Green Revolution DELLA Proteins – Functional Analysis and Regulatory Mechanisms

A postdoctoral research position is available immediately to join an interdisciplinary project focused on gibberellin (GA) signaling and transcriptional regulation in plants. We seek a highly motivated researcher with a strong background in protein chemistry, molecular genetics, genomics, and/or plant development.

GA perception by its nuclear receptor, GIBBERELLIN INSENSITIVE DWARF1 (GID1), triggers polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of the master growth regulators DELLA proteins via the SCF^SLY1/GID2 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. DELLA genes are known as “Green Revolution” genes, as dominant mutations confer semi-dwarfism and significantly increased crop yields through reduced GA responsiveness.

DELLA proteins function as central signaling hubs, interacting with diverse transcription factors (TFs) to integrate hormonal and developmental signals. Recent studies show that DELLAs associate with both activated and repressed promoters, and that TF–DELLA–histone H2A complexes at target chromatin are essential for their regulatory activity. However, how DELLAs achieve interaction specificity and act as transcriptional coactivators or corepressors at distinct genes remains unclear.

This project uses structural, biochemical, and genomics approaches to address these questions and uncover fundamental mechanisms of plant growth regulation.

Related recent publications:

1. Huang X, Tian H, Park J, Oh DH, Hu J, Zentella R, Qiao H, Dassanayake M, Sun TP. 2023. The master growth regulator DELLA binding to histone H2A is essential for DELLA-mediated global transcription regulation. Nat Plants 9: 1291-305
2. Huang X, Zentella R, Park J, Reser L, Bai DL, Ross MM, Shabanowitz J, Hunt DF, Sun TP. 2024. Phosphorylation activates master growth regulator DELLA by promoting histone H2A binding at chromatin in Arabidopsis. Nat Commun 15: 7694
3. Dahal P, Wang Y, Hu J, Park J, Forker K, Zhang ZL, Sharma K, Borgnia MJ, Sun TP, Zhou P. 2025. Structural insights into proteolysis-dependent and -independent suppression of the master regulator DELLA by the gibberellin receptor. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 122: e2511012122
4. Shani E, Hedden P, Sun TP. 2024. Highlights in gibberellin research: A tale of the dwarf and the slender. Plant Physiol 195: 111-34
5. Alabadi D, Sun TP. 2025. Green Revolution DELLA proteins: Functional analysis and regulatory mechanisms. Annu Rev Plant Biol 76: 373-400

Please send by e-mail with “Postdoc application” in the subject line: a cover letter containing your research summary and career goals, curriculum vitae, and names, e-mail addresses, and phone numbers of three references to Tai-ping Sun (e-mail address: tps@duke.edu).