Dr. Ling Li, Adjunct Assistant Professor of the Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology at the Iowa State University, visited IHB on July 8, 2014.

Dr. Ling Li, Adjunct Assistant Professor of the Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology at the Iowa State University, visited the Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IHB) on July 8, 2014. Dr. Li gave a talk with the title of “An Arabidopsis orphan gene modulates carbon allocation across species”.

In her presentation, Dr. Li introduced her plant metabolism research through an integrated experimental/bio-computational approach to identify the factors that regulate plant composition. Her talk was focused on the identification, characterization, function and utilization of an Arabidopsis orphan gene（Qua Quine Starch, QQS）, which modulates carbon allocation across species. Although only recognizable by primary sequence in A. thaliana, when QQS is introduced into ectopic species such as soybean, rice, corn and chlamydomonas reinhardtii, plants show decreased starch and increased protein in both leaf and seed. 

Her studies broaden the concept of QQS as a modulator of carbon allocation, and begin to reveal the skeleton of a previously undefined network in which QQS participates. These studies also show great significance in practical utilization in agronomy and bioenergy. 

After the presentation, Dr. Li had extensive discussions with the attendees.