Publications

PUBMED

Selected publications

Next-generation interleukin-enhanced immunotherapies: From molecular engineering to armored T-cell architectures
Li W, Wang W. Current Opinion in Chemical Biology (2026). [full-text]
This review surveys next-generation interleukin-based cancer immunotherapies, including engineered cytokines, immunocytokines, and cytokine-enhanced T-cell therapies designed to improve antitumor efficacy while limiting systemic toxicity.

A chemogenetic approach for temporal and cell-specific activation of endogenous GPCRs in vivo
Shingles G, Pang Q, Weng J, Singer R, Babar W, Shen J, Vázquez-Rivera L, Chen Y, Li P, Wang W. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (2026). [full-text]
This study develops chemogenetically controlled peptide agonists that enable temporally and cell-specifically regulated activation of endogenous GPCR signaling in vivo.
SPLICEIT Fluorescent Sensor for Integrating Dopamine Release with Cellular Resolution
Havens SM, Georgis B, Weng J, Rodriguez J, Rivett H, Alrawi S, Li P, Wang W. Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2025). [full-text]
This study introduces SPLICEIT, a genetically encoded fluorescent integrator that records dopamine release as a persistent signal with cellular resolution.
An improved FLARE system for recording and manipulating neuronal activity
Zhou G, Li R, Bartolik O, Ma Y, Wan WW, Meng J, Hu Y, Ye B, Wang W. Cell Reports Methods (2025). [full-text]
This study improves the FLARE system for more robust activity-dependent labeling and manipulation of neurons within user-defined time windows.

Principles and Design of Molecular Tools for Sensing and Perturbing Cell Surface Receptor Activity
Sescil J, Havens SM, Wang W. Chemical Reviews (2025). [full-text]
This review outlines design principles for molecular tools that sense, record, and perturb cell-surface receptor activity with spatial and temporal precision.

Single-chain fluorescent integrators for mapping G-protein-coupled receptor agonists
Kroning K, Gannot N, Li X, Putansu A, Zhou G, Sescil J, Shen J, Wilson A, Fiel H, Li P, Wang W. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (2024). [full-text]
This study develops single-chain fluorescent integrators for mapping GPCR agonist exposure, expanding genetically encoded tools for cellular-resolution detection of neuromodulatory signals.
A general method for chemogenetic control of peptide function
Shen J, Geng L, Li X, Emery C, Kroning K, Shingles G, Lee K, Heyden M, Li P, Wang W. Nature Methods (2023). [full-text]
This study develops chemically activated protein domains that cage short peptides until small-molecule-induced uncaging enables precise chemogenetic control of peptide functions.
α-Synuclein fibril-specific nanobody reduces prion-like α-synuclein spreading in mice
Butler YR, Liu Y, Kumbhar R, Zhao P, Gadhave K, Wang N, Li Y, Mao X, Wang W. Nature Communications (2022). [full-text]
This study develops a fibril-specific nanobody that selectively targets pathogenic α-synuclein fibrils and reduces their prion-like spreading in mouse models.
Modular Peroxidase-Based Reporters for Detecting Protease Activity and Protein Interactions with Temporal Gating
Zhou G, Wan WW, Wang W. Journal of the American Chemical Society (2022). [full-text]
This study introduces modular peroxidase-based CLAPon reporters for detecting protease activity and protein interactions with signal amplification and temporal gating.
Designing a Single Protein-Chain Reporter for Opioid Detection at Cellular Resolution
Kroning KE, Wang W. Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2021). [full-text]
This study introduces a single-chain fluorescent integrator that converts μ-opioid receptor activation into a persistent signal for cellular-resolution opioid detection.

All publications by Research Area

Biosensors

SPLICEIT Fluorescent Sensor for Integrating Dopamine Release with Cellular Resolution
Havens SM, Georgis B, Weng J, Rodriguez J, Rivett H, Alrawi S, Li P, Wang W. Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2025). [full-text]
This study introduces SPLICEIT, a genetically encoded fluorescent integrator that records dopamine release as a persistent signal with cellular resolution.
Protein Engineering for Spatiotemporally Resolved Cellular Monitoring
Zhou G, Wang W. Annual Review of Analytical Chemistry (2025). [full-text]
This review discusses protein-engineering strategies that convert transient cellular events into spatially and temporally resolved molecular records.
An improved FLARE system for recording and manipulating neuronal activity
Zhou G, Li R, Bartolik O, Ma Y, Wan WW, Meng J, Hu Y, Ye B, Wang W. Cell Reports Methods (2025). [full-text]
This study improves the FLARE system for more robust activity-dependent labeling and manipulation of neurons within user-defined time windows.
Functionalization of a versatile fluorescent sensor for detecting protease activity and temporally gated opioid sensing
Sescil J, Fiel H, Havens SM, Fu E, Li X, Kroning KE, Solowiej I, Li P, Wang W. RSC Chemical Biology (2025). [full-text]
This study expands a modular fluorescent sensor platform to detect protease activity and record opioid signaling within chemically defined time windows.
Principles and Design of Molecular Tools for Sensing and Perturbing Cell Surface Receptor Activity
Sescil J, Havens SM, Wang W. Chemical Reviews (2025). [full-text]
This review outlines design principles for molecular tools that sense, record, and perturb cell-surface receptor activity with spatial and temporal precision.
Single-chain fluorescent integrators for mapping G-protein-coupled receptor agonists
Kroning K, Gannot N, Li X, Putansu A, Zhou G, Sescil J, Shen J, Wilson A, Fiel H, Li P, Wang W. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (2024). [full-text]
This study develops single-chain fluorescent integrators for mapping GPCR agonist exposure, expanding genetically encoded tools for cellular-resolution detection of neuromodulatory signals.
Protein-Based Tools for Studying Neuromodulation
Wang W. ACS Chemical Biology (2024). [full-text]
This review discusses protein-based sensors and molecular switches for detecting neuromodulators and manipulating neuromodulatory signaling in neural circuits.
Accessible and Generalizable in Vitro Luminescence Assay for Detecting GPCR Activation
Miller RM, Sescil J, Sarcinella MC, Bailey RC, Wang W. ACS Measurement Science Au (2023). [full-text]
This study develops IGNiTR, an accessible split-luciferase assay for detecting ligand-induced GPCR activation across diverse receptor systems.
Modular Peroxidase-Based Reporters for Detecting Protease Activity and Protein Interactions with Temporal Gating
Zhou G, Wan WW, Wang W. Journal of the American Chemical Society (2022). [full-text]
This study introduces modular peroxidase-based CLAPon reporters for detecting protease activity and protein interactions with signal amplification and temporal gating.
Genetically encoded tools for in vivo G-protein-coupled receptor agonist detection at cellular resolution
Kroning KE, Wang W. Clinical and Translational Medicine (2022). [full-text]
This review surveys genetically encoded strategies for detecting GPCR agonists in vivo with cellular resolution and cell-type specificity.
A Modular Fluorescent Sensor Motif Used to Detect Opioids, Protein-Protein Interactions, and Protease Activity
Kroning KE, Li M, Shen J, Wang W. ACS Chemical Biology (2022). [full-text]
This study develops a modular fluorescent sensor motif that converts opioid signaling, protein interactions, and protease activity into persistent fluorescent readouts.
A genetically encoded sensor with improved fluorescence intensity for opioid detection at cellular resolution
Kroning KE, Li M, Petrescu DI, Wang W. Chemical Communications (2021). [full-text]
This study engineers an improved opioid integrator with substantially increased fluorescence intensity for cellular-resolution detection of opioid signaling.
SPARK: A Transcriptional Assay for Recording Protein-Protein Interactions in a Defined Time Window
Geng L, Kroning KE, Wang W. Current Protocols (2021). [full-text]
This protocol describes SPARK, a light-gated transcriptional system for recording protein-protein interactions occurring within a defined time window.
Designing a Single Protein-Chain Reporter for Opioid Detection at Cellular Resolution
Kroning KE, Wang W. Angewandte Chemie International Edition (2021). [full-text]
This study introduces a single-chain fluorescent integrator that converts μ-opioid receptor activation into a persistent signal for cellular-resolution opioid detection.
Temporally gated molecular tools for tracking protein-protein interactions in live cells
Kroning KE, Wang W. Methods in Enzymology (2020). [full-text]
This methods article describes molecular strategies for recording dynamic protein-protein interactions in living cells within experimentally defined time windows.
Molecular tools for imaging and recording neuronal activity
Wang W, Kim CK, Ting AY. Nature Chemical Biology (2019). [full-text]
This review surveys genetically encoded tools for real-time imaging and long-term molecular recording of neuronal activity in active neural circuits.

Optogenetic & chemogenetic tools

A Single-Chain Light-Activatable Transcriptional Reporter for Fluorescently Tagging Mammalian Cells In Vitro
Bartolik O, Wang W. ChemBioChem (2026). [full-text]
This study presents a compact single-chain light-activatable transcriptional reporter for illumination-dependent fluorescent labeling of mammalian cells.
A novel directed evolution platform for engineering chemically gated protein switches
Vázquez-Rivera LA, Shen J, Shingles G, Zhou G, Wang W. Chemical Communications (2026). [full-text]
This study develops a directed evolution platform for engineering protein switches with improved small-molecule-dependent activity for chemogenetic applications.
A chemogenetic approach for temporal and cell-specific activation of endogenous GPCRs in vivo
Shingles G, Pang Q, Weng J, Singer R, Babar W, Shen J, Vázquez-Rivera L, Chen Y, Li P, Wang W. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA (2026). [full-text]
This study develops chemogenetically controlled peptide agonists that enable temporally and cell-specifically regulated activation of endogenous GPCR signaling in vivo.
Library-on-Library Intercellular Labeling for Selection of Biotin Ligase and Acceptor Peptides
Lakkanasirorat B, Kongkamnead P, Amornloetwattana R, Leejareon P, Uttamapinant C, Wang W. ChemBioChem (2026). [full-text]
This study establishes a library-on-library intercellular labeling strategy for simultaneously selecting biotin ligases and compatible acceptor peptides.
Fluorogenic chemically induced dimerization
Wang W, Shen J. Nature Methods (2023). [full-text]
This commentary highlights CATCHFIRE, a fluorogenic chemically induced dimerization system that enables reversible control and simultaneous visualization of protein proximity.
A general method for chemogenetic control of peptide function
Shen J, Geng L, Li X, Emery C, Kroning K, Shingles G, Lee K, Heyden M, Li P, Wang W. Nature Methods (2023). [full-text]
This study develops chemically activated protein domains that cage short peptides until small-molecule-induced uncaging enables precise chemogenetic control of peptide functions.
Circularly permuted AsLOV2 as an optogenetic module for engineering photoswitchable peptides
Geng L, Shen J, Wang W. Chemical Communications (2021). [full-text]
This study develops circularly permuted AsLOV2 domains that expand modular optogenetic control to peptides requiring regulation at different terminal positions.

Therapeutic proteins

Next-generation interleukin-enhanced immunotherapies: From molecular engineering to armored T-cell architectures
Li W, Wang W. Current Opinion in Chemical Biology (2026). [full-text]
This review surveys next-generation interleukin-based cancer immunotherapies, including engineered cytokines, immunocytokines, and cytokine-enhanced T-cell therapies designed to improve antitumor efficacy while limiting systemic toxicity.
α-Synuclein fibril-specific nanobody reduces prion-like α-synuclein spreading in mice
Butler YR, Liu Y, Kumbhar R, Zhao P, Gadhave K, Wang N, Li Y, Mao X, Wang W. Nature Communications (2022). [full-text]
This study develops a fibril-specific nanobody that selectively targets pathogenic α-synuclein fibrils and reduces their prion-like spreading in mouse models.

Before 2018

Time-gated detection of protein-protein interactions with transcriptional readout
Kim MW, Wang W, Sanchez MI, Coukos R, von Zastrow M, Ting AY. eLife (2017). [full-text]
This study introduces SPARK, a light-gated system that converts transient protein-protein interactions into stable transcriptional outputs while preserving temporal information.
A light- and calcium-gated transcription factor for imaging and manipulating activated neurons
Wang W, Wildes CP, Pattarabanjird T, Sanchez MI, Glober GF, Matthews GA, Tye KM, Ting AY. Nature Biotechnology (2017). [full-text]
This study develops FLARE, a transcription factor gated by both calcium and light that provides genetic access to neurons activated during defined behavioral time windows.
Domain-Swapped Dimers of Intracellular Lipid-Binding Proteins: Evidence for Ordered Folding Intermediates
Assar Z, Nossoni Z, Wang W, Santos EM, Kramer K, McCornack C, Vasileiou C, Borhan B, Geiger JH. Structure (2016). [full-text]
This study characterizes domain-swapped dimers of intracellular lipid-binding proteins and provides structural evidence for ordered intermediates in protein folding.
“Turn-on” protein fluorescence: in situ formation of cyanine dyes
Yapici I, Lee KSS, Berbasova T, Nosrati M, Jia X, Vasileiou C, Wang W, Santos EM, Geiger JH, Borhan B. Journal of the American Chemical Society (2015). [full-text]
This study engineers a protein environment that promotes in situ cyanine dye formation to generate bright turn-on fluorescence for protein labeling and imaging.
Structures of holo wild-type human cellular retinol-binding protein II (hCRBPII) bound to retinol and retinal
Nossoni Z, Assar Z, Yapici I, Nosrati M, Wang W, Berbasova T, Vasileiou C, Borhan B, Geiger JH. Acta Crystallographica Section D: Biological Crystallography (2014). [full-tex t]
This study determines the structures of retinol- and retinal-bound hCRBPII to reveal how the protein accommodates and interacts with different retinoid ligands.
The photochemical determinants of color vision: Revealing how opsins tune their chromophore’s absorption wavelength
Wang W, Geiger JH, Borhan B. BioEssays (2014). [full-text]
This review examines the molecular mechanisms by which opsin protein environments tune retinal absorption to generate the spectral diversity underlying color vision.
Rational design of a colorimetric pH sensor from a soluble retinoic acid chaperone
Berbasova T, Nosrati M, Vasileiou C, Wang W, Lee KSS, Yapici I, Geiger JH, Borhan B. Journal of the American Chemical Society (2013). [full-text]
This study re-engineers a soluble retinoid-binding protein into a ratiometric colorimetric pH sensor by tuning the protonation of its retinal Schiff base.
Tuning the electronic absorption of protein-embedded all-trans-retinal
Wang W, Nossoni Z, Berbasova T, Watson CT, Yapici I, Lee KSS, Vasileiou C, Geiger JH, Borhan B. Science (2012). [full-text]
This study redesigns hCRBPII to systematically tune the absorption wavelength of protein-bound retinal across a broad region of the visible spectrum.
‘Fixed charge’ chemical derivatization and data dependant multistage tandem mass spectrometry for mapping protein surface residue accessibility
Zhou X, Lu Y, Wang W, Borhan B, Reid GE. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry (2010). [full-text]
This study combines fixed-charge chemical labeling with multistage tandem mass spectrometry to improve mapping of solvent-accessible residues on protein surfaces.
Elucidating the exact role of engineered CRABPII residues for the formation of a retinal protonated Schiff base
Vasileiou C, Wang W, Jia X, Lee KSS, Watson CT, Geiger JH, Borhan B. Proteins: Structure, Function, and Bioinformatics (2009). [full-text]
This study dissects how engineered residues in CRABPII control retinal Schiff-base formation and protonation, providing design principles for protein-chromophore engineering.

Patents

Wang W; Kroning KE. Fluorescent biosensors and methods of use for detecting cell signaling events. PCT/US2022/017804; WO2022182932A1 (2022); US20240141017A1 (2024).
Wang W; Mao X; Rianik Y; Liu Y; Kumbhar R. Compositions and methods for treating alpha-synucleinopathies.PCT/US2022/037038; WO2023287932A1 (2023); US20240336677A1 (2024).
Wang W; Miller R.G-protein coupled receptor assay.PCT/US2023/062766; WO2023159144A2 (2023); US20250164508A1 (2025).
Wang W; Li P; Shen J; Geng L.Chemogenetic regulation of peptide function.PCT/US2023/018101; WO2023200745A1 (2023); US20250242060A1 (2025).
Wang W; Zhou G.Peroxidase-based reporters to detect protease activity and protein interactions.WO2024072897 (2024).
Provisional patent “CYTOKINE ACTIVITY REGULATION” (2026)
Provisional patent “CYTOKINE ACTIVITY SCREENING” (2026)