Dr. Wang’s research interest includes gene editing-assisted microbial breeding and bioconversion of C1 feedstocks such as methanol and carbon dioxide. He has developed advanced gene editing and regulation technologies for industrial microorganisms such as Corynebacterium glutamicum. The technologies have been successfully applied to expand the substrate spectrum and product portfolio of biomanufacturing guided by systems and synthetic biology. Bioproduction of amino acids and derivatives from methanol is ongoing.

Dr Wang has published over 30 peer-reviewed papers as the first or corresponding author in Nat. Commun., Trends Biotechnol., Metab. Eng., ACS Synth. Biol., etc., and filed over 30 patents. Because of his achievements, he has been selected as a recipient of the Excellent Young Scientists Fund (National Natural Science Foundation of China) and a finalist of the 35 Innovators Under 35 Asia Pacific (MIT Technology Review). He has also been rewarded with the DaSilva Award (the Society for Biotechnology, Japan), the Meiji Life Science Award (Meiji Dairies Co., Ltd.), “Lun Shiyi Education Fund” Outstanding Young Scholar, etc.

Selected publications 

1.        Liu J, Liu M, Shi T, Sun G, Gao N, Zhao X, Guo X, Ni X, Yuan Q, Feng J, Liu Z, Guo Y, Chen J, Wang Y*, Zheng P*, Sun J. 2022. CRISPR-assisted rational flux-tuning and arrayed CRISPRi screening of an L-proline exporter for L-proline hyperproduction. Nat Commun, 13, 891 (Editors’ highlights and Focus article on biotechnology and method).

2.        Wang Y, Zhao D, Sun L, Wang J, Fan L, Cheng G, Zhang Z, Ni X, Feng J, Wang M, Zheng P*, Bi C*, Zhang X*, Sun J. 2022. Engineering of the translesion DNA synthesis pathway enables controllable C-to-G and C-to-A base editing in Corynebacterium glutamicum. ACS Synth Biol, 11, 3368–3378.

3.        Chen J, Wang Y*, Zheng P*, Sun J. 2022. Engineering synthetic auxotrophs for growth-coupled directed protein evolution. Trends Biotechnol, 40, 773–776.

4.        Wang Y*, Zheng P, Sun J*. 2022. Developing synthetic methylotrophs by metabolic engineering-guided adaptive laboratory evolution. Adv Biochem Eng Biotechnol, 180, 127–148.

5.        Zhou W, Fu G, Qi X, Zheng X, Fang H, Xia M, Zhang D, Wang Q, Zheng P, Wang Y*, Sun J. 2022. Upgrading microbial strains for fermentation industry. Chin J Biotech, 38, 1–19.

6.        Wang Y*, Cheng H, Liu Y, Liu Y, Wen X, Zhang K, Ni X, Gao N, Fan L, Zhang Z, Liu J, Chen J, Wang L, Guo Y, Zheng P*, Wang M*, Sun J, Ma Y. 2021. In-situ generation of large numbers of genetic combinations for metabolic reprogramming via CRISPR-guided base editing. Nat Commun, 12, 678 (Editors’ highlights and Focus article on biotechnology and method).

7.        Wang Y*, Liu Y, Zheng P, Sun J, Wang M*. 2021. Microbial base editing: a powerful emerging technology for microbial genome engineering. Trends Biotechnol, 39, 165–180 (Selected cover and free featured article).

8.        Zhang Z, Wang Y*, Zheng P*, Sun J. 2021. Promoting lignin valorization by coping with toxic C1 byproducts. Trends Biotechnol, 39, 331–335.

9.        Wang Y, Fan L, Tuyishime P, Liu J, Zhang K, Gao N, Zhang Z, Ni X, Feng J, Yuan Q, Ma H, Zheng P*, Sun J*, Ma Y. 2020. Adaptive laboratory evolution enhances methanol tolerance and conversion in engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum. Commun Biol, 3:217 (Springer Nature high impact publications by Chinese researchers).

10.      Wang Y, Fan L, Tuyishime P, Zheng P*, Sun J*. 2020. Synthetic methylotrophy: a practical solution for methanol-based biomanufacturing. Trends Biotechnol, 38, 650–666.

11.      Wang Y, Liu Y, Li J, Yang Y, Ni X, Cheng H, Huang T, Guo Y, Ma H, Zheng P*, Wang M*, Sun J, Ma Y. 2019. Expanding targeting scope, editing window, and base transition capability of base editing in Corynebacterium glutamicum. Biotechnol Bioeng, 116:3016–3029 (Selected cover article).

12.      Wang Y, Liu Y, Liu J, Guo Y, Fan L, Ni X, Zheng X, Wang M*, Zheng P*, Sun J*, Ma Y. 2018. MACBETH: multiplex automated Corynebacterium glutamicum base editing method. Metab Eng, 47:200–210.

13.      Wang Y, Cao G, Xu D, Fan L, Wu X, Ni X, Zhao S, Zheng P*, Sun J*, Ma Y. 2018. A novel Corynebacterium glutamicum L-glutamate exporter. Appl Environ Microbiol, 84:e02691-17.

14.      Tuyishime P^#, Wang Y^#, Fan L, Zhang Q, Li Q, Zheng P*, Sun J*, Ma Y. 2018. Engineering Corynebacterium glutamicum for methanol-dependent growth and glutamate production. Metab Eng, 49:220–231.

15.      Wang Y, Tao F, Xin B, Liu H, Gao Y, Zhou NY, Xu P*. 2017. Switch of metabolic status: redirecting metabolic flux for acetoin production from glycerol by activating a silent glycerol catabolism pathway. Metab Eng, 39:90–101.

Research grants

National Natural Science Foundation of China, Gene editing-assisted microbial breeding, 2023.01-2025.12

National Natural Science Foundation of China, Construction and decipherment of engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum utilizing methanol as the sole carbon source, 2021.01-2024.12

National Natural Science Foundation of China, Limiting factors for methanol utilization in Corynebacterium glutamicum, 2018.01-2020.12

National Key R&D Program of China, Ministry of Science and Technology of PR China, Advanced version of model microbial chassis, 2019.07-2024.06

National Key R&D Program of China, Ministry of Science and Technology of PR China, Design and construction of superior Synechococcus chassis, 2019.07-2024.06

Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2021.01-2024.12

Strategic Leading Science and Technology Project of Chinese Academy of Sciences, In vivo directed evolution of carboligation enzymes, 2022.03-2024.02

Tianjin “Project+Team” Key Training Program, Biosynthesis of key components of artificial meat, 2021.01-2023.12

Award

2022, Finalist of the MIT Technology Review 35 Innovators Under 35 Asia Pacific

2022, Winner of the DaSilva Award 2022, The Society for Biotechnology, Japan

2022, “Lun Shiyi Education Fund” Outstanding Young Scholar

2021, The Excellent Presentation Award, Chinese Society of Chemistry Young Scientists Forum IV of Biochemical Engineering

2020, Excellent Science and Technology Volunteer in Tianjin Municipality

2020, Ambassador for Popularization of Science of Tianjin Binhai District

2018, Keynote Speech Award, The Annual Conference of the Chinese Society for Microbiology

2016, Excellent Graduates in Shanghai Municipality

2014, Meiji Life Science Award, Meiji Co., Ltd. & Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, CAS