Work experience

September 2025 – Present: Associate Professor, Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University

January 2018 – August 2025: Associate Professor, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine

Educational background

October 2014 – December 2018 Ph.D. in Chemical Biology, Université Paris-Saclay; (Supervisor: Prof. Valerie Alezra)

September 2011 – June 2014 M.S. in Biological Chemical Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University; (Supervisor: Prof. Qun Lu)

September 2007 – June 2011 B.S. in Bioengineering, Southwest Jiaotong University;

Research Field

Research in the Chemical Biology of Cyclic Peptides

Main scientific research achievements

Guided by the design principle that "topology dictates function," our research group develops biocompatible chemical methods to achieve the precise construction and dynamic regulation of cyclic peptide structures. Our research focuses include: the construction of functionalized cyclic peptides (e.g., fluorescent labeling and peptide conjugation), in situ cyclization within cells for precise functional activation, and stimuli-responsive reversible cyclization for the release and delivery of bioactive peptides. These strategies provide versatile chemical tools for the application of cyclic peptides in precision therapy, drug delivery, and peptide biology research. In recent years, as corresponding author, he has published over 20 papers in journals including J. Am. Chem. Soc. and J. Med. Chem., and has been granted 3 patents. He serves as a reviewer for journals such as Chem, J. Am. Chem. Soc., J. Med. Chem., and Org. Lett. He has directed three projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (including one General Program, one Young Scientists Fund, and one Fund for Less Developed Regions), the Jiangxi Provincial Outstanding Young Scientists Fund, and key projects of the Jiangxi Provincial Natural Science Foundation. He has been recognized as a Ganpo Juncai High-Level Talent and an Overseas Urgently Needed Talent of Jiangxi Province.

Mainly represents academic achievements/papers/patents

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3842-5074;

Research Gate:https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Yang-Wan-4?ev=hdr_xprf

(1)  Chai, Y.; Yu, Can.; Chen, Z.; Duan, W.; Chen, H.; Qiu, X.; Xu, Z.; Liu, S.; Danilenko, A.; Frison, G.; Alezra, V.; Miclet, E.; Li, Xiang.;* Wan, Y.* Rapid C-S⁺ Bond Cleavage via 1,6-Benzyl Elimination for Traceless Modification of Bioactive Peptides. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2025，147, 20807−20818.

(2) He, F.; Chai, Y.; Zeng, Z.; Lu, F.; Chen, H.; Zhu, J.; Fang, Y.; Cheng, K.; Miclet, E.; Alezra, V.; Wan, Y. * Rapid Formation of Intramolecular Disulfide Bridges Using Light: An Efficient Method to Control the Conformation and Function of Bioactive Peptides. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2023,145,22639−22648.

(3) Zeng, Z.; Zhu, J.; Deng, X.; Chen, H.; Jin, Y.; Miclet, E.; Alezra, V.; Wan, Y. * Customized Reversible Stapling for Selective Delivery of Bioactive Peptides. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2022, 144 (51), 23614–23621.

(4)  Zhu, J.; Hu, C.; Zeng, Z.; Deng, X.; Zeng, L.; Xie, S.; Fang, Y.; Jin, Y.; Alezra, V.; Wan, Y. * Polymyxin B-Inspired Non-Hemolytic Tyrocidine A Analogues with Significantly Enhanced Activity against Gram-Negative Bacteria: How Cationicity Impacts Cell Specificity and Antibacterial Mechanism. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2021, 221, 113488.

(5)  Guan, Q.; Huang, S.; Jin, Y.; Campagne, R.; Alezra, V.*; Wan, Y.* Recent Advances in the Exploration of Therapeutic Analogues of Gramicidin S, an Old but Still Potent Antimicrobial Peptide. J. Med. Chem. 2019, 62 (17), 7603–7617.

(6)  Wan, Y. ; Stanovych, A.; Gori, D.; Zirah, S.; Kouklovsky, C.; Alezra, V. β,γ-Diamino Acids as Building Blocks for New Analogues of Gramicidin S: Synthesis and Biological Activity. Eur. J. Med. Chem. 2018, 149, 122–128.

(7)  Hu, C.; Wen, Q.; Huang, S.; Xie, S.; Fang, Y.; Jin, Y.; Campagne, R.; Alezra, V.; Miclet, E.; Zhu, J.; * Wan, Y.* Gramicidin‐S‐Inspired Cyclopeptidomimetics as Potent Membrane‐Active Bactericidal Agents with Therapeutic Potential. ChemMedChem 2021, 16 (2), 368–376.

(9)  Guan, Q.; Chen, K.; Chen, Q.; Hu, J.; Cheng, K.; Hu, C.; Zhu, J.; Jin, Y.; Miclet, E.; Alezra, V.; Wan, Y.* Development of Therapeutic Gramicidin S Analogues Bearing Plastic β,Γ‐Diamino Acids. ChemMedChem 2020, 15 (12), 1089–1100.

(8)  Zeng, Z.-Z.; Huang, S.-H.; Alezra, V.*; Wan, Y.* Antimicrobial Peptides: Triumphs and Challenges. Future Med. Chem. 2021, fmc-2021-0134.

(10) Wan, Y. ; Baltaze, J.-P.; Kouklovsky, C.; Miclet, E.; Alezra, V. Unexpected Dimerization of a Tripeptide Comprising a β,γ-Diamino Acid. J. Pept. Sci. 2019, 25 (2), e3143.

Patents   

1.Wan Yang; Guan Qinkun; Hu Chengfei; Wen Quan; Jin Yi. Photoregulated PEGylation Peptide Prodrug Synthesis Process and Its Use in the Preparation of Antibacterial Drugs. ZL202010029395.3

2.Wan Yang; Zhu Jibao; Hu Chengfei; Zeng Zizhen; Jin Yi. A Cationic-Rich Cyclic Antimicrobial Peptide Analog and Its Application. ZL202011250458.4

3.Wan Yang; Zhu Jibao; Zeng Zizhen; Chen Zhi; He Feng. A Reversibly Cyclized Peptide Based on Double 1,4-Elimination Reactions and Its Application. ZL202211619035.4