Liqun Ma: The Plant Cell First Author

Liqun Ma, first author of “SlRBP1 promotes translational efficiency via SleIF4A2 to maintain chloroplast function in tomato”

Current Position: Postdoc, China Agricultural University
Education: Ph.D. (2021) from China Agricultural University
Non-scientific Interests: Reading, Travelling,

I started my PhD study in Prof. Hongliang Zhu’s laboratory at China Agricultural University. Since then, I have focused on the function of the Glycine-rich RNA Binding protein SlRBP1. We found that loss-of-function of SlRBP1 caused dwarf tomato plants with yellow leaves and the fruits of different shades of yellow and orange. We further proved that silencing of SlRBP1 dramatically decreased the translation efficiency of its target mRNAs, nuclear transcripts encoding key photosynthesis-related, chloroplast-targeted proteins. SlRBP1 interacts with the eukaryotic translation initiation factor SleIF4A2 and promotes its association with RNA targets. We propose a model for translational regulation of chloroplast functions by SlRBP1. Currently, I am working as a postdoc to deepen the understanding on the mechanism of SlRBP1 in regulating RNA structures during tomato growth and development.

 

姓名：马力群

目前职位：中国农业大学博士后

教育经历：2021年获得中国农业大学博士学位

兴趣爱好：读书、旅行

个人简介：

我在中国农业大学朱鸿亮教授实验室攻读博士学位，专注于研究富含甘氨酸RNA结合蛋白SlRBP1的功能。我们发现了沉默SlRBP1后植株呈现生长迟缓、叶片受损、果实颜色斑驳 (黄橙相间)的表型，通过SlRBP1与真核翻译起始因子SleIF4A2互作研究，明确了SlRBP1结合编码叶绿体蛋白的核RNA及共同调控靶RNA翻译效率的作用过程，揭示出SlRBP1通过翻译调控叶绿体功能影响番茄植株生长发育的机制。当前，我的博士后课题主要关注番茄果实发育与成熟过程中SlRBP1调控RNA结构的机理研究。