Jitao Zou

Professional Background

2024-present   Research Professor, Department of Plant Science, Pennsylvania State University

2020-2024       Principal Research Officer, National Research Council Canada, Aquatic and Crop Resource Development Research Centre

2003-2020       Senior Research Officer, National Research Council Canada, Plant Biotechnology Institute

1997-2003       Associate Research Officer, National Research Council Canada, Plant Biotechnology Institute

1996-1997       Oilseed specialist, Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, Canada

1992-1996       Assistant Research Officer, National Research Council Canada, Plant Biotechnology Institute

Selected Publications

Zhao P, Li Q, Lei Y, Zou J, Li Q (2025) Adaptation of cuticle metabolism to abiotic stress in plants. Crop and Environment 4:38-44. doi: 10.1016/j.crope.2025.01.001.

Song J, Datla R, Zou J, Xiang D (2024) Haploid induction: an overview of parental factor manipulation during seed formation. Front Plant Sci. 15:1439350. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1439350.

Song J, Mavraganis I, Shen W, Yang H, Patterson N, Wang L, Xiang D, Cui Y, Zou J (2024) Evidence of pistil-derived lipids influencing pollen tube growth and male fertility in Arabidopsis thaliana. Plant Physiol. 196:763-772. doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiae276. (Article highlighted in News and Views, Plant Physiology 196:670-671. doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiae341. Fats Influencing Flowering: Pistil-derived lipids regulate pollen tube growth and fertility in Arabidopsis thaliana).

Song J, Mavraganis I, Shen W, Yang H, Zou J (2024) Applying a non-GMO breeding approach with an identified natural variation to reduce food allergen Len c3 in Lens culinaris seeds. Front. Plant Sci. 15:1355902. doi:10.3389/fpls.2024.1355902

Yu L, Shen W, Fan J, Sah SK, Mavraganis I, Wang L, Gao P, Gao J, Zheng Q, Meesapyodsuk D, Yang H, Li Q, Zou J*, Xu C* (2023) A chloroplast diacylglycerol lipase modulates glycerolipid pathway balance in Arabidopsis. Plant J. 115,335–350. doi:10.1111/tpj.16228 (*co-corresponding author)

Yu B, Gao P, Song J, Yang H, Qin L, Yu X, Song H, Coulson J, Bekkaoui Y, Akhov L, Han X, Cram D, Wei Y, Zaharia LI, Zou J, Konkin D, Quilichini TD, Fobert P, Patterson N, Datla R, Xiang D. (2023) Spatiotemporal transcriptomics and metabolic profiling provide insights into gene regulatory networks during lentil seed development. Plant J. 115:253-274. doi: 10.1111/tpj.16205

Han X, Akhov L, Ashe P, Lewis C, Deibert L, Zaharia LI, Forseille L, Xiang D, Datla R, Nosworthy M, Henry C, Zou J, Yu B, Patterson N (2023) Comprehensive compositional assessment of bioactive compounds in diverse pea accessions. Food Research International 165:112455. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2022.112455

Wang N, Tao B, Mai J, Gao J, Guo Y, Zhao L, Wen J, Yi B, Tu J, Fu T, Zou J, Shen J (2023) Kinase CIPK9 integratedglucose and ABA signaling to regulate fatty acid and triacylglycerol in Brassica napus seeds. Plant Physiol 191:1836-1856. doi: 10.1093/plphys/kiac569

Jia Z, Gao P, Yin F, Quilichini TD, Sheng H, Song J, Yang H, Gao J, Chen T, Yang B, Kochian LV, Zou J, PattersonN, Yang Q, Gillmor CS, Datla R, Li Q, Xiang D (2022) Asymmetric gene expression in grain development ofreciprocal crosses between tetraploid and hexaploid wheats. Commun Biol 5:1412. doi: 10.1038/s42003-022-04374-w

Pan Y, Li Y, Liu Z, Zou J, Li Q (2022) Computational Genomics Insights into Cold Acclimation in Wheat. Front. Genet. - Computational Genomics doi.org/10.3389/fgene.2022.10156

Song J, Mavraganis I, Shen W, Yang H, Cram D, Xiang D, Patterson N, Zou J (2022) Transcriptome dissection of candidate genes associated with lentil seed quality traits. Plant Biol (Stuttg) doi: 10.1111/plb.13426

Song J, Xie X, Cui Y, Zou J (2021) Endosperm–Embryo Communications: Recent Advances and Perspectives. Plants 10, 2511. doi: 10.3390/plants10112511

Song J, Chen C, Shu J, Thapa RK, Xie X, Nyugen V, Bian S, Kohalmi SE, Marsolais F, Zou J*, Cui Y* (2021) LEAFY COTYLEDON1 expression in the endosperm enables embryo maturation in Arabidopsis. Nature Communications 12(1):3963. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-24234-1 (*Co- corresponding author, featured on Editors’ Highlights Focus of “Plants and agriculture” in Nat Commun)

Li Q, Shen W, Mavraganis I, Wang L, Gao P, Gao J, Cram D, Li Y, Fowler DB, Pan Y and Zou J (2021) Elucidating the biochemical basis of trans-16:1 fatty acid change in leaves during cold acclimation in wheat. Plant-Environmental Interactions 2:101–111. https://doi.org/10.1002/pei3.10044

Cloutier M, Xiang D, Gao P, Kochian LV, Zou J, Datla R, Wang E (2021) Integrative Modeling of Gene Expression andMetabolic Networks of Arabidopsis Embryos for Identification of Seed Oil Causal Genes. Front Plant Sci. 12:642938. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2021.642938

Gao P, Quilichini TD, Zhai C, Qin L, Nilsen KT, Li Q, Sharpe AG, Kochian LV, Zou J, Reddy ASN, Wei Y, Pozniak C, Patterson N, Gillmor CS, Datla R, Xiang D (2021) Alternative splicing dynamics and evolutionary divergence during embryogenesis in wheat species. Plant Biotechnol J . 19:1624-1643. doi: 10.1111/pbi.13579.

Wang L, Li Q, Xia Q, Shen W, Selvaraj G, Zou J (2020) On the Role of DGAT1 in Seed Glycerolipid Metabolic Network and Critical Stages of Plant Development in Arabidopsis. Lipids 55:457-46.  doi: 10.1002/lipd.12229

Kazachkov M, Li Q, Shen W, Wang L, Gao P, Xiang D, Datla R, Zou J (2020) Molecular identification and functional characterization of a cyanogenic glucosyltransferase from flax (Linum unsitatissimum). PLoS One 15:e0227840. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227840

Badawi MA, Agharbaoui Z, Zayed M, Li Q, Byrns B, Zou J, Fowler DB, Danyluk J, Sarhan F (2019) Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of the Wheat Remorin (TaREM) Family during Cold Acclimation. Plant Genome12(2). doi: 10.3835/plantgenome2018.06.0040

Gao J, Li Q, Wang N, Tao B, Wen J, Yi B, Ma C, Tu J, Fu T, Li Q, Zou J, Shen J (2019) Tapetal Expression of BnaC.MAGL8.a Causes Male Sterility in Arabidopsis. Front Plant Sci. 10:763. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2019.00763

Ji Y, Li Q, Liu G, Selvaraj G, Zheng Z, Zou J, Wei Y (2019) Roles of Cytosolic Glutamine Synthetases in Arabidopsis Development and Stress Responses. Plant Cell Physiol. 60:657- 671. doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcy235

Guo Y, Huang Y, Gao J, Pu Y, Wang N, Shen W, Wen J, Yi B, Ma C, Tu J, Fu T, Zou J, Shen J (2018) CIPK9 isinvolved in seed oil regulation in Brassica napus L. and Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. Biotechnol Biofuels11:124. doi: 10.1186/s13068-018-1122-z

Li Q, Byrns B, Badawi MY, Diallo AB, Danyluk J, Sarhan F, Laudencia-Chingcuanco D, Zou J, Fowler DB (2018) Transcriptomic insights into phenological development and cold tolerance of wheat grown in the field. Plant Physiol.176:2376–2394. doi: 10.1104/pp.17.01311

Zhao C, Li H, Zhang W, Wang H, Xu A, Tian J, Zou J, Taylor DC, Zhang M (2017) BnDGAT1s Function Similarly in Oil Deposition and Are Expressed with Uniform Patterns in Tissues of Brassica napus. Front Plant Sci. 8:2205. doi: 10.3389/fpls.2017.02205

Zhou T, Qin L, Zhu X, Shen W, Zou J, Wang Z, Wei J (2017) The D-lactate dehydrogenase MoDLD1-mediatedcellular metabolism is essential for growth and infection-related development in Magnaporthe oryzae. Environmental Microbiology 19:3938-3958. doi: 10.1111/1462- 2920.13794

Li Q, Shen W, Zheng Q, Tan Y, Gao J, Shen J, Wei Y, Kunst L, Zou J (2017) Effects of eIFiso4G1 mutation on seed oil biosynthesis. Plant J. 90: 966-978. doi: 10.1111/tpj.13522

Guo Y, Si P, Wang N, Wen J, Yi B, Ma C, Tu J, Zou J, Fu T, Shen J (2017) Genetic effects and genotype ×environment interactions govern seed oil content in Brassica napus L. BMC Genet. 18:1. doi: 10.1186/s12863-016-0468-0

Li Q, Shen W, Zheng Q, Fowler B.D, Zou J (2016) Adjustments of lipid pathways in plant adaptation totemperature stress. Plant Signal Behav. 11:e1058461. doi: 10.1080/15592324

Singers S, Zou J, Weselake R (2016) Abiotic factors influence storage lipid accumulation and composition in oilseed plants. Plant Sci. 243:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2015.11.003

Zhao L, Jing X, Chen L, Liu Y, Su Y, Liu T, Gao C, Yi B, Wen J, Ma C, Tu J, Zou J, Fu T, Shen J (2015)Tribenuron-methyl Induces Male Sterility through Anther-specific Inhibition of Acetolactate Synthase Leading to Autophagic Cell Death. Mol Plant 8:1710-1724. doi: 10.1016/j.molp.2015.08.009

Pan X, Chen G, Kazachkov M, Greer MS, Caldo KM, Zou J, Weselake RJ (2015) In vivo and In vitro Evidence for Biochemical Coupling of Reactions Catalyzed by Lysophosphatidylcholine Acyltransferase and Diacylglycerol Acyltransferase. J. Biol. Chem. 290:18068-78. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M115.654798

Li Q, Zheng Q, Shen W, Cram D, Fowler B.D., Wei Y, Zou J (2015) Understanding the biochemical basis of temperature induced lipid pathway adjustments in plants. Plant Cell 27:86-103. doi: 10.1111/tpj.12683

Wang L, Kazachkov M, Shen W, Bai M, Wu H, Zou J (2014) Deciphering the roles of Arabidopsis LPCAT and PAH in phosphatidylcholine homeostasis and pathway coordination for chloroplast lipid synthesis. Plant J. 80:965-76. doi: 10.1111/tpj.12683

Yilmaz LJ, Zhou X, Jasieniecka K, Kazachkov M, Wang P, Zou J, Weselake R, Smith MA, Bayon S, Dyer J,Shockey J, Heinz E, Green A, Banas A, Stymne S (2013) Plant Acyl-CoA:lysophosphatidylcholine Acyltransferases (LPCATs) have Different Specificities in their Forward and Reverse Reactions. J. Biol. Chem. 288:36902-14

Xu J, Kazachkov M, Jia Y, Zheng Z, Zou J (2013) Expression of a type II diacylglycerol acyltransferase fromThalassiosira pseudonana in yeast leads to incorporation of docosahexaenoic acid β-oxidation intermediates into triacylglycerol. FEBS Journal 280:6162-72

Wang L, Shen W, Kazachkov M, Chen G, Chen Q, Carlsson AS, Stymne S, Weselake RJ, Zou J (2012)Metabolic Interactions between the Lands Cycle and the Kennedy Pathway of Glycerolipid Synthesis in Arabidopsis Developing Seeds. Plant Cell 24:4652-69

Liu G, Ji Y, Bhuiyan NH, Pilot G, Selvaraj G, Zou J, Wei Y (2010) Amino acid homeostasis modulates salicylic acid-associated redox status and defense responses in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell 22:3845-63

Shen W, Li QJ, Dauk M, Huang Y, Periappuram C, Wei Y, Zou J (2010) Metabolic and transcriptional responses of glycerolipid pathways to purterbation of glycerol-3-phosphate metabolism in Arabidopsis. J. Biol. Chem. 285:22957-65

Chen Q, Kazachkov M, Zheng Z, Zou J (2007) The yeast acylglycerol acyltransferase LCA1 is a key component of Lands cycle for phosphatidylcholine turnover. FEBS Lett. 581:5511-5516

Shen W, Wei Y, Dauk M, Tan Y, Taylor D, Selveraj G, Zou J (2006) Involvement of a Glycerol- 3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase in modulating the NADH/NAD⁺ Ratio Provides Evidence of a Mitochondrial Glycerol-3-Phosphate Shuttle in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell 18:422-411

Wei Y, Shen W, Dauk M, Wang F, Selvaraj G, Zou J (2004) Targeted-gene disruption of glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase in Colletotrichum gloeosporioides reveals evidence that glycerol is a significant transferrednutrient from host plant to fungal pathogen.  J. Biol. Chem. 279: 429-435

Zheng Z, Xia Q, Dauk M, Shen W, Selvaraj G, Zou J (2003) The Arabidopsis AtGPAT1, a member of a glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase gene family, is essential for tapetum differentiation and male fertility. Plant Cell 15:1872-1887

Zheng Z, Zou J (2001) The initial step of the glycerolipid pathway: identification of glycerol- 3-phosphate / dihydroxyacetone phosphate dual substrate acyltransferases in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. J. Biol. Chem. 276:41710-41716