Prof. You-Rong Chai, Ph D

Native place: Wushan, Chongqing, P R China

Birthday: Feb. 1968

Education: Doctorial graduate

Degree: Ph D of Agronomy

Headship: Deputy director of Chongqing Key Laboratory of Crop Quality Improvement; Director of Molecular Breeding Center, Southwest University; and Director of Genetic Engineering Division, Chongqing Rapeseed Engineering Research Center.

Specialties engaged in: Genetics, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Directions: Plant Molecular Genetics, Plant Molecular Biology, and Plant Genetic Engineering and Crop Molecular Breeding.

Address: College of Agronomy and Biotechnology, Southwest University, Beibei, Chongqing 400716, P R China

Zip code: 400716

Tel: +86-23-68250744 (O)

E-mail: chaiyourong@sina.com

 

 

Main professional experiences

Since Sep 2003: Teaching and research at College of Agronomy and Biotechnology (CAB), Southwest University (SWU), P R China, as an associate professor from Sep 2003 to Aug 2004 and a professor since Sep 2004, also as the deputy director of Chongqing Key Laboratory of Crop Quality Improvement, Director of Molecular Breeding Center, Southwest University, Director of Genetic Engineering Division, Chongqing Rapeseed Engineering Research Center, and Party secretary with the Second Postgraduate Branch of CAB. Besides teaching of several basic-specialized and specialized courses, in recent years his research mainly focuses on dissection of molecular mechanism of quality traits formation of crops such as rapeseed, functional gene cloning, and molecular plant breeding via genetic engineering.

From Sep 2000 to June 2003: mainly as a doctorial candidate of Crop Genetics and Breeding specialty and was conferred Ph D degree of Agronomy at Southwest University, P R China. From Sep 2001 to June 2003, as a visiting research stuff of State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, and Fudan-SJTU-Nottingham Biotechnology R&D Center, Fudan University, he conducted research (mainly for Ph D thesis) on functional gene cloning and genetic engineering of plant Verticillium wilt resistance, aphis resistance, as well as biosynthesis of pharmaceutically bioactive plant secondary metabolites.

From July 1992 to Aug 2003: researcher at Industrial Crop Institute (ICI), Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, engaged in cotton genetics study, breeding, and cultivar demonstration and extension, as an assistant professor from May 1995 to Oct 1999, an associate professor from Nov 1999 to Aug 2003, and Party secretary with the S&T Branch of ICI from May 1999 to Aug 2003.

From Sep 1989 to June 1992: recommended postgraduate of Crop Science specialty at Southwest Agricultural University (SWAU), and was conferred master degree of Agronomy, during which he was also vice director of Academic Division of SWAU Postgraduate Union and the secretary with the Postgraduate Youth League Branch of Agronomy Department, SWAU. In March 1991 he joined the Party.

From Sep 1985 to June 1989: undergraduate study of Agronomy at SWAU, and was conferred bachelor degree of Agronomy.

 

 

Main research programs of recent years

Since 1989 he has participated in or led about 30 research programs, of which the ones of recent years are:

[1] National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program): Study on Functional Gene Cloning of Flavonoid Pathway and Yellow-seed Trait Metabolic Engineering in Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus) (program No.: 2006AA10Z110), 2006~2010, program leader.

[2] National High Technology Research and Development Program of China (863 Program): Cloning and Functional Dissection of Important TRANSPARENT TESTA (TT) Gene Families of Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus) and Their Integration with Yellow-seed Trait QTL Loci (daughter program of Cloning and Functional Analysis of Genes Related to Quality and Heterosis of Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus)) (program No.: 2006AA10A113), 2006~2010, daughter program leader.

[3] National Basic Research Program (973 Program): Genetic Mechanism of Seed Development Related Traits Influencing Oil Content (daughter program of Molecular Mechanism and Metabolic Regulation of Lipid Formation of Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus)) (program No.: 2006CB101604), 2006~2010, core participant.

[4] Major Program of Chongqing Municipal Natural Science Foundation: Study on Creation of Transgenic Decaffeinated Novel Tea Stocks by Expression Inhibition of the Caffeine Synthase Gene (program No.: CSTC 2006BA1027), 2006~2009, vice program leader.

[5] Major Program of Chongqing Municipal Natural Science Foundation: Study on the Molecular Mechanism of Quality Formation of Yellow-seeded Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus) (program No.: 8446), 2005~2007, program leader.

[6] Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education: Cloning of Seed-coat Specific Genes and Promoters, 2005~2007, core participant.

[7] Major Program of National Natural Science Foundation: Genetic Basis Study on the High-quality and High-efficiency Yellow-seed Trait of Oilseed Rape (Brassica napus) (program No.: 30330400), 2004~2007, core participant (after program approval).

[8] Excellent Young Teachers Program of Higher Education of Chongqing City: Teaching Practice for Improvement of Creative Ability of Postgraduates of Crop Genetics and Breeding Specialty, 2005~2006, program leader.

[9] R & D Project of Transgenic Crops of Ministry of Science and Technology: Cloning and Functional Identification of Verticillium wilt Resistant Receptor Protein Genes and Aphis Resistance Genes (program No.: JY03-A-19-01), 2003~2004, core participant.

 

 

Awards, patents, and monograph of recent years

1.         You-Rong Chai. Excellent S & T Worker of Cultivar Innovation Project of Animals and Plants of Chongqing City, conferred in Feb 2007.

2.         You-Rong Chai. Funded by the (2nd group) Excellent Young Teachers Program of Higher Education of Chongqing City, 2005~2006.

3.         You-Rong Chai. Excellent Party Member of Southwest Agricultural University of 2004~2005.

4.         Ke-Xuan Tang, You-Rong Chai, Xiao-Fen Sun, Kai-Jing Zuo, Zhu-Gang Li. Coding Sequence of Verticillium dahliae Resistant Receptor Protein from Solanum lycopersicoides and its Application. Chinese patent, application No. 200410016096.7, announced on Dec 29, 2004, announcement No. 1557952.

5.         You-Rong Chai. Cloning and Expression of Receptor-like Protein Genes Mediating Verticillium dahliae Resistance and a Mannose-binding Lectin Gene from Plants. Excellent Ph D Thesis of Southwest Agricultural University of 2003, and Excellent Ph D Thesis of Chongqing City of 2004.

6.         Chao-Sheng Wang, Shun-Wen Dong, You-Rong Chai, Yi-Zhong Fu, Su-Bin Chen. Cotton Novel Cultivar Chuanmian 45 with Carmine Spider Mite Resistance, Pink Bollworm Resistance, Fusarium Wilt Resistance, and High Yield. Approved in 2000, identified as of international advanced level and national leading level, awarded with the third class Prize of Science and Technology Advancement of Sichuan Province of 2002, and re-awarded by Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences in 2003 (co-leader).

7.         Ke-Xuan Tang, You-Rong Chai, Zhi-Hua Liao, Yong-Zhen Pang, Lei Zhang, Xiao-Fen Sun. Coding Sequence of Crinum asiaticum var. sinicum Agglutinin Protein and its Application. Chinese patent, application No. 02137363.9, announced on May 07, 2003, announcement No. 1415750.

8.         You-Rong Chai, Zheng-Xuan Mao, Yu Liu. Growth and Development Features and Cultivation Conditions of Cotton in Sichuan. Sichuan Pop Science Series: Cotton High-efficiency Growing Technology. Tiandi Publishing House, Jan 2002, pp 1-113.

 

 

Representative papers of recent years

About 50 research papers published since 1993, of which 15 are indexed in SCI, and 10 are collected in international symposium proceedings. Representative papers of recent years are:

1.         Yu Ni, Hong-Lin Jiang, Jia-Na Li, You-Rong Chai (Corresponding author). Molecular cloning, characterization and expression of two orthologs of Arabidopsis thaliana phenylalanine ammonia-lyase 1 (AtPAL1) from rapeseed (Brassica napus L.). Euphytica, 2007, in press. (SCI IF2005=0.884)

2.         Yun-Liang Wei, Jia-Na Li, Jun Lu, Zhang-Lin Tang, Dong-Chun Pu, You-Rong Chai (Corresponding author). Molecular cloning of Brassica napus TRANSPARENT TESTA 2 (BnTT2) gene family encoding potential MYB regulatory proteins of proanthocyanidin biosynthesis. Molecular Biology Reports, 2007, 34(2): 105-120. (SCI IF2005=0.851)

3.         An-He Chen, You-Rong Chai (Equal contribution), Jia-Na Li, Li Chen. Molecular cloning of two genes encoding cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) from oilseed rape (Brassica napus). Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2007, 40(2): 247-260. (SCI IF2005=1.548)

4.         Ben-Bo Xu, Jia-Na Li, Xue-Kun Zhang, Rui Wang, Ling-Li Xie, You-Rong Chai (Corresponding author). Cloning and molecular characterization of a functional flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase gene from Brassica napus. Journal of Plant Physiology, 2007, 164(3): 350-363. (SCI IF2005=1.403)

5.         WEI Yunliang, LI Jiana, LU Jun, TANG Zhanglin, PU Dongchun, CHAI Yourong (Corresponding author). Molecular cloning of Brassica napus TRANSPARENT TESTA 2 (BnTT2) gene family encoding potential MYB regulatory proteins of proanthocyanidin biosynthesis. Proceedings of the 12th International Rapeseed Congress (Wuhan, China). II. Biotechnology. Science Press USA Inc., NJ 08852, USA, Mar. 26-30, 2007, pp 203-206.

6.         CHEN Anhe, CHAI Yourong (Corresponding author, and oral presentation), LI Jiana, CHEN Li. Molecular cloning of two genes encoding cinnamate 4-hydroxylase (C4H) from oilseed rape (Brassica napus). Proceedings of the 12th International Rapeseed Congress (Wuhan, China). II. Biotechnology. Science Press USA Inc., NJ 08852, USA, Mar. 26-30, 2007, pp 127-130.

7.         You-Rong Chai, Jia-Na Li, Ben-Bo Xu, Bo Lei, Jun-Lu, An-He Chen, Yu Ni, Yun-Liang Wei, Xiao-Chun Lu, Hong Leng, Bo Li, Hua-Lei Huang, Bei-Bei Lin, Ling-Li Xie, Yun-Tao Li, Yan-Zhen Dong, Cheng-Jun Yang, Zhang-Lin Tang, Rui Wang, Li Chen, Jia-Ming Yin, Kui Hu, Ying Liang, Guan-Rong Li, Qing-Yuan Zhou, Xue-Kun Zhang, Lie-Zhao Liu, Jie Wu, Xin-Fu Xu. Phenylpropanoid pathway genes from oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.). The 15th Crucifer Genetic Workshop, Sep 2006, Netherlands. pp 145.

8.         You-Rong Chai, Guan-Rong Li, Yan-Zhen Dong, Jia-Na Li, Rui Wang, Jun-Lu, Ben-Bo Xu. Cloning and sequence analysis of two isoforms of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase gene family in Brassica napus. Join Meeting of the 14th Crucifer Genetics Workshop and the 4th ISHS Symposium on Brassicas, Daejeon, Korea, 24-28th Oct. 2004, pp 154.

9.         Lei Zhang, Ruxian Ding, Yourong Chai, Mercedes Bonfill, Elisabet Moyano, Kirsi-Marja Oksman-Caldentey, Tiefeng Xu, Yan Pi, Zinan Wang, Hanming Zhang, Guoyin Kai, Zhihua Liao, Xiaofen Sun, Kexuan Tang. Engineering tropane biosynthetic pathway in Hyoscyamus niger hairy root cultures. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA, 2004, 101(17): 6786-6791. (SCI IF2002=10.896)

10.     Yourong Chai, Lingxia Zhao, Zhihua Liao, Xiaofen Sun, Kaijing Zuo, Lei Zhang, Sangen Wang, Kexuan Tang. Molecular cloning of a potential Verticillium dahliae resistance gene SlVe1 with multi-site polyadenylation from Solanum licopersicoides. DNA Sequence, 2003, 14(5): 375-384. (SCI IF2002=0.594)

11.     Yourong Chai, Yongzhen Pang, Zhihua Liao, Lei Zhang, Xiaofen Sun, Yongquan Lu, Sangen Wang, Kexuan Tang. Molecular cloning and characterization of a mannose-binding lectin gene from Crinum asiaticum. Journal of Plant Physiology, 2003, 160(8): 913-920. (SCI IF2002=1.018)

 

 

Course teaching and postgraduate supervision

Ph D courses: Advances in Modern Crop Science Research, and Topic Discussion of Crop Science.

Master degree courses: Academic Discussion of Postgraduate Class (Biological specialties), Molecular Biology Technology, and Design and Writing of Scientific Papers and Thesis.

Bachelor degree course: Specialty English for Agronomy.

Specialties for postgraduate supervision: Genetics, and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.