通过细胞生物学、分子和遗传学等手段，研究微管骨架响应光、植物激素以及非生物逆境等信号分子调控植物生长发育、保卫细胞运动等的生物学机制。一方面关注植物生长发育和环境/胁迫信号如何传递至微管骨架以及不同的信号途径如何调控微管结合蛋白；另一方面探索微管骨架调控上游信号的新机制和新途径。

(*Corresponding author; #These authors contributed equally)

1. Dingding Zhou^#, Xiaohong Wang^#, Xiangfeng Wang, and Tonglin Mao* (2023). PHYTOCHROME INTERACTING FACTOR 4 regulates microtubule organization to mediate high temperature–induced hypocotyl elongation in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell 35: 2044-2061. 

2. Yanmin Qian^#, Xiaohong Wang^#, Yimin Liu, Xiangfeng Wang*, and Tonglin Mao* (2023). HY5 inhibits lateral root initiation in Arabidopsis through negative regulation of the microtubule-stabilizing protein TPXL5. Plant Cell 35: 1092-1109.

3. Liru Dou, Kaikai He, Jialin Peng, Xiangfeng Wang, and Tonglin Mao* (2021). The E3 ligase MREL57 modulates microtubule stability and stomatal closure in response to ABA. Nat Commun 12: 2181.

4. Jia Deng^#, Xiangfeng Wang^#, Ziqiang Liu^#, and Tonglin Mao* (2021). The microtubule-associated protein WDL4 modulates auxin distribution to promote apical hook opening in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell 33: 1927–1944.

5. Xiaohong Wang^#, Qianqian Ma^#, Ran Wang^#, Pan Wang, Yimin Liu, and Tonglin Mao* (2020). Submergence stress-induced hypocotyl elongation through ethylene signaling-mediated regulation of cortical microtubules in Arabidopsis. J Exp Bot 71: 1067–1077. 

6. Xiangfeng Wang, and Tonglin Mao* (2019) Understanding the functions and mechanisms of plant cytoskeleton in response to environmental signals. Curr Opin Plant Biol 52: 86–96. 

7. Liru Dou^#, KaiKai He^#, Takumi Higaki, Xiangfeng Wang, and Tonglin Mao* (2018). Ethylene signaling modulates cortical microtubule reassembly in response to salt stress. Plant Physiol 176: 2071–2081. 

8. Qianqian Ma#, Xiaohong Wang#, Jingbo Sun, and Tonglin Mao* (2018). Coordinated regulation of hypocotyl cell elongation by light and ethylene through a microtubule destabilizing protein. Plant Physiol 176: 678–690. 

9. Na Lian#, Xiaomin Liu#, Xiaohong Wang#, Yangyang Zhou, Hong Li, Jigang Li* and Tonglin Mao* (2017). COP1 mediates dark-specific degradation of microtubule-associated protein WDL3 in regulating Arabidopsis hypocotyl elongation. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 114: 12321–12326.

10. Qianqian Ma^#, Jingbo Sun^#, and Tonglin Mao* (2016). Microtubule bundling plays a role in ethylene-mediated cortical microtubule reorientation in etiolated Arabidopsis hypocotyls. J Cell Sci 129: 2043–2051.

11. Jingbo Sun^#, Qianqian Ma^#, and Tonglin Mao* (2015). Ethylene regulates Arabidopsis Microtubule-Associated Protein WDL5 in etiolated hypocotyl elongation. Plant Physiol 169: 325–33.

12. Tao Qin^#, Xiaomin Liu^#, Jiejie Li, Jingbo Sun, Leina Song, and Tonglin Mao* (2014). Arabidopsis Microtubule-Destabilizing Protein 25 Functions in Pollen Tube Growth by Severing Actin Filaments. Plant Cell 26: 325–339.

13. Xiaomin Liu^#, Tao Qin^#, Qianqian Ma, Jingbo Sun, Ziqiang Liu, Ming Yuan, and Tonglin Mao* (2013). Light-regulated hypocotyl elongation involves proteasome-dependent degradation of the microtubule regulatory protein WDL3 in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell 25: 1740–1755.

14. Xianling Wang#, Jin Zhang^#, MingYuan, David W. Ehrhardt, Zhiyong Wang, and Tonglin Mao* (2012). Arabidopsis MICROTUBULE DESTABILIZING PROTEIN40 is involved in brassinosteroid regulation of hypocotyl elongation. Plant Cell 24: 4012–4025.

15. Jiejie Li^#, Xianling Wang^#, Tao Qin^#, Yan Zhang^#, Xiaomin Liu, Jingbo Sun, Yuan Zhou, Lei Zhu, Ziding Zhang, Ming Yuan, and Tonglin Mao* (2011). MDP25, a novel calcium regulatory protein, mediates hypocotyl cell elongation by destabilizing cortical microtubules in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell 23: 4411–4427.