Publications
A novel mechanism underlying chloroplast protein quality control identified
In agricultural production, high temperature, intense light, and other abiotic stresses are the main factors leading to a reduction in crop yields. Chloroplasts, as unique organelles in plant cells, not only carry out photosynthesis but also serve as important regulatory units for plants to cope with such abiotic stresses. The establishment and maintenance of chloroplast […]
Demographic modeling replaying the tape of wheat evolution
Wheat, comprising bread wheat and its relatives, is a staple food crop feeding ~35% of the global population. As one of the first ancient crops appearing in the Fertile Crescent, wheat has been cultivated for over 10,000 years since the “Neolithic Revolution” and is valued as a transforming power of human society. Despite its economic […]
Genome-edited powdery mildew resistance in wheat without growth penalties
Disruption of susceptibility (S) genes in crops is an attractive breeding strategy for conferring disease resistance.However, S genes are implicated in many essential biological functions and deletion of these genes typically results in undesired pleiotropic effects1. Loss-of-function mutations in one such S gene, Mildew resistance locus O (MLO), confers durable and broad-spectrum resistance to powdery […]
Spotting the alien genes
Transposons (TEs) are mobile and alien DNAs frequently causing fatal gene mutations. In order to repress their activity, the host genomes have evolved mechanisms to achieve persistent and specific silencing. RNA-dependent RNA Polymerase 6 (RDR6) is the primary detector of these mobile elements that directly processes them to siRNAs, which triggers both de novo DNA […]