Name: Liu, Xuemei
Degree: Ph.D
Title: Professor
E-mail: 695898040@qq.com; liuxuemei@nefu.edu.cn
Address: Northeast Forestry University, Shaw (Yifu) Teaching Building, Room 613
Education and Training:
1991 – 1995: Northeast Forestry University, Bachelor of Science in Forestry research
1995– 1998: Northeast Forestry University, Master of Science in Genetics and Breeding in Tree
2002 – 2005: Northeast Forestry University, Ph.D. in Genetics and Breeding in Tree
2005–2009: Harbin Institute of Technology, Postdoctoral Training in Environmental Science and Engineering
Employment:
1998 – 2002: Northeast Forestry University, Research Associate
2002 – 2005: Northeast Forestry University, Lecturer
2005– 2013: Northeast Forestry University University, Associate Professor
2013 – 2016: Northeast Forestry University, Professor
Honors and Awards:
2018: The third Class prize of the Heilongjiang Provincial Science and Technology Award (1st name)
2018: The Second Class Prize of the Heilongjiang provincial university science and technology award (1st name)
2011: Excellent master's thesis of Heilongjiang Province (Superviser)
Research Specialty:
Molecular Biology in tree
Courses to Teach:
Genetics; Microbial genetics and breeding techniques
Extramural Appointments and Service:
Street cat rescue
proposing street animal (cats and dogs) protection legislation
Editorial Boards:
Journal of Forestry Research (since 2023)
Journal of biology, Invited Editor (since 2020)
Research Interest:
My research interest is the development and molecular mechanism of adventitious roots (ARs) in Betula platyphylla Suk.. It is difficult to produce adventitious roots (ARs) in hardwood cuttings, which largely limits the cultivation and propagation of B. platyphylla. AR formation is a biological process that is essential for successful tree propagation by cuttings. The phytohormone gibberellin (GA) is one key factor affecting the formation of ARs. Previous studies have shown that GA inhibits AR formation in birch. We found that BpSPL2 can inhibit AR formation. This is partially caused by GA signaling since treatment with GA3 and the GA inhibitor PBZ altered the effects of BpSPL2 overexpression and dominate-negative BpSPL2-SDRX on transgenic birch lines during AR formation. Furthermore, BpSPL2 negatively regulated BpPIF4 encoding one of the key components of the GA signaling pathway. Leaf explants of pif 4 mutants display enhanced rooting in Arabidopsis suggesting that PIFs are negative regulators of AR formation. We investigated the functions of BpSPL2 in cuttage and AR initiation in further details and analyze the molecular mechanisms of BpSPL2 and BpPIFs in the GA pathway controlling AR formation. In addition, the gene regulatory network (GRN) that controls AR formation via GA signaling will be identified. Our results enhanced and expanded the model of the molecular mechanisms controlling AR formation in tree species. It also help to circumvent the bottleneck of cutting propagation in birch.
In addition, we have performed research on lignin and cellulose biosynthesis in birch. Now, we have isolated several important genes involving in lignin and cellulose biosynthesis from birch, such as 4CLs, CCoAOMT, PAL, CesAs. Their functional identification are in research.
Funding:
(1) National Natural Science Foundation of China (32171738) (P.I.) 01/01/2022– 12/31/2025
Title: Regulatory Mechanism of Transcription Factor BpSPL2 in GA Pathway of
Adventitious Root formation in Betula platyphylla Suk.
(2) National Key Research and Development Program of China (2021YFD2200304-6) 01/01/2021 – 12/31/2026
Title: Breeding of hybridization and transgenic drought-resistant new varieties of white birch.
(3) Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2572022DQ08) (P.I.) 10/01/2022 – 09/31/2025
Title: Molecular mechanism of BpSPL2 regulating hormone and antioxidant system involved in drought resistance of Betula.
Publications:
1.Chen Aihua,Huang Peng,Guo Shanshan,Liu Sige,Hu Xiaoqing,Liu Xuemei*. Comprehensive Analysis of Betula platyphylla Suk. PIF Gene Family and Their Potential Functions in Growth and Development[J]. International Journal of Molecular Sciences,2022,23(23):15326-15326.
2. Qiqi Xin, Xiaoqing Hu, Yong Zhang, Dou Li, Bohan Xu, Xuemei Liu*. Expression pattern analysis of key genes related to anther development in a mutant of male-sterile Betula platyphylla Suk. Tree Genetics & Genomes. 2020，16: 33. 2020-03-16. http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11295-020-1425-7
3. Xiaoqing Hu, Jing Tian, Qiqi Xin, Dou Li, Lianmei Yao, Yong Zhang, Xuemei Liu*. Cloning and functional characterization of a novel BpSEP4gene from Betula platyphylla Suk.. Tree Genetics & Genomes (2020)16: 13.
4. Jing Tian，Xiaoqing Hu, Yong Zhang, Qiqi Xin, Dou Li, Lihong Zhao, Xuemei Liu*. Molecular cloning and functional analysis of the BplSPL1 gene from Betula platyphylla Suk. Trees Structure and Function. 2020, 34: 801–811. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-020-01959-y
5. Hu, Xiaoqing. , Liu, Chuang. , Tian, Jing. , Zhang, Yong. , Xin Qiqi, Chen Aihua, Li dou, Liu, Xuemei*. Identification, molecular characterization, and expression analysis of the Squamosa Promoter binding Protein-like (SPL) gene family in Betula platyphylla suk. Trees Structure and Function. 2020,34:229–241
6. Yong Zhang, Xiaoqing Hu, Yaoqiang Zhen, Xuemei Liu*. Ectopic expression of an antisense BpCCoAOMT gene from Betula platyphylla Suk. affects growth and development of tobacco due to lignin content reduction. Journal of Plant Biochemistry and Biotechnology . 2020, 29: 266–275. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13562-019-00533-z
