1991年和1994年分别获兰州大学学士和硕士学位，2000年获兰州大学和中科院遗传发育所联合培养博士学位。2001年至2003年在美国阿肯色大学从事博士后研究，2003年至2009年在美国加州大学圣地亚哥分校从事博士后研究并任助理项目科学家。2009年到植物所工作，担任课题组组长，入选中国科学院人才计划。现任中科院植物分子生理学重点实验室副主任、中国科学院大学岗位教授、中国植物学会常务理事，中国植物生理与分子生物学学会植物激素生物学专业委员会委员、中国细胞学会植物器官发生分会委员、北京细胞生物学会理事。近年来在Cell、PNAS、Genes & Development、Plant Cell、PLoS Genetics、Plant Physiology、Molecular Plant、Plant Journal、New Phytologist等SCI收录期刊发表论文20余篇，在生长素调控植物生长发育的分子机理方面取得了重要研究成果。

主要研究工作：

以拟南芥、作物和苜蓿为材料，研究生长素等植物激素与发育的分子机理。研究内容包括： 1）生长素在器官发生中的作用机理；2）小麦产量性状的分子基础；3）苜蓿自交不亲和性的分子机制。

主持和参加的科研项目：

[1]   “拟南芥VPS28在植物生长发育中的作用机理研究”(2020.1-2023.12), 国家自然科学基金面上项目，项目负责人

[2]   “小麦产量性状的分子基础”(2019.11-2024.10), 中国科学院先导专项（A类），任务负责人

[3]   “牧草通量关键共性技术研发”(2020.11-2025.10), 中国科学院先导专项（A类），课题负责人

[4]   “拟南芥生长素稳态调控的分子机理研究”(2013.1-2015.12), 国家基金委重大研究计划集成项目，项目负责人

[5]   “植物胚胎及种子发育的机理研究” (2014.1-2018.8), 国家973计划, 子课题负责人。

研究论文（注*为通讯作者，§为共同第一作者）：

2022

Zhang L§, Thapa Magar MS§, Wang YN, Cheng YF*. 2022. Tip growth defective1 interacts with cellulose synthase A3 to regulate cellulose biosynthesis in Arabidopsis. Plant Molecular Biology, 110(1-2):1-12.

2021

Yang W, Luo L, Bostick BC, Wiita E, Cheng Y, Shen Y*. 2021. Effect of combined arsenic and lead exposure on their uptake and translocation in Indian mustard. Environmental Pollution, 274: 116549

Song LZ§, Wang YN§, Guo ZA, Lam SM, Shui GH, Cheng YF*. 2021. NCP2/RHD4/SAC7, SAC6 and SAC8 phosphoinositide phosphatases are required for PtdIns4P and PtdIns(4,5)P2 homeostasis and Arabidopsis development. New Phytologist, 231(2):713-725

2020

Liu JY§, Wang YN§, Cheng YF*. 2020. The ESCRT-I components VPS28A and VPS28B are essential for auxin-mediated plant development. Plant Journal, 104(6): 1617–1634.

Guo ZA, Yue XZ, Cui XN, Song LZ, Cheng YF*. 2020 AtMOB1 Genes Regulate Jasmonate Accumulation and Plant Development. Plant Physiology. 182(3):1481-1493.

2019

Yue XZ, Guo ZA, Shi T, Song LZ, Cheng YF*. 2019. Arabidopsis AGC protein kinases IREH1 and IRE3 control root skewing. Journal of Genetics and Genomics. 46(5):259-267

Zeng W^§, Dai XH^§, Sun J^§, Hou YF, Ma X, Cao XF*, Zhao YD, Cheng YF*. 2019. Modulation of auxin signaling and development by polyadenylation machinery. Plant Physiology., 179(2):686-699.

2017

Malka S, Cheng YF. 2017. Possible interactions between the biosynthetic pathways of indole glucosinolate and auxin. Frontiers in Plant Science, doi:10.3389/fpls.2017.02131

2016

Cui XN^§, Guo ZA^§, Song LZ, Wang YL, Cheng YF*. 2016. NCP1/AtMOB1A plays key roles in auxin-mediated Arabidopsis development. PLOS Genetics, doi:10.1371/journal.pgen.1005923 (^§Co-first author)  

2014

Chen Q, Dai X, De-Paoli H, Cheng Y, Takebayashi Y, Kasahara H, Kamiya Y, Zhao Y .2014. Auxin overproduction in shoots cannot rescue auxin deficiencies in Arabidopsis roots. Plant Cell Physiology, 55: 1072-1079  

2013

Hentrich M, Bottcher C, Duchting P, Cheng Y, Zhao Y, Berkowitz O, Masle J, Medina J, Pollmann S. 2013. The jasmonic acid signaling pathway is linked to auxin homeostasis through the modulation of YUCCA8 and YUCCA9 gene expression. Plant Journal, 74(4):626-37

Cheng ZJ, Wang L, Sun W, Zhang Y, Zhou C, Su YH, Li W, Sun TT, Zhao XY, Li XG, Cheng Y, Zhao YD, Xie Q and Zhang XS. 2013. Pattern of auxin and cytokinin responses for shoot meristem induction results from regulation of cytokinin biosynthesis by auxin response factor 3. Plant Physiology, 161, 240-251

2011

Won C, Shen X, Mashiguchi K, Zheng Z, Dai X, Cheng Y, Kasahara H, Kamiya Y, Chory J and Zhao Y. 2011. Conversion of tryptophan to indole-3-acetic acid by TRYPTOPHAN AMINOTRANSFERASES OF ARABIDOPSIS and YUCCAs in Arabidopsis. Proc Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 108(45):18518-23

Li Y, Dai X, Cheng Y and Zhao Y. 2011. NPY genes play an essential role in root gravitropic responses in Arabidopsis. Molecular Plant, 4(1):171-9

2010及以前

Bernard D, Cheng Y, Zhao Y and Balk J. 2009. An allelic mutant series of ATM3 reveals its key role in the biogenesis of cytosolic iron-sulfur proteins in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology, 151(2):590-602   

Rawat R, Schwartz J, Jones M, Sairanen I, Cheng Y, Andersson C, Zhao Y, Ljung K and Harmer. 2009. A Myb-like transcription factor integrates circadian clock and auxin signaling. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 106(39): 16883-16888   

Tao Y, Ferrer J, Ljung K, Pojer F, Hong F, Long J, Li X, Moreno J, Bowman M, Ivans L, Cheng Y, Lim J, Zhao Y, Ballaré C, Sandberg G, Noel J, Chory J. 2008. Rapid synthesis of auxin via a new tryptophan-dependent pathway is required for shade avoidance in plants. Cell, 133(1):164-176   

Cheng Y, Qin G, Dai X, Zhao Y. 2008. NPY genes and AGC kinases define two key steps in auxin- mediated organogenesis in Arabidopsis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 105(52): 21017-21022   

Cheng Y and Zhao Y. 2007. A role for auxin in flower development. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 49(1):99-104   

Cheng Y, Dai X and Zhao Y. 2007. Auxin synthesized by the YUCCA flavinmonooxygenases is essential for embryogenesis and leaf formation in Arabidopsis. Plant Cell, 19: 2430-2439   

Cheng Y, Qin G, Dai X and Zhao Y. 2007. NPY1, a BTB-NPH3-like protein, plays a critical role in auxin-regulated organogenesis in Arabidopsis. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 104(47): 18825-18829   

Cheng Y, Dai X and Zhao Y. 2006. Auxin biosynthesis by the YUCCA flavinmonooxygenases controls the formation of floral organs and vascular tissues in Arabidopsis. Genes & Development, 20(13): 1790-1799   

Dai X, Hayashi K, Nozaki H, Cheng Y and Zhao Y. 2005. Genetic and chemical analysis of the action mechanism of sirtinol. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 102 (8): 3129-3134   

Cheng Y, Dai X and Zhao Y. 2004. AtCAND1, a HEAT-repeat protein that participates in auxin signaling in Arabidopsis. Plant Physiology, 135 (2): 1020-1026

Moran P, Cheng Y, Cassell J and Thompson GA. 2002. Gene expression profiling of Arabidopsis thaliana in compatible plant-aphid interactions. Archives of Insect Biochemistry and Physiology, 51 (4): 182-203   

Cheng Y, Pu T, Xue Y and Zhang C. 2001. PcTGD, a highly expressed gene in stem, is related to water stress in reed (Phragmites communis Trin.). Chinese Science Bulletin, 46 (10): 850-854   

Pu T, Cheng Y and Zhang C. 2000. A novel small molecule specified in dune reed (Phragmites communis Trin.) and its possible role as an osmoprotectant on the chloroplasts under stress. Chinese Science Bulletin. 45 (22): 2062-2067