To balance between its growth and environmental plasticity, plant has evolved a complex and delicate system for efficient signal transduction during long history of adaptation. Various physical and chemical signals are recognized and precepted at plant cell surface via membrane receptor complexes and/or transported by membrane transporters, thus activating downstream hormonal signaling pathways. This ultimately allows timely and efficient accommodation of plant with proper growth and development. Our lab integrates molecular and cellular biology with protein structural analysis, aiming to unveil and delineate how plant membrane proteins, upon perception of surface signals, specify distinct downstream pathways via collaborating with different protein families for ultimate adaptation to adverse environment.

1. Yeling Zhou^#*, Yuzhu Wang^#, Dong Zhang, and Jiansheng Liang^*. Endomembrane-biased dimerization of ABCG16 and ABCG25 transporters determines their substrate selectivity in ABA-regulated plant growth and stress responses. Molecular Plant. 2024. doi: 10.1016/j.molp.2024.02.005. (co-first and co-correspondence author)
2. Jian Xin^#, Yeling Zhou^#, Yichun Qiu^#, He Geng, Yuzhu Wang, Yi Song^*, Jiansheng Liang^*, Kaige Yan^*. Structural insights into AtABCG25, an angiosperm-specific abscisic acid exporter. Plant Communications. 2023. doi: 10.1016/j.xplc.2023.100776. (co-first author)
3. Yuzhu Wang^#, Yeling Zhou^#*, Jiansheng Liang^*. Characterization of Organellar-Specific ABA Responses during Environmental Stresses in Tobacco Cells and Arabidopsis Plants. Cells. 2022. 11: 2039. doi: 10.3390/cells11132039 (co-first and co-correspondence author)
4. Yeling Zhou, Yuzhu Wang, Jinwen Li, Jiansheng Liang. In vivo FRET-FLIM reveals ER-specific increases in the ABA level upon environmental stresses. Plant Physiology. 2021. doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiab165.
5. Yeling Zhou, Irene Vos, Dieuwertje Van der Does, Cyril Ziphel, Robert C Schuurink, Corné MJ Pieterse and Saskia CM Van Wees. Beta-Carbonic Anhydrases CA1 and CA4 Inhibit PAMP-triggered Immunity through Antagonizing Salicylic Acid-Dependent Defense. Planta. 2020. 251:75. doi: 10.1007/s00425-020-03370-w
6. Yeling Zhou, Sanne K. Van Leeuwen, Corné M.J. Pieterse, Peter A.H.M. Bakker, Saskia C.M. Van Wees. Atmospheric CO₂ Differentially Affects Arabidopsis Disease Resistance against Aboveground and Belowground Pathogens. European Journal of Plant Pathology. 2019. doi: 10.1007/s10658-019-01706-1
7. Yeling Zhou, Irene Vroegop-Vos, Robert C. Schuurink, Corné M.J. Pieterse and Saskia C.M. Van Wees. Atmospheric CO₂ alters resistance of Arabidopsis to Pseudomonas syringae by affecting abscisic acid accumulation and stomatal responsiveness to coronatine. Frontiers in Plant Science. 2017. 8:700. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2017.00700
8. Gijsbert D.A. Werner, Yeling Zhou, Corné M.J. Pieterse, E. Toby Kiers. Tracking plant preference for higher-quality mycorrhizal symbionts under varying CO₂ conditions over multiple generations. Ecology and Evolution. 2018, 8:78-87.