• 1. The roles and regulatory mechanisms of DNA/RNA methylation during early flower development, as well as the interplay between epigenetic nucleotide modification and transcription factors (mainly ABC factors).

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most prevalent internal nucleotide base modification on mRNA molecules in eukaryotes. m6A is catalyzed by RNA methyltransferases, and can be removed by RNA demethylases, thus is dynamically regulated. It has been found that m6A functions in mRNA processing, alternative splicing, secondary structure folding and cellular location determination, as well as translation, thereby participates in diverse biological processes. We are interested in understanding the functions of m6A during floral organ development, and the molecular evolutionary pattern of this prevalent modification across eukaryotes. Our preliminary studies have revealed interesting common as well as unique features of m6A in model eukaryotes.

2. The molecular regulatory mechanisms of orchid lip development

Orchid (Orchidaceae) is one of the most species-enriched family of flowering plants, with over approximately 28,000 species recognized. The diversity in the color, shape, scent, and architecture of orchid flowers is highly impressed and has attracted evolutionary biologist and developmental biologist since Charles Darwin’s time. Phalaenopsis equestris is one of the most commonly used model plant for the understanding of flower development programs in orchids. We are interested in understanding the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying the development of labellum (lip) and pollinium, two of the many representative characters of orchid flowers, using different varieties of P. equestris plants as research systems. We are gaining interesting results in exploring the mechanisms of pollinium developmental programs, with the aid of functional genomics, genetics and molecular biology.

• 3. The molecular basis of the environment invasion behaviors of thistles

• 1. Shuang-Shuang Zhang (#), Hongxing Yang (#), Lan Ding, Ze-Ting Song, Hong Ma, Fang Chang *, and Jian-Xiang Liu *. Tissue-specific transcriptomics reveals important role of the unfolded protein response in maintaining fertility upon heat stress in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell (accepted)
• 2. Yi Tao (#), Guang Yang (#), Hongxing Yang (#), Dongliang Song, Liangning Hu, Bingqian Xie, Houcai Wang, Lu Gao, Minjie Gao, Hongwei Xu, Zhijian Xu, Xiaosong Wu, , Yiwen Zhang, Weiliang Zhu, Fenghuang Zhan, Jumei Shi. TRIP13 impairs mitotic checkpoint surveillance and is associated with poor prognosis in multiple myeloma. Oncotarget, 2017, 5.
• 3. Jiani Yin, Wu Chen, Hongxing Yang, Mingshan Xue, and Christian Schaaf, Chrna7 deficient mice manifest no consistent neuropsychiatric and behavioral phenotypes. Sci Rep, 2017,7:39941.
• 4. Hongxing Yang (#), Fang Chang (#)(*), Chenjiang You, Jie Cui, Genfeng Zhu, Lei Wang, Yu Zheng, Ji Qi (*), Hong Ma (*), Whole-genome DNA methylation patterns and complex function in transcription regulation during flower development in Arabidopsis. Plant J, 2015, 81(2): 268-281. (Times cited: 12)
• 5. Yue Jin (#), Hongxing Yang (#), Zheng Wei, Hong Ma (*), Xiaochun Ge (*), Rice Male Development under Drought Stress: Phenotypic Changes and Stage-Dependent Transcriptomic Reprogramming. Mol Plant, 2013, 6(5): 1630-1645. (Times cited: 23)
• 6. Hongxing Yang (#), Pingli Lu (#), Yingxiang Wang (*) and Hong Ma (*),The transcriptome landscape of Arabidopsis male meiocytes from high-throughput sequencing: the complexity and evolution of the meiotic process. Plant J,2011, 65(4): 503-16. (Times cited: 90)

Education Background 
2003.09 - 2009.06, Department of Physics, Fudan University, Ph.D.
1999.09 - 2003.06, Department of Physics, Anhui University, Bachelor

Experience
2014.08 - : P.I., Associate Professor, Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences / Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden 
2012.05 - 2014.07, Postdoctoral research at The College of Medicine, University of Iowa