Huafeng Wang
Associate Research Scientist in PharmacologyCards
About
Research
Publications
2025
Human sperm KSper is physiologically activated by intracellular pH alkalization and CatSper-mediated Ca2+ signaling
Kang H, Wang H, Wu J, Zhang J, Zhang X, Zeng X. Human sperm KSper is physiologically activated by intracellular pH alkalization and CatSper-mediated Ca2+ signaling. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2025, 110752. PMID: 40992664, DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2025.110752.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCytosolic Ca2+Physiological agonistsHyperpolarization of membrane potentialCurrent-clamp recordingsSperm fertilizing capacityChanges of intracellular pHResponse to physiological stimuliCa2+ signalingDose-dependent mannerPipette solutionHuman spermHyperpolarizing effectKSperPharmacological inhibitionCatSperFertilizing capacityElectrophysiological recordingsIntracellular pHHyperpolarizationPhysiological stimuliMembrane potentialRegulatory mechanismsLow pH sensitivitySpermPH alkalization
2023
Bacterial production of recombinant contraceptive vaccine antigen from CatSper displayed on a human papilloma virus-like particle
Nand K, Jordan T, Yuan X, Basore D, Zagorevski D, Clarke C, Werner G, Hwang J, Wang H, Chung J, McKenna A, Jarvis M, Singh G, Bystroff C. Bacterial production of recombinant contraceptive vaccine antigen from CatSper displayed on a human papilloma virus-like particle. Vaccine 2023, 41: 6791-6801. PMID: 37833124, DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.09.044.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVirus-like particlesSperm hyperactivated motilityHuman papilloma virusInclusion bodiesLong-acting protectionCalcium ion channelsNon-hormonal interventionsContraceptive efficacyHyperactivated motilityPapilloma virusPrincipal pieceSperm tailContraceptive vaccineBALB/c miceHypervariable regionCatSperVaccine antigensBacterial productionVaccine candidatesIon channelsIn vitroVaccinePregnancyRecombinant vaccineExtracellular loopA CUG-initiated CATSPERθ functions in the CatSper channel assembly and serves as a checkpoint for flagellar trafficking
Huang X, Miyata H, Wang H, Mori G, Iida-Norita R, Ikawa M, Percudani R, Chung J. A CUG-initiated CATSPERθ functions in the CatSper channel assembly and serves as a checkpoint for flagellar trafficking. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2023, 120: e2304409120. PMID: 37725640, PMCID: PMC10523455, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2304409120.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChannel assemblySperm flagellaTransmembrane domain-containing proteinsSperm tail formationDomain-containing proteinsCatSper channel complexMale fertilityFlagellar traffickingMacromolecular complexesTail formationPhysiological roleSuccessful fertilizationCalcium signalingCatSper channelsFlagellaGenetic abrogationChannel complexNormal expressionDimer formationSpermatid cellsProteinCheckpointHyperactivated motilityAssemblyPotential role
2022
Widespread association of the Argonaute protein AGO2 with meiotic chromatin suggests a distinct nuclear function in mammalian male reproduction
Griffin KN, Walters BW, Li H, Wang H, Biancon G, Tebaldi T, Kaya CB, Kanyo J, Lam TT, Cox AL, Halene S, Chung JJ, Lesch BJ. Widespread association of the Argonaute protein AGO2 with meiotic chromatin suggests a distinct nuclear function in mammalian male reproduction. Genome Research 2022, 32: 1655-1668. PMID: 36109149, PMCID: PMC9528986, DOI: 10.1101/gr.276578.122.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMammalian male reproductionArgonaute 2Distinct nuclear functionsConditional knockoutMale reproductionProtein Argonaute 2Abnormal sperm head morphologyMeiotic chromatinAnimal developmentCytoplasmic roleNuclear functionsMale meiosisNuclear roleMRNA translationAgo2 proteinImportant genesNuclear compartmentMRNA transcriptsBiological relevanceSperm head morphologyHead morphologySpermatogenic cellsWidespread associationChromatinProteinSelenoprotein TXNRD3 supports male fertility via the redox regulation of spermatogenesis
Dou Q, Turanov AA, Mariotti M, Hwang JY, Wang H, Lee SG, Paulo JA, Yim SH, Gygi SP, Chung JJ, Gladyshev VN. Selenoprotein TXNRD3 supports male fertility via the redox regulation of spermatogenesis. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2022, 298: 102183. PMID: 35753352, PMCID: PMC9352919, DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102183.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsThioredoxin/glutathione reductaseThiol redox controlSperm quality controlThiol redox statusGene duplicationThiol oxidoreductasesRedox regulationProteomic analysisRedox controlGross phenotypeThioredoxin reductaseSperm maturationMovement phenotypesSperm cellsRedox statusMale reproductionKnockout animalsMale fertilityGlutathione reductaseCritical roleReductasePhenotypeTXNRD3Knockout miceSpermatogenesis3D structure and in situ arrangements of CatSper channel in the sperm flagellum
Zhao Y, Wang H, Wiesehoefer C, Shah NB, Reetz E, Hwang JY, Huang X, Wang TE, Lishko PV, Davies KM, Wennemuth G, Nicastro D, Chung JJ. 3D structure and in situ arrangements of CatSper channel in the sperm flagellum. Nature Communications 2022, 13: 3439. PMID: 35715406, PMCID: PMC9205950, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31050-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCatSper complexSperm flagellaCryo-electron tomographyHigher-order organizationMammalian spermIntracellular domainStructural basisExtracellular domainTetrameric channelChannel CatSperSuccessful fertilizationFlagellar movementCatSper channelsChannel poreSitu mapSitu arrangementHuman sperm flagellumPrimary Ca2CatSperDimer formationFlagellaCentral roleSpermAtomic modelSperm motilityRedox regulation by TXNRD3 during epididymal maturation underlies capacitation-associated mitochondrial activity and sperm motility in mice
Wang H, Dou Q, Jeong KJ, Choi J, Gladyshev VN, Chung JJ. Redox regulation by TXNRD3 during epididymal maturation underlies capacitation-associated mitochondrial activity and sperm motility in mice. Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2022, 298: 102077. PMID: 35643315, PMCID: PMC9218152, DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102077.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRedox regulationRedox homeostasisMolecular mechanismsSperm maturationMitochondrial sheath formationCell imaging analysisThioredoxin glutathione reductaseSperm developmentMammalian spermatozoaEpididymal transitMitochondrial ultrastructureMitochondrial activityRedox statusMale fertilityCapacitationHomeostasisMaturationRegulationMotilityFamily membersFertilizationSperm morphologySperm motilityMitochondriaBioenergeticsC2cd6-encoded CatSperτ targets sperm calcium channel to Ca2+ signaling domains in the flagellar membrane
Hwang JY, Wang H, Lu Y, Ikawa M, Chung JJ. C2cd6-encoded CatSperτ targets sperm calcium channel to Ca2+ signaling domains in the flagellar membrane. Cell Reports 2022, 38: 110226. PMID: 34998468, PMCID: PMC8857959, DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.110226.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsFlagellar membraneFlagellar membrane targetingC2 domain proteinsCatSper channelsCatSper channel complexMammalian sperm cellsSperm hyperactivated motilityMale fertilityMembrane targetingTrafficking machineryDomain proteinsLoss of functionHyperactivated motilitySpatiotemporal CaChannel assemblyMolecular mechanismsSperm cellsChannel complexFlagellaMotilityC2CD6MembraneCalcium channelsMachineryProtein
2021
Mitochondria–cytoskeleton interactions in mammalian sperm revealed by cryoelectron tomography
Wang H, Chung JJ. Mitochondria–cytoskeleton interactions in mammalian sperm revealed by cryoelectron tomography. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2021, 118: e2118020118. PMID: 34819381, PMCID: PMC8640839, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2118020118.Commentaries, Editorials and LettersPhysiologically detectable bisphenol A impairs human sperm functions by reducing protein-tyrosine phosphorylation
Li N, Kang H, Peng Z, Wang H, Weng S, Zeng X. Physiologically detectable bisphenol A impairs human sperm functions by reducing protein-tyrosine phosphorylation. Ecotoxicology And Environmental Safety 2021, 221: 112418. PMID: 34146982, DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112418.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman sperm viabilityHuman sperm functionHuman spermExposure of BPASperm functionProgesterone-induced acrosome reactionProtein tyrosine phosphorylationProtein tyrosine phosphorylation levelsAcrosome reactionMale infertilityHealthy peopleMouse sperm motilitySperm viabilityCalcium signalingPhosphorylation levelsTyrosine phosphorylation levelsBisphenol ASperm motilityProgressive motilityHyperactivationMotilityDetectable concentrationRemarkable declineTyrosine phosphorylationPlastic monomers