PhD, Professor
Educational Background:
Prof. Yanlin Liu did his undergraduate studies in Biotechnology at Heilongjiang University, Harbin (2006 to 2010), got his master’s degree in Cell Biology at Lanzhou University, Lanzhou (2010 to 2013), and finished his PhD program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing (2013 to 2017).
Research Field:
Prof. Yanlin Liu’s Lab mainly focuses on studying the regulatory mechanisms of carbon and nitrogen signaling and their metabolic regulatory networks in model plants such as Arabidopsis and rice. Liu Lab systematically investigates how carbon and nitrogen signaling pathways regulate cellular growth and adaptive mechanisms by employing approaches in genetics, molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, genomics, metabolomics, and proteomics. The short-term aim of Liu lab is to elucidate the molecular networks of plant carbon/nitrogen signaling and the long-term goal is to find out more potential targets to improve crops production, quality and adaptation. The main research directions include:
1.Identification and functional analysis of new components of plant carbon and nitrogen nutrient signaling regulating cell growth and development.
2.Mechanism analysis of plant carbon and nitrogen nutrition stress and cellular adaptation.
3.Investigation of plant carbon/nitrogen balance regulatory mechanisms.
Representative Publications ( #co-first author, *corresponding author):
1. Liwen Fu # ; Yanlin Liu #; Guochen Qin; Ping Wu; Hailing Zi; Zhongtian Xu; Xiaodi Zhao; Yue Wang; Yaxing Li; Shuhui Yang; Chao Peng; Catherine C. L. Wong; Sang-Dong Yoo; Zecheng Zuo; Renyi Liu; Young-Hee Cho; Yan Xiong* (2021). The TOR–EIN2 axis mediates nuclear signalling to modulate plant growth. Nature, 591(7849): 288-292. (SCI, IF: 49.962, Q1). Faculty of 1000 recommendation, Faculty of 1000 review “Landmark” paper. ESI highly cited paper.
2. Yanlin Liu; Xiaoli Duan; Xiaodi Zhao; Wenlong Ding; Yaowei Wang; Yan Xiong* (2021); Diverse Nitrogen Signals Activate Convergent ROP2-TOR Signaling in Arabidopsis. Developmental Cell, 56, 1283-1295. e1285. (SCI, IF: 12.270, Q1). Feature article, Previews recommendation.
3. Yanlin Liu*; Jun Hu; Xiaoli Duan; Wenlong Ding; Menglan Xu; Yan Xiong* (2025). Target of Rapamycin (TOR): A Master Regulator in Plant Growth, Development, and Stress Responses, Annual Review of Plant Biology, 2025. (SCI, IF: 21.3, Q1)
4. Yanlin Liu* and Yan Xiong*(2022). Plant target of rapamycin signaling network: Complexes, conservations, and specificities, JIPB, 64(2):342-370. (SCI, IF: 7.061, Q1). ESI highly cited paper.
5. Xiaojuan Li #; Wenguo Cai #; Yanlin Liu #; Hui Li; Liwen Fu; Zengyu Liu; Lin Xu; Hongtao Liu; Tongda Xu*; Yan Xiong* (2017). Differential TOR activation and cell proliferation in Arabidopsis root and shoot apexes, PNAS, 114(10): 2765-2770. (SCI, IF: 11.205, Q1). ESI highly cited paper.
Grants and awards:
1. NSFC, General project, 32470374, HECT-type ubiquitin ligases regulate plant cotyledon cell expansion through glucose-TOR signaling pathway, 2025-01-01 to 2028-12-31, Host.
2. NSFC, General project, 32170273, The molecular mechanism of TORSR9 involving in nitrogen-TOR signaling to regulate plant shoot apex growth and development, 2022-01-01 to 2025-12-31, Host.
3. NSFC, Youth project, 31800199, The molecular mechanism of nitrate-TOR signaling on regulating plant shoot apex activation, 2019-01-01 to 2021-12-31, Host.
E-mail: liuyanlin@fafu.edu.cn