Rate My Professor Wenqi Wang

The research in Wang’s laboratory investigates signaling networks underlying tissue homeostasis and organ size control, as well as their dysregulation in tumorigenesis. The lab focuses on the Hippo signaling pathway, a critical regulator of proliferation, regeneration, tissue homeostasis, and organ size that integrates diverse growth signals including growth factors, energy status, cell-cell contact, and mechanical cues. Dysregulation of the Hippo pathway is frequently observed in human cancers, positioning it as a key therapeutic target. Wang’s group employs proteomic approaches to define protein-protein interaction networks for Hippo pathway components and related protein families involved in growth control and cancer. Key publications include "Functional annotation of the Hippo pathway somatic mutations in human cancers" (Nature Communications, 2024), "The Hippo pathway noncanonically drives autophagy and cell survival in response to energy stress" (Molecular Cell, 2023), "The Hippo pathway kinases LATS1 and LATS2 attenuate cellular responses to heavy metals through phosphorylating MTF1" (Nature Cell Biology, 2022), "MAP4K Interactome Reveals STRN4 as a Key STRIPAK Complex Component in Hippo Pathway Regulation" (Cell Reports, 2020), "Elucidation of WW domain ligand binding specificities in the Hippo pathway reveals STXBP4 as YAP inhibitor" (EMBO Journal, 2019), "Regulation of the Hippo Pathway by Phosphatidic Acid-Mediated Lipid-Protein Interaction" (Molecular Cell, 2018), and "AMPK modulates Hippo pathway activity to regulate energy homeostasis" (Nature Cell Biology, 2015).