General

Prof. Dr. Yunhai Li


Email: yhli@genetics.ac.cn
Telephone: 010-64807856

Research Areas

The characteristic final size of determinate plant organs or seeds is determined by the coordination of cell proliferation and cell growth. However, the molecular mechanisms that control the final size of seeds and organs are largely unknown, and how biological systems measure size remains unclear in developmental biology. Thus, our lab has applied several complementary strategies to identify key regulators of seed and organ size in the model species Arabidopsis and rice. The major aims of our research are to elucidate molecular mechanisms that control the final size of seeds and organs and identify rational ways to engineer increased seed and biomass yield in key crops.


Education

3/2003 Ph.D, Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences.
7/1999 M.S, Crop Breeding, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences.
7/1996 B.S, Biology, Henan University.

Experience

   
Work Experience

2008-  Group leader, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences

2003-2008 Postdoctoral fellow, John Innes Centre, UK.


Publications

2016

Chen L#., Peng, Y#., Tian, J., Wang, X, Kong, Z, Mao, T, Yuan, M, Li, Y* (2016) TCS1, a microtubule-binding protein, interacts with KCBP/ZWICHEL to regulate trichome cell shape in Arabidopsis thaliana. PLoS Genetics doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006266.

 

Li, N., Li, Y* (2016) Signaling pathways of seed size control in plants. Current Opinion in Plant Biology 33:23-32. (Invited review)

 

Xu, Y#., Jin, W#., Li, N., Zhang, W., Liu, C., Li, C*., Li, Y* (2016) UBIQUITIN-SPECIFIC PROTEASE 14 interacts with ULTRAVIOLET-B INSENSITIVE 4 to regulate endoreduplication and cell and organ growth in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell 28(5):1200-1214.

 

Wang Z., Li N., Jiang S., Gonzalez N., Huang X., Wang Y., Inze D., Li, Y*  (2016) SCFSAP controls organ size by targeting PPD proteins for degradation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Nature Communications doi:10.1038/NCOMMS11192.

 

Duan, P#., Ni, S#., Wang, J#., Zhang, B#., Xu, R., Wang, Y., Chen, H., Zhu, X*., and Li Y* (2016) Regulation of OsGRF4 by OsmiR396 controls grain size and yield in rice. Nature Plants doi: 10.1038/nplants.2015.203. (Cover story)

 

2015

Zhang, Y., Du, L., Xu, R., Cui, R., Hao, J., Sun, C., and Li Y* (2015) Transcription factors SOD7/NGAL2 and DPA4/NGAL3 act redundantly to regulate seed size by directly repressing KLU expression in Arabidopsis thaliana. The Plant Cell 27(3):620-32.

 

Peng, Y#., Chen, L#., Lu, Y., Wu, Y., Dumenil, J., Zhu, Z., Bevan, M., and Li Y* (2015) The ubiquitin receptors DA1, DAR1 and DAR2 redundantly regulate endoreduplication by modulating the stability of TCP14/14 in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell 27(3):649-62.

 

Liu, S., Hua, L., Dong, S., Chen, H., Zhu, X., Jiang, J., Zhang, F., Li, Y., Fang, X., and Chen F (2015) OsMAPK6, a mitogen-activated protein kinase, influences rice grain size and biomass production. Plant Journal. 14. doi: 10.1111/tpj.13025.

 

Zheng, L*#., Shang, L#., Chen, X., Zhang, L., Xia, Y., Smith, C., Bevan, MW., Li, Y., Jing, HC. (2015) TANG1, Encoding a Symplekin_C Domain-Contained Protein, Influences Sugar Responses in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology 168(3):1000-12.

 

Li, N., and Li, Y., * (2015) Maternal control of seed size in plants. Journal of Experimental Botany 66(4):1087-1097. (Invited review)

 

2014

Du, L#., Li, N#., Chen, L., Xu, Y., L, Y., Zhang, Y., Li, C., Li, Y*. (2014) The ubiquitin receptor DA1 regulates seed and organ size by modulating the stability of the ubiquitin-specific protease UBP15/SOD2 in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell 26(2):665-677.

 

Li, N., Li, Y*. (2014) Ubiquitin-mediated control of seed size in plants. Frontiers in Plant Science doi: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00332. (Invited review)

 

Duan, P#., Rao, Y#., Zeng, D#., Yang, Y., Xu, R., Zhang, B., Dong, G., Qian, Q.*, Li, Y*. (2014)  SMALL GRAIN 1, which encodes a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4 (MKK4), influences grain size in rice. The Plant Journal 77(4):547-57.

Colas des Francs-Small C, Falcon de Longevialle A, Li Y, Lowe E, Tanz S, Smith C, Bevan M, Small I. (2014) THE PPR PROTEINS TANG2 AND OTP439 ARE INVOLVED IN THE SPLICING OF THE MULTIPARTITE nad5 TRANSCRIPT ENCODING A SUBUNIT OF MITOCHONDRIAL COMPLEX I. Plant Physiology pii: pp.114.244616

 

2013

Xia T#., Li, N#., Dumenil, J., Li, J., Kamenski, A., Bevan, M., Gao, F., Li, Y*. (2013) The Ubiquitin Receptor DA1 Interacts with the E3 Ubiquitin Ligase DA2 to Regulate Seed and Organ Size in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell 25(9):3347-59.

 

Peng, Y#., Ma, W#., Chen, L., Yang, L., Li, S., Zhao, H., Zhao, Y., Jin, W., Li, N., Bevan, MW., Li, X., Tong, Y*., Li, Y*. (2013)  Control of root meristem size by DA1-related protein 2 in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Physiology 161(3):1542-56.

 

Peng Y, Chen L, Lu Y, Ma W, Tong Y, Li Y*. (2013) DAR2 acts as an important node connecting cytokinin, auxin, SHY2 and PLT1/2 in root meristem size control. Plant Signal Behav. Mar 21;8(6). doi:pii: e24226.

 

2012

Fang, W#., Wang, Z#., Cui, R., Li, J., and Li, Y*. (2012) Maternal control of seed size by EOD3/CYP78A6 in Arabidopsis thaliana. The Plant Journal 70(6):929-39.

 

Li, S#., Liu, Y#., Zheng, L., Chen, L., Li, N., Corke, F., Lu, Y., Fu, X., Zhu, Z., Bevan, M., and Li, Y*. (2012) The plant specific G protein γ subunit AGG3 influences organ size and shape in Arabidopsis thaliana. New Phytologist 194(3):690-703.

 

Li S, Liu W, Zhang X, Liu Y, Li N, Li, Y*. (2012) Roles of the Arabidopsis G protein γ subunit AGG3 and its rice homologs GS3 and DEP1 in seed and organ size control. Plant Signal Behav. 7(10):1357-9


Xu, R and Li, Y*. (2012). The Mediator complex subunit 8 regulates organ size in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Signal Behav. 7(2):182-3.

 

2011

Xu, R and Li, Y*. (2011) Control of final organ size by Mediator complex subunit 25 in Arabidopsis thaliana.  Development 138:4545-4554. 

 

2010以前

Li, Y*, Zheng, L., Corke, F., Smith, C., and Bevan, M.W*. (2008) Control of seed and organ size by the DA1 gene family in Arabidopsis thaliana. Genes & Development 22:1331-1336.


Research Interests

The characteristic final size of determinate plant organs or seeds is determined by the coordination of cell proliferation and cell growth. However, the molecular mechanisms that control the final size of seeds and organs are largely unknown, and how biological systems measure size remains unclear in developmental biology. Thus, our lab has applied several complementary strategies to identify key regulators of seed and organ size in the model species Arabidopsis and rice. The major aims of our research are to elucidate molecular mechanisms that control the final size of seeds and organs and identify rational ways to engineer increased seed and biomass yield in key crops.


Students

已指导学生

彭元成  博士研究生  071007-遗传学  

徐冉  博士研究生  071007-遗传学  

李胜军  博士研究生  071007-遗传学  

高秀清  博士研究生  071008-发育生物学  

夏天  博士研究生  071007-遗传学  

陈刚  博士研究生  071007-遗传学  

伍应保  博士研究生  071007-遗传学  

金维环  博士研究生  071007-遗传学  

王志标  博士研究生  071007-遗传学  

金锡铭  博士研究生  071007-遗传学  

陈亮亮  博士研究生  071008-发育生物学  

张月莹  博士研究生  071008-发育生物学  

刘武霞  博士研究生  071007-遗传学  

杜亮  博士研究生  071007-遗传学  

段朋根  博士研究生  071008-发育生物学  

高帆  博士研究生  071007-遗传学  

李玉  博士研究生  071008-发育生物学  

刘祖培  博士研究生  071007-遗传学  

现指导学生

黄洛将  博士研究生  071007-遗传学  

李英洁  博士研究生  071008-发育生物学  

江珊  博士研究生  071007-遗传学  

黄科  博士研究生  071008-发育生物学  

焦文洁  博士研究生  071008-发育生物学  

张国政  博士研究生  071008-发育生物学  

严莉  博士研究生  071008-发育生物学  

于海跃  博士研究生  071008-发育生物学  

崔桂彩  博士研究生  071008-发育生物学  

张浩  博士研究生  071007-遗传学