Chunzhao Zhao

Personal Profile

Education

2002-2006 B.S. in Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Ningbo University, China

2006-2013 Ph.D. in Genetics, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China

2009-2015 Ph.D. in Phytopathology, Wageningen University, Netherlands

2014-2019 Postdoc, Purdue University, USA

2019-present Principal Investigator, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China.

Research Work

Understanding of the molecular mechanisms of plant salt stress response is critical for the breeding of crops with improved salt tolerance and stable yield. To cope with salt stress, plants need to perceive high salinity and activate intracellular signaling pathways to modify their morphology and physiological properties, but the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain largely unknown.

 

Cell wall is the frontier of plant cells to interact with various environments. Studies have shown that high salinity disrupts cell wall integrity, and plants balance plant growth and salt stress responses by monitoring cell wall status. Therefore, cell wall integrity is an important signal for plants to respond to salt stress. In addition, there are a large number of phase separation proteins in plants, and some of them are sensitive to changes in ionic concentration, osmotic pressure, temperature, and pH, and thus they are potentially involved in the sensing and transduction of environmental stress signals. My group utilizes Arabidopsis, rice, and quinoa as plant materials to decipher how plants sense and respond to salt stress. Our main research interests include:

 

(1) Molecular mechanisms underlying the maintenance of cell wall integrity under salt stress;

(2) Roles of phase separation proteins in plant salt tolerance;

(3) Genetic engineering of crops with improved salt tolerance.

Main Achievements

 

Publications

1. Yu, G., Zhang, L., Xue, H., Chen, Y., Liu, X., Del Pozo, J.C., Zhao, C., Lozano-Duran, R., and Macho, A.P.* (2024) Cell wall-mediated root development is targeted by a soil-borne bacterial pathogen to promote infection. Cell Reports 43, 114179.

 

2. Jiang, W., Liu, Y., Zhang, C., Pan, L., Wang, W., Zhao, C., Zhao, T., and Li, Y.* (2024) Identification of major QTLs for drought tolerance in soybean, together with a novel candidate gene, GmUAA6. Journal of Experimental Botany 75, 1852-1871.

 

3. Liu, X., Zhu, J.K., and Zhao, C.* (2023) Liquid-liquid phase separation as a major mechanism of plant abiotic stress sensing and responses. Stress Biology 3, 56.

 

4. Liu, X., Jiang, W., Li, Y., Nie, H., Cui, L., Li, R., Tan, L., Peng, L., Li, C., Luo, J., Li, M., Wang, H., Yang, J., Zhou, B., Wang, P., Liu, H., Zhu, J.K.*, and Zhao, C.* (2023) FERONIA coordinates plant growth and salt tolerance via the phosphorylation of phyB. Nature Plants 9, 645-660.

 

5. Li, C.#, Ran, M.#, Liu, J., Wang, X., Wu, Q., Zhang, Q., Yang, J., Yi, F., Zhang, H., Zhu, J.K., and Zhao, C.* (2022) Functional analysis of CqPORB in the regulation of chlorophyll biosynthesis in Chenopodium quinoa. Frontiers in Plant Science 13, 1083438.

 

6. Zhou, F., Singh, S., Zhang, J., Fang, Q., Li, C., Wang, J., Zhao, C., Wang, P., and Huang, C.* (2022) The MEKK1-MKK1/2-MPK4 cascade phosphorylates and stabilizes STOP1 to confer aluminum resistance in Arabidopsis. Molecular Plant 16, 337-353.

 

7. Colin, L., Ruhnow, F., Zhu, J.K, Zhao, C., Zhao, Y., and Persson, S.* (2022) The cell biology of primary cell walls during salt stress. Plant Cell 35, 201-217.

 

8. Xu, H.*, Yang, X., Zhang, Y., Wang, H., Wu, S., Zhang, Z., Ahammed, G.J., Zhao, C., and Liu, H. (2022) CRISPR/Cas9-mediated mutation in auxin efflux carrier OsPIN9 confers chilling tolerance by modulating reactive oxygen species homeostasis in rice. Frontiers in Plant Science 13, 967031.

 

9. Jiang, W.#, Li, C.#, Li, L., Li, Y., Wang, Z., Yu, F., Yi, F., Zhang, J., Zhu, J.K., Zhang, H., Li, Y., and Zhao, C.* (2022) Genome-wide analysis of CqCrRLK1L and CqRALF gene families in Chenopodium quinoa and their roles in salt stress response. Frontiers in Plant Science 13, 918594.

 

10. Yu, Z.*, Ren, Y., Liu, J., Zhu, J.K., and Zhao, C.* (2022) A novel mitochondrial protein is required for cell wall integrity, auxin accumulation and root elongation in Arabidopsis under salt stress. Stress Biology 2, 13.

 

11. Wang, Z.#, Wang, M.#, Yang, C., Zhao, L., Qin, G., Peng, L., Zheng, Q., Nie, W., Song, C.-P., Shi, H., Zhu, J.K., and Zhao, C.* (2021) SWO1 modulates cell wall integrity under salt stress by interacting with importin ɑ in Arabidopsis. Stress Biology 1, 9.

 

12. Long, T., Xu, B., Hu, Y., Wang, Y., Mao, C., Wang, Y., Zhang, J., Liu, H., Huang, H., Liu, Y., Yu. G., Zhao, C., Li. Y., and Huang, Y.* (2021) Genome-wide identification of ZmSnRK2 genes and functional analysis of ZmSnRK2.10 in ABA signaling pathway in maize (Zea mays L). BMC Plant Biology 21, 1–17.

 

13. Liu, J., Zhang, W., Long, S., and Zhao, C.* (2021) Maintenance of cell wall integrity under high salinity. International Journal of Molecular Sciences 22, 1–19.

 

14. Zhu, Y.*, Huang, P., Guo, P., Chong, L., Yu, G., Sun, X., Hu, T., Li, Y., Hsu, C.C., Tang, K., Zhou, Y., Zhao, C., Gao, W., Tao, W.A., Mengiste, T., and Zhu, J.K. (2020) CDK8 is associated with RAP2.6 and SnRK2.6 and positively modulates abscisic acid signaling and drought response in Arabidopsis. New Phytologist 228, 1573-1590.

 

15. Zhao, C.#*, Jiang, W.^#, Zayed, O.^#, Liu, X., Tang, K., Nie, W., Li, Y., Xie, S., Li, Y., Long, T., Liu, L., Zhu, Y., Zhao, Y., and Zhu, J.K.* (2021) The LRXs-RALFs-FER module controls plant growth and salt stress responses by modulating multiple plant hormones. National Science Review 9, nwaa149.

 

16. Zhao, C.*, Zhang, H., Song, C., Zhu, J.K., and Shabala, S.* (2020) Mechanisms of plant responses and adaptation to soil salinity. Innovation 1, 100017.

 

17. Tang, K.^#, Zhao, L.^#, Ren, Y.^#, Yang, S., Zhu, J.K., and Zhao, C.* (2020) The transcription factor ICE1 functions in cold stress response by binding to the promoters of CBF and COR genes. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 62, 258–263.

 

18. Wang, P.#*, Hsu, C.-C.#, Du, Y.#, Zhu, P., Zhao, C., Fu, X., Zhang, C., Paez, J.S., Macho, A.P., Tao, W.A.*, and Zhu, J.K.* (2020) Mapping proteome-wide targets of protein kinases in plant stress responses. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 117, 3270-3280.

 

19. Yang, R.*, Hong, Y., Ren, Z., Tang, K., Zhang, H., and Zhu, J.K., Zhao C.* (2019) A role for PICKLE in the regulation of cold and salt stress tolerance in Arabidopsis. Frontiers in Plant Science 10, 900.

 

20. Putarjunan, A., Ruble, J., Srivastava, A., Zhao, C., Rychel, A. L., Hofstetter, A. K., Tang, X., Zhu, J.K., Tama, F., Zheng, N.*, and Torii, K.* (2019) Bipartite anchoring of SCREAM enforces stomatal initiation by coupling MAP kinases to SPEECHLESS. Nature Plants 5, 742-754.

 

21. Zhao, C.#*, Zayed, O.^#, Zeng, F., Liu, C., Zhang, L., Zhu, P., Hsu, C., Tuncil, Y., Tao, W.A., Carpita, N.C., Zhu, J.K.* (2019) Arabinose biosynthesis is critical for salt stress tolerance in Arabidopsis. New Phytologist 224, 274-290.

 

22. Zhao, C.#, Zayed, O.^#, Yu, Z., Jiang, W., Zhu, P., Hsu, C., Zhang, L., Tao, W.A., and Zhu, J.K.* (2018) Leucine-rich repeat extensin proteins regulate plant salt tolerance in Arabidopsis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America 115, 13123-13128.

 

23. Zhang, Y., Zhao, C., Li, L., Hsu, C., Zhu, J.K., Iliuk, A., and Tao, W.A.* (2018) High-throughput phosphorylation screening and validation through Ti(IV)-nanopolymer functionalized reverse phase phosphoprotein array. Analytical Chemistry 90, 10263–10270.

 

24. Si, T., Wang, X., Zhao, C., Huang, M., Cai, J., Zhou, Q., Dai, T., and Jiang, D.* (2018) The role of hydrogen peroxide in mediating the mechanical wounding-induced freezing tolerance in wheat. Frontiers in Plant Science 9, 327.

 

25. Cao, M.#, Zhang, Y.#, Liu, X.#, Huang, H., Zhou, X., Wang, W., Zeng, A., Zhao, C., Si, T., Du, J., Wu, W., Wang, F., Xu, H.E., and Zhu, J.K.* (2017) Combining chemical and genetic approaches to increase drought resistance in plants. Nature Communication. 8, 1183.

 

26. Zhao, C., Wang, P., Si, T., Hsu, C., Wang, L., Zayed, O., Yu, Z., Zhu, Y., Dong, J., Tao, W.A., and Zhu, J.K.* (2017) MAP kinase cascades regulate the cold response by modulating ICE1 protein stability. Developmental Cell 43, 618-629.

 

27. Yan, J.#, Wang, P.#, Wang, B., Hsu, C.-C., Tang, K., Zhang, H., Hou, Y.-J., Zhao, Y., Wang, Q., Zhao, C., Zhu, X., Tao, W.A., Li, J., and Zhu, J.K.* (2017) The SnRK2 kinases modulate miRNA accumulation in Arabidopsis. PLOS Genetics 13, e1006753.

 

28. Si, T., Wang, X., Wu, L., Zhao, C., Zhang, L., Huang, M., Cai, J., Zhou, Q., Dai, T., Zhu, J.K., and Jiang, D.* (2017) Nitric oxide and hydrogen peroxide mediate wounding-induced freezing tolerance through modifications in photosystem and antioxidant system in wheat. Frontiers in Plant Science 8, 1284.

 

29. Wang, L.^#, Li, H.^#, Zhao, C.#, Li, S.^#, Kong, L., Wu, W., Kong, W., Liu, Y., Wei, Y., Zhu, J.K., and Zhang, H.* (2017) The inhibition of protein translation mediated by AtGCN1 is essential for cold tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Cell and Environment 40, 56–68.

 

30. Yan, J.^#, Zhao, C.#, Zhou, J., Yang, Y., Wang, P., Zhu, X., Tang, G., Bressan, R.A., and Zhu, J.K.* (2016) The miR165/166 mediated regulatory module plays critical roles in ABA homeostasis and response in Arabidopsis thaliana. PLOS Genetics 12, e1006416.

 

31. Zhao, C., and Zhu, J.K.* (2016) The broad roles of CBF genes: From development to abiotic stress. Plant Signaling Behavior 11, e1215794.

 

32. Zhao, C.#, Zhang, Z.^#, Xie, S., Si, T., Li, Y., and Zhu, J.K.* (2016) Mutational evidence for the critical role of CBF transcription factors in cold acclimation in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology 171, 2744–2759.

33. Zhao, C., Lang, Z., and Zhu, J.K.* (2015) Cold responsive gene transcription becomes more complex. Trends in Plant Science 20, 466–468.

 

34. Zhao, C., Nie, H., Shen, Q., Zhang, S., Lukowitz, W., and Tang, D.* (2014) EDR1 physically interacts with MKK4/MKK5 and negatively regulates a MAP kinase cascade to modulate plant innate immunity. PLOS Genetics 10, e1004389.

 

35. Zhao, C., Waalwijk, C., de Wit, P.J., Tang, D., and van der Lee, T.* (2014) Relocation of genes generates non-conserved chromosomal segments in Fusarium graminearum that show distinct and co-regulated gene expression patterns. BMC Genomics 15, 191.

 

36. Zhao, C., Waalwijk, C., de Wit, P.J.G.M., Tang, D., and van der Lee, T.* (2013) RNA-Seq analysis reveals new gene models and alternative splicing in the fungal pathogen Fusarium graminearum. BMC Genomics 14, 21.

 

37. Nie, H., Zhao, C., Wu, G., Wu, Y., Chen, Y., and Tang, D.* (2012) SR1, a calmodulin-binding transcription factor, modulates plant defense and ethylene-induced senescence by directly regulating NDR1 and EIN3. Plant Physiology 158, 1847–1859.

 

38. van der Fels-Klerx, H.J., de Rijk, T.C., Booij, C.J.H., Goedhart, P.W., Boers, E.A.M., Zhao, C., Waalwijk, C., Mol, H.G.J., and van der Lee, T.A.J.* (2012) Occurrence of Fusarium Head Blight species and Fusarium mycotoxins in winter wheat in the Netherlands in 2009. Food Additives and Contaminants 29, 1716–1726.

 

39. Zhao, C., Waalwijk, C., de Wit, P.J.G.M., van der Lee, T., and Tang, D.* (2011) EBR1, a Novel Zn2Cys6 transcription factor, affects virulence and apical dominance of the hyphal tip in Fusarium graminearum. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions 24, 1407–1418.