Associate P rofessor, Plant Biology
Ph.D. (1994) Washington University

Phone: 706-542-1832
Email: zhye@plantbio.uga.edu

Research in the Ye Lab

Plant cell and molecular genetics.

Lab Members

Awards

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Research Interests

My research interests center on the molecular mechanisms controlling cell differentiation, cell morphogenesis and cell wall formation in plants. A plant body is composed of many different cell types; at least 40 cell types have been defined according to their size, shape, location, wall structure, or cellular contents. Understanding the molecular mechanisms controlling the differentiation of different cell types is an important issue in plant biology.

We have been using Arabidopsis fiber cells as a model to address this issue. Fiber cells as being the longest plant cells and having massive secondary walls present an excellent system for uncovering genes controlling cell morphogenesis and secondary wall synthesis. We have isolated a group of mutants, and cloned and characterized a number of genes involved in these processes. These genes encode proteins including a katanin microtubule-severing protein essential for the organization of cortical microtubules, a kinesin-like microtubule-binding protein essential for cell wall strength, two phosphoinositide phosphatases required for actin organization and cell morphogenesis, a novel glycosyltransferase involved in xylan synthesis, and a homeodomain leucine-zipper protein important in the spatial control of fiber cell differentiation. Because fibers have important economic values, studies on fiber cell formation would not only advance our knowledge in plant biology but also have significant economic and agronomic implications.

We are currently continuing our endeavors to characterize the functions of genes involved in the cytoskeletal regulation and cell morphogenesis, and genes required for secondary wall deposition and cell wall strength. My long-term goals are to dissect the molecular mechanisms underlying cell morphogenesis and secondary wall formation, and utilize the knowledge learned from the model plant to genetically improve the quality and quantity of fibers in crop plants and trees.

Selected Publications

Ye, Z.-H., York, W.S. and Darvill, A.G. (2006) Important new players in secondary wall synthesis. Trends in Plant Science, in press.

Burk, D.H., Zhong, R., Morrison, W.H., and Ye, Z.-H. (2006) Disruption of cortical microtubules by overexpression of green fluorescent protein-tagged alpha-tubulin 6 causes a marked reduction in cell wall synthesis. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 48, 85-98.

Zhong, R., Pena, M.J., Zhou, G.-K., Nairn, C.J., Wood-Jones, A., Richardson, E.A., Morrison, W.H., Darvill, A.G., York, W.S. and Ye, Z.-H. (2005) The FRA8 Gene, which Encodes a Putative Glucuronyltransferase, is Essential for Normal Secondary Wall Synthesis. Plant Cell 17, 3390-3408.

Zhong, R., Burk, D.H., Nairn, C.J., Wood-Jones, A., Morrison, W.H., and Ye, Z.-H. (2005) Mutation of SAC1, an Arabidopsis SAC Domain Phosphoinositide Phosphatase, Causes Alterations in Cell Morphogenesis, Cell Wall Synthesis, and Actin Organization. Plant Cell 17, 1449-1466.

Zhong, R., Burk, D.H., Morrison, W.H., and Ye, Z.-H. (2004) FRAGILE FIBER3, an Arabidopsis Gene Encoding a Type II Inositol Polyphosphate 5-Phosphatase, Is Required for Secondary Wall Synthesis and Actin Organization in Fiber Cells. Plant Cell 16, 3242-3259.

Zhong, R., and Ye, Z.-H. (2004) Molecular and Biochemical Characterization of Three WD-Repeat Domain-containing Inositol Polyphosphate 5-Phosphatases in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Cell Physiol. 45:1720-1728.

Zhong, R., and Ye, Z.-H. (2004) amphivasal vascular bundle 1,a Gain-of-Function Mutation of the IFL1/REV Gene, Is Associated with Alterations in the Polarity of Leaves, Stems and Carpels. Plant Cell Physiol. 45:369-385.

Zhong, R., and Ye, Z.-H. (2003) Unraveling the functions of glycosyltransferase family 47 in plants. Trends in Plant Science 8, 565-568.

Hu Y, Zhong, R., Morrison, W.H., and Ye, Z.-H. (2003) The Arabidopsis RHD3 gene is required for cell wall biosynthesis and actin organization. Planta 217, 912-921.

Zhong, R., Morrison W.H., Freshour G., Hahn, M.G., and Ye, Z.-H. (2003) Expression of a Mutant Form of Cellulose Synthase AtCesA7 Causes Dominant Negative Effect on Cellulose Biosynthesis. Plant Physiol. 132, 786-795.

Zhong, R., and Ye, Z.-H. (2003) The SAC Domain-Containing Protein Gene Family in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiol. 132, 544-555.

Zhong, R., Burk, D.H., Morrison, W.H., and Ye, Z.-H. (2002) A Kinesin-Like Protein Is Essential for Oriented Deposition of Cellulose Microfibrils and Cell Wall Strength. Plant Cell 14, 3101-3117.

Burk, D.H., and Ye, Z.-H. (2002) Alteration of Oriented Deposition of Cellulose Microfibrils by Mutation of a Katanin-Like Microtubule-Severing Protein. Plant Cell 14, 2145-2160.

Ye, Z.-H. (2002) Vascular Tissue differentiation and Pattern Formation in Plants. Annu. Rev. Plant Biol. 53, 183-202.

Ye, Z.-H., Freshour G., Hahn, M.G., Burk, D.H., Zhong, R. (2002) Vascular development in Arabidopsis. Int. Rev. Cytol. 220, 225-56.

Zhong, R., Kays, S.J., Schroeder, B.P., and Ye, Z.-H. (2002). Mutation of a chitinase-like gene causes ectopic deposition of lignin and overproduction of ethylene. Plant Cell 14, 165-179.