Jian Hua
Plant Biology Section Head and Professor, School of Integrative Plant Science, Plant Biology Section
Jian Hua had education in biology at Fudan University, Chinese Academy of Science, and Caltech. She did postdoctoral research at MIT before joining faculty at Cornell. Her lab investigates molecular genetic mechanisms of environmental responses in plants. Visit the Hua Lab websiite to learn more.
Interests
Environmental responses; Adaptation; temperature; immunity; plants
Recent Research
My long-term goal is to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying how plants respond to temperature variations to regulate their development and immunity. Proper responses to environmental signals are essential for their optimal growth, reproduction, and fitness. Understanding their molecular basis not only is fundamental to the central biological question of signaling and adaptation, but also better prepares us for global climate changes.
Research programs in my lab have evolved from the study of growth homeostasis at varying temperatures in Arabidopsis to studies of 1) temperature regulation of plant growth, 2) regulation of plant immunity, and 3) interplay between temperature and immunity. We use induced mutations to dissect signaling pathways as well as natural variations to reveal adaptive changes in signaling. We aim at a deeper understanding of how plants adapt and evolve in a changing environment.
Journal Publications
View profile and publications on Google Scholar.
- Jiang Y, Wang Z, Du H, Dong R, Yuan Y, Hua J (2022) Assessment of functional relevance of genes associated with local temperature variables in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant, Cell & Environment, 1-15.
- Wang Z, Yang L, Jander G, Bhawal R, Zhang S, Liu Z, Oakley A, Hua J (2022) AIG2A and AIG2B limit the activation of salicylic acid-regulated defenses by tryptophan-derived secondary metabolism in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell, 2022.
- Wang H, Lu S, Guan X, Jiang Y, Wang B, Hua J, Zou B (2022) Dehydration-Responsive Element Binding Protein 1C, 1E, and 1G Promote Stress Tolerance to Chilling, Heat, Drought, and Salt in Rice. Frontiers in Plant Science 13.
- Yu H, Yang L, Li Z, Sun F, Li B, Guo S, Wang YF, Zhou T, Hua J (2022) In situ deletions reveal regulatory components for expression of an intracellular immune receptor gene and its co‐expressed genes in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell Environ, 45, 1862– 1875.
- Yang L, Wang Z, Zhang A, Bhawal R, Li C, Zhang S, Cheng L, Hua J (2021) Reduction of the canonical function of a glycolytic enzyme enolase triggers immune responses that further affect metabolism and growth in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell, 34(5), 1745-1767.
- Xue C, Jiang Y, Wang Z, Shan X, Y Yuan, Hua J (2021) Tissue-level transcriptomic responses to local and distal chilling reveal potential chilling survival mechanisms in maize. J Exp Bot, 72(21), 7610-7625.
- Liu H, Zhang Y, Lu S, Chen H, Wu J, Zhu X, Zou B, Hua J (2021) HsfA1d promotes hypocotyl elongation under chilling via enhancing expression of ribosomal protein genes in Arabidopsis. New Phytol. 231:646-660
- Lu S, Zhu T, Wang Z, Luo L, Wang S, Lu M, Cui Y, Zou B, Hua J (2020) Arabidopsis Immune-Associated Nucleotide-binding genes inhibit heat tolerance at reproductive stages via inhibiting unfolded protein response and promoting cell death. Mol Plant. 14:267-284.
- Wang Z, Yang L, Wu D, Zhang N, Hua J (2020) Polymorphisms in cis-elements confer SAUR26 gene expression difference for thermo-response natural variation in Arabidopsis. New Phytol. 229:2751-2764.
- Cui Y, Lu S, Li Z, Cheng J, Hu P, Zhu T, Wang X, Jin M, Wang X, Li L, Huang S, Zou B, Hua J (2020) Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Ion Channels 14 and 16 promote tolerance to heat and chilling in rice. Plant Physiol. 183:1794-1808.
- Zhang A, Wang S, Kim J, Yan J, Yan X, Pang Q, Hua J (2020) Nuclear pore complex components have temperature-influenced roles in plant growth and immunity. Plant Cell Environ. 43:1452-1466
- Li Z, Liu H, Ding Z, Yan J, Yu H, Pan R, Hu J, Guan Y, Hua J (2020) Low temperature enhances plant immunity via multiple SA pathway genes that are repressed by ethylene. Plant Physiol. 182:626-639.
- Yang L, Chen X, Wang Z, Sun Q, Hong A, Zhang A, Zhong X, Hua J (2020) HOS15 and HDA9 negatively regulate immunity through histone deacetylation of intracellular immune receptor NLR genes in Arabidopsis. New Phytol. 226:507-522
- Yan J, Yu H, Bo L, Fan A, Melkonian J, Wang X, Zhu T, Hua J (2019) Cell autonomous and non-autonomous functions of plant intracellular immune receptors in stomatal defense and apoplastic defense. PLoS Pathog 15(10): e1008094
- Yu H, Yan J, Du X, Hua J (2018) Overlapping and differential roles of plasma membrane calcium ATPase ACAs in Arabidopsis growth and environmental responses. J Exp Bot. 69:2693–2703
Courses Taught
I teach plant genetics, plant molecular biology and bio-engineering, plant molecular biology laboratory, undergraduate biology research, and graduate level modules.
- PLSCI 3430, Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering of Plants
- PLSCI 3431, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering of Plants
- BIOG 2990, Introduction to Research Methods in Biology
- BIOG 4990, Independent Undergraduate Research in Biology
- BIOPL 7490, Graduate Research in Botany
Laboratory of Environmental Responses and Plant Adaptation
Plants monitor and respond to their environment constantly, and their adaptation to environment is essential for their viability and fitness. The goal of our research is to understand the molecular mechanisms and the evolution of short-term and long-term environmental adaptation in plants. We are particularly interested in temperature responses, immune responses, and the interaction between abiotic and biotic responses. We use molecular, genetics, and genomics tools to uncover components and regulatory mechanisms in such responses and to reveal natural variants that confer adaptation to environment.
Research areas
Immune responses
Regulation of intracellular immune receptor genes; Calcium signaling; BON proteins; Autoimmunity
Temperature responses
Heat tolerance; Chilling tolerance; Growth architecture
Temperature modulation of plant immunity
Warm effect; Cool effect
Environmental adaptation
Natural variations in thermosensitivity; Natural variations in heat tolerance and chilling tolerance
Join us
Undergraduates, PhD students and postdoc fellows are welcome.
Please contact Dr. Jian Hua at jh299 [at] cornell.edu (jh299[at]cornell[dot]edu) for possibilities.
Contact Information
158 Emerson Hall
Ithaca, NY 14853
jh299 [at] cornell.edu
More information:
Graduate Fields
Plant Biology
Plant Pathology and Plant-Microbe Biology
Education
Doctorate
California Institute of Technology
Publications
Lu S, Zhu T, Wang Z, Luo L, Wang S, Lu M, Cui Y, Zou B, Hua J (2020) Arabidopsis Immune-Associated Nucleotide-binding genes inhibit heat tolerance at reproductive stages via inhibiting unfolded protein response and promoting cell death. Mol Plant doi: 10.1016/j.molp.2020.11.010.
Cui Y, Lu S, Li Z, Cheng J, Hu P, Zhu T, Wang X, Jin M, Wang X, Li L, Huang S, Zou B, Hua J (2020) Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Ion Channels 14 and 16 promote tolerance to heat and chilling in rice. Plant Physiol 183:1794-1808.
Wang X, Zou B, Shao Q, Cui Y, Lu S, Zhang Y, Huang Q, Huang J, Hua J (2017) Natural variation reveals that OsSAP16 controls low-temperature germination in rice, J Exp Bot, 69:413-421.
Hua, J (2016) Defining roles of tandemly arrayed CBF genes in freezing tolerance with new genome editing tools. New Phytol 212:301-302.
Wang S, Bai G, Wang S, Yang L, Yang F, Wang Y, Zhu JK, Hua J (2016) Chloroplast RNA-Binding Protein RBD1 promotes chilling tolerance through 23S rRNA processing in Arabidopsis. PLoS Genet 12(5):e1006027.
Zhang Y, Zou B, Lu S, Ding Y, Liu H, Hua J (2016) Expression and promoter analysis of the OsHSP16.9C gene in rice. Biochem Biophys Res Commu. 479:260-265.
Hua J (2009) From freezing to scorching, transcriptional responses to temperature variations in plants. Curr Opin Plant Bio 12:568–573.
Wang Y and Hua J (2009) A moderate decrease in temperature induces COR15a expression through the CBF signaling cascade and enhances freezing tolerance. Plant J 60: 340-349.
Wang Z, Yang L, Wu D, Zhang N, Hua J (2020) Polymorphisms in cis-elements confer SAUR26 gene expression difference for thermos-response natural variation in Arabidopsis. New Phytol doi: 10.1111/nph.17078.
Wang Z, Yang L, Liu Z, Lu M, Wang M, Sun Q, Lan Y, Shi T, Wu D, Hua J (2019) Natural variations of growth thermo‐responsiveness determined by SAUR26/27/28 proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana. New Phytol 224:291-301.
Zhu Y, Yang H, Mang HG, Hua J (2011) Induction of BAP1 by a moderate decrease in temperature is mediated by ICE1 in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiol 155:580-588.
Wang Y, Hua J (2009) A moderate decrease in temperature induces COR15a expression through the CBF signaling cascade and enhances freezing tolerance. Plant J 60:340-349.
Yang S, Hua J (2004) A haplotype-specific resistance gene regulated by BON1 mediates temperature-dependent growth control. Plant Cell 16: 1060-1071.
Hua J, Grisaffi P, Cheng, SH, Fink GR. (2001) Plant growth homeostasis is controlled by the Arabidopsis BON1 and BAP1 genes. Genes Dev 15:2263-2272.
Zhang A, Wang S, Kim J, Yan J, Yan X, Pang Q, Hua J (2020) Nuclear pore complex components have temperature-influenced roles in plant growth and immunity. Plant Cell Environ 43:1452-1466.
Liu X, Xue C, Kong L, Li R, Xu Z, Hua J (2020) Interactive effects of light quality and temperature on Arabidopsis growth and immunity. Plant Cell Physiol 61:933-941.
Li Z, Liu H, Ding Z, Yan J, Yu H, Pan R, Hu J, Guan X, Hua J (2019) Low temperature enhances plant immunity via multiple SA pathway genes that are repressed by ethylene. Plant Physiol 182:626-639.
Hua J (2014) Temperature and plant immunity. in Temperature and Plant Development, 163-180, Wiley Blackwell Publisher.
Hua J (2013) Modulation of plant immunity by light, circadian rhythm, and temperature. Curr Opin Plant Biol 16:406-413.
Zhu Y, Mang HG, Sun Q, Hipps A, Hua J (2012) Gene discovery using mutagen-induced polymorphisms and deep sequencing: application to plant disease resistance. Genetics 192:139-146.
Mang HG, Qian W, Zhu Y, Qian J, Kang H, Klessig DF, Hua J (2012) ABA deficiency antagonizes high temperature inhibition of disease resistance through enhancing nuclear accumulation of R proteins SNC1 and RPS4. Plant Cell 24:1271-1284.
Zhu Y, Qian W, Hua J (2010) Temperature modulates plant defense responses through NB-LRR proteins. PLoS Pathog 6: e1000844.
Wang Y, Bao Z, Zhu Y, Hua J (2009) Analysis of temperature modulation of plant defense against biotrophic microbes. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 22: 498-506.
Yang L, Chen X, Wang Z, Sun Q, Hong A, Zhang A, Zhong X, Hua J (2019) HOS15 and HDA9 negatively regulate immunity through histone deacetylation of intracellular immune receptor NLR genes in Arabidopsis. New Phytol 226:507-522.
Zhang N, Wang Z, Bao Z, Wu D, Shu X, Hua J (2017) MOS1 functions closely with TCP transcription factors to modulate immunity and cell cycle in Arabidopsis. Plant J 93:66-78.
Zou B, Sun Q, Zhang W, Ding Y, Yang D, Shi Z, Hua J (2017) Arabidopsis Chromatin Remodeling Factor CHR5 Regulates Plant Immune Responses and Nucleosome Occupancy. Plant Cell Physio 58:2202-2216.
Gou M, Huang Q, Qian W, Zhang Z, Jia Z, Hua J (2017) Sumoylation E3 Ligase SIZ1 Modulates Plant Immunity Partly through the Immune Receptor Gene SNC1 in Arabidopsis. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 30: 334-342.
Wang S, Wang S, Sun Q, Yang L, Zhu Y, Yuan Y, Hua J (2017) A Role of Cytokinin Transporter in Arabidopsis Immunity. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 30: 325-333.
Bao Z, Hua J (2015) Linking the cell cycle with innate immunity in Arabidopsis. Mol Plant 8: 980-982.
Bao Z, Zhang N, Hua J (2014) Endopolyploidization and flowering time are antagonistically regulated by checkpoint component MAD1 and immunity modulator MOS1. Nat Commun 5:5628.
Bao Z, Hua J (2014) Interaction of CPR5 with cell cycle regulators UVI4 and OSD1 in Arabidopsis. PLoS One 9(6): e100347.
Zou B, Yang D, Shi Z, Dong H, Hua J (2014) Monoubiquitination of Histone 2B at the disease resistance gene locus regulates its expression and impacts immune responses in Arabidopsis. Plant Physio 165:309-318.
Bao Z, Yang H, Hua J (2013) Perturbation of cell cycle regulation triggers plant immune response via activation of disease resistance genes. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 110:2407-2412.
Zhu Y, Du B, Qian J, Zou B, Hua J (2013) Disease resistance gene-induced growth inhibition is enhanced by rcd1 independent of defense activation in Arabidopsis. Plant Physio 161:2005-2013.
Gou M, Hua J (2012) Complex regulation of an R gene SNC1 revealed by auto-immune mutants. Plant Signal Behav 7:213-216.
Gou M, Shi Z, Zhu Y, Bao Z, Wang G, Hua J (2012) The F-box protein CPR1/CPR30 negatively regulates R protein SNC1 accumulation. Plant J 69, 411-420.
Li Y, Yang S, Yang H, Hua J (2007) The TIR-NB-LRR gene SNC1 is regulated at the transcript level by multiple factors. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 20:1449-1456.
Chen K, Gao J, Sun S, Zhang Z, Yu B, Li J, Xie C, Li G, Wang P, Song CP, Bressan R, Hua J, Zhu J-K, Zhao Y (2020) BONZAI proteins control global osmotic stress responses in plants. Current Biology DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2020.09.016.
Yan J, Yu H, Bo L, Fan A, Melkonian J, Wang X, Zhu T, Hua J (2019) Cell autonomous and non-autonomous functions of plant intracellular immune receptors in stomatal defense and apoplastic defense. PLoS Pathog 15(10): e1008094.
Yu H, Yan J, Du X, Hua J. (2018) Overlapping and differential roles of plasma membrane calcium ATPase ACAs in Arabidopsis growth and environmental responses. J Exp Bot 69:2693-2703.
Yin X, Zou B, Hong X, Gao M, Yang W, Zhong X, He Y, Kuai P, Lou Y, Huang J, Hua J, He Z. (2018) Rice copine genes OsBON1 and OsBON3 function as suppressors of broad-spectrum disease resistance. Plant Biotechnol J 16:1476-1487.
Yang DL, Shi Z, Bao Y, Yan J, Yang Z, Yu H, Li Y, Gou M, Wang S, Zou B, Xu D, Ma Z, Kim J, Hua J (2017) Calcium pumps and interacting BON1 protein modulate calcium signature, stomatal closure, and plant immunity. Plant Physiol 175:424-437.
Zou B, Ding Y, Liu H, Hua J (2017) Silencing of copine genes confers common wheat enhanced resistance to powdery mildew. Mol Plant Pathol 19:1343-1352.
Guo M, Zhang Z, Zhang N, Huang Q, Monaghan J, Yang H, Zipfel C, and Hua J (2015) Opposing effects on two phases of defense responses from concerted Actions of HSC70 and BONZAI1 in Arabidopsis. Plant Physio 169:2304-2323.
Zou B, Hong X, Ding Y, Wang X, Liu H, Hua J (2016) Identification and analysis of copine/BONZAI proteins among evolutionarily diverse plant species. Genome 59:565-73.
Li Y, Gou M, Sun Q, and Hua J (2010) Requirement of calcium binding, myristoylation, and protein-protein interaction for the copine BON1 function in Arabidopsis. J Biol Chem 285, 29884-29891.
Li Y, Pennington BO, and Hua J (2009) Multiple R-like genes are negatively regulated by BON1 and BON3 in Arabidopsis. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 22:840-848.
Yang H, Yang S, Li Y, and Hua J (2007) The Arabidopsis BAP1 and BAP2 genes are general inhibitors of programmed cell death. Plant Physiol 145: 135-146.
Yang S, Yang H, Grisafi P, Sanchatjate S, Fink GR, Sun Q, and Hua J (2006). The BON/CPN gene family represses cell death and promotes cell growth in Arabidopsis. Plant J, 45: 166-179.
Yang H, Li Y, and Hua J (2006) The small C2 protein BAP1 negatively regulates cell death and defense response in Arabidopsis. Plant J 45:166-179.
Yang S and Hua J (2004) A haplotype-specific resistance gene regulated by BON1 mediates temperature-dependent growth control. Plant Cell 16: 1060-1071.
Hua J, Grisaffi P, Cheng, SH, Fink GR. (2001) Plant growth homeostasis is controlled by the Arabidopsis BON1 and BAP1 genes. Genes Dev 15:2263-2272.
Lu S, Zhu T, Wang Z, Luo L, Wang S, Lu M, Cui Y, Zou B, Hua J (2020) Arabidopsis Immune-Associated Nucleotide-binding genes inhibit heat tolerance at reproductive stages via inhibiting unfolded protein response and promoting cell death. Mol Plant doi: 10.1016/j.molp.2020.11.010.
Wang Z, Yang L, Wu D, Zhang N, Hua J (2020) Polymorphisms in cis-elements confer SAUR26 gene expression difference for thermos-response natural variation in Arabidopsis. New Phytol doi: 10.1111/nph.17078.
Wang Z, Yang L, Liu Z, Lu M, Wang M, Sun Q, Lan Y, Shi T, Wu D, Hua J (2019) Natural variations of growth thermo‐responsiveness determined by SAUR26/27/28 proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana. New Phytol 224:291-301.
Wang X, Zou B, Shao Q, Cui Y, Lu S, Zhang Y, Huang Q, Huang J, Hua J (2017) Natural variation reveals that OsSAP16 controls low-temperature germination in rice, J Exp Bot, 69:413-421.
Li Y, Pennington BO, and Hua J (2009) Multiple R-like genes are negatively regulated by BON1 and BON3 in Arabidopsis. Mol Plant Microbe Interact 22:840-848.
Yang S and Hua J (2004) A haplotype-specific resistance gene regulated by BON1 mediates temperature-dependent growth control. Plant Cell 16: 1060-1071.
Stansell Z, Hyma K, Fresnedo-Ramirez J, Sun Q, Mitchel S, Bjorkman T, Hua J (2018) Genotyping-by-sequencing of Brassica oleracea vegetables reveals unique phylogenetic patterns, population structure and domestication footprints. Horticulture Res 5:38.
Hua J, Wang S, Sun Q. (2017) Mapping and Cloning of Chemical Induced Mutations by Whole-Genome Sequencing of Bulked Segregants. Methods Mol Biol 1578: 285-289.
Yang L, Wang Z, Hua J (2019) Measuring Cell Ploidy Level in Arabidopsis thaliana by Flow Cytometry. In Plant Innate Immunity, Methods Mol Biol 1991: 101-106.
Jian in the news
News
- School of Integrative Plant Science
- Plant Biology Section
- Biological and Environmental Engineering
Field Note
- School of Integrative Plant Science
- Plant Biology Section