Yan Wang

All Publications

• The SUN1-SPDYA interaction plays an essential role in meiosis prophase I. Nature communications Chen, Y., Wang, Y., Chen, J., Zuo, W., Fan, Y., Huang, S., Liu, Y., Chen, G., Li, Q., Li, J., Wu, J., Bian, Q., Huang, C., Lei, M. 2021; 12 (1): 3176

  Abstract

  Chromosomes pair and synapse with their homologous partners to segregate correctly at the first meiotic division. Association of telomeres with the LINC (Linker of Nucleoskeleton and Cytoskeleton) complex composed of SUN1 and KASH5 enables telomere-led chromosome movements and telomere bouquet formation, facilitating precise pairwise alignment of homologs. Here, we identify a direct interaction between SUN1 and Speedy A (SPDYA) and determine the crystal structure of human SUN1-SPDYA-CDK2 ternary complex. Analysis of meiosis prophase I process in SPDYA-binding-deficient SUN1 mutant mice reveals that the SUN1-SPDYA interaction is required for the telomere-LINC complex connection and the assembly of a ring-shaped telomere supramolecular architecture at the nuclear envelope, which is critical for efficient homologous pairing and synapsis. Overall, our results provide structural insights into meiotic telomere structure that is essential for meiotic prophase I progression.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41467-021-23550-w

  View details for PubMedID 34039995

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC8155084

• A novel DDB2 mutation causes defective recognition of UV-induced DNA damages and prevalent equine squamous cell carcinoma DNA Repair Chen, L., Bellone, R. R., Wang, Y., Singer-Berk, M., Sugasawa, K., Ford, J. M., Artandi, S. E. 2020

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.dnarep.2020.103022

• The meiotic TERB1-TERB2-MAJIN complex tethers telomeres to the nuclear envelope NATURE COMMUNICATIONS Wang, Y., Chen, Y., Chen, J., Wang, L., Nie, L., Long, J., Chang, H., Wu, J., Huang, C., Lei, M. 2019; 10: 564

  Abstract

  During meiotic prophase I, telomeres attach to and move on the nuclear envelope (NE), regulating chromosome movement to promote homologous pairing. Meiosis-specific proteins TERB1, TERB2 and MAJIN play a key role in this process. Here, we report the crystal structures of human TERB1-TERB2 and TERB2-MAJIN subcomplexes. Specific disruption of the TERB1-TERB2 or the TERB2-MAJIN interaction in the mouse Terb2 gene abolishes the telomere attachment to the NE and causes aberrant homologous pairing and disordered synapsis. In addition, depletion of SUN1 also partially disrupts the telomere-NE connection. We propose that the telomere-TRF1-TERB1-TERB2-MAJIN-NE interaction network and the telomere-LINC complex connection are likely two separate but cooperative pathways to stably recruit telomeres to the NE in meiosis prophase I. Our work provides a molecular model of the connection between telomeres and the NE and reveals the correlation between aberrant synapsis and the defective telomere attachment to the NE.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/s41467-019-08437-1

  View details for Web of Science ID 000457582900008

  View details for PubMedID 30718482

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC6361898

• Structural basis for activity regulation of MLL family methyltransferases NATURE Li, Y., Han, J., Zhang, Y., Cao, F., Liu, Z., Li, S., Wu, J., Hu, C., Wang, Y., Shuai, J., Chen, J., Cao, L., Li, D., Shi, P., Tian, C., Zhang, J., Dou, Y., Li, G., Chen, Y., Lei, M. 2016; 530 (7591): 447-+

  Abstract

  The mixed lineage leukaemia (MLL) family of proteins (including MLL1-MLL4, SET1A and SET1B) specifically methylate histone 3 Lys4, and have pivotal roles in the transcriptional regulation of genes involved in haematopoiesis and development. The methyltransferase activity of MLL1, by itself severely compromised, is stimulated by the three conserved factors WDR5, RBBP5 and ASH2L, which are shared by all MLL family complexes. However, the molecular mechanism of how these factors regulate the activity of MLL proteins still remains poorly understood. Here we show that a minimized human RBBP5-ASH2L heterodimer is the structural unit that interacts with and activates all MLL family histone methyltransferases. Our structural, biochemical and computational analyses reveal a two-step activation mechanism of MLL family proteins. These findings provide unprecedented insights into the common theme and functional plasticity in complex assembly and activity regulation of MLL family methyltransferases, and also suggest a universal regulation mechanism for most histone methyltransferases.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/nature16952

  View details for Web of Science ID 000370690800028

  View details for PubMedID 26886794

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC5125619