General Lab Information

Zhiyang Zhai

Scientist, BI Plant Science, Biology Department

Zhiyang Zhai

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Biology Department
Bldg. 463, Room B-109
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000

(631) 344-6233
zzhai@bnl.gov

Lipids are primary metabolites in cells, acting as structural components of cell membranes, energy dense storage compounds and cell signaling molecules. Lipids are essential part of human diet. Due to high energy density, plant-derived lipids also can be converted into fuel. At Brookhaven National Laboratory, I work on plant lipid metabolism. My current research interests include but not limited to: the regulatory roles of SnRK1 and TOR in plant primary metabolism, plant oil engineering.

Education | Publications | Awards

Education

PhD (2011), Cornell University 

Selected Publications

  • Sah SK, Zhai Z, Shi H, et al (2025) Expression of a Bacterial Trehalose 6-Phosphate Synthase Gene otsA in Camelina sativa Seeds Promotes the Channelling of Carbon Towards Oil Accumulation. Plant Biotechnology Journal. https://doi.org/10.1111/pbi.70506
  • Liu H, Blanford J, Shi H, et al (2025) Trehalose 6-phosphate activates Target of Rapamycin in plants. https://doi.org/10.64898/2025.12.11.693803
  • Liu H, Blanford J, Shi H, et al (2024) The target of rapamycin kinase is a positive regulator of plant fatty acid and lipid synthesis. Plant Physiology 197:. https://doi.org/10.1093/plphys/kiae639
  • Blanford J, Zhai Z, Baer MD, et al (2024) Molecular mechanism of trehalose 6-phosphate inhibition of the plant metabolic sensor kinase SnRK1. Science Advances 10:. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adn0895
  • Sun J, Liu H, Blanford JK, et al (2024) GRIK phosphorylates and activates KIN10 which also promotes its degradation. Frontiers in Plant Science 15:. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpls.2024.1375471
  • Zhai Z, Blanford JK, Cai Y, et al (2023) CYCLIN-DEPENDENT KINASE 8 positively regulates oil synthesis by activating WRINKLED1 transcription. New Phytologist 238:724–736. https://doi.org/10.1111/nph.18764

Awards & Recognition

 US Department of Energy Early Career Award, $2.5M (2022-2027)

Zhiyang Zhai

Brookhaven National Laboratory

Biology Department
Bldg. 463, Room B-109
P.O. Box 5000
Upton, NY 11973-5000

(631) 344-6233
zzhai@bnl.gov

Zhiyang's Links