Chentao Lin

Chentao Lin is a Professor in the Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). His research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of plant photoreceptors, particularly cryptochromes and phytochromes, and their roles in regulating plant development and light responses. He leads a lab investigating how blue-light receptor systems (e.g., CRY2) mediate photomorphogenesis, including cotyledon expansion and hypocotyl inhibition in Arabidopsis. His work employs molecular genetics and biochemical approaches to dissect signal transduction pathways and light-dependent phosphorylation events in photoreceptors.

Lin's affiliations include membership in the Gene Regulation and Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Physiology home areas at the Graduate Program in the Biological Sciences (GPB). His research has led to significant contributions in elucidating the interplay between cryptochromes and phytochromes, as well as the role of post-translational modifications (e.g., phosphorylation) in light signaling. He has authored numerous high-impact publications in journals such as Plant Physiology, Genes & Development, and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Key achievements include isolating the Arabidopsis CRY2 gene, discovering its role in blue-light responses, and revealing the molecular basis of cryptochrome-mediated signal transduction. His lab also investigates light regulation of alternative splicing, auxin signaling, and the integration of photoreceptor signals with hormonal pathways. Lin's work bridges fundamental plant biology with broader implications for crop adaptation to environmental conditions.