The missions of Center for Genome Biology (CGB) are focusing on fundamental questions in plant growth and development, and developing new technologies in genomics. Research activities in CGB include genome structure, function and evolution, genetic and epigenetic regulation of gene expression, transgenic technologies and applications in molecular breeding. Currently CGB has 15 research groups.
During 2008, scientists in the CGB have made important progresses on several research fields. Prof. Jiayang Li's group found that the phenol reaction phenotype of rice is controlled the Phr1 gene, which encodes a polyphenol oxidase. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the defects in Phr1 arose independently three times during evolution. The multiple recent origins and rapid spread of phr1 in japonica suggest the action of positive selection (Yu et al., 2008, Plant Cell). Prof. Chuanyou Li's group characterized a classic rice dwarf mutant narrow leaf1 (nal1). The nal1 mutation affects polar auxin transport as well as vascular patterns of rice plants and plays an important role in the control of lateral leaf growth (Qi et al., 2008, Plant Physiology). Prof. Chengcai Chu's group found that mutations in genes in the carotenoid and ABA biosynthesis pathways lead to preharvest sprouting and photo-oxidation in rice, and the GA/ABA ratio was attributed to a major causal factor of the preharvest sprouting trait (Fang et al., 2008, Plant Journal). In a collaborative effort to understanding on cell-wall biosynthesis in rice, two groups, headed by Prof. Jiayang Li and Prof. Yihua Zhou, have characterized BC10, a DUF266-containing and Golgi-localized type II membrane protein (Zhou et al., 2008, Plant Journal). Owing to his outstanding contributions in related research fields, Academician Jiayang Li was invited to contribute review articles in Annual Reviews of Plant Biology and Nature Genetics.
In their studies related to comparative genomics and bioinformatics, Prof Mingsheng Chen's group and their collaborators sequenced and compared nine orthologous genomic regions encompassing the Adh1-Adh2 genes (from six diploid genome types) with the rice reference sequence. Their analysis revealed the architectural complexities and dynamic evolution of this region that have occurred over the past～15 million years (Ammiraju et al. Plant Cell,2008). This group also analyzed the fate of duplicated genes following the ancient whole genome duplication (WGD) in rice. This study revealed that the asymmetric gene loss might result from transcriptome dominance of the ancestral allotetraploid genome, and that the new starch biosynthesis pathway reflects one aspect of the impact of WGD on grass evolution (Wu, et al.,2008, Mol. Biol. Evol.).
Prof. Cao's group reported that a subset of siRNAs show distinctive levels in the Arabidopsis Ler and Col-0 accessions, which is correlated to the specific methylation patterns in these two accessions, suggestive of a role of small RNA in regulating epigenetic differences between these two ecotypes (Zhai et al., 2008, PLoS Genetics). They also found that two closely related genes AtPRMT4a and AtPRMT4b function redundantly and are involved in the regulation of flowering time in an FLC-dependent manner (Niu et al., 2008, Plant Physiology).
In the study of plant–pathogen interaction, Prof Qi Xie' group found that RKP is a functional ubiquitin E3 ligase and is able to interact with cell-cycle inhibitor ICK/KRP proteins in vitro. Moreover, RKP is induced by BSCTV C4 and may affect BSCTV infection by regulating the host cell cycle (Lai et al., 2008, Plant Journal).
In 2008, scientists in the CGB published 62 papers, of which 44 papers were published in SCI journals with current staff members of the Laboratory as major contributors, including Annual Reviews of Plant Biology, Nature Genetics, Plant Cell, Plant Journal, Plant Physiology, and PLoS Genetic.
Personnel Changes
Professor Bin Wang retired in 2008 after his hard working for 41 years in the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology. Professor Wang has worked on the identification and utilization of economically important traits and genes, and comparative genomic, and has made important contributions to the related fields. Professor Wang was the Deputy Director of the Institute of Genetics (1987-1991).
Dr. Yinhong Zhang was hired as the secretary of the CGB. Mr. Bin Xu was hired as technical assistant by the CGB.
Prof. Chengcai Chu received a grant for the Outstanding Young Investigator Award from National Natural Science Foundation of China.
Departed postdoctoral fellows:
Dr. Qinyun Bu (Chuanyou Li's group) Dr. Changbao Li (Chuanyou Li's group)
Dr. Yanxi Pei (Xiaofeng Cao's group)
Graduated students:
Ph. D. degree (thesis advisors):
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Xingchun Wang (Jianru Zuo) |
Weiwei Deng (Xiaofeng Cao) |
Lirong Wei (Lihuang Zhu) |
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Qiang Gan (Lihuang Zhu) |
Bing Liu (Xiaofeng Cao) |
Peng Liu (Shouyi Chen, Jinsong Zhang) |
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Tieyan Liu (Mingsheng Chen) |
Wankui Gong (Zhen Zhu) |
Jing Qi (Chuanyou Li) |
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Yufeng Wu (Mingsheng Chen) |
Shuying Zhang (Lihuang Zhu) |
Gang Li (Qi Xie) |
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Chao Li (Jianru Zuo) |
Dayong Li (Lihuang Zhu) |
Baohua Li (Jiayang Li) |
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Shengben li (Jiayang Li) |
Tao Chen (Shouyi Chen) |
Shouqiang Ouyang (Shouyi Chen, Jinsong Zhang) |
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Ruiqiang Chen (Jianru Zuo) |
Wenguang Zheng (Chuanyou Li) |
Zejun Huang (Zhukuang Cheng) |
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Hongli Zhai (Zhen Zhu) |
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Master degree (thesis advisors): |
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Peijuan Chi (Zhukuang Cheng) |
Yuejun Chen (Zhen Zhu) |
Jixian Zhai (Xiaofeng Cao) |
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