Education
Ph.D 2009.01-2014.11 Botany, University of British Columbia, Canada
Bachelor 2004.09-2008.06 Life Science, Shandong University, China
Work experience
2019.05- Present, Professor, Shandong University, China
2015.03-2019.05, Postdoc, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, USA
2008.07-2008.12, Technician, NIBS, China,
Research interest
1. New regulatory mechanisms in maize meristem development, particularly how receptors orchestrate to perceive different signaling peptide and how the signals were transmitted to nucleus.
2. Novel cross-talk mechanism between meristem development and salt stress response.
3. New signaling pathways in maize defense response mediated by receptor-like kinases and proteins.
Selected Publications
1. Yang RS#, Xu F#, Zhong WS, Wang YM, Dong L, Shi YN, Tang TJ, Sheng HJ, Jackson D*, Yang F* (2021). Glutaredoxins regulate maize inflorescence meristem development via redox control of TGA transcriptional activity. Nature Plants, 7:1589-1601. # Equal contribution.
2. Nie S#, Wang B#, Ding H#…. Pan C, Huang H, Yuan G, Lan H, Nie Y, Li X, Zhao X, Zhang X, Pan G, Wu Q*, Xu F*, Zhang Z*. (2021). Genome assembly of the Chinese maize elite inbred line RP125 and its EMS mutant collection provide new resources for maize genetics research and crop improvement. The Plant Journal, 108:40-54. *Correspondence authors.
3. Wu Q#, Xu F#, Liu L, Char SN, Ding Y, Je BI, Schmelz E, Yang B, Jackson D. The maize heterotrimeric G protein β subunit controls shoot meristem development and immune responses. PNAS, 2020, 117:1799-1805. # Equal contribution.
The above paper was highlighted in PNAS: “Shoot meristem maintenance and immune response signaling converge at the G protein β subunit”
4. Tian H#, Wu Z#, Chen S#, Ao K, Huang W, Yaghmaiean H, Sun T, Xu F, Zhang Y, Wang S, Li X*, Zhang Y*. (2021). Activation of TIR signalling boosts pattern-triggered immunity. Nature, 598:500-503. # Equal contribution.
5. Xu F and Jackson D. Learning from CIK plants. Nature Plants, 2018, 4:195-196.
6. Je BI#, Xu F#, Wu Q, Liu L, Meeley R, Gallagher JP, Corcilius L, Payne RJ, Bartlett ME and Jackson D. The CLAVATA receptor FASCIATED EAR2 responds to distinct CLE peptides by signaling through two downstream effectors. Elife, 2018, eLife.35673. # Equal contribution.
7. Wu Q#, Xu F# and Jackson D. All together now, a magical mystery tour of the maize shoot meristem. Current Opinion in Plant Biology, 2018, 45: 26-35. # Equal contribution.
8. Dong X#, Ao K#, Xu F#, Johnson K, Wu Y, Li L, Xia S, Liu Y, Huang Y, Rodriguez E, Chen X, Chen S, Zhang Y, Petersen M and Li X. Distinct E3 ligases regulate individual components of paired typical NLR immune receptors. Nature Plants, 2018, 4: 699-710. # Equal contribution.
9. Xu F#, Huang Y#, Li L#, Gannon P, Kapos P, Linster E, Bienvenut W, Polevoda B, Wirtz M, Meinnel T, Hell R, Giglione C, Chen S, Zhang Y and Li X. Two N-terminal acetyltransferases antagonistically control the stability of a Nod-like receptor in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell, 2015, 27:1-17. # Equal contribution.
The above paper was highlighted in Nature Plant: Immunity: Antagonistic acetylases doi:10.1038/nplants.2015.84
10. Xu F, Kapos P, Li M, Zhang Y and Li X. NLR-associating transcription factor bHLH84 and its paralogs function redundantly in plant immunity. Plos Pathogens, 2014, e1004312.
11. Xu F#, Cheng YT#, Li M and Li X. P-loop-dependent NLR SNC1 can oligomerize and activate immunity in the nucleus. Molecular Plant, 2014, 7: 1801–1804. # Equal contribution.
12. Xu F, Xu S, Wiermer M, Zhang Y, Li X. (2012) The cyclin L homolog MOS12 and the MOS4-associated complex are required for the proper splicing of plant resistance genes. The Plant Journal. 70(6):916-28.
13. Xu F#, Zhu C#, Cevik V#, Johnson K, Liu Y, Sohn K, Holub E, Jones J, Liu Y, Li X. (2015). Autoimmunity conferred by chs3-2D relies on CSA1, its adjacent TIR-NB-LRR neighbor. Scientific Reports. doi:10.1038/srep08792. # Equal contribution.
