Education
2003 - 2003 , Posdoc , Fraunhofer Institute of Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology, Germany
1999 - 2001，Postdoc，Peking University
1996 - 1999 , Ph D., Plant Biology , Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
1990 - 1993 , Master , Plant Biology , Shandong Normal University
1986 - 1990 , Bachelar , Biology , Shaanxi Normal University
Professional Experience
2016- Present ,Professor, Peking University
2002 - 2016, Associate professor , Peking University
2006 - 2007 , Visiting scholar, The University of Helsinki
2001 - 2002 , Lecture , Peking University
1993 - 1996 , Lecture , Shandong Normal University
Teaching
Plant Developmental Biology , Insructor , - , 2008-2020
Plant Biology , Instructor , - , 2007-
Gerneral Biology, Instructor , - , 2010-
Biology Field Practice , Instructor , - , 2001-
The secondary xylem of woody plants (wood) is a product of the vascular cambium. Wood formation is a complicated process of plant cell differentiation, including cambium initiation, cambial cell division, cell expansion, secondary wall deposition and programmed cell death. The process is regulated by both internal and environmental factors, such as phytohormones, photoperiod, temperature, and so on. Our research work is currently focused on the molecular mechanisms of vascular pattern formation, cambial periodicity regulation and secondary xylem development.
1. Zhang Y, Huang R, Yang T, Li A, Wang Z, Wu Y, Deng Y, Zhang J, He X-Q*, Zhou Y*. PRC2 regulates cytokinin and HD-ZIP III pathways to orchestrate vascular tissue pattern formation in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell, 2025, 37, koaf194.
2. Liu C., Li A., Guo Z., Chen N., Wang Y., Tang W., Wu Y., Liu J., Wang Z., Li L*., He X-Q*. 2025. MicroRNA analysis reveals two modules that antagonistically regulate xylem tracheary element development in Arabidopsis. The Plant Cell, 2025, 37, koaf011.
3.Zhang Y, Wang L, Wu Y, Wang D, and He X-Q*. 2024. Gibberellin promotes cambium reestablishment during secondary vascular tissue regeneration after girdling in an auxin-dependent manner in Populus. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 66:86-102.
4. Wang L, Hou J, Xu H, Zhang Y, Huang R, Wang D, He X-Q*. 2023. The PtoTCP20-miR396d-PtoGRF15 module regulates the secondary vascular development in Populus. Plant Communications 4, 100494. 2.
5.Zhang Y, Wang X, Zhang J*, He X-Q*. 2023. Plant in situ tissue regeneration: dynamics, mechanisms and implications for forestry research. Forestry Research 2023, 3:8.
6. Liu C, Ma D, Wang Z, Chen N,Ma X and He X-Q*. 2022. MiR395c regulates secondary xylem development through sulfate metabolism in Poplar. Frontiers in Plant Science 13:897376. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2022.897376
7. Hou J, Xu H, Fan D, Ran L, Li J, Wu S, Luo K* and He X-Q*. 2020. MiR319a-targeted PtoTCP20 regulates secondary growth via interactions with PtoWOX4 and PtoWND6 in Populus tomentosa. New Phytologist 228:1354–1368.doi:10.1111/nph.16782.
8. Zhang Y, Ji S, Jian N, Zhang K*, He X-Q*, Duan H*. 2020. Caudicles in vandoid orchids: A carotenoid-based soft material with unique properties. Acta Biomaterialia 113: 478-487.
9. Lin W, Sun L, Huang R-Z, Liang W, Liu X, He H, Fukuda H, He X-Q*, Qian W*. 2020. Active DNA demethylation regulates tracheary element differentiation in Arabidopsis. Science Advances 6 (26), eaaz2963. DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaz2963.
10. Chen J-J, Wang L-Y, Immanen J, Nieminen K, Spicer R, Helariutta Y, Zhang J* and He X-Q*. 2019. Differential regulation of auxin and cytokinin during the secondary vascular tissue regeneration in Populus trees. New Phytologist 224: 188-201.
11. Jin F, Li J, Ding Q, Wang QS, He X-Q*. 2017. Proteomic analysis provides insights into changes in the central metabolism of the cambium during dormancy release in poplar. Journal of Plant Physiology 208: 26-39.
12. He X-Q, Groover A. 2017. The genomics of wood formation in angiosperm trees. In A.T. Groover and Q.C.B. Cronk (eds.), Comparative and Evolutionary Genomics of Angiosperm Trees, Plant Genetics and Genomics: Crops and Models. Springer International Publishing AG 2017. DOI 10.1007/7397_2016_17.
13.Liu JD, Hou J, Chen HM, Pei KL, Li Y, He X-Q*. 2017. Dynamic changes of pectin epitopes in cell walls during the development of the procambium-cambium continuum in poplar. International Journal of Molecular Science 18, 1716; doi:10.3390/ijms 18081716.
14.He X-Q, Qu LJ. 2016. Cellular and molecular features of the procambium and cambium in plant vascular tissue development. In Ray J. Rose (ed.), Molecular Cell Biology of the Growth and Differentiation of Plant Cells. CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. P236-256.
15.Zeng J, Ding Q, Fukuda H, He X-Q*. 2016. Fertilization Independent Endosperm genes repress NbGH3.6 and regulate the auxin level during shoot development in Nicotiana benthamiana. Journal of Experimental Botany 67:2207-2217.
16.Ding Q, Zeng J, He X-Q*. 2016. MiR169 and its target PagHAP2-6 regulated by ABA are involved in poplar cambium dormancy. Journal of Plant Physiology 198: 1–9.
17. Ding Q, Zeng J, He X-Q*. 2014. Deep sequencing on a genome-wide scale reveals diverse stage-specific microRNAs in cambium during dormancy-release induced by chilling in poplar. BMC Plant Biology 14:267.
18. Chen JJ, Zhang J, He X-Q*. 2014. Tissue regeneration after bark girdling: an ideal research tool to investigate plant vascular development and regeneration. Physiologia Plantarum 151: 147-155.
19.Li WF, Ding Q, Cui KM, He X-Q*. 2013. Cambium reactivation independent of bud unfolding involves de novo IAA biosynthesis in cambium regions in Populus tomentosa Carr. Acta Physiologia Plantarum 35: 1827-1836.
20. Lucas WJ, Groover A, Lichtenberger R, Furuta K, Yadav SR, Helariutta Y, He X-Q, Fukuda H, Kang J, Brady SM, Patrick JW, Sperry J, Yoshida A, Lopez-Millan AF, Grusak M，Kachroo P. 2013. The Plant Vascular System: Evolution, Development and Functions. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 55: 294–388.
21. Han JJ, Lin W, Oda Y, Cui KM, Fukuda H, He X-Q*. 2012. The proteasome is responsible for caspase-3-like activity during xylem development. The Plant Journal 72, 129–141.
22. Zhao L, Ding Q, Zen Jung, Wang FR, Zhang J, Fan SJ*, He X-Q*. 2012. An improved CTAB– ammonium acetate method for total RNA isolation from cotton. Phytochemical Analysis 23: 647-650.
23. Chen HM, Pang Y, Zeng J, Ding Q, Yin SY, Liu C, Lu MZ, Cui KM, He X-Q*. 2012. The Ca2+ dependent DNases are involved in secondary xylem development in Eucommia ulmoides. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology 54 (7): 456–470.
24. Zhang J, Gao G, Chen JJ, Taylor G, Cui KM and He X-Q*. 2011. Molecular features of secondary vascular tissue regeneration after bark girdling in Populus. New Phytologist 192: 869-884.
25. Chen HM, Han JJ, Cui KM, He X-Q*. 2010. Modification of cambial cell wall architecture during cambium periodicity in Populus. Trees 24: 533-540.
26. Li WF, Cui KM, He X-Q*. 2009. Regulation of cell cycle regulators by environmental signals during growth-dormancy cycle of trees. Plant Signaling & Behavior 4(10): 959-961
27. Li WF, Ding Q, Chen JJ, Cui KM, He X-Q*. 2009. Induction of PtoCDKB and PtoCYCB transcription by temperature during cambium reactivation in Populus. Journal of Experimental Botany 60: 2621–2630
28. Pang Y, Zhang J, Cao J, Yin SY, He X-Q*, Cui KM*. 2008. Phloem Transdifferentiation from Immature Xylem Cells during Bark Regeneration after Girdling in Eucommia ulmoides Oliv. Journal of Experimental Botany 59: 1341-1351
