The main aim of our group is to investigate molecular mechanisms controlling pattern formation in higher plants. Our research interests include comparative genomics, construction of mutant libraries in both Lotus japonicus and Oryza sativa, genome-wide expression profiling in Oryza sativa and other model plants, isolation of key genes controlling plant architecture and floral pattern formation, and genetic engineering of floral shape in legume. Our current works mainly focus on molecular mechanisms controlling flower symmetry in Legumes.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Da Luo, Professor. Email: dluo@sibs.ac.cn
Staff: Dr. Jun Yang, Research Associate; Xiao-He Hu, Technician; Ma-Di Xu, Technician; Xiang-Ling Cao, Senior Technician (emeritus)
Postdoctoral Fellow: Dr. You-Li Tong
Graduate Students: Lin Weng; Jun Yan; Wei He; Cheng-Wu Liu; Shi-Lei Xu; Heng-Fu Yin; Peng Gao; Zhen-Hua Wang; Qiong-Yi Zhao; Xue-Fei Cai; Hao-Qiang Xia; Zhi-Yong Xu; Zong-Zhu Li; Xun-Ling Han; Ming-Juan Lei
Joint Graduate Students: Shi-Lan Zhao, Xin Li, Li-Li Zhuang (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

The Reduced leaflet Genes Encode Key Components of Trans-acting siRNA Pathway and Play Multiple Roles in Controlling Plant Development in Lotus japonicus
Endogenous trans-acting small interfering RNA (ta-siRNA) pathway has been shown to play critical roles in plant development. Here, we characterize two independent mutants, reduced leaflet1 (rel1) and rel3, which display pleiotropic defects in plant development in L. japonicus, including abnormal compound leaves with disruption of leaflet formation and polarity, infertile flowers with degenerated floral organs and retarded root growth with reduced nodule number. Positional cloning shows that REL1 and REL3 encode the homologs of the Arabidopsis SUPPRESSOR OF GENE SILENCING3 (SGS3) and ARGONAUTE7 (AGO7)/ZIPPY (ZIP) respectively, which are the key components of ta-siRNA pathway. Further investigation in downstream targets of ta-siRNA pathway reveals that homolog of the Arabidopsis AUXIN RESPONSE FACTOR3 (ARF3) is duplicated in the Lotus genome. The duplicate ARF3 homologs as well as ARF4 homolog are negatively regulated by REL pathway whereas homolog of YABBY1 is positively regulated. Our results reveal that ta-siRNA pathway is integrated into multiple developmental processes and plays conserved and distinct function in controlling plant development in L. japonicus.

Major Publications:

1. Wang Z, Luo Y, Li X, Wang L, Xu S, Yang J, Weng L, Sato S, Tabata S, Ambrose M, Rameau C, Feng X, Hu X, Luo D*. (2008) Genetic control of floral zygomorphy in pea (Pisum sativum L.). Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 105: 10414-10419.

2. Feng XZ, Zhao Z, Tian ZX, Xu SL, Luo YH, Cai ZG, Wang YM, Yang J, Wang Z, Weng L, Chen JH, Zheng LY, Guo XZ, Luo JH, Shusei S, Satoshi T, Ma W, Cao XL, Hu XH, Sun CR, Luo D*. (2006) Control of petal shape and floral zygomorphy in Lotus japonicus. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 103: 4970-4975.

3. Chen JH, Pang JL, Wang LL, Luo YH, Li X, Cao XL, Lin K, Ma W, Hu XH, Luo D*. (2006) Wrinkled petals and stamens 1, is required for the morphogenesis of petals and stamens in Lotus japonicus. Cell Research 16: 499-506.

4. Luo AD, Qian Q, Yin HF, Liu XQ, Yin CX, Lan Y, Tang JY, Tang ZS, Cao SY, Wang XJ, Xia K, Fu XD, Luo D*, Chu CC*. (2006) EUI1, encoding a putative cytochrome P450 monooxygenase, regulates internode elongation by modulating gibberellin responses in rice. Plant Cell Physiology 47: 181-191.

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