regulate ER homeostasis by phosphorylating key enzymes under ER stress. In view of the broad substrate spectrum of the secretory pathway kinases, future studies on the regulatory mechanisms and physiological functions of these kinases will provide new ideas for our understanding of related diseases.

1. Zhu Y, Wang L, Li J, Zhao Y, Yu X, Liu P, Deng X, Liu J, Yang F, Zhang Y, Yu J, Lai L, Wang C, Li Z*, Wang L*, Luo T* (2024) Photoaffinity labeling coupled with proteomics identify PDI-ADAM17 module is targeted by (-)-vinigrol to induce TNFR1 shedding and ameliorate rheumatoid arthritis in mice. Cell Chem Biol doi.org/10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.10.003.

2. Liu P, Hu J, Wang L* (2024) SARS-CoV-2 ORF8 does not function in the nucleus as a histone mimic. Protein & Cell 15: 79-82.

3. Cheng F, Ji Q, Wang L, Wang CC, Liu GH*, Wang L* (2023) Reducing oxidative protein folding alleviates senescence by minimizing ER-to-nucleus H2O2 release. EMBO Rep 24: e56439.

(Selected as a cover story on EMBO Reports)

4. Liu P, Wang X*, Sun Y, Zhao H, Cheng F, Wang J, Yang F, Hu J, Zhang H, Wang CC, Wang L* (2022) SARS-CoV-2 ORF8 reshapes the ER through forming mixed disulfides with ER oxidoreductases. Redox Biol 54:102388.

5. Wang L*, Wang X, Lv X, Jin Q, Shang H, Wang CC, Wang L* (2022) The extracellular Ero1α/PDI electron transport system regulates platelet function by increasing glutathione reduction potential. Redox Biol 50: 102244

6. Qiao X, Zhang Y, Ye A, Zhang Y, Xie T, Lv Z, Shi C, Wu D, Chu B, Wu X, Zhang W, Wang P, Liu GH, Wang CC, Wang L*, Chen C* (2022) Reductive stress in the endoplasmic reticulum caused by Ero1α S-nitrosation accelerates senescence. Free Radic Biol Med 180: 165-178.

7. Fan F, Zhang Q, Zhang Y, Huang G, Liang X, Wang CC, Wang L*, Lu D* (2022) Two protein disulfide isomerase subgroups work synergistically in catalyzing oxidative protein folding. Plant Physiol 188: 241-254.

8. Chen X, Zhang J, Liu P, Wei Y, Wang XE, Xiao J, Wang CC, Wang L* (2021) Proteolytic processing of secretory pathway kinase Fam20C by site-1 protease promotes biomineralization. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 118: e2100133118.

9. Yan Y, Wu X, Wang P, Zhang S, Sun L, Zhao Y, Zeng GY, Liu B, Xu G, Liu H, Wang L*, Wang X* and Jiang C* (2020) Homocysteine promotes hepatic steatosis by activating the adipocyte lipolysis in a HIF1α-ERO1α-dependent oxidative stress manner. Redox Biol 37: 101742.

10. Yu J, Li T, Liu Y, Wang X, Zhang J, Wang Xe, Shi G, Lou J, Wang L, Wang CC, Wang L* (2020) Phosphorylation switches protein disulfide isomerase activity to maintain proteostasis and attenuate ER stress. EMBO J 39: e103841

(Highlighted by EMBO J 'News & Views'; Recommended by F1000Prime)

11. Fan F, Zhang Y, Huang G, Zhang Q, Wang CC, Wang L*, Lu D* (2019) AtERO1 and AtERO2 exhibit differences in catalyzing oxidative protein folding in the ER. Plant Physiol 180:2022-2033.

12. Zhang Y, Li T, Zhang L, Shangguan F, Shi G, Wu X, Cui Y, Wang Xe, Wang X, Liu Y, Lu B, Wei T, Wang CC, Wang L* (2019) Targeting the functional interplay between endoplasmic reticulum oxidoreductin-1α and protein disulfide isomerase suppresses the progression of cervical cancer. EBioMedicine 41:408-419.

13. Wu X, Zhang L, Miao Y, Yang J, Wang X, Wang CC, Feng J*, Wang L* (2019) Homocysteine causes vascular endothelial dysfunction by disrupting endoplasmic reticulum redox homeostasis. Redox Biol 20: 46-59.

14. Zhang J, Zhu Q, Wang Xe, Yu J, Chen X, Wang J, Wang X, Xiao J, Wang CC, Wang L* (2018) Secretory kinase Fam20C tunes endoplasmic reticulum redox state via phosphorylation of Ero1α. EMBO J 37: e98699.

15. Fang J, Yang J, Wu X, Zhang G, Li T, Wang Xe, Zhang H, Wang CC, Liu GH*, Wang L* (2018) Metformin alleviates human cellular aging by upregulating the endoplasmic reticulum glutathione peroxidase 7. Aging Cell 17: e12765.

16. Li H, Yang K, Wang W, Niu Y, Li J, Dong Y, Liu Y, Wang CC, Wang L*, Liang H* (2018) Crystal and solution structures of human protein disulfide isomerase-like protein of the testis (PDILT) provide insight into its chaperone activity. J Biol Chem 293, 1192-1202.

17. Fan F, Zhang Y, Wang S, Han Y, Wang L*, Lu D* (2018) Characterization of the oxidative protein folding activity of a unique plant oxidoreductase, Arabidopsis protein disulfide isomerase-11. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 495:1041-1047.

18. Niu Y, Zhang L, Yu J, Wang CC* and Wang L* (2016) Novel roles of the non-catalytic elements of yeast protein-disulfide isomerase in its interplay with endoplasmic reticulum oxidoreductin 1. J Biol Chem 291:8283-8294.

19. Zhang L, Niu Y, Zhu L, Fang J, Wang Xe, Wang L* and Wang CC* (2014) Different interaction modes for protein-disulfide isomerase (PDI) as an efficient regulator and a specific substrate of endoplasmic reticulum oxidoreductin-1α (Ero1α). J Biol Chem 289:31188-31199.

20. Wang L*, Zhang L, Niu Y, Sitia R and Wang CC* (2014) Glutathione peroxidase 7 utilizes hydrogen peroxide generated by Ero1α to promote oxidative protein folding. Antioxid Redox Signal 20: 545-556.

21. Wang L, Zhu L and Wang CC (2011) The Endoplasmic Reticulum Sulphydryl Oxidase Ero1β Drives Efficient Oxidative Protein Folding with Loose Regulation. Biochem J 434:113-121.

22. Wang L, Li SJ, Sidhu A, Zhu L, Liang Y, Freedman RB, and Wang CC* (2009) Reconstitution of human Ero1-Lα/protein disulfide isomerase oxidative folding pathway in vitro: position-dependent differences in role between the a and a' domains of protein disulfide isomerase. J Biol Chem 284: 199-206.

Views & Reviews (*Corresponding author)

1. Cheng F, Wang L* (2024) Slowing down the central dogma rate for alleviating aging. Innovation Life 2: 100049.

2. 胡昕炜, 王志珍, 王磊* (2023)"后AlphaFold时代"的蛋白质折叠问题. 《科学通报》 68: 2943-2950.

3. Wang L*, Wang CC (2023) Oxidative protein folding fidelity and redoxtasis in the endoplasmic reticulum. Trends Biochem Sci 48: 40-52.

4. Wang L*, Yu J, Wang CC (2021) Protein disulfide isomerase is regulated in multiple ways: Consequences for conformation, activities and pathophysiological functions. BioEssays 43: e2000147.

5. Wang L, Wang X, Wang CC* (2015) Protein disulfide-isomerase, a folding catalyst and a redox-regulated chaperone. Free Radical Bio Med 83:305-313.

6. 王曦, 王磊, 陈畅, 王志珍 (2014) 未折叠蛋白响应: 2014 年拉斯克基础医学研究奖解读. 《科学通报》59: 3533-3534.

Full publication list: https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=NUni5KMAAAAJ

ORCID: 0000-0002-5071-5800

(From Lei Wang, February 2, 2024)