TEAMS

Plant Alkaloids Research Group

　　PI：Ping Xu, PhD

　　Address: 3888 Chenhua Road, Songjiang District, Shanghai (201602)

　　Phone: (+86) 2137792288-927

　　Email: xuping01@sibs.ac.cn

　　Our group is dedicated to the study of plant natural products, harnessing the rich plant resources and collection capabilities of Chenshan botanical garden to discover plants and natural compounds with medicinal potential.

　　Chinese Motherwort, or Leonurus japonicus, a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, has demonstrated significant therapeutic effects, particularly in the treatment of gynecological and blood-related disorders, including cardiovascular diseases. We conducted the genome sequencing of Leonurus japonicus, revealing the unique biosynthetic pathway of leonurine, a bioactive compound specific to Motherwort. We are committed to further exploring Motherwort and its bioactive components.

　　Concurrently, we are extensively collecting and researching plants from the Papaveraceae family, specifically within the Corydalis genus, rich in the analgesic benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs). Our goal is to identify plants or natural alkaloids with exceptional pain-relieving properties and minimal side effects.

>Personal Information

　　2002.9-2006.6 B.S., Biology, University of Science and Technology of China (USTC).

　　2006.9-2012.6 Ph.D., Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, USTC.

　　2013.2-2015.5 Postdoctoral, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

　　2015.5-2017.12 Associate professor, Shanghai Center for Plant Stress Biology, CAS.

　　2018.1-2021.7 Associate professor, Fujian agriculture and forestry university.

　　2021.8- Principal Investigator, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden.

>Research Interests

　　1. Exploration of high-value natural products from plants.

　　2. Elucidation and construction of natural product biosynthetic pathways.

　　3. Research and development of the functions of natural products.

>Research Focus

　　1. Biosynthesis pathways and regulation of bioactive compounds in Leonurus (mothewort);

　　2. Investigations related to bioactive alkaloids in the Corydalis genus.

　　3. Metabolic studies of bioactive compounds from other plants.

>Principal Research Projects

　　1. National Natural Science Foundation of China, 32170349, 2022.1 -2025.12.

　　2. National Natural Science Foundation of China, 31600195, 2017.1-2019.12.

　　3. Scientific and Technological Project of the Shanghai Administration of Greening and City Appearance, G232402, 2023.1-2025.12.

>Publications (*First author, # Corresponding author)

　　1. Dan-Jie Yang*, Meng-Xiao Yan*, Peng Li*, Pan Liu*, Yun Gao, Yan Jiang, Ze-Kun He, Yu Kong, Xin Zhong, Sheng Wu, Jun Yang, Hong-Xia Wang, Yan-Bo Huang, Le Wang, Xiao-Ya Chen, Yong-Hong Hu, Qing Zhao# and Ping Xu#. (2022) Comparative genomic analysis between Leonurus japonicus and Leonurus sibiricus. bioRxiv. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.11.27.518111

　　2. Qing Zhao*, Ping-Xia Zhao*, Yu Wu, Chang-Quan Zhong, Hong Liao, Chuan-You Li, Xiang-Dong Fu, Ping Fang, Ping Xu# and Cheng-Bin Xiang#. (2022) SUE4, a novel PIN1-interacting membrane protein, regulates acropetal auxin transport in response to sulfur deficiency. New Phytologist. 237(1)

　　3. Yongdong Yu*, Zhaochen Zhong*, Liuyin Ma, Chengbin Xiang, Jie Chen, Xinyuan Huang, Ping Xu# and Yan Xiong#. (2022) Sulfate-TOR signaling controls transcriptional reprogramming for shoot apex activation. New Phytologist. 236(4)

　　4. Tahmina Nazish*, Yi-jie Huang*, Jing Zhang, Jin-Qiu Xia, Alamin Alfatih, Chao Luo, Xiao-Teng Cai#, Jing Xi, Ping Xu# and Cheng-Bin Xiang# (2022) Understanding paraquat resistance mechanisms in Arabidopsis thaliana to facilitate the development of paraquat-resistant crops. Plant Communications. 3(3)

　　5. Xinbo Yuan*, Ping Xu*, Yongdong Yu and Yan Xiong#. 2020） Glucose-TOR signaling regulates PIN2 stability to orchestrate auxin gradient and cell expansion in Arabidopsis root. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 117(51).

　　6. Ping Xu#, Ping-Xia Zhao, Xiao-Teng Cai, Jie-Li Mao, Zi-Qing Miao and Cheng-Bin Xiang#. (2020) Integration of Jasmonic Acid and Ethylene into Auxin signaling in root development. Frontiers in Plant Science, 10 March 2020.

　　7. Ping Xu, Xiao-Teng Cai, Yao Wang, Lu Xing, Qiong Chen and Cheng-Bin Xiang#. (2014) HDG11 upregulates cell-wall-loosening protein genes to promote root elongation in Arabidopsis. Journal of Experimental Botany, 65(15):4285-95.

　　8. Jing Xi*, Ping Xu* and Cheng-Bin Xiang#. (2012) Loss of AtPDR11, a plasma membrane-localized ABC transporter, confers paraquat tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Journal, 69, 782-791.

　　9. Xiao-Teng Cai, Ping Xu, Ping-Xia Zhao, Rui Liu, Lin-Hui Yu and Cheng-Bin Xiang#. (2014) Arabidopsis ERF109 mediates cross-talk between jasmonic acid and auxin biosynthesis during lateral root formation. Nature Communications, 5, Article number: 5833.

> Members