RESEARCH
The research in Xiao lab focus on genetic and epigenetic regulation of plant adaptation to changeable environments in bread wheat and model plant Arabidopsis. Our research will combine use multi-omics and population genetics to identify key regulators, regulatory regions, and explore elite allele could be used for wheat breeding. With that, NGS, genetics, biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology assays would be conducted.
> Plant adaptation from both genetic and epigenetic of view
Wheat, as one of the most cultivated crops, is under threaten of the abiotic stresses, such as drought and abnormal temperatures. We are currently using combined multi-omics approach to systematically and efficiently identify key regulators involved in plant adaptation and study their function, as well as explore the elite allele to be eventually used to improve the adaptation of wheat cultivars with precise gene-editing technology and fast-breeding strategy.
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> Chromosome 3D structure dynamics and roles in wheat domestication and adaptation to changeable environments
In eukaryotes, genomic DNA is stored as "chromatin" in a tiny nuclear compartment with different levels of compaction. The conformation of chromatin is well organized and critical for properly executing the biological activity. Under different environmental and/or developmental conditions, both global and local chromatin rearrangment occurs, along with altered gene expression pattern. With the advantage of Hi-C techniques, we are able to study the dynamic of 3D chromatin structure in wheat during polyploidyzation and domestication, as well as adaptation to changeable environments, e.g. unusual temperatures. In combination with epigenomics, such as genome-wide histone modification, DNA methylation, open/close chromatin regions, and transcriptome, e.g. lncRNA and mRNAseq, as well as specific factors' binding profile (ChIPseq), we will gain more insight of the formation, maintenance, alteration and function of chromatin 3D structure.
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> Chromatin regulation centered plant developmental plasticity
Plant development is largely dependent on environmental factors such as light and temperature conditions. Alteration of such factors may induce and silence numerous genes expression, along with dynamic chromatin landscape changes. During the process, transcription factors and chromatin regulators play fundamental roles, we currently utilize a combined-omics strategy to dissect the role of PRC, histone demethylase, chromatin modifier, transcription factors, as well as RNA binding proteins in mediating and regulation of such adaptation in Arabidopsis.
