Education

2013.9 – 2018.12，PhD，Fudan University

2009. 9 – 2013. 6，B.Sc，China Centre Normal University

Professional Experience

2026.8 - present，Principal Investigator，CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Science (CEMPS) / Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

2025.10 – 2026.8，Staff Scientist，the University of Chicago

2019.1 – 2025.9，Postdoctoral researcher / Assistant research scientist，Texas A&M University

The Zhong laboratory uses Arabidopsis thaliana as a model system to explore how RNA modifications and non‑coding RNAs regulate gene expression and shape plant physiology. By integrating genetic screens, high‑throughput sequencing, biochemical assays, and cell biology approaches, the group aims to dissect the biogenesis, regulation, and biological functions of modified RNAs and novel non‑coding transcripts, with a strong emphasis on organelle development and stress adaptation. Current research is organized around three major directions:

1. Chromatin‑associated non‑coding RNAs – investigating how m⁶A modification on these RNAs modulates chromatin structure and transcriptional output.

2. ER stress responses – uncovering the roles of RNA modifications in sensing, transducing, and resolving endoplasmic reticulum stress.

3. Chloroplast development – elucidating the coordinated action of RNA modifications and non‑coding RNAs in establishing and maintaining functional chloroplasts.

#co-first authors，*co-corresponding authors

· Songxiao Zhong, Xiuren Zhang. Clearance of splicing byproducts promotes plant defence. Nature Plants (2026) 12, 1308–1309.

· Songxiao Zhong#*, Tae Rin Oh#, Xindi Li, Jinming Zhang, Suk Won Choi, Chuyun Gao, Xu Peng, Juan Dong, Chuan He, Xiuren Zhang*. CDS-localized m⁶A drives co-translational RNA decay to relieve biotic and abiotic endoplasmic reticulum stresses. Nature Plants (2026)12, 1062–1078.

· Songxiao Zhong, Xindi Li, Changhao Li, Haiyan Bai, Jingjing Chen, Lu Gan, Jiyun Zhu, Taerin Oh, Xingxing Yan, Jiaying Zhu, Niankui Li, Hisashi Koiwa, Thomas Meek, Xu Peng, Bin Yu, Zhonghui Zhang*, Xiuren Zhang*. SERRATE drives phase separation behaviours to regulate m⁶A modification and miRNA biogenesis. Nature Cell Biology (2024). 26, 2129–2143.

· Xindi Li#, Songxiao Zhong#*, Changhao Li, Xingxing Yan, Jiaying Zhu, Yanjun Li, Zhiye Wang, Xu Peng, Xiuren Zhang*. RNA helicase Brr2a promotes miRNA biogenesis by properly remodeling secondary structure of pri-miRNAs. Nature Plants (2024).10, 1532–1547

· Songxiao Zhong, Yifeng Xu, Chaoyi Yu, Xiaotuo Zhang, Lei Li, Haoran Ge, Guodong Ren, Yingxiang Wang, Jinbiao Ma, Yun Zheng, Binglian Zheng. Anaphase Promoting Complex degrades DMS3 to monitor assembly of the DDR complex in Arabidopsis. PNAS (2019) 116(9): 3899-3908.

· Jiaying Zhu*, Changhao Li, Chisimbily Onyia, Xindi Li, Xingxing Yan, Songxiao Zhong, Taerin Oh, Xiuren Zhang*. DMS-MaPseq and DREEM Analyses Implicate the Critical Role of RNA Structural Dynamics in Turnip Yellow Mosaic Virus Pathogenicity, Advanced science, (2026) 10.1002/advs.75614

· Zhen Wang, Claudia M. Castillo-González, Changjiang Zhao, Chun-Yip Tong, Changhao Li, Songxiao Zhong, Zhiyang Liu, Kaili Xie, Jiaying Zhu, Zhongshou Wu, Xu Peng, Yannick Jacob, Scott D. Michaels, Steven E. Jacobsen, Xiuren Zhang, H3.1K27me1 loss confers Arabidopsis resistance to Geminivirus by sequestering DNA repair proteins onto host genome, Nature Communications, 2023, 14(1)

· Xindi Li, Changhao Li, Jiaying Zhu, Songxiao Zhong, Hongliang Zhu, Xiuren Zhang, Functions and mechanisms of RNA helicases in plants, Journal of Experimental Botany, 2022, 74(7).

· Taiyun Wang, Yanhua Zheng, Qi Tang, Songxiao Zhong, Wei Su, Binglian Zheng, Brassinosteroids inhibit miRNA‐mediated translational repression by decreasing AGO1 on the endoplasmic reticulum, Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 2021, 63(8)

· Yanjun Li#, Di Sun#, Zeyang Ma, Karissa Yamaguchi, Lin Wang, Songxiao Zhong, Xingxing Yan, Baoshuan Shang, Yukihiro Nagashima, Hisashi Koiwa, Jiajia Han, Qi Xie, Mingguo Zhou, Zhiye Wang, Xiuren Zhang. Degradation of SERRATE via ubiquitin-independent 20S proteasome to survey RNA metabolism, Nature Plants, 2020, 6(8): 970-982

· Chuanbin Su, Ziwei Li, Jinping Cheng, Lei Li, Songxiao Zhong, Li Liu, Yun Zheng, Binglian Zheng*. The Protein Phosphatase 4 and SMEK1 Complex Dephosphorylates HYL1 to Promote miRNA Biogenesis by Antagonizing the MAPK Cascade in Arabidopsis, Developmental Cell, 2017, 41(5): 527-539

· Ziwei Li#, Shengpeng Wang#, Jinping Cheng, Chuanbin Su, Songxiao Zhong, Qi Liu, Yuda Fang, Yao Yu, Hong Lv, Yun Zheng*, Binglian Zheng*. Intron lariat RNA inhibits microRNA biogenesis by sequestering the dicing complex in Arabidopsis, PLoS Genetics, 2016, 12(11)