Hongtao Zhang

Hongtao is a plant molecular biologist using genetics, biochemistry and proteomics approaches. He has been interested mainly in plant signalling transduction (MAP kinases) and transcriptional regulation (MYC2 and JAZ) in his Master’s and PhD. During his first postdoc, using a quantitative proteomics approach, he studied signalling transduction and discovered an important role for auxin-induced phosphorylation in lateral root development. He studied Retinoblastoma-related (RBR) protein phosphorylation by CYCD/CDK complex involved in Arabidopsis root stem cell development. After joining Rothamsted Research, he used his proteomics expertise to study protein degradation by N-end rule pathway, including key E3 ligase PRT6, PRT1 and arginylation enzymes ATEs. During this study, he also attempted to tackle the interaction between this pathway with key transcription factors in ABA signaling. He has expertise in plant molecular biology, biochemistry, with analytical technique of quantitative proteomics, including phosphopeptide and N-terminal peptide enrichment and quantitative proteomics with TMT (Tandem mass tag) and dimethyl labeling in Arabidopsis. His latest work includes finding new functions in N-end rule pathway and developing a toolkit for hypoxia research.