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Xuelei Lai is a professor in the College of Life Science and Technology at Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) and a principal investigator at the National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement and Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China.
From 2013 to 2016, he trained as a biochemist and structural biologist while conducting his doctoral research at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility (ESRF) in Grenoble, France, under the supervision of Bauke W. Dijkstra. He received his PhD from the University of Groningen, the Netherlands. From 2016 to 2021, he conducted postdoctoral research with Professor Philip Wigge at the Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge, UK, investigating how Arabidopsis senses and responds to temperature. He subsequently joined the Cell & Plant Physiology Laboratory (LPCV) of the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) in Grenoble, France, for a second postdoctoral appointment, where he worked with François Parcy and Chloe Zubieta on the molecular regulation of flower development.
In November 2021, he joined HZAU as a full professor and established a research group focused on temperature biology in rice. His team studies how temperature information is encoded and decoded in plants, primarily using rice as a model.
Academic profile: PubMed, Google scholar, ORCID, ResearchGate
Research statement
Temperature describes how hot or cold a physical system is and reflects the thermal motion of its constituent atoms and molecules. As temperature rises, these motions generally become more energetic (i.e., atoms and molecules move and vibrate more rapidly), altering molecular dynamics, reaction rates, binding equilibria, and the stability of biological structures. Temperature therefore influences life at every level, from protein folding and enzyme activity to growth, development, reproduction, and survival. For plants, an appropriate temperature range is essential for metabolism, growth, and development. Within this range, temperature supports biochemical activity and coordinates development with daily and seasonal environmental changes; outside it, growth is impaired and plants may suffer cellular damage, reproductive failure, or death. Plants must therefore interpret not only the absolute temperature, but also its duration, rate of change, fluctuations, and prior history.
Our research asks how temperature information is encoded, integrated, and decoded across biological scales. We study how thermal motion alters atomic interactions and changes the molecular states available to proteins and other biomolecules, how these changes influence protein conformation, biochemical activity, and collective assemblies such as biomolecular condensates, and how they are transmitted through cellular information-processing networks. We also examine how thermal information is interpreted differently across tissues and developmental stages, and how these responses determine whole-plant growth, flowering, reproduction, adaptation, and yield. Through this work, we seek to uncover general principles by which organisms interpret a continuously changing physical environment and to identify genes, regulatory mechanisms, and response thresholds that can be used to improve crop performance.
Rice is well suited to addressing these questions because it is both an experimentally tractable model and a crop of global importance. During a single generation, rice may encounter chilling, prolonged warm conditions, and acute heat stress, each with distinct consequences for vegetative growth, flowering time, fertility, grain development, and yield. Rice also offers extensive natural diversity, rich genetic and genomic resources, efficient transformation and gene-editing systems, and a direct route from molecular discovery to validation in near-isogenic lines and field-grown breeding materials. These advantages allow us to trace temperature responses from atomic/molecular mechanisms to plant performance under agricultural conditions. Rice therefore provides a powerful system for discovering fundamental principles of temperature biology and translating them into strategies for breeding climate-resilient crops.
Keywords: rice; stress sensing; temperature stress; natural variation; genetic improvement; molecular mechanisms; biomolecular condensates; green nutritious super rice.
Academic positions
2026.08-2027.02: Visiting scholar, Durham University, Durham, United Kingdom
2021-Present: Principal Investigator, National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement, Wuhan, China
2021-Present: Principal Investigator, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, China
2021-Present: Full Professor, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
2017-2021: Postdoc, The French National Centre for Scientific Research (Francois Parcy and Chloe Zubieta laboratory), Grenoble, France
2016-2017: Postdoc, The Sainsbury Laboratory, University of Cambridge (Philip A. Wigge), Cambridge, UK
Education
2013-2016: University of Groningen (Bauke W. Dijkstra laboratory), Groningen, The Netherlands, PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology
2009-2012: Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, China, master’s in food science and technology
2005-2009: Changchun University of Technology, Changchun, Jilin, China, bachelor’s in food science and technology
Selected publications (#co-first author, *corresponding author)
Tu H#, Liu Q#, Ye T#, Ye Y, Feng X, Shen L, Li S, Bai S, Liu X, Liu X, Wang H, Li X, Lin J, Wang H, Chen Y, Feng Z, Ji B, Ding J, Li W, Zhang J, Dai M, Dong F, Hu H, Tang N, Lai X*, Xiong H*, Xiong L*. (2026). An Oryza orphan gene confers trans-species drought tolerance. Cell, doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2026.07.005
Zhang Y, Li B, Chen Y, Li J, Wang Y, Ye T, Ye Y, Liu Z, Feng Z, Hutin S, Zhou S, Guo J, Zhang R, Liu Z, Dong F, Xiong H, Zubieta C, Xiong L*, Lai X*. (2026). The TPR2 corepressor forms condensates with repressors to fine-tune growth and development in rice. EMBO Journal, doi: 10.1038/s44318-026-00852-7.
Lv Q#, Li J#, Liu C, Samraoui K, Hutin S, Li X, Dong F, Xiong H, Ouyang Y, Hu H, Li B, Hepworth J, Jung JH, Chen X, Zubieta C, Xiong L, Zhao Y*, Clemente‐Moreno M*, Fang X*, Flashman E*, Kudla J*, Lai X*. (2026).Abiotic Stress Sensing in Plants: Biochemical and Biophysical Basis. Molecular Plant, S1674-2052(26)00150-4.
Wang H#, Ye T#, Guo Z, Yao Y, Tu H, Wang P, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Li X, Li B, Xiong H, Lai X*, Xiong L*. (2024). A double-stranded RNA binding protein enhances drought resistance via protein phase separation in rice. Nature Communications, 15 (2514).
Hu D, Yao Y, Lv Y, You J, Zhang Y, Lv Q, Li J, Hutin S, Xiong H, Zubieta C, Lai X*, Xiong L*. (2024). The OsSRO1c-OsDREB2B complex undergoes protein phase transition to enhance cold tolerance in rice. Molecular Plant, 17(10):1520-1538.
Lai X#, Vega-Léon R#, Hugouvieux V#*, Blanc-Mathieu R, van der Wal F, Lucas J, Silva CS, Jourdain A, Muino JM, Nanao MH, Immink R, Kaufmann K, Parcy F, Smaczniak C*, Zubieta C*. (2021). The Intervening Domain Is Required For DNA-binding and Functional Identity of Plant MADS Transcription Factors. Nature Communications, 12 (4760).
Lai X#, Blanc-Mathieu R#, GrandVuillemin L, Huang Y, Stigliani A, Lucas J, Thévenon E, Loue-Manifel J, Turchi L, Daher H, Brun-Hernandez E, Vachon G, Latrasse D, Benhamed M, Dumas R, Zubieta C, Parcy F*. (2021). The LEAFY floral regulator displays pioneer transcription factor properties. Molecular Plant, 14(5):829-837.
Lai X#, Stigliani A#, Lucas J, Hugouvieux V, Parcy F*, Zubieta C*. (2020). Genome-wide binding of SEPALLATA3 and AGAMOUS complexes determined by sequential DNA-affinity purification sequencing. Nucleic Acids Research, 48 (17), 9637–9648.
Silva CS#, Nayak A#, Lai X#, Hutin S*, Hugouvieux V, Jung JH, López-Vidriero I, Franco-Zorrilla JM, Panigrahi KCS, Nanao MH, Wigge PA, Zubieta C*. (2020). Molecular mechanisms of Evening Complex activity in Arabidopsis. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117 (12), 6901–6909.
Lai X#, Chahtane H#, Martin-Arevalillo R, Zubieta C, Parcy F*. (2020). Contrasted evolutionary trajectories of plant transcription factors. Current Opinion in Plant Biology, 54, 101–107.
Lai X#*, Stigliani A#, Vachon G, Carles C, Smaczniak C, Zubieta C, Kaufmann K, Parcy F*. (2019). Building Transcription Factor Binding Site Models to Understand Gene Regulation in Plants. Molecular Plant, 12 (6), 743–763.
Lai X, Wichers HJ, Soler-Lopez M*, Dijkstra BW*. (2018). Structure and Function of Human Tyrosinase and Tyrosinase-Related Proteins. Chemistry, 24(1):47-55
Lai X, Wichers HJ, Soler-Lopez M*, Dijkstra BW*. (2017). Structure of Human Tyrosinase Related Protein 1 Reveals a Binuclear Zinc Active Site Important for Melanogenesis. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 56 (33), 9812–9815.
Other publications
Dahro B, Khan M, Chu L, Zhu J, Shang X, Zeng X, Wu X, Hu W, Lai X, Li C, Liu JH*. (2026). TAF1 and GCN5-mediated histone acetylation of regulatory cascade AHL14/17-A/NINV7 promotes sucrose catabolism and sugar accumulation for cold tolerance in Citrus. New Phytologist, 251(3):1221-1241
Yue Y, Lu T, Guo X, Liu B, Lv S, Abdalla HAM, Lai X, Zhang R, Guo J, Zhao Y, Zhou DX, Zhou S*. (2026). ADA2 Forms Nuclear Condensates with GCN5 and ATP-Citrate Lyase (ACL) to Modulate H3K9 Acetylation at Genes Functioning in Rice Meristems. Advanced Science, 13(5):e13169.
Hutin S, Li J, Tully MD, Lai X, Zubieta C*. (2026). Transcriptional outputs and condensates - formation and function. New Phytologist, 249(3):1145-1154.
Du Z, Guan Z, Liu H, Zhang J, He H, Zheng Z, Zhang W, Jiang L, Zuo J, Liu Y, Wan B, Tu H, Dong F, Lai X, Xiong L, Yin P, Xue S, Chen Y, Liu Z* (2026). Cryo-EM structure and dynamic basis of phosphate uptake by PHT1 in rice. Developmental Cell, 61(1):164-177.e6
Xiang D#, Tu H#, Yuan Y, Yao Y, Liao W, Wang H, Yan Y, Wang Y, Chen Y, Liu D, Lv Q, He H, Hu H, Lai X, Yuan M, Xiong H, Dong F*, Xiong L*. (2025). A Blast-Resistant NLR Gene Confers Drought Resistance by Competitively Interacting with an E3 Ligase to Protect Phenylalanine Ammonia-Lyase in Rice, Advanced Science, 12(39):e02662.
Ye T#, Wang H#, Zhang L, Li X, Tu H, Guo Z, Gao T, Zhang Y, Ye Y, Li B, Yang W, Li Y, Lai X, Dong F, Xiong H*, Xiong L*. (2025). A novel OsCRK14-OsRLCK57-MAPK signaling module activates OsbZIP66 to confer drought resistance in rice. Molecular Plant, 18(8):1390-1408
Zhang J, You L, Liu H, Luo S, Li R, Xue S, Lai X, Hu H*. (2025). Fe-deficiency-induced chlorosis 1 is essential for chloroplast iron transport and homeostasis under continuous light conditions in Arabidopsis, Cell Reports, 44(7):115942
Lou G, Chen P, Li P, Gao H, Xiong J, Wan S, Zheng Y, Wang Y, Alam M, Chen Y, Wang L, Bai J, Tan X, Rao W, Wu B, Zhou H, Li Y, Gao G, Zhang Q, Xiao J, Li X, Lai X, Zhang Q, He Y*. (2025). Antagonistic Ghd7-OsNAC42 Complexes Modulate Carbon and Nitrogen Metabolism to Achieves Superior Quality and High Yield in Rice, Advanced Science, 12(31):e04163
Li W, Yang K, Hu C, Abbas W, Zhang J, Xu P, Cheng B, Zhang J, Yin W, Shalmani A, Qu L, Lv Q, Li B, He Y, Lai X, Xiong L, Zhang Q, Li Y*. (2025). A natural gene on-off system confers field thermotolerance for grain quality and yield in rice. Cell, 188(14):3661-3678.e21.
Zubieta C, Hutin S, Jung JH, Lai X*. (2024). Phosphorylation of PHYB by GSK3S, a key mechanism that brings temperature sensors together. New Phytologist, 245(4):1335-1337.
Thoris K, Correa Marrero M, Fiers M, Lai X, Zahn IE, Jiang X, Mekken M, Busscher S, Jansma S, Nanao M, de Ridder D, van Dijk ADJ, Angenent GC, Immink RGH, Zubieta C, Bemer M*. (2024). Uncoupling FRUITFULL’s functions through modification of a protein motif identified by co-ortholog analysis. Nucleic Acids Research, 52(21):13290-13304.
Hugouvieux V, Blanc-Mathieu R, Janeau A, Paul M, Lucas J, Xu X, Ye H, Lai X, Le Hir S, Guillotin A, Galien A, Yan W, Nanao M, Kaufmann K, Parcy F, Zubieta C*. (2024). SEPALLATA-driven MADS transcription factor tetramerization is required for inner whorl floral organ development. Plant Cell, 36(9):3435-3450.
Li W, Yan J, Zhang Y, Zhang F, Guan Z, Yao Y, Chang Y, Tu H, Li X, Wang H, Xiong H, Lai X, Yin P, Xiong L*. (2023). Serine protease NAL1 exerts pleiotropic functions through degradation of TOPLESS-related corepressor in rice. Nature Plants, 9(7), 1130-1142.
Jung JH#, Barbosa AD#, Hutin S#, Kumita JR, Gao M, Derwort D, Silva CS, Lai X, Pierre E, Geng F, Kim SB, Baek S, Zubieta C, Jaeger KE, Wigge PA*. (2020). A prion-like domain in ELF3 functions as a thermosensor in Arabidopsis. Nature, 585, 256–260.
Ezer D, Jung JH, Lan H, Biswas S, Gregoire L, Box MS, Charoensawan V, Cortijo S, Lai X, Stöckle D, Zubieta C, Jaeger KE, Wigge PA*. (2017). The evening complex coordinates environmental and endogenous signals in Arabidopsis. Nature Plants, 3, 17087.
Talks
Selected talk, International Symposium on Rice Functional Genomics (ISRGF) 2026, 8th–10th Sept. 2026, London, United Kingdom: A temperature-dependent protein phase transition underlies bidirectional cold and heat stress tolerance in rice.
Invited talk, Thermomorphogenesis 2026, 26th–28th Aug. 2026, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom: Thermosensory flowering in rice.
Selected talk, Scandinavian Plant Physiology Society Congress (SPSS) 2026, 18th–20th Aug. 2026, Helsinki, Finland: Functions of biomolecular condensates in transcriptional regulation and stress responses in plants.
Invited talk, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 6th July 2026, Madrid, Spain: The functions of (un)structured proteins in plant stress responses.
Invited talk, Workshop on the Molecular Mechanisms Controlling Flower Development, 15th–19th June 2026, Presqu’île de Giens, France: Thermosensory flowering in rice.
Selected talk, Salt and Water Stress in Plants (Gordon Research Conference), 25th–29th May 2026, Les Diablerets, Switzerland: Protein phase separation in stress sensing and responses in rice.
Invited webinar, Bio-protocol, 27th Apr. 2026, online: Biocondensates at the interface of gene regulation and environmental responses in plants.
Invited talk, Department of Biology, Oxford University, 18th Jan. 2026, Oxford, United Kingdom: Functions of biocondensates in transcriptional regulation and stress responses in plants.
2025
Invited talk, Hanhong Crop Science Forum 2025, Southwest University, 30th Nov. 2025, Chongqing, China: Protein phase separation in abiotic stress sensing in rice.
Invited talk, The 5th Belt and Road Sino-Pakistan Agriculture Forum, 19th Nov. 2025, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China: Protein phase separation in abiotic stress sensing in rice.
Selected talk, Plant Proteins: Functions, Regulation, Production and Utility, 21st–23rd Oct. 2025, University of Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom: Protein phase separation in abiotic stress sensing and responses in rice.
Invited talk, The 9th China Conference on Plant Protein Research, 26th–30th Sept. 2025, Yantai, Shandong, China: Stress sensing and genetic improvement in rice.
Selected talk, 2025 International Symposium on Rice Functional Genomics, 23rd–27th Aug. 2025, Chengdu, Sichuan, China: Protein phase separation in abiotic stress sensing and responses in rice.
Invited talk, Integrated Innovation System for Major Rice Research Tasks of the Heilongjiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Field Demonstration and Academic Exchange Meeting on New and Superior Japonica Rice Varieties for Cold Regions, 12th Aug. 2025, Jiamusi, Heilongjiang, China: Stress sensing and genetic improvement in rice.
7. Selected talk, Plant Biology 2025, American Society of Plant Biologists, 26th–30th July 2025, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States: Protein phase separation in stress signal sensing and responses in rice.
Selected talk, Iberian Congress of Plant Biology 2025 (IPB-25), 3rd July 2025, Murcia, Spain: Protein phase separation in stress signal sensing and responses in rice.
Invited talk, The 6th National Symposium on Plant Stress Biology, 10th–13th May 2025, Qingdao, Shandong, China: Temperature stress and genetic improvement in rice.
2024
Selected talk, Perspectives on Protein Networks in Plants Symposium, 19th–20th Sept. 2024, Strasbourg, France: Protein phase separation in stress signal sensing and responses in rice.
Selected talk, Society for Experimental Biology Conference, 2nd–5th July 2024, Prague, Czech Republic: The OsSRO1c–OsDREB2B complex confers cold tolerance via protein phase separation in rice.
Contacts
B612, National Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Improvement,
Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Huazhong Agricultural University,
No.1, Shizishan Street, Hongshan District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, P.R.China
Email:
xuelei_lai@hotmail.com — preferred contact address
xuelei_lai@mail.hzau.edu.cn — institutional email address
