Full-time Professors (Biomedicine)-中央大學生命科學系資訊網

1. Position: Distinguished Professor and Dean of the College of Health Sciences and Technology
2. Education:
   • Tulane University (LA, USA)
     Ph. D. in Biochemistry
   • National Yang-Ming Medical College (Taipei, Taiwan)
     M.S. in Microbiology and Immunology
   • China Medical College (Taichung, Taiwan)
     B.S. in Medical Technology
3. Professional Experience:
   • National Central University (Taoyuan, Taiwan) 8/2023 ~ present
     Dean of the College of Health Sciences and Technology
   • National Central University (Jung-li, Taiwan) 1/2016 ~ 7/2019
     Distinguished Professor and Chair
   • National Central University (Jung-li, Taiwan) 8/2013 ~7/2019
     Professor and Chair
   • National Central University (Jung-li, Taiwan) 8/2009 ~present
     Professor
     Research: aaRSs and their connections to disease
   • National Central University (Jung-li, Taiwan) 8/2005 ~ 7/2009
     Associate Professor
     Research:Mechanisms of translation initiation in yeast
   • National Central University (Jung-li, Taiwan) 5/2000 ~ 7/2005
     Assistant Professor
     Research: Mechanisms of translation initiation in yeast
   • The Scripps Research Institute (CA, USA)  8/1997 ~ 4/2000
     Post-doctoral Fellow
     Research: tRNA specificity of an aaRS
   • Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MA, USA) 2/1997 ~ 7/1997
     Post-doctoral Fellow
     Research: tRNA specificity of an aaRS
4. Current Position: Distinguished Professor and Chair
5. Contact:886-3-422-7151 ext 65062
6. FAX:(03) 422-8482
7. E-mail:dukewang@cc.ncu.edu.tw

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases and their connections to disease

Faithful decoding of mRNA into proteins depends on accurate aminoacylation of tRNA (aa + tRNA → aa-tRNA) by aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) and a specific readout of the codons by tRNAs. AaRSs are ubiquitously expressed essential enzymes, each of which catalyzes the ligation of a specific amino acid to its cognate tRNA. The resultant aminoacyl-tRNA is then delivered by EF-Tu (or eEF1 in eukaryotes) to ribosomes for protein translation. Typically, a full complement of aaRSs consists of 20 different enzymes in prokaryotes, one for each amino acid. In contrast, eukaryotes, such as yeast and mammals, contain two distinct sets of aaRSs, one localized to the cytoplasm and the other to mitochondria. Each set recognizes and aminoacylates cognate tRNAs within its respective cellular compartment, and is sequestered from isoacceptors confined in other compartments. In addition to aminoacylation, many aaRSs possess non-canonical functions such as transcriptional control, mitochondrial RNA splicing, and cytokine-like activity. Moreover, mutations in aaRSs or their tRNAs have been shown to be closely associated with many genetic diseases. Our lab is primarily focused on the structure/function relationships of aaRSs and their connections to human diseases.

1. Titi Rindi Antika, Kun Rohmatan Nazilah, Dea Jolie Chrestella, Tzu-Ling Wang, Yi-Kuan Tseng, Sun-Chong Wang, Hsin-Ling Hsu, Shao-Win Wang, Tsung-Hsien Chuang, Hung-Chuan Pan, Jia-Cherng Horng and Chien-Chia Wang* (2023) Sequence-specific targeting of C. elegans C-Ala to the D-loop of tRNAAla. J. Biol. Chem. (accepted)
   
2. Meei-Ling Sheu, Liang-Yi Pan, Cheng-Ning Yang, Jason Sheehan, Liang-Yu Pan, Weir-Chiang You, Chien-Chia Wang, Hung-Chuan Pan* (2023) Neuronal death caused by HMGB1 evoked via inflammasomes from thrombin-activated microglia cells. International Journal of Molecular Sciences (accepted)
   
3. Meei-Ling Sheu, Liang-Yi Pan, Cheng-Ning Yang, Jason Sheehan, Liang-Yu Pan, Weir-Chiang You, Chien-Chia Wang, Hung-Chuan Pan* (2023) Thrombin induced microglia activation modulated through aryl hydrocarbon receptors. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 24(14): 11416
   
4. Jen-Chih Tseng, Jing-Xing Yang, Chia-Yin Lee, Chen-Fu Lo, Yi-Ling Liu, Mingzi M. Zhang, Li-Rung Huang, Ko-Jiunn Liu, Chien-Chia Wang, Chi-Ying F. Huang, Yi-Ren Hong, Lun K.Tsou, and Tsung-Hsien Chuang* (2023) Induction of immune responses and phosphatidylserine exposure by TLR9 activation results in a cooperative antitumor effect with a phosphatidylserine-targeting prodrug. International Journal of Biological Sciences (accepted) (IF 10.750)
   
5. Antika, T. R., Chrestella, D. J., Tseng, Y. K., Yeh, Y. H., Hsiao, C. D., and Wang, C. C.* (2023) A naturally occurring mini-alanyl-tRNA synthetase. Communications Biology 6(1): 314 (IF 6.548)
   
6. Ivanesthi, I. R., Nawung Rida, G. R., Setiawibawa, A. A., Tseng Y. K., Muammar, A., and Wang, C. C.* (2023) Recognition of tRNA^His in an RNase P-free nanoarchaeum. Microbiology Spectrum 11(2): e04621-22 (IF 9.04)
   
7. Antika, T. R., Nazilah, K. R., Lee, Y. H., Lo, Y. T., Yeh, C. S._, Yeh, F. L., Chang, T. H., Wang, T. L., and Wang, C. C.* (2022) Human Thg1 displays tRNA-inducible GTPase activity. Nucleic Acids Res. 50:10015-10025 (IF 19.16)(News: http://ncusec.ncu.edu.tw/news/event_content.php?E_ID=338) 
8. Antika, T. R., Chrestella, D. J., Ivanesthi, I. R., Rida, G. R. N., Chen, K. Y., Liu, F. G., Lee, Y. C., Chen, Y. W., Tseng, Y. K., and Wang, C. C.* (2022) Gain of C-Ala enables AlaRS to target the L-shaped tRNA^Ala. Nucleic Acids Res. 50: 2190-2200 (IF 19.16)(News: https://www.ncu.edu.tw/tw/news/show.php?num=2132)
9. AI Haq, A. T., Tseng, H. Y., Chen, L. M., Wang, C. C., and Hsu, H. L.* (2022) Targeting prooxidant MnSOD effect inhibits triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) progression and M2 macrophage functions under the oncogenic stress. Cell Death and Disease 13: 49 (IF 9.696)
10. Wang, Y. T., Chien, Y. C., Hsiao, W. Y., Wang, C. C., and Wang, S. W.* (2019) Fission yeast Asc1 stabilizes the interaction between eIF3a and Rps0A/uS2 for protein synthesis. Mol. Cell. Biol. 39: e00161-19 (IF 5.094)
11. Lee, Y. H., Lo, Y. T., Chang, C. P., Yeh, C. S., Chang, T. H., Chen, Y. W., Tseng, Y. K., and Wang, C. C.* (2019) Naturally occurring dual recognition of tRNA^His substrates with and without a universal identity element. RNA Biology 16: 1275-1285 (IF 4.766)
    
12. Lee, Y. H., Chang, C. P., Cheng, Y. J., Kuo, Y. Y., Lin, Y. S., and Wang, C. C.* (2017) Evolutionary gain of highly divergent tRNA specificities by two isoforms of human histidyl-tRNA synthetase. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 74: 2663-2677 (SCI) (MOST 103-2311-B-008-003-MY3, MOST 103-2923-B-008-001-MY3, and NSC 102-2311-B-008-004-MY3)
13. Hsu, L. S., Chiou, B. H., Hsu, T. W., Wang, C. C., and Chen, S. C.* (2017) The regulation of transcriptome responses in zebrafish embryo exposure to triadimefon. Environ. Toxicol. 32: 217-226 (SCI)
14. Chang, C. Y., Chang, C. P., Chakraborty, S., Wang, S. W., Tseng, Y. K., and Wang, C. C.* (2016) Modulating the structure and function of an aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase cofactor by biotinylation. J. Biol. Chem. 291: 17102-17111 (SCI) (MOST 103-2311-B-008-003-MY3, MOST 103-2923-B-008-001-MY3, and NSC 102-2311-B-008-004-MY3)
15. Chang, C. Y., Chien, C. I., Chang, C. P., Lin, B. C., and Wang, C. C.* (2016) A WHEP domain regulates the dynamic structure and activity of Caenorhabditis elegans glycyl-tRNA synthetase. J. Biol. Chem. 291: 16567-16575 (SCI) (MOST 103-2311-B-008-003-MY3, MOST 103-2923-B-008-001-MY3, NSC 102-2311-B-008-004-MY3, and NCU-LSH-103-A-003)
16. Chang, C. P., Chang, C. Y., Li, Y. X., Lin, Y. S., and Wang, C. C.* (2015) Divergent alanyl-tRNA synthetase genes of Vanderwaltozyma polyspora descended from a common ancestor through whole-genome duplication followed by asymmetric evolution. Mol. Cell. Biol. 35: 2242-2253 (SCI) (MOST 103-2311-B-008-003-MY3, MOST 103-2923-B-008-001-MY3, NSC102-2311-B-008-004-MY3, and NCU-LSH-103-A-003)
17. Chien, C. I., Chen, Y. L., Chen, S. J., Chou, C. M., Chen, C. Y., and Wang, C. C.* (2015) Vanderwaltozyma polyspora possesses two glycyl-tRNA synthetase genes: one constitutive and one inducible. Fungal Genet. Biol. 76: 47-56 (SCI) (NSC102-2311-B-008-004-MY3)
18. Chien, C. I., Chen, Y. W., Wu, Y. H., Chang, C. Y., Wang, T. L., and Wang, C. C.* (2014) Functional substitution of a eukaryotic glycyl-tRNA synthetase with an evolutionarily unrelated bacterial cognate enzyme. PLoS ONE 9: e94659 (SCI) (NSC101-3113-B-008-001-MY3, NSC102-2311-B-008-004-MY3, and NCU-LSH-102-A-002)
19. Wu, Y. H., Chang, C. P., Chien, C. I., Tseng, Y. K., and Wang, C. C.* (2013) An insertion peptide in yeast glycyl-tRNA synthetase facilitates both productive docking and catalysis of cognate tRNAs. Mol. Cell. Biol. 33: 3515-3523 (SCI) (NSC101-3113-B-008-001)
20. Liao, C. C., Lin, C. H., Chen, S. J., and Wang, C. C.* (2012) Trans-kingdom rescue of Gln-tRNA^Gln synthesis in yeast cytoplasm and mitochondria. Nucleic Acids Res. 40: 9171-9181 (SCI) (NSC101-3113-B-008-001)
21. Chen, S. J., Wu, Y. H., Huang, H. Y., and Wang, C. C.* (2012) Saccharomyces cerevisiae possesses a stress-inducible glycyl-tRNA synthetase gene. PLoS ONE 7: e33363. (SCI) (NSC97-2311-B-008-002-MY3, NSC97-2311-B-008-003-MY3, and NSC100-3114-B-008-001-MY3)
22. Chang, C. P., Tseng, Y. K., Ko, C. Y., and Wang, C. C.* (2012) Alanyl-tRNA synthetase genes of Vanderwaltozyma polyspora arose from duplication of a dual-functional predecessor of mitochondrial origin. Nucleic Acids Res. 40: 314-322. (SCI) (NSC97-2311-B-008-002-MY3 and NSC97-2311-B-008-003-MY3)
23. Chen, S. J., Lee, C. Y., Lin, S. T., and Wang, C. C.* (2011) Rescuing a dysfunctional homologue of a yeast glycyl-tRNA synthetase gene. ACS Chem. Biol. 6: 1182-1187. (SCI) (NSC97-2311-B-008-003-MY3 and NSC98-3114-B-008-002)
24. Lin, C. H., Lin, G., Chang, C. P., and Wang, C. C.* (2010) A tryptophan-rich peptide acts as a transcription activation domain. BMC Mol. Biol. 11: 85. (SCI) (NSC97-2311-B-008-003-MY3)
25. Chang, C. P., Chen, S. J., Lin, C. H., Wang, T. L., and Wang, C. C.* (2010) A single sequence context cannot satisfy all non-AUG initiator codons in yeast. BMC Microbiol. 10: 188. (SCI) (NSC97-2311-B-008-003-MY3) (The first two authors contributed equally to this work)
26. Chiu, W. C., Chang, C. P., Wen, W. L., Wang, S. W., and Wang, C. C.* (2010) Schizosaccharomyces pombe possesses two paralogous valyl-tRNA synthetase genes of mitochondrial origin. Mol. Biol. Evol. 27: 1415-1424. (SCI) (NSC96-2311-B-008-002)
27. Chiu, W. C., Chang, C. P., and Wang, C. C.* (2009) Evolutionary basis of converting a bacterial tRNA synthetase into a yeast cytoplasmic or mitochondrial enzyme. J. Biol. Chem. 284: 23954-23960 (SCI) (NSC97-2311-B-008-002-MY3)
28. Chen, S. J., Ko, C. Y., Yen, C. W., and Wang, C. C.* (2009) Translational efficiency of redundant ACG initiator codons is enhanced by a favorable sequence context and remedial initiation. J. Biol. Chem. 284: 818-827 (SCI) (NSC96-2311-B-008-002, NSC96-2311-B-008-003, and CNJRF-96CGH-NCU-B4)
29. Chang, C. P., Lin, G., Chen, S. J., Chiu, W. C., Chen, W. H., and Wang, C. C.* (2008) Promoting the formation of an active synthetase/tRNA complex by a non-specific tRNA-binding domain. J. Biol. Chem. 283: 30699-30706 (SCI) (NSC 96-2311-B-008-002 and 96-2001-INER-0034)
30. Chen, S. J., Lin, G., Chang, K. J., Yeh, L. S., and Wang, C. C.* (2008) Translational efficiency of a non-AUG initiation codon is significantly affected by its sequence context in yeast. J. Biol. Chem. 283: 3173-3180 (SCI) (NSC 95-2311-B-008-005 and NSC 95-2311-B-008-006)
31. Huang, H. Y., Kuei, Y., Chao, H. Y., Chen, S. J., Yeh, L. S., and Wang, C. C.* (2006) Cross-species and cross-compartmental aminoacylation of isoaccepting tRNAs by a class II tRNA synthetase. J. Biol. Chem. 281: 31430-31439 (SCI) (NSC 94-2311-B-008-009 and INER 94-2001-INER-EE-009)
32. Huang, H. Y., Tang, H. L., Chao, H. Y., Yeh, L. S., and Wang, C. C.* (2006) An unusual pattern of protein expression and localization of yeast alanyl-tRNA synthetase isoforms. Mol. Microbiol. 60(1): 189-198 (SCI) (NSC 93-2311-B-008-001)
33. Chang, K. J., Grace, L., Men, L. C., and Wang, C. C.* (2006) Redundancy of non-AUG initiators: a clever mechanism to enhance the efficiency of translation in yeast. J. Biol. Chem. 281: 7775-7783 (SCI) (NSC 94-2311-B-008-009 and INER 94-2001-INER-EE-009)
34. Tang, H. L., Yeh, L. S., Chen, N. K., Ripmaster, T., Schimmel, P., and Wang, C. C.* (2004) Translation of a yeast mitochondrial tRNA synthetase initiated at redundant non-AUG codons. J. Biol. Chem. 279: 49656-49663 (SCI) (NSC 92-2311-B-008-008)
35. Chang, K. J. and Wang, C. C.* (2004) Translation initiation from a naturally occurring non-AUG codon in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J. Biol. Chem. 279: 13778-13785 (SCI) (NSC 91-2311-B-008-008)
36. Wang, C. C.*, Chang, K. J., Tang, H. L., Hsieh, C. J., and Schimmel, P.* (2003) Mitochondrial form of a tRNA synthetase can be made bifunctional by manipulating its leader peptide. Biochemistry 42: 1646-1651 (SCI) (NSC 90-2311-B-008-004)
37. Wang, C. C., Morales, A., and Schimmel, P.* (2000) Functional redundancy in the nonspecific RNA binding domain of a class I tRNA synthetase. J. Biol. Chem. 275: 17180-17186
38. Houman, F., Rho, S. B., Zhang, J., Shen, X., Wang, C. C., Schimmel, P., and Martinis, S. A.* (2000) A prokaryote and human tRNA synthetases provide an essential RNA splicing function in yeast mitochondria. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci.  97: 13743-13748
39. Swairjo, M., Morales, A., Wang, C. C., Ortiz, A. R., and Schimmel, P.* (2000) Crystal structure of Trbp111: a structure-specific tRNA binding protein. EMBO J. 19: 6287-6298
40. Schimmel, P.* and Wang, C. C. (1999) Getting tRNA synthetases into the nucleus. Trends Biochem. Sci. 24: 127-128
41. Wang, C. C. and Schimmel, P.* (1999) Species barrier to RNA recognition overcome with nonspecific RNA binding domains. J. Biol. Chem. 274: 16508-16512
42. Dressman, H. K., Wang, C. C., Karam, J. D., and Drake, J. W.* (1997) Retention of replication fidelity by a DNA polymerase functioning in a distantly related environment. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 94: 8042-8046
43. Wang, C. C., Pavlov, A., and Karam, J. D.* (1997) Evolution of RNA-binding specificity in T4 DNA polymerase. J. Biol. Chem. 272: 17703-17710
44. Wang, J., Sattar, A. K., Wang, C. C., Karam, J. D., Konigsberg, W. H., and Steitz, T. A.* (1997) Crystal structure of a pol alpha family replication DNA polymerase from bacteriophage RB69. Cell 89: 1087-1099
45. Wang, C. C., Yeh, L. S., and Karam, J. D.* (1995) Modular organization of T4 DNA polymerase. Evidence from phylogenetics. J. Biol. Chem. 270: 26558-26564
    

1. Biochemistry
2. Biochemistry Laboratory
3. Gene Regulation
4. Gene Cloning

1. Outstanding Teacher Award, College of Science, NCU (2001)
2. Junior Research Investigator Award from Academia Sinica (2005)
3. Outstanding Research Award, National Central University (2005)
4. Outstanding Research Award, National Central University (2006)
5. Top research article award, College of Science, National Central University (2006)
6. Outstanding Research Award, National Central University (2007)
7. Outstanding Research Award, National Central University (2008)
8. Top research article award, College of Science, National Central University (2009)
9. Outstanding Teacher Award, College of Science, NCU (2009)
10. Outstanding Research Award, National Central University (2010)
11. Outstanding Research Award, National Central University (2011)
12. Top research article award, College of Science, National Central University (2012)
13. Outstanding Research Award, National Central University (2012)
14. Outstanding Research Award, National Central University (2014)
15. Distinguished Professor Award, National Central University (2016)