Professor

Calcium Signalling, Cell Biology

 

1993-1997, B.S., Yantai University, China

1997-2000, M.S., Peking University, China

2000-2007, Ph.D, University of Maryland, College Park, USA

2007-2010, PostDoc., Temple University, USA

2010-2013, Associate Scientist, Temple University, USA

2013-present, Professor, Beijing Normal University, China

 

Research Interests

With a specialty in imaging and electrophysiology, I have been studying calcium signaling for more than 16 years. My current focus of research is to dissect the calcium signalling process within contact sites between endoplasmic reticulum and plasma membrane, revealing mechanisms underlying the activation, modulation and function of calcium release activated calcium (CRAC) channels that occur within these sites. We are also interested in CRAC related diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD). By applying optogenetic tools to modulate CRAC channels and the corresponding physiological functions in the nervous system with non-invasive approaches, we are testing whether CRAC channels could serve as targets of new potential therapeutic strategies for AD.

 

Selected Publications 

♦ Research Articles

1. Yang X#, Ma G#, Zheng S#, Qin X, Li X, Du L, Wang Y*, Zhou Y*, Li M*. (2020) Optical control of CRAC channels using photoswitchable azopy-razoles. J Am Chem Soc., 142(20):9460-9470. doi: 10.1021/jacs.0c02949.

2. Dong H#*, Zhang Y#, Song R, Xu J, Yuan Y, Liu J, Li J, Zheng S, Liu T, Lu b*, Wang Y*, Klein ML* (2019)Towards a model for activation of Orai channel. iscience. 16:356-367. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.05.041

3. Zheng S#, Ma G#, He L#, Zhang T, Li J, Yuan X, Nguyen NT, Huang Y, Zhang X, Gao P, Nwokonko R, Gill DL, Dong H, Zhou Y*, Wang Y*. (2018) Identification of molecular determinants that govern distinct STIM2 activation dynamics. PLoS Biol. 16(11):e2006898. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2006898.

4. Ma G#, Liu J#, Ke Y#, Liu X, Huang Y, Li M, Wang Y*, Zhou Y*.(2018).Optogenetic Control of Voltage Gated Calcium Channels. Angew Chem Int Ed. 57(24):7019-7022.

5. Jing J#, He L#, Sun A#, Quintana A#, Ding Y#, Ma G, Tan P, Liang X, Zheng X, Chen L, Shi X, Zhang SL, Zhong L, Huang Y, Dong MQ, Walker CL, Hogan PG, Wang Y*, Zhou Y*. (2015) Proteomic mapping of ER-PM junctions identifies STIMATE as a regulator of Ca2+ influx. Nat Cell Biol. 17(10):1339-47

6. Ma G#, Wei M#, He L#, Liu C#, Wu B, Zhang SL, Jing J, Liang X, Senes A, Tan P, Li S, Sun A, Bi Y, Zhong L, Si H, Shen Y, Li M, Lee MS, Zhou W, Wang J*, Wang Y*,  Zhou Y*.  (2015) Inside-out Ca2+ signalling prompted by STIM1 conformational switch. Nature Communications.6:7826 doi: 10.1038/ncomms8826

7. Wang X#, Wang Y#*, Zhou Y, Hendron E, Mancarella S, Andrake MD, Rothberg BS,  Soboloff J, Gill DL*. (2014) Distinct Orai-coupling domains in STIM1 and STIM2 define the Orai-activating site. Nature Communications. 5,3183.

8. Wang Y, Deng X, Mancarella S, Hendron E, Eguchi S, Soboloff J, Tang X and Gill DL. (2010) The calcium store-sensor, STIM1, reciprocally controls Orai and CaV1.2 channels. Science. 330(6000):105-9.

9. Wang Y, Deng X, Zhou Y, Hendron E, Ritchie MF, Tang XD, Mancarella S, Kurosaki T, Mori Y, Soboloff J and Gill DL.  (2009) STIM Protein Coupling in the Activation of Orai Channels.  Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 106(18):7391-6.

 

♦ Comments

1. Ma G, Liu J, Zhou Y*, Wang Y* (2018) Let there be light: a bright future for Ca2+ signaling. Science Bulletin. 63 (2018) 1029–1031

2. Rothberg BS, Wang Y, and Gill DL (2013). Orai Channel Pore Properties and Gating by STIM: Implications from the Orai Crystal Structure. Science Signaling. 6(267):pe9.

3. Mancarella S, Wang Y, Gill DL. (2011) SIGNAL TRANSDUCTCTION STIM1 senses both Ca2+ and heat. Nature Chemical Biology. 7(6):344-5

4. Wang Y, Deng X, Gill DL. (2010) Calcium signaling by STIM and Orai: intimate coupling details revealed. Sci Signal. 3(148):pe42

5. Mancarella S, Wang Y, Gill DL. (2009) Calcium signals: STIM dynamics mediate spatially unique oscillations. Curr Biol. 19(20):R950-2.

 

♦ Reviews

1. Ma G, Wen S, He L, Huang Y, Wang Y*, Zhou Y*. (2017) Optogenetic toolkit for precise control of calcium signaling. Cell Calcium. 64:36-46. doi: 10.1016/j.ceca.2017.01.004.

2. Deng X, Wang Y, Zhou Y, Soboloff J, Gill DL. (2009). STIM and Orai: dynamic intermembrane coupling to control cellular calcium signals. J Biol Chem. 284(34): 22501-5.

3. Wang Y, Deng X, Hewavitharana T, Soboloff J and Gill DL. (2008)  Stim, ORAI and TRPC channels in the control of calcium entry signals in smooth muscle. Clin. Exp. Pharmacol. Physiol.  35(9):1127-33

 

♦ Books/Charpters

1. Zhou Y, Wang Y, Gill DL. (2018) Assessing the Molecular Nature of the STIM1/Orai1 Coupling Interface Using FRET Approaches. Calcium Entry Channels in Non-Excitable Cells. Chapter 7.

2. Zhang Y, Zheng S, Zhou Y, Gill DL, Wang Y*. (2018) Patch-Clamp Recording of the CRAC Channel Current in STIM-Orai Overexpressing Cells. Methods Mol Biol. 1843:1-16. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8704-7_1.

3. Zhang S, He L, Zhou Y, Wang Y*. (2018) Fluorescence-Based Ratiometric Measurement of CRAC Channel Activity in STIM-Orai-Overexpressing HEK-293 Cells. Methods Mol Biol. 1843:17-39. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8704-7_2.

4. Payne R, Wang Y. (2010) Phototransduction in Limulus Photoreceptors, Encyclopedia of the Eye, Dartt DA, Elsevier Ltd，381-388

(#, equal contribution; *, corresponding authors)

 

Contact Information

College of Life Sciences,

Beijing Normal University,

Beijing 100875,

P. R. China

Tel. : +86-10-58806258

E-mail: wyoujun@bnu.edu.cn