EDUCATION
Postdoctor 2003-2005, Department of Biology, University of York, UK. Majored in Plant Molecular Biology
Ph.D 1997-2000, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Majored in Plant Molecular Genetics
Master 1988-1991, Department of Biology, Shandong University. Majored in Plant Physiology
Bachelor 1981-1985, Department of Biology, Qu-Fu Normal University. Majored in Biology
WORK EXPERIENCE
2003 to date School of Life Science, Shandong University. Professor (Ph.D student supervisor from 2006)
1997-2002 School of Life Science, Shandong University. Associate Professor
1991-1996 Department of Biology, Shandong University. Lecturer
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Research focus in our lab is plant molecular glycosylation and its function in plant development and stress tolerance.
1. Plant hormone glycosylation and plant development. Hormones are very important for plant growth and development. Although the glycosylation of hormones has been found in planta for a long term, the physiological significance of hormone glycosylation is largely unkown. We have identified and cloned the glucosyltransferase genes responsible for the glucosylation of cytokinins and auxins from Arabidopsis. The research aim is to understand the functions of hormone glycosylation in controlling hormone activity and in regulating plant growth and development. Hopefully the research results could be used to improve agronomic traits of crops.
2. Plant molecule glycosylation and stress tolerance. Many researches showed that the plant molecular glycosylation is involved in the plant responses to abiotic and biotic stress environment. Therefore, molecular glycosylation would play key role in enhancing plant tolerance to stresses. This research is to clone, identify and characterize the glycosyltransferase genes involved in plant responses to abiotic stresses (such as salt, drought, cold and high temperature) and biotic stresses. We will get new insight into molecular mechanismes of plant resistance to stresses and lay a foundation for crop breeding.
3. Plant molecule glycosylation and the engineering of biomass energy. The development of alternatives to fossil fuels as an energy source is an urgent global priority. Plant cellulosic biomass has the potential to meet the demand for liquid fuel because of the ethanol production from cellulose fermentation. However, the lignins in plant cell wall represent a major obstacle in processing of plant biomass to biofuels. Cellulose-rich biomass with either less lignin or a lignin that is easier to degrade would benefit biofuel industries. In our lab, we use poplar, maize and rice as models to study the biosynthesis and regulation of lignins and cellulose, especially the role of molecular glycosylations in regulating lignin and cellulose formation. We attempt to clone relevant genes and engineer the composition of plant cell wall by gene manipulation to get better biofuel material.
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
1.Function and molecular mechanism of glycosyltransferase UGT76X in photomorphogenesis in Arabidopsis. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. 2018-2021.
2.The mechanisms of glycosyltransferase gene UGT72B1 modulating lignification of cell wall in Arabidopsis. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. 2016-2019.
3.Identification and function analysis of glycosyltransferase genes of gibberellin and auxin in plant. Project supported by the Major Research plan of the National Natural Science Foundation of China. 2013-2015
4.The role of cytokinin glucosyltransferase in enhancing plant resistance to drought. Project supported by the Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China. 2013-2015
5.Study on the molecular mechanism of gibberellin glycosylation of plants. Project supported by the Major Research plan of the National Natural Science Foundation of China. 2010-2012
6.Analysis of functional genes involved in plant tolerance to salt. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. 2010-2012
7.Study on the bioreactors of plant and animal. Project supported by the National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 project). 2008-2010
8.Research on the functional genes of cytokinin glucosylation in Arabidopsis. Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China. 2008-2010
9.Key techniques of wheat chloroplast transformation. Project supported by the Major Research plan of Natural Science Foundation of Shandong province. 2007-2009.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS ( *correspondence author)
1.Chen L,Wang WS, Wang T, Meng XF, Chen TT, Huang XX, Li YJ, Hou BK* Methyl salicylate glucosylation regulates plant defense signalling and systemic acquired resistance. Plant Physiology. 2019, Online
2. Huang XX, Zhu GQ, Liu Q, Chen L, Li YJ, Hou BK* Modulation of plant salicylic acid-associated immune responses via glycosylation of dihydroxybenzoic acids. Plant Physiology. 2018, 76: 3103-3119
3. Li P, Li YJ, Zhang FJ, Zhang GZ, Jiang XY, Yu HM, Hou BK*. The Arabidopsis UDP-glycosyltransferases UGT79B2 and 79B3, contribute to cold, salt and drought stress tolerance via modulating anthocyanin accumulation. The Plant J, 2017, 89：85–103
4. Lin JS, Huang XX, Li Q, Cao YP, Bao Y, Meng XF, Li YJ, Fu CX, Hou BK* UDP-glycosyltransferase 72B1 catalyzes the glucose conjugation of monolignols and is essential for the normal cell wall lignification in Arabidopsis thaliana. The Plant J, 2016, 88: 26-42
5. Wang B, Jin SH, Hu HQ, Sun YG, Wang YW, Han P, Hou BK*. UGT87A2, an Arabidopsis glycosyltransferase, regulates flowering time via FLOWERING LOCUS C. New Phytologist, 2012, 194: 666-675.
6.Wang YW, Wang WC, Jin SH, Wang J, Wang B, Hou BK*. Over-expression of a Putative Poplar Glycosyltransferase Gene, PtGT1, in Tobacco Increases Lignin Content and Causes Early Flowering. Journal of Experimental Botany. 2012, 63:2799-2808
7.Wang J, Ma XM, Kojima M, Sakakibara H, Hou BK*. N-Glucosyltransferase UGT76C2 is Involved in Cytokinin Homeostasis and Cytokinin Response in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant and Cell Physiology. 2011, 52(12): 2200–2213
8.Zhang GZ, Jin SH, Jiang XY, Dong RR, Li P, Li YJ, Hou BK* Ectopic expression of UGT75D1, a glycosyltransferase preferring indole-3-butyric acid, modulates cotyledon development and stress tolerance in seed germination of Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Molecular Biology, 2016, 90:77-93
9.Li YJ, Wang B, Dong RR, Hou BK* AtUGT76C2, an Arabidopsis cytokinin glycosyltransferase is involved in drought stress adaptation. Plant Science, 2015，236：157-167
10.Li YJ, Li P, Wang Y, Dong RR, Yu HM, Hou BK* Genome-wide identification and phylogenetic analysis of Family-1 UDP glycosyltransferases in maize (Zea mays). Planta, 2014，239:1265–1279
11.Jin SH, Ma XM, Han P, Wang B, Sun YG, Zhang GZ, Li YJ, Hou BK*. UGT74D1 is a novel auxin glycosyltransferase from Arabidopsis thaliana. PLoS ONE, 2013, 8(4): e61705. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0061705
12.Sun YG, Wang B, Jin SH, Qu XX, Li YJ, Hou BK*. Ectopic Expression of Arabidopsis Glycosyltransferase UGT85A5 Enhances Salt Stress Tolerance in Tobacco. PLoS ONE, 2013, 8(3): e59924. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0059924
13.Jin SH, Ma XM, Kojima M, Sakakibara H, Wang YW, Hou BK*. Overexpression of glucosyltransferase UGT85A1 influences trans-zeatin homeostasis and trans-zeatin responses likely through O-glucosylation. Planta, 2013, 237:991–999
14.Li P, Li YJ, Wang B, Yu HM, Li Q, Hou BK*. The Arabidopsis UGT87A2, a stress-inducible family 1 glycosyltransferase, is involved in the plant adaptation to abiotic stresses. Physiologia Plantarum, 2016, Online
15.Wang J, Ma XM, Kojima M, Sakakibara H, Hou BK*. Glucosyltransferase UGT76C1 finely modulates cytokinin responses via cytokinin N-glucosylation in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Physiology and Biochemistry. 2013, 65: 9-16
PATENTS
1.Hou Bingkai, Wang Bo. The use of Arabidopsis glycosyltransferase gene UGT76C2 in enhancing plant resistance to drought. China invention patent, 2013, patent No. ZL201210334363.x
2.Hou Bingkai, Wang Wenchao. A method used for the repetitive regeneration of leave of test tube plantlet of wheat. China invention patent, 2011, patent No. ZL200910230815.8
3.Hou Bingkai, Han Ping. The use of Poplar glucosyltransferase PtGT2 in the catalyzed synthesis of phenylpropanoid glucosides. China invention patent, 2013, patent No. ZL201210081534.2
4.Hou Bingkai, Jin Shanghui. The use of Arabidopsis glucosyltransferase UGT74D1 in the catalyzed synthesis of auxin glucose esters. China invention patent, 2013, patent No. ZL201210335437.1
5.Hou Bingkai, Huang xuxu. The use of Arabidopsis glycosyltransferase gene UGT76D1 in reducing surface wax of plant leaves. China invention patent, 2017, patent No. ZL201510319744.4
6.Hou Bingkai , Li pan. The use of glucosyltransferase UGT79B2 in the catalyzed synthesis of anthocyanins. China invention patent, 2019, patent No. ZL201610165905.3
AWARDS
1.Excellence award of teaching achievements at Shandong University. 2013, 09. Issued by Shandong University.
2.Guidance award of excellent thesis for master's degree of Shandong University. 2013, 04. Issued by academic degrees evaluation committee of Shandong University.
3.Guidance award of excellent thesis for master's degree of Shandong Province. 2013, 06. Issued by academic degrees evaluation committee of Shandong Province Government.
4.Excellence award of teaching quality. 2015,04. Issued by Shandong University.
5.Excellence award of teaching achievements at Shandong University. 2017, 12. Issued by Shandong University.
