Network


Latest external collaboration on country level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots.

Hotspot


Dive into the research topics where Runzhi Li is active.

Publication


Featured researches published by Runzhi Li.


Planta | 2015

Small tandem target mimic-mediated blockage of microRNA858 induces anthocyanin accumulation in tomato

Xiaoyun Jia; Jie Shen; Hui Liu; Fang Li; Na Ding; Changyong Gao; Sitakanta Pattanaik; Barunava Patra; Runzhi Li; Ling Yuan

AbstractMain conclusionOur work strongly suggests that microRNA858 regulates anthocyanin biosynthesis in tomato by modulating the expression of two R2R3 MYB transcription factors, underscoring the importance of microRNAs in the gene regulatory network controlling specialized metabolism in plants. The biological functions of microRNA858 (miR858), a recently identified small RNA, are not well understood. Here, we identified miR858 as a negative regulator of anthocyanin biosynthesis in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). RNA ligase-mediated 5′RACE cleavage assay showed that miR858 mediates the cleavage of SlMYB7-like and SlMYB48-like transcripts in tomato. Expression analysis revealed an inverse correlation between the accumulation of miR858 and its target SlMYB7-like mRNA, in different tissues of tomato. Subsequently, a small tandem target mimic construct for blocking miR858 (STTM858) was generated and transformed into tomato. The majority of endogenous miR858 was blocked in STTM858 over-expressing tomato plants, whereas SlMYB7-like transcripts increased significantly. Concomitantly, upregulated expression was detected for several anthocyanin biosynthetic genes, including PAL, CHS, DFR, ANS and 3GT. As a result, anthocyanins were highly accumulated in young seedlings, leaves, stems and leaf buds of the transgenic plants under normal growth conditions. In addition, over-expression of STTM858 in tomato activated another MYB transcription factor, SlMYB48, implicating the possible involvement of SlMYB48 in anthocyanin biosynthesis.


Biology Open | 2017

Characterisation of phospholipid: diacylglycerol acyltransferases (PDATs) from Camelina sativa and their roles in stress responses

Lixia Yuan; Xue Mao; Kui Zhao; Xiajie Ji; Chunli Ji; Jinai Xue; Runzhi Li

ABSTRACT As an important oilseed worldwide, Camelina sativa is being increasingly explored for its use in production of food, feed, biofuel and industrial chemicals. However, detailed mechanisms of camelina oil biosynthesis and accumulation, particularly in vegetative tissues, are understood to a very small extent. Here, we present genome-wide identification, cloning and functional analysis of phospholipid diacylglycerol acyltransferase (PDAT) in C. sativa, which catalyses the final acylation step in triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis by transferring a fatty acyl moiety from a phospholipid to diacylglycerol (DAG). We identified five genes (namely CsPDAT1-A, B, and C and CsPDAT2-A and B) encoding PDATs from the camelina genome. CsPDAT1-A is mainly expressed in seeds, whereas CsPDAT1-C preferentially accumulates in flower and leaf tissues. High expression of CsPDAT2-A and CsPDAT2-B was detected in stem and root tissues, respectively. Cold stress induced upregulation of CsPDAT1-A and CsPDAT1-C expression by 3.5- and 2.5-fold, respectively, compared to the control. Salt stress led to an increase in CsPDAT2-B transcripts by 5.1-fold. Drought treatment resulted in an enhancement of CsPDAT2-A mRNAs by twofold and a reduction of CsPDAT2-B expression. Osmotic stress upregulated the expression of CsPDAT1-C by 3.3-fold. Furthermore, the cDNA clones of these CsPDAT genes were isolated for transient expression in tobacco leaves. All five genes showed PDAT enzymatic activity and substantially increased TAG accumulation in the leaves, with CsPDAT1-A showing a higher preference for ɑ-linolenic acid (18:3 ω-3). Overall, this study demonstrated that different members of CsPDAT family contribute to TAG synthesis in different tissues. More importantly, they are involved in different types of stress responses in camelina seedlings, providing new evidence of their roles in oil biosynthesis and regulation in camelina vegetative tissue. The identified CsPDATs may have practical applications in increasing oil accumulation and enhancing stress tolerance in other plants as well. Summary: Five CsPDAT family members were identified from Camelina sativa and they contribute to TAG synthesis in different tissues and various stress responses, offering new targets for lipid metabolic engineering.


PeerJ | 2018

Genome-wide characterization and expression analysis of GRAS gene family in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Baoling Liu; Yan Sun; Jinai Xue; Xiaoyun Jia; Runzhi Li

Plant-specific GRAS transcription factors regulate various biological processes in plant growth, development and stress responses. However, this important gene family was not fully characterized in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), an economically important vegetable crop. Here, a total of 50 CaGRAS members were identified in pepper genome and renamed by their respective chromosomal distribution. Genomic organization revealed that most CaGRAS genes (84%) have no intron. Phylogenetic analysis divided pepper CaGRAS members into 10 subfamilies, with each having distinct conserved domains and functions. For the expansion of the GRAS genes in pepper, segmental duplication contributed more than tandem duplication did. Gene expression analysis in various tissues demonstrated that most of CaGRAS genes exhibited a tissue- and development stage-specific expression pattern, uncovering their potential functions in pepper growth and development. Moreover, 21 CaGRAS genes were differentially expressed under cold, drought, salt and gibberellin acid (GA) treatments, indicating that they may implicated in plant response to abiotic stress. Notably, GA responsive cis-elements were detected in the promoter regions of the majority of CaGRAS genes, suggesting that CaGRAS may involve in signal cross-talking. The first comprehensive analysis of GRAS gene family in pepper genome by this study provide insights into understanding the GRAS-mediated regulation network, benefiting the genetic improvements in pepper and some other relative plants.


International Journal of Molecular Sciences | 2018

Splice Variants of the Castor WRI1 Gene Upregulate Fatty Acid and Oil Biosynthesis When Expressed in Tobacco Leaves

Xiajie Ji; Xue Mao; Qing-Ting Hao; Baoling Liu; Jinai Xue; Runzhi Li

The plant-specific WRINKLED1 (WRI1) is a member of the AP2/EREBP class of transcription factors that positively regulate oil biosynthesis in plant tissues. Limited information is available for the role of WRI1 in oil biosynthesis in castor bean (Ricinus connunis L.), an important industrial oil crop. Here, we report the identification of two alternatively spliced transcripts of RcWRI1, designated as RcWRI1-A and RcWRI1-B. The open reading frames of RcWRI1-A (1341 bp) and RcWRI1-B (1332 bp) differ by a stretch of 9 bp, such that the predicted RcWRI1-B lacks the three amino acid residues “VYL” that are present in RcWRI1-A. The RcWRI1-A transcript is present in flowers, leaves, pericarps and developing seeds, while the RcWRI1-B mRNA is only detectable in developing seeds. When the two isoforms were individually introduced into an Arabidopsis wri1-1 loss-of-function mutant, total fatty acid content was almost restored to the wild-type level, and the percentage of the wrinkled seeds was largely reduced in the transgenic lines relative to the wri1-1 mutant line. Transient expression of each RcWRI1 splice isoform in N. benthamiana leaves upregulated the expression of the WRI1 target genes, and consequently increased the oil content by 4.3–4.9 fold when compared with the controls, and RcWRI1-B appeared to be more active than RcWRI1-A. Both RcWRI1-A and RcWRI1-B can be used as a key transcriptional regulator to enhance fatty acid and oil biosynthesis in leafy biomass.


International Journal of Molecular Sciences | 2018

Analysis of bZIP Transcription Factor Family and Their Expressions under Salt Stress in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Chunli Ji; Xue Mao; Jingyun Hao; Xiaodan Wang; Jinai Xue; Hongli Cui; Runzhi Li

The basic leucine-region zipper (bZIP) transcription factors (TFs) act as crucial regulators in various biological processes and stress responses in plants. Currently, bZIP family members and their functions remain elusive in the green unicellular algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, an important model organism for molecular investigation with genetic engineering aimed at increasing lipid yields for better biodiesel production. In this study, a total of 17 C. reinhardtii bZIP (CrebZIP) TFs containing typical bZIP structure were identified by a genome-wide analysis. Analysis of the CrebZIP protein physicochemical properties, phylogenetic tree, conserved domain, and secondary structure were conducted. CrebZIP gene structures and their chromosomal assignment were also analyzed. Physiological and photosynthetic characteristics of C. reinhardtii under salt stress were exhibited as lower cell growth and weaker photosynthesis, but increased lipid accumulation. Meanwhile, the expression profiles of six CrebZIP genes were induced to change significantly during salt stress, indicating that certain CrebZIPs may play important roles in mediating photosynthesis and lipid accumulation of microalgae in response to stresses. The present work provided a valuable foundation for functional dissection of CrebZIPs, benefiting the development of better strategies to engineer the regulatory network in microalgae for enhancing biofuel and biomass production.


Planta | 2013

Promoter analysis reveals cis-regulatory motifs associated with the expression of the WRKY transcription factor CrWRKY1 in Catharanthus roseus

Zhirong Yang; Barunava Patra; Runzhi Li; Sitakanta Pattanaik; Ling Yuan


Biotechnology Letters | 2013

Expression of yeast acyl-CoA-∆9 desaturase leads to accumulation of unusual monounsaturated fatty acids in soybean seeds

Jinai Xue; Xue Mao; Zhirong Yang; Yongmei Wu; Xiaoyun Jia; Li Zhang; Aiqin Yue; Jiping Wang; Runzhi Li


Current Science | 2018

Enhanced Oil Accumulation in Tobacco ( Nicotiana tabacum L.) Leaves by Ectopic Overexpression of VgDGAT1a for Renewable Production of Biofuels

Chang-yong Gao; Xue Mao; Hong-Qin Shang; Fang Li; Runzhi Li


Archive | 2017

Characterization of Phospholipid: Diacylglycerol Acyltransferases (PDATs) from and Their Roles in Stress Responses.

Lixia Yuan; Xue Mao; Kui Zhao; Xiajie Ji; Chunli Ji; Jinai Xue; Runzhi Li


Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture | 2016

Ectopic overexpression of MucACP- and #916;9 desaturase leads to and #969;-7 fatty acid accumulation in tobacco leaves

Chang-yong Gao; Xue Mao; Hong-Qin Shang; Xiajie Ji; Runzhi Li

Collaboration


Dive into the Runzhi Li's collaboration.

Top Co-Authors

Avatar

Jinai Xue

Shanxi Agricultural University

View shared research outputs
Top Co-Authors

Avatar

Xue Mao

Shanxi Agricultural University

View shared research outputs
Top Co-Authors

Avatar

Jiping Wang

Shanxi Agricultural University

View shared research outputs
Top Co-Authors

Avatar

Xiajie Ji

Shanxi Agricultural University

View shared research outputs
Top Co-Authors

Avatar

Xiaoyun Jia

Shanxi Agricultural University

View shared research outputs
Top Co-Authors

Avatar

Chunli Ji

Shanxi Agricultural University

View shared research outputs
Top Co-Authors

Avatar

Lixia Yuan

Shanxi Agricultural University

View shared research outputs
Top Co-Authors

Avatar

Yongmei Wu

Shanxi Agricultural University

View shared research outputs
Top Co-Authors

Avatar

Zhirong Yang

Shanxi Agricultural University

View shared research outputs
Top Co-Authors

Avatar

Aiqin Yue

Shanxi Agricultural University

View shared research outputs
Researchain Logo
Decentralizing Knowledge