Research Area

Plant immunity & structural biology

Introduction

Education
2015: Bachelor of Engineering (B.E.), Dalian University of Technology
2020: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Science, Tsinghua University

Work Experience
2020–2024: Postdoctoral Researcher, Tsinghua University
2024–Present: Professor, Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Research Focus
Structural, functional and evolutional studies of plant macromolecular complexes, including:

1. Plant receptor kinase-associated complexes
Receptor kinases constitute a large superfamily of single-pass transmembrane receptors localized on the plasma membrane. Along with related receptors (receptor-like proteins, glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored proteins, and secreted proteins), they recognize highly diverse signal molecules from endogenous and exogenous sources within the apoplastic space, regulating nearly all vital biological processes in plants—such as reproduction, growth, symbiosis, and immunity. Currently, only a small fraction of plant receptors have well-defined ligand-recognition functions; the roles of the vast majority remain to be elucidated.

2. Plant cell wall-associated complexes
The plant cell wall represents Earth's most abundant reservoir of biomass. Approximately 70% of organic matter synthesized through plant photosynthesis is ultimately converted into polymers stored within cell walls. Science has listed the molecular mechanisms underlying plant cell wall formation and the utilization of its biomass among "125 Questions: Exploration and Discovery" in fundamental science. We aim to conduct in-depth research into the macromolecular machinery synthesizing diverse cell wall polysaccharides and the mechanisms by which cell wall oligosaccharides regulate physiological processes such as plant immunity.

Related findings have been published as first or corresponding author (including co-author roles) in: Nature (×2), Science, Nature Plants, Nature Communications, Molecular Cell, Developmental Cell, etc.

Representative Publications

(# Co-first author, * Corresponding author):

2025
[1] Sun G#, Xiao Y#, Yin H, Yu K, Wang Y*, Wang Y*. Oligosaccharide Elicitors in Plant Immunity: Molecular Mechanisms and Disease Resistance Strategies. Plant Commun. 2025 Dec 8;6(12):101469.
[2] Zhou K#, Wu F#, Deng L# *, Xiao Y#, Yang W, Zhao J, Wang Q, Chang Z, Zhai H, Sun C, Han H, Du M, Chen Q, Yan J, Xin P, Chu J, Han Z, Chai J, Howe GA, Li CB*, Li C*. Antagonistic systemin receptors integrate the activation and attenuation of systemic wound signaling in tomato. Dev Cell. 2025; 60(4):535-550.e8.
[3] Huang S#, Wang J#, Song R#, Jia A#, Xiao Y, Sun Y, Wang L, Mahr D, Wu Z, Han Z, Li X, Parker JE*, Chai J*. Balanced plant helper NLR activation by a modified host protein complex. Nature. 2025; 639(8054):447-455.

2024
[4] Jia F#, Xiao Y# *, Feng Y#, Yan J, Fan M, Sun Y, Huang S, Li W, Zhao T, Han Z*, Hou S*, Chai J*. N-glycosylation facilitates the activation of a plant cell-surface receptor. Nat Plants. 2024;10(12):2014-2026.
[5] Li D#, Xiao Y#, Fedorova I#, Xiong W#, Wang Y#, Liu X#, Huiting E, Ren J, Gao Z, Zhao X, Cao X, Zhang Y, Bondy-Denomy J*, Feng Y*. Single phage proteins sequester signals from TIR and cGAS-like enzymes. Nature. 2024;635(8039):719-727.
[6] Zhang Y#, Xu Z#, Xiao Y#, Jiang H#, Zuo X, Li X*, Fang X*. Structural mechanisms for binding and activation of a contact-quenched fluorophore by RhoBAST. Nat Commun. 2024;15(1):4206.
[7] Xiao Y#, Sun G#, Yu Q#, Gao T, Zhu Q, Wang R, Huang S, Han Z, Cervone F, Yin H, Qi T, Wang Y*, Chai J*. A plant mechanism of hijacking pathogen virulence factors to trigger innate immunity. Science. 2024;383(6684):732-739.
Highlighted by Thynne E, Kobe B. Mixed-organism enzyme in plant defense. Science. 2024;383(6684):707-708.
Highlighted by Yuan J, Li Q, Li X, Su C. AI-based protein engineering: A novel strategy for enhancing broad-spectrum plant resistance. Mol Plant. 2024;17(11):1648-1650.
[8] Cao X#, Xiao Y#, Huiting E#, Cao X, Li D, Ren J, Guan L, Wang Y, Li L, Bondy-Denomy J*, Feng Y*. Phage anti-CBASS protein simultaneously sequesters cyclic trinucleotides and dinucleotides. Mol Cell. 2024;84(2):375-385.e7.

2023
[9] Xu L#, Xiao Y#, Zhang J, Fang X*. Structural insights into translation regulation by the THF-II riboswitch. Nucleic Acids Res. 2023;51(2):952-965.
[10] Xu L, Wang J, Xiao Y, Han Z*, Chai J*. Structural insight into chitin perception by chitin elicitor receptor kinase 1 of Oryza sativa. J Integr Plant Biol. 2023;65(1):235-248.

2022
[11] Sun Y#, Wang Y# *, Zhang X#, Chen Z, Xia Y, Wang L, Sun Y, Zhang M, Xiao Y, Han Z, Wang Y*, Chai J*. Plant receptor-like protein activation by a microbial glycoside hydrolase. Nature. 2022;610(7931):335-342.
[12] Huang S#, Jia A#, Song W#, Hessler G#, Meng Y#, Sun Y, Xu L, Laessle H, Jirschitzka J, Ma S, Xiao Y, Yu D, Hou J, Liu R, Sun H, Liu X, Han Z*, Chang J*, Parker JE*, Chai J*. Identification and receptor mechanism of TIR-catalyzed small molecules in plant immunity. Science. 2022;377(6605):eabq3297.
[13] Zhou J, Xiao Y, Ren Y, Ge J, Wang X*. Structural basis of the IL-1 receptor TIR domain-mediated IL-1 signaling. iScience. 2022;25(7):104508.
[14] Yang L#, Zhang L#, Yin P#, Ding H#, Xiao Y, Zeng J, Wang W, Zhou H, Wang Q, Zhang Y, Chen Z, Yang M, Feng Y*. Insights into the inhibition of type I-F CRISPR-Cas system by a multifunctional anti-CRISPR protein AcrIF24. Nat Commun. 2022;13(1):1931.
[15] Wang H#, Gao T#, Zhou Y, Ren J, Guo J, Zeng J, Xiao Y, Zhang Y, Feng Y*. Mechanistic insights into the inhibition of the CRISPR-Cas surveillance complex by anti-CRISPR protein AcrIF13. J Biol Chem. 2022;298(3):101636.

2021
[16] Liu C, Shen L, Xiao Y, Vyshedsky D, Peng C, Sun X, Liu Z, Cheng L, Zhang H, Han Z, Chai J, Wu HM, Cheung AY, Li C*. Pollen PCP-B peptides unlock a stigma peptide-receptor kinase gating mechanism for pollination. Science. 2021;372(6538):171-175.

2020
[17] Jiang N#, Cui J#, Hou X, Yang G, Xiao Y, Han L, Meng J*, Luan Y*. Sl-lncRNA15492 interacts with Sl-miR482a and affects Solanum lycopersicum immunity against Phytophthora infestans. Plant J. 2020;103(4):1561-1574.

2019
[18] Xiao Y#, Stegmann M#, Han Z#, DeFalco TA, Parys K, Xu L, Belkhadir Y, Zipfel C*, Chai J*. Mechanisms of RALF peptide perception by a heterotypic receptor complex. Nature. 2019;572(7768):270-274.
Highlighted by Ge Z, Dresselhaus T, Qu LJ. How CrRLK1L Receptor Complexes Perceive RALF Signals. Trends Plant Sci. 2019;24(11):978-981.
Highlighted by Blackburn MR, Haruta M, Moura DS. Twenty Years of Progress in Physiological and Biochemical Investigation of RALF Peptides. Plant Physiol. 2020;182(4):1657-1666.