JUNMIN PAN

Professor

Tsinghua University, School of Life Sciences

Education and Work Experience

1986  Hebei Normal University, China／B.S.

1989  Institute of Hydrobiology, Academia Sinica, China／M.S.

1996  University of Freiburg, Germany／P h .D.

1997－1999 UT Southwestern Medical Center, USA／Postdoctoral Fellow

2000－2006 UT Southwestern Medical Center, USA／Research Assistant Professor

2006-present School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, China／Professor

Research interest 

Currently there are two research interests in the laboratory: ciliary biology and application of microalgae. Cilia function in cell motility and signaling, whose defects are linked with numerous human diseases, termed ciliopathies. We aim to reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying ciliary assembly and disassembly by using the model organism Chlamydomonas and mammalian cells. We study signaling, microtubule dynamics, protein transport and gene transcription by using genetic, biochemical, cell biological and molecular approaches. In addition, we develop tools to genetically engineer microalgae for commercial applications.

Selected publications

1.Zhu X, Wang J, Li S, Lechtreck K, Pan J*. 2021. IFT54 directly interacts with kinesin-II and IFT dynein to regulate anterograde intraflagellar transport. EMBO J 40: e105781.

2.Li S, Wan KY, Chen W, Tao H, Liang X*, Pan J*. 2020. Functional exploration of heterotrimeric kinesin-II in IFT and ciliary length control in Chlamydomonas. eLife 9:e58868.

3.Zhao Q, Li S, Shao S, Wang Z, Pan J*. 2020. FLS2 Is a CDK-like Kinase That Directly Binds IFT70 and Is Required for Proper Ciliary Disassembly in Chlamydomonas. Plos Genet. 16(3):e1008561

4.Liang Y, Zhu X, Wu Q, Pan J*. 2018. Ciliary Length Sensing Regulates IFT Entry via Changes in FLA8/KIF3B Phosphorylation to Control Ciliary Assembly. Curr Biol. 28(15), 2429-2435.

5.Zhu B, Zhu X, Wang L, Liang Y, Feng Q, Pan J*. 2017. Functional exploration of the IFT-A complex in intraflagellar transport and ciliogenesis. PLoS Genet. 13(2):e1006627.

6.Hu J, Liang Y, He W, Pan J *. 2015. Cilia disassembly with two distinct phases of regulation. Cell Reports 10, 1803-1810.

7.Liang Y, Pang Y, Wu Q, Hu Z, Han X, Xu Y, Deng H, Pan J*. 2014. FLA8/KIF3B phosphorylation regulates kinesin-II interaction with IFT-B to control IFT entry and turnaround. Dev Cell. 30, 585-597.

8.Cao M, Meng D, Wang L, Bei S, Snell WJ*, Pan J*. 2013. Activation loop phosphorylation of a protein kinase is a molecular marker of organelle size that dynamically reports flagellar length. PNAS, 110, 12337-42.

Contact information

School of Life Sciences

Tsinghua University

Haidian district, Beijing 100084

P. R. China

Tel. /Fax: 0086-10-62771864

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

TIANCONG QI

Tsinghua University, School of Life Sciences

 Principal Investigator

Education and work experience

2003 – 2007        B.S.A., China Agricultural University

2007 – 2012        Ph.D., Tsinghua University

2012 – 2016        Postdoctoral Scholar, Tsinghua University

2016 – 2019        Tang Distinguished Scholar, Postdoctoral Scholar, University of California, Berkeley

2019 – 2022        Assistant Professor, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University

2023 – now         Associate Professor, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University

Research interest

Plant diseases and pests significantly impact crop yield and quality, and have caused serious agricultural economic losses. Our laboratory focuses on investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying plant-pathogen interactions. We employ an integrated approach combining cell biology, bioinformatics, and structural biology to decipher plant immune signaling pathways and pathogenic mechanisms of pathogens. Building on these insights, we further apply synthetic biology technologies to rationally design and engineer disease-resistant plants, providing theoretical and technical support for addressing major crop diseases, and advancing crop breeding and agricultural production.

Selected publications

1. Wang H, Song S, Gao S, Yu Q, Zhang H, Cui X, Fan J, Xin X, Liu Y, Staskawicz B, Qi T*. The NLR immune receptor ADR1 and lipase-like proteins EDS1 and PAD4 mediate stomatal immunity in Nicotiana benthamiana and Arabidopsis. Plant Cell. 2024, 36(2):427-446. 
2. Xiao Y, Sun G, Yu Q, Gao T, Zhu Q, Wang R, Huang S, Han Z, Cervone F, Yin H, Qi T, Wang Y, Chai J. A plant mechanism of hijacking pathogen virulence factors to trigger innate immunity. Science. 2024, 383(6684):732-739.
3. Song S*, Liu B, Song J, Pang S, Song T, Gao S, Zhang Y, Huang H, Qi T*. A molecular framework for signaling crosstalk between jasmonate and ethylene in anthocyanin biosynthesis, trichome development, and defenses against insect herbivores in Arabidopsis. J Integr Plant Biol. 2022,64(9):1770-1788.
4. Liu B, Seong K, Pang S, Song J, Gao H, Wang C, Zhai J, Zhang Y, Gao S, Li X, Qi T*, Song S*. Functional specificity, diversity and redundancy of Arabidopsis JAZ family repressors in jasmonate and COI1-regulated growth, development and defense. New Phytologist, 2021, 231(4):1525-1545. 
5. Song S*, Liu B, Zhai J, Zhang Y, Wang K, Qi T*. The intragenic suppressor mutation Leu59Phe compensates for the effect of detrimental mutations in the jasmonate receptor COI1. Plant Journal, 2021, 108(3):690-704. 
6. Martin R^#, Qi T^#, Zhang H, Liu F, King M, Toth C, Nogales E, Staskawicz BJ. Structure of the activated ROQ1 resistosome directly recognizing the pathogen effector XopQ. Science, 2020, 370(6521):eabd9993.
7. Horsefield S, Burdett H, Zhang X, Manik MK, Shi Y, Chen J, Qi T, Gilley J, Lai JS, Rank MX, Casey LW, Gu W, Ericsson DJ, Foley G, Hughes RO, Bosanac T, von Itzstein M, Rathjen JP, Nanson JD, Boden M, Dry IB, Williams SJ, Staskawicz BJ, Coleman MP, Ve T, Dodds PN, Kobe B. NAD⁺ cleavage activity by animal and plant TIR domains in cell death pathways.Science. 2019, 365(6455):793-799.
8. Qi T, Seong K, ThomazellaD, Kim JR, Pham J, Seo E, Cho MJ, Schultink A and Staskawicz B. NRG1 functions downstream of EDS1 to regulate TIR-NLR-mediated plant immunity in Nicotiana benthamiana. PNAS, 2018, 115(46): E10979–
9. Wu D^#, Qi T^#, Li WX, Tian H, Gao H, Wang J, Ge J, Yao R, Ren C, Wang XB, Liu Y, Kang L, Ding SW, Xie D. Viral effector protein manipulates host hormone signaling to attract insect vectors. Cell Research, 2017, 27(3): 402–
10. Qi T, Huang H, Song S, Xie D. Regulation of jasmonate-mediated stamen development and seed production by a bHLH-MYB complex in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell, 2015,27(6): 1620–1633.
11. Qi T, Wang J, Huang H, Liu B, Gao H, Liu Y, Song S, Xie D. Regulation of jasmonate-induced leaf senescence by antagonism between bHLH subgroup IIIe and IIId factors in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell, 2015, 27(6): 1634–1649.
12. Qi T, Huang H, Wu D, Yan J, Qi Y, Song S, Xie D. Arabidopsis DELLA and JAZ proteins bind the WD-repeat/bHLH/MYB complex to modulate gibberellin and jasmonate signaling synergy. Plant Cell, 2014, 26(3): 1118–
13. Song S, Huang H, Gao H, Wang J, Wu D, Liu X, Yang S, Zhai Q, Li C, Qi T^#, Xie D^#. Interaction between MYC2 and ETHYLENE INSENSITIVE3 modulates antagonism between jasmonate and ethylene signaling in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell, 2014, 26(1): 263–
14. Song S^#, Qi T^#, Fan M, Zhang X, Huang H, Gao H, Wu D, Guo H, Xie D. The bHLH subgroup IIId factors negatively regulate jasmonate-mediated plant defense and development. PLoS Genetics, 2013, 9(7): e1003653.
15. Qi T, Song S, Ren Q, Wu D, Huang H, Chen Y, Fan M, Peng W, Ren C, Xie D. The Jasmonate-ZIM-domain proteins interact with the WD-repeat/bHLH/MYB complexes to regulate jasmonate-mediated anthocyanin accumulation and trichome initiation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Cell, 2011, 23(5): 1795–

^#:Co-first author; *: Corresponding authors

Contact information

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LEI LU

Assistant Professor

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University

EDUCATION 

University of Wisconsin-Madison 2014-2020  Ph.D., Pharmaceutical Sciences

Georgia Institute of Technology 2019-2021  MS (online), Computer Science

Wuhan University, China 2012-2014  MS, Pharmaceutical Engineering

Wuhan University, China 2008-2012  BS, Pharmacy

HONORS AND AWARDS

Graduate Student Research Travel Award, Graduate School, UW-Madison 2019

Graduate Student Research Travel Award, Graduate School, UW-Madison 2018

Mern Keir University of Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship, UW-Madison 2014

Outstanding Undergraduate Student Scholarships, WHU 2011

The State Ambition-Encouraging Scholarships, WHU 2010

PUBLICATIONS

1. Lu L, Gou X, Tan S, Man S, Yang H, Zhong X, Gazgalis D, Valdiviezo J, Jo H, Wu Y, Diolaiti M, Ashworth A, Polizzi N, & DeGrado W. (2024) De novo design of drug-binding proteins with predictable binding energy and specificity. Science, 384,106-112.

2. Lu L, Scalf M, Shortreed M, Smith L. (2021) Mesh fragmentation improves dissociation efficiency in top-down proteomics. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, 23;32(6):1319-25.

3. Lu L*, Riley N*, Shortreed M, Bertozzi C & Smith L (2020). O-Pair Search with MetaMorpheus for O-glycopeptide Characterization. Nature Methods, 17, 1133-1138.

4. Zhong X, Yu Q, Ma F, Frost D, Lu L, Chen Z, Zetterberg H, Carlsson C, Okonkwo O & Li L. (2019). HOTMAQ: A Multiplexed Absolute Quantification Method for Targeted Proteomics. Analytical Chemistry, 91(3), 2112-2119.

5. Lu L, Millikin R, Solntsev S, Rolfs Z, Scalf M, Shortreed M, & Smith L. (2018). Identification of MS-cleavable and noncleavable chemically cross-linked peptides with MetaMorpheus. Journal of Proteome Research, 17(7), 2370-2376.

6. Li B, Li H, Lu L, & Jiang J. (2017). Structures of human O-GlcNAcase and its complexes reveal a new substrate recognition mode. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, 24(4), 362.

7. Hu C, Worth M, Fan D, Li B, Li H, Lu L, Zhong X, Lin Z, Wei L, Ge Y and Li L, Jiang J.(2017). Electrophilic probes for deciphering substrate recognition by O-GlcNAc transferase. Nature Chemical Biology, 13(12), 1267.

8. Lu L, Fan D, Hu, C, Worth M, Ma Z, & Jiang J. (2016). Distributive O-GlcNAcylation on the highly repetitive C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II. Biochemistry, 55(7), 1149-1158.

9. Zhu F, Lu L, Fu S, Zhong X, Hu M, Deng Z, & Liu T. (2015). Targeted engineering and scale up of lycopene overproduction in Escherichia coli. Process Biochemistry, 50(3), 341-346.

10. Liu Q, Wu K, Cheng Y, Lu L, Xiao E, Zhang Y, Deng Z and Liu T. (2015). Engineering an iterative polyketide pathway in Escherichia coli results in single-form alkene and alkane overproduction. Metabolic Engineering, 28, 82-90.

11. Liu, R, Zhu F, Lu L, Fu A, Lu J, Deng Z, & Liu T. (2014). Metabolic engineering of fatty acylACP reductase-dependent pathway to improve fatty alcohol production in Escherichia coli. Metabolic Engineering, 22, 10-21.

12. Zhu F, Zhong X, Hu M, Lu L, Deng Z, & Liu T. (2014). In vitro reconstitution of mevalonate pathway and targeted engineering of farnesene overproduction in Escherichia coli. Biotechnology and Bioengineering, 111(7), 1396-1405.

Contact Information

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