NTUIMCB_Eng

Recent Research Topics

Galactolipid biosynthesis and degradation in chloroplasts

Regulation of polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis in Microalgae

Laboratory: Chloroplast Lipids Laboratory

Mono-galactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and di-galactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) are major membrane lipids in plastids, which together constitute about 80% of total lipids in chloroplasts. The high abundance of galactolipids in chloroplasts and cyanobacteria, and their absence from most non-photosynthetic organisms, suggest that galactolipids not only provide building blocks for photosynthetic membranes but also have specific functions in photosynthesis. Recent evidence shows that the unbalance MGDG/DGDG ratio triggers jasmonic acid (JA) overproduction in DGD1 (DGDG synthase) deficiency mutants. Therefore, in addition to maintaining the function of photosynthesis, galactolipid is also a precursor for the synthesis of plant hormone JA. When plants are under the stress of phosphate starvation, galactolipids can be transported from chloroplasts to other organelles to replace part of the functions of phospholipids. Our recent research focuses on the biosynthesis and metabolic pathways of galactolipids in plants, hoping to understand how MGDG/DGDG homeostasis induces the biosynthesis of JA.        

Unlike the galactolipids in Arabidopsis, the fatty acid composition is mainly 16 and 18 carbons. MGDG and DGDG of specific microalgae have fatty acid chains with higher carbon numbers (20 carbons and 22 carbons), and our long-term goal is to extend our research on galactolipids and lipases to algae and explore omega- 3 (20:5, EPA or 22:6, DHA) biosynthetic regulation mechanism.

Selected Research Publication

Publications

1. Chun-Wei Yu, Van C. Nguyen, Niña Alyssa M. Barroga, Yuki Nakamura, and Hsou-min Li* (2024, Oct). Plastid LPAT1 is an integral inner envelope membrane protein with the acyltransferase domain located in the stroma. Plant Cell Reports, 43: 257.

2. Sujuan Gao, Xueqin Zeng, Jianhao Wang, Yingchao Xu, Chun-Wei Yu, Yishui Huang, Feng Wang, Keqiang Wu,* and Songguang Yang* (2021, Nov). Arabidopsis SUMO E3 Ligase SIZ1 Interacts with HDA6 and Negatively Regulates HDA6 Function during Flowering. Cells, 10: 3001. 

3. Chun-Wei Yu, Yang-Tsung Lin, and Hsou-min Li* (2020, Jun). Increased ratio of galactolipids MGDG:DGDG induces jasmonic acid overproduction and changes chloroplast shape. New Phytologist, 228: 1327-1335. 

4. Hsou-min Li*, Chun-Wei Yu (2018, May). Chloroplast Galactolipids: The Link Between Photosynthesis, Chloroplast Shape, Jasmonates, Phosphate Starvation and Freezing Tolerance. Plant and Cell Physiology, 59: 1128-1134. 

5. Chun-Wei Yu, Ready Tai, Shen-Chi Wang, Ping Yang, Ming Luo, Songguang Yang, Kai Cheng, Wen-Chun Wang, Yi-Sheng Cheng, and Keqiang Wu* (2017, Aug). HISTONE DEACETYLASE6 Acts in Concert with Histone Methyltransferases SUVH4, SUVH5, and SUVH6 to Regulate Transposon Silencing. Plant Cell, 29: 1970-1983. 

6. Chun-Wei Yu, Kao-Yuan Chang and Keqiang Wu* (2016, Apr). Genome-Wide Analysis of Gene Regulatory Networks of the FVE-HDA6-FLD Complex in Arabidopsis. Frontiers in Plant Science, 7: 555.

7. Ming Luo^#, Ready Tai^#, Chun-Wei Yu^#, Songguang Yang, Chia-Yang Chen, Wen-Dar Lin, Wolfgang Schmidt and Keqiang Wu* (2015, Jun). Regulation of flowering time by the histone deacetylase HDA5 in Arabidopsis. The Plant Journal, 82:925-936. # equal contribution.

8. Chia-Chi Hsu, Pei-Shan Wu, Tien-Chih Chen, Chun-Wei Yu, Wen-Chieh Tsai, Keqiang Wu, Wen-Luan Wu, Wen-Huei Chen, Hong-Hwa Chen* (2014, Dec). Histone Acetylation Accompanied with Promoter Sequences Displaying Differential Expression Profiles of B-Class MADS-Box Genes for Phalaenopsis Floral Morphogenesis. PLoS ONE, 9: e106033. 

9. Prashant Singh, Shweta Yekondi, Po-Wen Chen, Chia-Hong Tsai, Chun-Wei Yu, Keqiang Wu, Laurent Zimmerli* (2014, Jun). Environmental History Modulates Arabidopsis Pattern-Triggered Immunity in a HISTONE       ACETYLTRANSFERASE1-Dependent Manner. Plant Cell, 26: 2676-2688. 

10. Xuncheng Liua, Songguang Yanga, Minglei Zhaoa, Ming Luo, Chun-Wei Yu, Chia-Yang Chen, Ready Tai, and Keqiang Wu* (2014, May). Transcriptional Repression by Histone Deacetylases in Plants. Molecular Plant, 7: 764-772. 

11. Yi Zhou, Bin Tan, Ming Luo, Yin Li, Chen Liu, Chen Chen, Chun-Wei Yu, Songguang Yang, Shuai Dong, Jiuxiao Ruan, Liangbin Yuan, Zhou Zhang, Linmao Zhao, Chenlong Li, Huhui Chen, Yuhai Cui, Keqiang Wu and Shangzhi Huang* (2013, Jan). HISTONE DEACETYLASE19 Interacts with HSL1 and Participates in the Repression of Seed Maturation Genes in Arabidopsis Seedlings. Plant Cell, 25: 134-148. 

12. Ming Luo^#, Chun-Wei Yu^#, Fang-Fang Chen, Linmao Zhao, Gang Tian, Xuncheng Liu, Yuhai Cui, Jun-Yi Yang, Keqiang Wu* (2012, Dec). Histone Deacetylase HDA6 Is Functionally Associated with AS1 in Repression of KNOX Genes in Arabidopsis. PLOS genetics, 8: e1003114. # equal contribution.

13. Xuncheng Liu, Chun-Wei Yu, Jun Duan, Ming Luo, Koching Wang, Gang Tian, Yuhai Cui and Keqiang Wu* (2012, Jan). HDA6 Directly Interacts with DNA Methyltransferase MET1 and Maintains Transposable Element Silencing in          Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology, 158: 119-129. 

14. Chun-Wei Yu, Xuncheng Liu, Ming Luo, Chiayang Chen, Xiaodong Lin, Gang Tian, Qing Lu, Yuhai Cui, and Keqiang Wu* (2011, May). HISTONE DEACETYLASE6 Interacts with FLOWERING LOCUS D and Regulates Flowering in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology, 156: 173-184. 

15. Malona V Alinsug, Chun-Wei Yu and Keqiang Wu* (2009, Mar). Phylogenetic analysis, subcellular localization, and expression patterns of RPD3/HDA1 family histone deacetylases in plants. BMC Plant Biology, 9: 37. 

16. Keqiang Wu*, Lin Zhang, Changhe Zhou, Chun-Wei Yu and Vijaya Chaikam (2008, Jan). HDA6 is required for jasmonate response, senescence and flowering in Arabidopsis. Journal of Experimental Botany, 59: 225-234. 

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