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王中茹

王中茹 (Wang, Chung-Ju)

副研究員

Research Figure 1

減數分裂時DNA 雙股計畫性的形成斷裂（double-strand break, DSB），以啟動同源染色體間的遺傳重組。DNA雙股斷裂已知是由SPO11，一種類拓樸異構酶所剪切，並於每次減數分裂時造成200-500個DNA斷點。雖然DSB對減數分裂能正常進行是必要關鍵，但無疑的DSB發生的時間，頻率和數目需要受到複雜的控制。我們分析玉米的SPO11-1，意外地發現上千個SPO11-1蛋白質分布在染色體周圍，而只有300-400個坐落在染色體軸上的SPO11-1具有剪切活性。上圖為玉米減數分裂細胞3D影像，顯示為數眾多的SPO11-1訊號（綠色）散佈在細胞核內。以染色質（藍色/只顯示部分區域）和以DSY2蛋白標示的染色體軸(紅色)分析後，發現大部分的SPO11-1位於染色質中，而只有一小部分的SPO11-1，坐落於染色體軸上。

我們研究減數分裂

減數分裂是有性生殖中關鍵的分水嶺，使染色體數目成套減半，同時產生遺傳重組的配子，對於真核生物的遺傳扮演重要的角色。在植物與農業的研究上，減數分裂亦是重要。當減數分裂異常時，往往造成植株不稔，並嚴重影響結實率。另外，減數分裂時發生的同源染色體配對重組，可打斷遺傳連鎖，提供下一代不同的基因型組合。透過去蕪存菁的選拔，即為育種的基礎。本實驗室致力於了解在植物中，減數分裂同源染色體配對與重組的分子機制以及減數分裂細胞週期起始及終止的調控。

以玉米為材料

減數分裂的研究十分依賴顯微鏡的觀察，而阿拉伯芥與水稻等模式植物的減數分裂細胞較小，限制了染色體製備與細胞學的觀察。我們利用玉米花粉母細胞的特性突破上述的困難，使用超高解析度光學顯微鏡，研究減數分裂的過程與分子機制。同時發展減數分裂細胞高通量分離技術，使基因組學與蛋白質體學得以運用於減數分裂研究上。

減數分裂起始

減數分裂起始的機制是個生物學上相當重要的題目。我們藉由標定生殖細胞的DNA複製，發現減數分裂開始前，所有細胞經過一段特化的細胞週期暫停，以使減數分裂S週期同步起始。我們並發現MAC1和AM1分別對於細胞週期同步化和進入減數分裂S期非常重要。我們目前透過對其功能的分析，以及系統性地了解轉錄組及蛋白質體在其中的變化，以了解關鍵的基因和機制。

減數分裂結束

在被子植物中，減數分裂結束後，單倍體胞子必須重新進行有絲分裂以產生配子體，也就是成熟花粉粒或是胚囊。細胞如何終止減數分裂，轉換成有絲分裂少有研究。玉米po1突變株由Dr. George Beadle在1929年分離出來，其表型為減數分裂第二時期結束後，卻再次發生染色體分離。我們發現PO1為一個具TPR模組的蛋白質，利用定量定性的蛋白質體學分析，我們發現PO1可能透過調節末期促進複合體，影響蛋白質降解來控制減數分裂週期。

同源染色體如何完成配對及重組?

減數分裂第一時期中，同源染色體彼此配對並發生DNA重組。同時，聯會複合體在同源染色體間形成，緊密的連結同源染色體並調節染色體間的重組。這時同源染色體間的配對，聯會和基因重組皆為減數分裂時重要的過程，才得以正確產生單配體的配子細胞。染色體如何認得其同源染色體？又如何與聯會複合體之形成彼此協調？染色體重組的位置如何決定？我們研究這些非常重要又有趣的問題。我們藉著研究數個參與的蛋白質，來了解配對重組及聯會這個相當動態的過程。

All publications

Selected Publications

  • CC Tsengh, and Wang CJR* (2025) The synchronous meiosis initiated after a cell cycle arrest in maize pollen mother cells. Front Plant Sci.
  • Hsieh JW, Lin PY, Wang CT, Lee YJ, Chang P, Lu R, Chen PY* and Wang CJR* (2024) Establishing an optimized ATAC-seq protocol for maize. Front Plant Sci.15: 1370618.
  • Wang C , Li X , Huang J, d , Lu P , Ma H, Wang CJR* and Wang Y* (2023) Isolation of meiocytes and cytological analyses of male meiotic chromosomes in soybean, lettuce and maize. In Reichmann JL, Ferrándiz C (Eds.), Flower Development: Methods and Protocols. New York: Springer :2686:219-239.
  • Wang Y, Chen C, Copenhaver GP, and Wang CJR* (2023) Meiosis in plants: sexual reproduction, genetic variation and crop improvement. Front Plant Sci. 28:14:1294591.
  • Zhao M, Ku JC, Liu, B, Yang D, Yin L, Ferrell TJ, Stoll CE, Guo W, Zhang X, Wang D, Wang CJR and Lisch D (2021) The mop1 mutation affects the recombination landscape in maize. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 118: e2009475118.
  • Jing JL, Zhang T, Kao YH, Huang TH, Wang CJR* and He Y* (2020) ZmMTOPVIB enables DNA double-strand break formation and bipolar spindle assembly during maize meiosis. Plant Physiology. 184:1811-1822.
  • Ku JC, Ronceret A, Golubovskaya I, Lee DH, Wang CT, Timofejeva L, Kao YH, Angoa AKG, Kremling K, Williams-Carrier R, Meeley R, Barkan A, Cande WZ and Wang CJR* (2020) Dynamic localization of SPO11-1 and conformational changes of meiotic axial elements during recombination initiation of maize meiosis. PLoS Genetics. 20;16(4):e1007881.
  • Albert PS, Zhang T, Semrau K, Rouillard JM, Kao YH, Wang CJR, Danilova TV, Jiang J and Birchler, JA* (2019) Whole-chromosome paints in maize reveal rearrangements, nuclear domains, and chromosomal relationships. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 116(5), 1679-1685.
  • Chang P, Tseng YF, Chen PY* and Wang CJR* (2018) Using flow cytometry to isolate maize meiocytes for next generation sequencing: A time and labor efficient method. Current Protocol of Plant Biology, 3(2), e20068.
  • Hsu FM, Wang CJR* and Chen PY* (2018) Reduced representation bisulfite sequencing in maize. Bio-Protocol, 8(6), e2778.
  • Hsieh HM, Chung MC, Chen PY, Hsu FM, Liao WW, Sung AN, Lin CR, Wang CJR, Kao YH, Fang MJ, Lai CY, Huang CC, Chou JC, Chou WN, Chang BCH and Ju YM* (2017) A termite symbiotic mushroom maximizing sexual activity at growing tips of vegetative hyphae. Botanical Studies, 58(1), 39.
  • Hsu FM, Yen MR, Wang CT, Lin CY, Wang CJR* and Chen PY* (2017) Optimized reduced representation bisulfite sequencing reveals tissue-specific mCHH islands in maize. Epigenetics and Chromatin, 10(1), 42.
  • Lambing C, Franklin FCH and Wang CJR* (2017) Understanding and manipulating meiotic recombination in plants. Plant Physiology, 173(3), 1530- 1542.
  • Lee DH, Kao YH, Ku JC, Lin CY, Meeley R, Jan YS and Wang CJR* (2015) The axial element protein DESYNAPTIC2 mediates meiotic double-strand break formation and synaptonemal complex assembly in maize. Plant Cell, 27(9), 2516-2529.
  • Wang CJR* and Tseng CC (2014) Recent advances in understanding of meiosis initiation and the apomictic pathway in plants. Frontiers in Plant Science, 5, 497.
  • Moon J, Skibbe D, Timofejeva L, Wang CJR, Kelliher T, Kremling K, Walbot V and Cande WZ* (2013) Regulation of cell divisions and differentiation by MALE STERILITY32 is required for anther development in maize. Plant Journal, 76(4), 592-602.
  • Timofejeva L, Skibbe D, Lee S, Golubovskaya IN, Wang CJR, Harper L, Walbot V and Cande WZ* (2013) Cytological characterization and allelism testing of anther developmental mutants identified in a screen of maize male sterile lines. Genetics G3, 3(2), 231-249.
  • Wang CJR* (2013) Analyzing maize meiotic chromosomes with structured illumination microscopy. In Pawlowski WP, Grelon M, Armstrong S (Eds.), Methods in Molecular Biology, pp 67-78. New York: Springer (Invited book chapter)
  • Wang CJR, Nan G, Kelliher T, Timofejeva L, Vernoud V, Golubovskaya IN, Harper L, Egger R, Walbot V and Cande WZ* (2012) Maize Multiple archesporial cells 1 (Mac1), an ortholog of rice TDL1A, modulates cell proliferation and identity in early anther development. Development, 139(4), 2594-2603.
  • Paredez AR, Assaf ZJ, Sept D, Timofejeva L, Dawson SC, Wang CJR and Cande WZ* (2011) An actin cytoskeleton with evolutionarily conserved functions in the absence of canonical actin-binding proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 108(15), 6151-6156.
  • Nan GL, Ronceret A, Wang CJR, Fernandes JF, Cande WZ and Walbot V* (2011) Global transcriptome analysis of two ameiotic1 alleles in maize anthers: defining steps in meiotic entry and progression through prophase I. BMC Plant Biology, 11, 120.
  • Golubovskaya IN, Wang CJR, Timofejeva L and Cande WZ* (2011) Maize meiotic mutants with improper or nonhomologous synapsis due to problems in pairing or synaptonemal complex formation. Journal of experimental botany, 62(5), 1533-1544. (The first two authors contributed equally to this work) (Journal cover).
  • Wang CJR, Carlton PM, Golubovskaya IN and Cande WZ* (2009) Interlock formation and coiling of meiotic chromosome axes during synapsis. Genetics, 183:905-915.
  • Pawlowski WP, Wang CJR, Golubovskaya IN, Szymaniak JM, Shi L, Hamant O, Zhu T, Harper L, Sheridan WF and Cande WZ* (2009) Maize AMEIOTIC1 is essential for multiple early meiotic processes and likely required for the initiation of meiosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 106: 3603–3608. (The first two authors contributed equally to this work).
  • Cande WZ*, Golubovskaya IN, Wang CJR and Harper LC (2009) Meiotic genes and meiosis in maize. In Bennetzen JL, Hake S (Eds), Handbook of Maize-Volume II, pp. 353-375, New York: Springer. (Book chapter)
  • Gustafsson MG*, Shao L, Carlton PM, Wang CJR, Golubovskaya IN, Cande WZ, Agard DA and Sedat JW (2008) Three-dimensional resolution doubling in widefield fluorescence microscopy by structured illumination. Biophysical Journal, 94:4957-4970.
  • Poxleitner MK, Carpenter ML, Mancuso JJ, Wang CJR, Dawson SC and Cande WZ* (2008) Evidence for karyogamy and exchange of genetic material in the binucleate intestinal parasite Giardia intestinalis. Science, 319:1530-1533.
實驗室成員合照

訪問學者 Visiting Scholar
Ming Yang

博士後研究 Postdoctoral Fellow
李頂華 Ding-Hua Lee 
Jeremy Catinot
曾靜枝 Ching-Chih Tseng

博士班研究生 Doctoral Student
孫偉哲 Jimmy Wei-Che Sun
Adnan Sami
黃子瀚 Tzu-Han Huang

碩士班研究生 Doctoral Student
許安 Anson Hsu
Sriranjani Kumar

研究助理 Research Assistant
王琪婷 Chi-Ting Wang
陳婷玉 Ting-Yu Chen

國內

  • 2018 林秋榮教授植物科學創新研究獎 - 財團法人林秋榮植物科學教育基金會
  • 2016 楊祥發院士傑出農業科學年輕學者獎 - 財團法人楊祥發紀念教育基金會
  • 2013 社會優秀青年 - 救國團台北市團委會
  • 2013 前瞻計畫 - 中央研究院