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Wenxiang Cao, PhD

Research Scientist

Contact Information

Wenxiang Cao, PhD

Mailing Address

  • PO Box 208114

    260/266 Whitney Avenue, 335 Bass

    New Haven, CT 06520-8114

    United States

Coauthors

Selected Publications

  • Improving the Pharmacodynamics and In Vivo Activity of ENPP1-Fc Through Protein and Glycosylation Engineering.Stabach PR, Zimmerman K, Adame A, Kavanagh D, Saeui CT, Agatemor C, Gray S, Cao W, De La Cruz EM, Yarema KJ, Braddock DT. Improving the Pharmacodynamics and In Vivo Activity of ENPP1-Fc Through Protein and Glycosylation Engineering. Clinical And Translational Science 2021, 14: 362-372. PMID: 33064927, PMCID: PMC7877847, DOI: 10.1111/cts.12887.
  • Structural basis of fast- and slow-severing actin-cofilactin boundaries.Hocky GM, Sindelar CV, Cao W, Voth GA, De La Cruz EM. Structural basis of fast- and slow-severing actin-cofilactin boundaries. The Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2021, 296: 100337. PMID: 33508320, PMCID: PMC7961102, DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100337.
  • Structures of cofilin-induced structural changes reveal local and asymmetric perturbations of actin filaments.Huehn AR, Bibeau JP, Schramm AC, Cao W, De La Cruz EM, Sindelar CV. Structures of cofilin-induced structural changes reveal local and asymmetric perturbations of actin filaments. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2020, 117: 1478-1484. PMID: 31900364, PMCID: PMC6983403, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1915987117.
  • Directional allosteric regulation of protein filament length.Jermyn AS, Cao W, Elam WA, De La Cruz EM, Lin MM. Directional allosteric regulation of protein filament length. Physical Review. E 2020, 101: 032409. PMID: 32290018, PMCID: PMC7758089, DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.101.032409.
  • Force and phosphate release from Arp2/3 complex promote dissociation of actin filament branches.Pandit NG, Cao W, Bibeau J, Johnson-Chavarria EM, Taylor EW, Pollard TD, De La Cruz EM. Force and phosphate release from Arp2/3 complex promote dissociation of actin filament branches. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2020, 117: 13519-13528. PMID: 32461373, PMCID: PMC7306818, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1911183117.
  • Active cargo positioning in antiparallel transport networks.Richard M, Blanch-Mercader C, Ennomani H, Cao W, De La Cruz EM, Joanny JF, Jülicher F, Blanchoin L, Martin P. Active cargo positioning in antiparallel transport networks. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2019, 116: 14835-14842. PMID: 31289230, PMCID: PMC6660773, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1900416116.
  • The actin filament twist changes abruptly at boundaries between bare and cofilin-decorated segments.Huehn A, Cao W, Elam WA, Liu X, De La Cruz EM, Sindelar CV. The actin filament twist changes abruptly at boundaries between bare and cofilin-decorated segments. The Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2018, 293: 5377-5383. PMID: 29463680, PMCID: PMC5900768, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.AC118.001843.
  • Nup159 Weakens Gle1 Binding to Dbp5 But Does Not Accelerate ADP Release.Wong EV, Gray S, Cao W, Montpetit R, Montpetit B, De La Cruz EM. Nup159 Weakens Gle1 Binding to Dbp5 But Does Not Accelerate ADP Release. Journal Of Molecular Biology 2018, 430: 2080-2095. PMID: 29782832, PMCID: PMC6003625, DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2018.05.025.
  • Phosphomimetic S3D cofilin binds but only weakly severs actin filaments.Elam WA, Cao W, Kang H, Huehn A, Hocky GM, Prochniewicz E, Schramm AC, Negrón K, Garcia J, Bonello TT, Gunning PW, Thomas DD, Voth GA, Sindelar CV, De La Cruz EM. Phosphomimetic S3D cofilin binds but only weakly severs actin filaments. The Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2017, 292: 19565-19579. PMID: 28939776, PMCID: PMC5712599, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M117.808378.
  • Architecture and Connectivity Govern Actin Network Contractility.Ennomani H, Letort G, Guérin C, Martiel JL, Cao W, Nédélec F, De La Cruz EM, Théry M, Blanchoin L. Architecture and Connectivity Govern Actin Network Contractility. Current Biology : CB 2016, 26: 616-26. PMID: 26898468, PMCID: PMC4959279, DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2015.12.069.
  • P(I) Release Limits the Intrinsic and RNA-Stimulated ATPase Cycles of DEAD-Box Protein 5 (Dbp5).Wong EV, Cao W, Vörös J, Merchant M, Modis Y, Hackney DD, Montpetit B, De La Cruz EM. P(I) Release Limits the Intrinsic and RNA-Stimulated ATPase Cycles of DEAD-Box Protein 5 (Dbp5). Journal Of Molecular Biology 2016, 428: 492-508. PMID: 26730886, PMCID: PMC4744555, DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2015.12.018.
  • Neuronal Calcium Sensor 1 Has Two Variants with Distinct Calcium Binding Characteristics.Wang B, Boeckel GR, Huynh L, Nguyen L, Cao W, De La Cruz EM, Kaftan EJ, Ehrlich BE. Neuronal Calcium Sensor 1 Has Two Variants with Distinct Calcium Binding Characteristics. PloS One 2016, 11: e0161414. PMID: 27575489, PMCID: PMC5004852, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161414.
  • ENPP1-Fc prevents mortality and vascular calcifications in rodent model of generalized arterial calcification of infancy.Albright RA, Stabach P, Cao W, Kavanagh D, Mullen I, Braddock AA, Covo MS, Tehan M, Yang G, Cheng Z, Bouchard K, Yu ZX, Thorn S, Wang X, Folta-Stogniew EJ, Negrete A, Sinusas AJ, Shiloach J, Zubal G, Madri JA, De La Cruz EM, Braddock DT. ENPP1-Fc prevents mortality and vascular calcifications in rodent model of generalized arterial calcification of infancy. Nature Communications 2015, 6: 10006. PMID: 26624227, PMCID: PMC4686714, DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10006.
  • Molecular basis of purinergic signal metabolism by ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterases 4 and 1 and implications in stroke.Albright RA, Ornstein DL, Cao W, Chang WC, Robert D, Tehan M, Hoyer D, Liu L, Stabach P, Yang G, De La Cruz EM, Braddock DT. Molecular basis of purinergic signal metabolism by ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterases 4 and 1 and implications in stroke. The Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2014, 289: 3294-306. PMID: 24338010, PMCID: PMC3916532, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M113.505867.
  • Multi-platform compatible software for analysis of polymer bending mechanics.Graham JS, McCullough BR, Kang H, Elam WA, Cao W, De La Cruz EM. Multi-platform compatible software for analysis of polymer bending mechanics. PloS One 2014, 9: e94766. PMID: 24740323, PMCID: PMC3989245, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0094766.
  • Site-specific cation release drives actin filament severing by vertebrate cofilin.Kang H, Bradley MJ, Cao W, Zhou K, Grintsevich EE, Michelot A, Sindelar CV, Hochstrasser M, De La Cruz EM. Site-specific cation release drives actin filament severing by vertebrate cofilin. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2014, 111: 17821-6. PMID: 25468977, PMCID: PMC4273407, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1413397111.
  • Quantitative full time course analysis of nonlinear enzyme cycling kinetics.Cao W, De La Cruz EM. Quantitative full time course analysis of nonlinear enzyme cycling kinetics. Scientific Reports 2013, 3: 2658. PMID: 24029878, PMCID: PMC3772379, DOI: 10.1038/srep02658.
  • Actin network architecture can determine myosin motor activity.Reymann AC, Boujemaa-Paterski R, Martiel JL, Guérin C, Cao W, Chin HF, De La Cruz EM, Théry M, Blanchoin L. Actin network architecture can determine myosin motor activity. Science (New York, N.Y.) 2012, 336: 1310-4. PMID: 22679097, PMCID: PMC3649007, DOI: 10.1126/science.1221708.
  • NPP4 is a procoagulant enzyme on the surface of vascular endothelium.Albright RA, Chang WC, Robert D, Ornstein DL, Cao W, Liu L, Redick ME, Young JI, De La Cruz EM, Braddock DT. NPP4 is a procoagulant enzyme on the surface of vascular endothelium. Blood 2012, 120: 4432-40. PMID: 22995898, PMCID: PMC4017314, DOI: 10.1182/blood-2012-04-425215.
  • Plus-end directed myosins accelerate actin filament sliding by single-headed myosin VI.Ramamurthy B, Cao W, De la Cruz EM, Mooseker MS. Plus-end directed myosins accelerate actin filament sliding by single-headed myosin VI. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken, N.J.) 2012, 69: 59-69. PMID: 22213699, PMCID: PMC3327287, DOI: 10.1002/cm.21002.
  • Mechanism of Mss116 ATPase reveals functional diversity of DEAD-Box proteins.Cao W, Coman MM, Ding S, Henn A, Middleton ER, Bradley MJ, Rhoades E, Hackney DD, Pyle AM, De La Cruz EM. Mechanism of Mss116 ATPase reveals functional diversity of DEAD-Box proteins. Journal Of Molecular Biology 2011, 409: 399-414. PMID: 21501623, PMCID: PMC3125984, DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2011.04.004.
  • Cofilin-linked changes in actin filament flexibility promote severing.McCullough BR, Grintsevich EE, Chen CK, Kang H, Hutchison AL, Henn A, Cao W, Suarez C, Martiel JL, Blanchoin L, Reisler E, De La Cruz EM. Cofilin-linked changes in actin filament flexibility promote severing. Biophysical Journal 2011, 101: 151-9. PMID: 21723825, PMCID: PMC3127193, DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2011.05.049.
  • Kinetic analysis of autotaxin reveals substrate-specific catalytic pathways and a mechanism for lysophosphatidic acid distribution.Saunders LP, Cao W, Chang WC, Albright RA, Braddock DT, De La Cruz EM. Kinetic analysis of autotaxin reveals substrate-specific catalytic pathways and a mechanism for lysophosphatidic acid distribution. The Journal Of Biological Chemistry 2011, 286: 30130-41. PMID: 21719699, PMCID: PMC3191052, DOI: 10.1074/jbc.M111.246884.
  • Actin filament dynamics in the actomyosin VI complex is regulated allosterically by calcium-calmodulin light chain.Prochniewicz E, Pierre A, McCullough BR, Chin HF, Cao W, Saunders LP, Thomas DD, De La Cruz EM. Actin filament dynamics in the actomyosin VI complex is regulated allosterically by calcium-calmodulin light chain. Journal Of Molecular Biology 2011, 413: 584-92. PMID: 21910998, PMCID: PMC3633491, DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2011.08.058.
  • Pathway of ATP utilization and duplex rRNA unwinding by the DEAD-box helicase, DbpA.Henn A, Cao W, Licciardello N, Heitkamp SE, Hackney DD, De La Cruz EM. Pathway of ATP utilization and duplex rRNA unwinding by the DEAD-box helicase, DbpA. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2010, 107: 4046-50. PMID: 20160110, PMCID: PMC2840157, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0913081107.
  • The ATPase cycle mechanism of the DEAD-box rRNA helicase, DbpA.Henn A, Cao W, Hackney DD, De La Cruz EM. The ATPase cycle mechanism of the DEAD-box rRNA helicase, DbpA. Journal Of Molecular Biology 2008, 377: 193-205. PMID: 18237742, PMCID: PMC2359651, DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2007.12.046.
  • Widely distributed residues in thymosin beta4 are critical for actin binding.Au JK, Olivares AO, Henn A, Cao W, Safer D, De La Cruz EM. Widely distributed residues in thymosin beta4 are critical for actin binding. Biochemistry 2008, 47: 4181-8. PMID: 18327913, PMCID: PMC2587058, DOI: 10.1021/bi701769u.
  • Fluorescence of 2-aminopurine reveals rapid conformational changes in the RB69 DNA polymerase-primer/template complexes upon binding and incorporation of matched deoxynucleoside triphosphates.Zhang H, Cao W, Zakharova E, Konigsberg W, De La Cruz EM. Fluorescence of 2-aminopurine reveals rapid conformational changes in the RB69 DNA polymerase-primer/template complexes upon binding and incorporation of matched deoxynucleoside triphosphates. Nucleic Acids Research 2007, 35: 6052-62. PMID: 17766250, PMCID: PMC2094073, DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkm587.
  • Energetics and kinetics of cooperative cofilin-actin filament interactions.Cao W, Goodarzi JP, De La Cruz EM. Energetics and kinetics of cooperative cofilin-actin filament interactions. Journal Of Molecular Biology 2006, 361: 257-67. PMID: 16843490, DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2006.06.019.
  • Thermodynamics of nucleotide binding to actomyosin V and VI: a positive heat capacity change accompanies strong ADP binding.Robblee JP, Cao W, Henn A, Hannemann DE, De La Cruz EM. Thermodynamics of nucleotide binding to actomyosin V and VI: a positive heat capacity change accompanies strong ADP binding. Biochemistry 2005, 44: 10238-49. PMID: 16042401, DOI: 10.1021/bi050232g.
  • Magnesium, ADP, and actin binding linkage of myosin V: evidence for multiple myosin V-ADP and actomyosin V-ADP states.Hannemann DE, Cao W, Olivares AO, Robblee JP, De La Cruz EM. Magnesium, ADP, and actin binding linkage of myosin V: evidence for multiple myosin V-ADP and actomyosin V-ADP states. Biochemistry 2005, 44: 8826-40. PMID: 15952789, DOI: 10.1021/bi0473509.
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