NAME:  Zheng Yuan

Title: Ph. D & Professor

Email: zyuan@sjtu.edu.cn

Website: zhanglab.sjtu.edu.cn

Phone: 34204869

Education
2002-2005 Ph.D in Genetics, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology (SIPPE), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, P.R.China.
1999-2002 M.S in Agronomy, Jiangxi Agricultural University (JAU), Jiangxi, P.R.China.
1995-1999 B.S in Horticulture, JAU, Jiangxi, P.R.China.
Research Experience/Employment
2016- Professor; Project leader; Students’ adviser. School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), Shanghai, P.R.China.
2014- Dean Assistant
2009-2015 Associate Professor; Project leader; Students’ adviser. School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU), Shanghai, P.R.China.
2007-2008 Lecturer; Project leader; Students’ adviser. SJTU.
2006-2007 Visitor, Plant Science Division, Nottingham University. Nottingham, United Kingdom. Adviser: Zoe, A.Wilson.
2005-2006 Lecturer, School of Life Science and Biotechnology, SJTU.
Awards and Honors
2016 Chenxing Scholar (Type A), SJTU
2012 First Class of Progress of Science and Technology Prize in Shanghai in 2012 (No. 9).
2010 Chenxing Scholar (Type C), SJTU
2006-2007 Royal Society Fellowship sponsored by the United Kingdom
Publications
1) Hu CY, Li QL, Shen XF, Quan S, Lin H, Duan L, Wang YF, Luo Q, Qu GR, Han Q, Lu Y, Zhang DB, Yuan Z*, Shi JX*. Characterization of factors underlying the metabolic shifts in developing kernels of colored maize. Sci Rep. 2016, 6:35479. (*corresponding author)
2) Li QL, Zhang DB, Chen MJ, Liang WQ, Wei JJ, Qi YP, Yuan Z*. Development of japonica photo-sensitive genic male sterile rice lines by editing carbon starved anther using CRISPR/Cas9. J Genet Genomics, 2016, 43: 415-419. (*corresponding author)
3) Fan W, Zong J, Luo ZJ, Chen MJ, Zhao XX, Zhang DB, Qi YP, Yuan Z*. Development of a RAD-seq based DNA polymorphism identification software, AgroMarker Finder, and its application in rice marker-assisted breeding. PLOS ONE, 2016, 11(1):e0147187. (*corresponding author)
4) Yuan Z, Zhang DB*. Roles of jasmonate signalling in plant inflorescence and flower development. Current Opinion in Plant Biology, 2015, 27: 44-51.
5) Hu Y, Liang WQ, Yin CS, Yang XL, Ping BZ, Li AX, Jia R, Chen MJ, Luo ZJ, Cai Q, Zhao XX, Zhang DB, Yuan Z*. Interactions of OsMADS1 with floral homeotic genes in rice flower development. Molecular Plant, 2015, 8(9): 1366-1384. (*corresponding author)
6) Lü Y, Cui X, Li R, Huang P, Zong J, Yao D, Li G, Zhang DB, Yuan Z*. Development of genome-wide insertion/deletion markers in rice based on graphic pipeline platform. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 2015, 57(11): 980-991. (*corresponding author)
7) Wang H, Zhang L, Cai Q, Hu Y, Jin Z, Zhao X, Fan W, Huang Q, Luo Z, Chen M, Zhang D, Yuan Z*. OsMADS32 interacts with B-function proteins and regulates rice flower development. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 2015, 57(5):504-513. (*corresponding author)
8) Cai Q, Yuan Z (co-first author), Chen MJ, Yin CS, Luo ZJ, Zhao XX, Liang WQ, Hu JP, Zhang DB. Jasmonic acid regulates spikelet development in rice. Nature Communications. 2014, 25: 3476.
9) Li H, Yuan Z (co-first author), Vizcay-Barrena G, Yang C, Liang W, Zong J, Wilson ZA, Zhang DB. PERSISTENT TAPETAL CELL 1 (PTC1) Encodes a PHD-Finger Protein That Is Required for Tapetal Cell Death and Pollen Development in Rice. Plant Physiology, 2011, 56 (2): 615-630.
10) Yuan Z, Gao S, Xue DW, Luo D, Li LT, Ding SY, Yao X, Wilson Z, Qian Q and Zhang DB. RETARDED PALEA1 (REP1) controls palea development and floral zygomorphy in rice. Plant Physiology, 2009, 149(1): 235–244.
11) Yuan Z, Yao X, Zhang DB, Sun Y and Huang H. Genome-wide expression profiling in seedlings of the Arabidopsis mutant uro that is defective in the secondary cell wall formation. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 2007, 49(12): 1754-1762. (cover paper)
12) Xiao DX, Yuan Z*. Embryogenesis and seed development in Sinomanglietia glauca. J of Plant Res, 2006, 119:163-166. (*corresponding author)
13) Chen MJ, Yuan Z (co-first author), Huang H. DELAYED FLOWERING, an Arabidopsis gene that acts in the autonomous flowering promotion pathway and is required for normal development. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 2006, 48(1): 27-34.
14) Guo YL, Yuan Z (co-first author), Sun Y, Liu J, Huang H. Characterizations of an Arabidopsis mutant, upright rosette, reveal that the UPRIGHT ROSETTE gene is involved in auxin action in plant development. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 2004, 46: 846-853. (cover paper)
In Chinese
1) Li QL, Wang YF, Han Q, Yuan Z*, Shen XF*. Development and application of molecular markers for event-specific identification of waxy corn ‘Huwucaihuanuo 1’ based on 2b-RAD technique. Plant Physiology Journal, 2016, 52 (5): 669-677.  (*corresponding author)
2) Yu YJ, Zhang DB, Yuan Z*. The updated functional study of WOX protein family in regulating stem cells development. Bulletin of Botany, 2016, 51(4): 565–574. (*corresponding author)
3) Jin ZM, Ping BZ, Shen HJ, Du HQ, Li RQ, Zhu L, Zhang DB, Yuan Z*. Characterisation and gene mapping of a brittle stem mutant bc-s1 in rice. Bulletin of Botany, 2016, 51(2): 167-174. (*corresponding author)
4) Shen WP, Cai Q, Zhou FL, Zhang JZ, Zhang DB, Yuan Z*. Advances in the molecular mechanism underlying phytohormones function in regulating rice flower development. Plant Physiology Journal, 2015, 51(5): 593-600. (*corresponding author)
5) Wang HH, Cai Q, Chen MJ, Luo ZJ, Zhang DB, Yuan Z*. Phenotype analyses and gene mapping of abnormal palea and lodicules, a rice mutant with abnormal floral organs. Bulletin of Botany, 2014, 49(1): 1-7. (*corresponding author, cover paper)
6) Luo ZJ, Shen WP, Chen MJ, Liang WQ, Lu JZ, Zhang JZ, Liu K, Zhang DB, Yuan Z*. Breeding of a Japonica CMS line Jinhui A with yellowish leaf in rice. Hybrid Rice, 2013, 160(03): 15-17. (*corresponding author)
7) Li L, Tian L, Wang TT, Jiang QG, Luo ZJ, Chen MJ, Zhang JZ, Zhang DB, Yuan Z*. Preliminary study for the molecular mechanism of low amylose content in high-quality rice (Oryza Sativa L.) variety ‘Qingxiangruanjing’. Plant Physiology Journal, 2012, 48(2): 147-155. (*corresponding author, cover paper)
8) Yuan Z, Luo LS, Xiao DX. Use of Amplified DNA Sequences for the Genetic Analysis of the Peach Germplasm, Acta Agriculturae Universitatis Jiangxiensis (Natural Sciences Edition), 2002, 24(2): 172-175.
9) Yuan Z, Zhang DB. Molecular mechanism of leaf senescence. Plant Physiology Communications, 2002, 38(4): 417-422.
10) Yuan Z, Pan AH, Jian ZY, Xu SP, Gan SS, Huang H, Zhang DB. Senescence Delay Characterization of Transgenic Brassica chinensis L. Containing an Anti-senescence Chimeric Gene SAG12-IPT. J of Plant Physiology and Molecular Biology. 2002, 28(5): 379-384.
Publications as co-author:
1) Yang J, Yuan Z, Meng Q, Huang G, Périn C, Bureau C, Meunier AC, Ingouff M, Bennett M, Ao P, Liang WQ*, Zhang DB*. Dynamic regulation of auxin response during rice development revealed by newly established hormone biosensor markers. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2017, 8, 256.
2) Zhang DB, Yuan Z. Molecular control of grass inflorescence development. Annual Review of Plant Biology. 2014, 65: 553-578.
3) Xu J, Ding ZW, Vizcay-Barrena G, Shi JX, Liang WQ, Yuan Z, Werck-Reichhart D, Schreiber L, Wilson ZA and Zhang DB. ABORTED MICROSPORES acts as a master regulator of pollen wall formation in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell, 2014, 26: 1544-1556.
4) Zhang DB, Yuan Z, An G, Dreni L, Hu JP, Kater MM. Panicle Development. Plant Genetics and Genomics: Crops and Models. 2013, 5: 279-295.
5) Zhang Z, Zhang Y, Tan HX, Wang Y, Li G, Liang WQ, Yuan Z, Hu JP, Ren HY, and Zhang DB*, RICE MORPHOLOGY DETERMINANT encodes the type II formin FH5 and regulates rice morphogenesis, Plant Cell, 2011, 23(2), 681-700.
6) Xu J, Yang C, Yuan Z, Zhang D, Gondwe MY, Ding Z, Liang W, Zhang D, Wilson ZA. The ABORTED MICROSPORES regulatory network is required for postmeiotic male reproductive development in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Cell. 2010, 22(1): 91–107.
7) Sun Y, Yang Y, Yuan Z, Müller JL, Yu C, Xu Y, Shao X, Li X, Decker EL, Reski R, Huang H. Overexpression of the Arabidopsis gene UPRIGHT ROSETTE reveals a homeostatic control for indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). Plant Physiology, 2010, 153(3): 1311-1320.
8) Zhang DS, Liang WQ, Yuan Z, Li N, Shi J, Wang J, Liu YM, Yu WJ, Zhang DB. Tapetum Degeneration Retardation is critical for rice pollen wall development. Molecular Plant, 2008, 1(4):599-610.
9) Qian B, Shen H, Xiong J, Chen L, Zhang L, Jia J, Wang Y, Zhang Z, Yuan Z, Cao K, Zhang D. Expression and purification of the synthetic preS1 gene of Hepatitis B Virus with preferred Escherichia coli codon preference. Protein Expression and Purification, 2006, 48(1):74-80.
10) Jiang D, Yin C, Yu A, Zhou X, Liang W, Yuan Z, Xu Y, Yu Q, Wen T, Zhang D.  Duplication and expression analysis of multicopy miRNA gene family members in Arabidopsis and rice. Cell Research, 2006, 16(5):507-518.
11) Chu H, Qian Q, Liang W, Yin C, Tan H, Yao X, Yuan Z, Yang J, Huang H, Luo D, Ma H, Zhang D. The FLORAL ORGAN NUMBER4 gene encoding a putative ortholog of Arabidopsis CLAVATA3 regulates apical meristem size in rice. Plant Physiology, 2006, 142: 1039-1052.
12) Li X, Duan X, Jiang H, Sun Y, Tang Y, Yuan Z, Guo J, Liang W, Chen L, Yin J, Ma H, Wang J, Zhang D. Genome-Wide Analysis of Basic/Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factor Family in Rice and Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology, 2006, 141:1167-1184.
13) Li N, Zhang DS, Liu HS, Yin CS, Li XX, Liang WQ, Yuan Z, Xu B, Chu HW, Wang J, Wen TQ, Huang H, Luo D, Ma H, Zhang DB. The rice Tapetum Degeneration Retardation Gene is required for tapetum degradation and anther development. Plant Cell, 2006, 18:2999-3014.
14) Liu HS, Chu HW, Li H, Wang HM, Wei JL, Li N, Ding SY, Huang H, Ma H, Huang CF, Luo D, Yuan Z, Liu JH, Zhang DB. (2005) Genetic analysis and mapping of rice (Oryza sativa L.) male-sterile (OsMS-L) mutant. Chinese Sci Bull, 2005, 50 (2): 122-125.
16) Li H, Xu L, Wang H, Yuan Z, Cao X, Yang Z, Zhang D, Xu Y, Huang H. The Putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase RDR6 acts synergistically with ASYMMETRIC LEAVES1 and 2 to repress BREVIPEDICELLUS and MicroRNA165/166 in Arabidopsis leaf development. Plant Cell, 2005, 17(8):2157-2171.
17) Chen M, Xia X, Zheng H, Yuan Z, Huang H. The GAOLAOZHUANGREN2 gene is required for normal glucose response and development in Arabidopsis. J. Plant Res, 2004, 117: 473-476.
Teaching Experience
2011- First graduated course, ‘Developmental and Cell Biology’, 48 hours.
2011- Undergraduates course, ‘Genetics’, 96 hours.
2008-2010 First graduated course, ‘Trends in Plant Science’, 36 hours.
2007-2011 Class adviser.
2005 Undergraduates course, ‘Plant Biotechnology’, 36 hours.
Research
Rice possesses unique and dramatically different reproductive organs and flower morphology from dicots and non-grass monocots. The establishment and development of these rice reproductive organs is rather delicate, and is of vital importance for both rice breeding and staple food output. Therefore, research aiming at molecular mechanisms on crop flower development will nourish us with theoretical and practical knowledge for future application to crop breeding. One of my current research fields is concentrated on the molecular mechanisms of rice floral organ initiation and morphogenesis. In our lab, through employing genetic and molecular methods on the basis of numerous mutants, we isolated, showing defective growth of sterile lemma, lemma and palea, we attempt to understand the regulatory network underlying initiation of rice spikelet development, determination of floral organs identity and floral meristem determinacy. On the other hand, we throw an endeavor to cultivate new rice varieties with high yield, quality and resistance by molecular maker-assisted selection under the sufficient aid of identification of whole genome markers. By exploitation of wide-cross compatibility and inter-subspecies heterosis, the productivity of our varieties has reached to above 12 t/ha. Meanwhile，my extra research interest is targeted to clarify the genetic and molecular mechanisms on high yield traits in heterosis.