My research focuses on the molecular mechanisms and signalling networks underlying pollen-stigma recognition. Specifically, I have studied two critical aspects of pollen-stigma interactions: the role of signalling factors mediating cell-cell recognition and the programmed cell death of pollen tubes induced by self-incompatibility.
During my PhD supervised by James Doughty at the University of Bath, I functionally characterised a group of cysteine-rich proteins (CRPs), pollen coat protein B class (PCP-Bs) as a key regulator of compatible pollen hydration [1]. I also conducted proteomic studies to identify pollen coat-derived signalling peptides, uncovering numerous previously unreported CRPs [2]. In 2017, I joined Aberystwyth University as a Postdoctoral Research Associate, working with Maurice Bosch and Vernonica (Noni) Franklin-Tong. My work focused on downstream signalling and cellular responses in pollen tubes undergoing programmed cell death during poppy self-incompatibility (SI) using engineered Arabidopsis thaliana [3, 4].
Research Interests
By investigating both upstream and downstream components of pollen-stigma interaction, my research aims to uncover the determinants and mechanisms governing cell-cell recognition. In a wider context, I am interested in how plant cells communicate and recognise each other to determine cell fate and state to maintain the intricate organisation of multicellular systems during development and reproduction. My ultimate goal is to contribute to advancements in breeding targets and strategies, a crucial step toward securing the future of global food production. This focus has driven my exploration of the molecular basis of developmental and reproductive processes, including floral sexuality, reproductive strategy, cell morphology and signalling. These aspects regulate both individual development and gene flow between individuals and populations, playing a critical role in crop productivity.
In February 2025, I joined the Sainsbury Laboratory University of Cambridge (SLCU) as a Research Associate working with Madelaine Bartlett. My current research investigates the mechanisms underpinning developmental processes regulated by deeply conserved genes that drive the rapid diversification of angiosperms, with a particular focus on developmental sex determination in grasses.
References:
[1] Wang et al., 2017. New Phytol, 213: 764-77. DOI:10.1111/nph.14162
[2] Wang et al., 2023. Biomolecules,13: 157. DOI:10.3390/biom13010157
[3] Wang et al., 2020. J. Exp. Bot, 71: 2451-2463. DOI:10.1093/jxb/eraa092
[4] Wang et al., 2022. New Phytol, 236: 1691-1707. DOI:10.1111/nph.18350
Publications:
Wang L and Filatov DA, 2023. Mechanisms of prezygotic post-pollination reproductive barriers in plants. Frontiers in Plant Science 14, 1230278. DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1230278.
Wang L, Lau Y-L, Fan L, Bosch M and Doughty J, 2023. Pollen Coat Proteomes of Arabidopsis thaliana, Arabidopsis lyrata, and Brassica oleracea reveal remarkable diversity of small cysteine-rich proteins at the pollen-stigma interface. Biomolecules 13, 157. DOI: 10.3390/biom13010157.
Wang L, Lin Z, Carli J, Gladala-Kostarz A, Davies JM, Franklin-Tong VE and Bosch M, 2022. ATP depletion plays a pivotal role in self-incompatibility, revealing a link between cellular energy status, cytosolic acidification and actin remodelling in pollen tubes. New Phytologist 236, 1691-707. DOI: 10.1111/nph.18350.
Wang L, Triviño M, Lin Z, Carli J, Eaves, DJ, Van Damme D, Nowack MK, Franklin-Tong VE and Bosch M, 2020. New opportunities and insights into Papaver self-incompatibility by imaging engineered Arabidopsis pollen. Journal of Experimental Botany 71, 2451-63. DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa092.
Bosch M and Wang L, 2020. Pollen-stigma interactions in Brassicaceae: complex communication events regulating pollen hydration. Journal of Experimental Botany 71, 2465-8. DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa117.
Zhao W, Qu X, Zhuang Y, Wang L, Bosch M, Franklin-Tong VE, Xue Y and Huang S, 2020. Villin controls the formation and enlargement of punctate actin foci in pollen tubes. Journal of Cell Science 133, jcs237404. DOI: 10.1242/jcs.237404.
Wang L, Lin Z, Triviño M, Nowack MK, Franklin-Tong VE and Bosch M, 2019. Self-incompatibility in Papaver pollen: programmed cell death in an acidic environment. Journal of Experimental Botany 70, 2113-23. DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ery406.
Wang L, Clarke LA, Eason RJ, Parker CC, Qi B, Scott RJ and Doughty J, 2017. PCP-B class pollen coat proteins are key regulators of the hydration checkpoint in Arabidopsis thaliana pollen-stigma interactions. New Phytologist 213, 764-77. DOI: 10.1111/nph.14162.
