Hieng Ming Ting, NTU

Hieng-Ming Ting Associate Professor

Ph.D. in Plant Sciences, Wageningen University, the Netherlands

Specialty: Plant Molecular Biology, Plant Metabolomics

E-mail: jimmytinghm@ntu.edu.tw

Laboratory: Life Science Building R920

Telephone: 886-2-3366-2531

Current Research Interests

Metabolic engineering and synthetic biology pathway of plant metabolites
Study the response of the plant to metabolites and signal transduction
Characteristics of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) between different organisms
Understanding the plant-pest (insect/root-knot nematode) interactions with molecular biology and bioinformatics analysis

Plant Stress Resilience and Metabolomics Laboratory

Metabolic engineering and synthetic biology of plant metabolites (polyacetylenes, terpenes)

Physiological roles of plant secondary metabolites could be reflected through their importance in plant defense against pathogens/predators and different environmental stresses, and as communication molecules when interact between different species. Many plants secondary metabolites are recognized to be major sources for (new) drug discovery, nutrition supplements and are often used as medicine against chronic diseases. Comparative transcriptomics and metabolomics technologies will be used to engineer and elucidate the biosynthesis pathway of plant secondary metabolites (polyacetylenes, terpenes) (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Workflow illustrating how to do metabolic engineering in plant systems.

Study plant metabolites induced cellular responses and signal transduction in plants

Plant secondary metabolites are synthesized upon the pathogen attack or mechanical damage, which cause the disruption of plant tissue. However, plant secondary metabolites are toxic for the plant at higher doses. To investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the recognition/perception and signaling of plant secondary metabolites in plants, available Arabidopsis mutants will be treated with specific metabolites for further transcriptomics and metabolomics profiling studies (Figure 2).

Figure 2. (A) Phenotypes of Arabidopsis (Col) and mutant (Mut) under specific metabolite (GHP) treatment. (B) Transcriptional profiling analysis of Arabidopsis (Col) and mutant (Mut) under specific metabolite (GHP) treatment.

Exploring plant resistance mechanisms against insect herbivores

In response to herbivory, plants activate chemical defense mechanisms. Our investigation focuses on unraveling the resistance mechanisms in various mungbean and soybean accessions. Intriguingly, insect-resistant varieties demonstrate the production of diverse volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and flavonoids post-feeding. These chemicals potentially serve as protective compounds against insect attacks. To substantiate this hypothesis, we will delve into the characteristics of these chemical compounds, aiming to understand their role in insect resistance. Our findings hold promise as a potential solution for effective pest control.

Figure 3. The trade-off between pest defense and drought in mung bean insect-resistant strains (R1) and insect-susceptible strains (S1)

Exploring plant resistance mechanisms against root-knot nematode

Root-knot nematodes are plant-parasitic nematodes that cause significant economic losses in global agriculture. Among them, Meloidogyne enterolobii is an emerging root-knot nematode species that can overcome several resistance genes that protect plants from other nematode species. By screening different wild mungbean accessions, our laboratory identified that the wild mungbean accession CPI exhibits resistance to root-knot nematodes. Through investigating the defense mechanisms of wild mungbeans against M. enterolobii, we aim to develop effective strategies for root-knot nematode management.

Figure 4. The resistance mechanism of wild mungbean against root-knot nematode

Selected Publications

Ching-Han Chang, Chung-Chih Huang, Pei-Yu Su, Yi-Rong Li, Yu‐Shuo Chen, Chong-Yue Wang, Yuan-Yun Zhang, Hieng-Ming Ting, Hao-Jen Huang* (2024). Comparison of early transcriptomic changes to diverse microbial volatiles in Arabidopsis. Physiologia Plantarum. (Accepted with pending)
Sook-Kuan Lee, Pin-Zhe Liao, Chih-Yu Lin, Hung-Wei Chen, Meng-Shan Hsieh, Ya-Ping Lin, Yi-Ju Chen, Jia-Heng Hung, Yi-Ling Chiang, Chiu-Ping Cheng, Pei-Chen Janet Chen, Cheng-Ruei Lee*, Jiue-In Yang*, Hieng-Ming Ting* (2024). Wild mungbean resistance to the nematode Meloidogyne enterolobii involves the induction of phenylpropanoid metabolism and lignification. Physiologia Plantarum, 176(5):e14533.
Chih-Cheng Chien*, Chuan-Hsin Chang, Hieng-Ming Ting* (2024). A novel lectin receptor kinase gene, AtG-LecRK-I.2, enhances bacterial pathogen resistance through regulation of stomatal immunity in Arabidopsis. Plant Science, 343:112071.
Freddy Kuok San Yeo, Elissa Stella Rafael, Zhang Hua Ewe, Poh Sim Ang, Nor Ain Hussin, Tu Anh Vu Thanh, Hung Hui Chung, Lee San Lai, Hieng-Ming Ting, Yongmei Bao (2024). New variants of AvrPiz-t identified in Pyriculariaoryzae from Malaysia. Plant Stress, 11:100322.
Yi-Ju Chen#, Boon Huat Cheah#, Chih-Yu Lin, Yu-Ting Ku, Cheng-Hsiang Kuo, Yuan-Yun Zhang, Bing-Rong Chen, Nean Olga, Cheng-Han Hsieh, Pei-Min Yeh, Freddy Kuok San Yeo, Ya-Ping Lin, Wen-Po Chuang, Cheng-Ruei Lee, Hieng-Ming Ting* (2023, Jan). Inducible chemical defenses in wild mungbean confer resistance to Spodoptera litura and possibly at the expense of drought tolerance. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 205:105100.
Berta Alquézar, Haroldo Xavier Linhares Volpe, Rodrigo Facchini Magnani, Marcelo Pedreira Miranda, Mateus Almeida Santos, Viviani Vieira Marques, Márcia Rodrigues de Almeida, Nelson Arno Wulff, Hieng-Ming Ting, Michel de Vries, Robert Schuurink, Harro Bouwmeester, Leandro Peña (2021, Mar). Engineered orange ectopically expressing the Arabidopsis β-caryophyllene synthase is not-attractive to Diaphorina citri, the vector of the bacterial pathogen associated to Huanglongbing. Frontiers in Plant Science, 12:641457.
Hisao-Hang Chung#, Hieng-Ming Ting#, Wei-Hsi Wang, Ya-Ting Chao, Cheng-Han Hsieh, Maria Karmella Apaya, Yi-Chang Sung, Shih-Shun Lin, Fang-Yu Hwu, Lie-Fen Shyur (2020). Elucidation of enzymes involved in the biosynthetic pathway of bioactive polyacetylenes in Bidens pilosa using integrated omics approaches. J. Exp. Bot. eraa457. (# Co-first author).
Hieng-Ming Ting*, Boon Huat Cheah, Yu-Cheng Chen, Pei-Min Yeh, Chiu-Ping Cheng, Freddy Kuok San Yeo, Ane Kjersti Vie, Jens Rohloff, Per Winge, Atle M. Bones and Ralph Kissen* (2020). The Role of a Glucosinolate-Derived Nitrile in Plant Immune Responses. Front Plant Sci 11, 257.
Bo Wang#, Arman Beyraghdar Kashkooli#, Adrienne Sallets, Hieng-Ming Ting, Norbert C.A. de Ruijter, Linda Olofsson, Peter Brodelius, Marc Boutry, Harro J. Bouwmeester, and Alexander van der Krol (2016) Transient production of artemisinin in Nicotiana benthamiana is boosted by a specific lipid transfer protein from A. annua. Metabolic Engineering, 38: 159–169. (# equal contribution)
Hieng-Ming Ting, Thierry L. Delatte, Pim Kolkman, Johana C. Misas-Villamil, Renier A.L. van der Hoorn, Harro J. Bouwmeester, and Alexander van der Krol (2015) SNARE-RNAi results in higher terpene emission from ectopically expressed caryophyllene synthase in Nicotiana benthamiana. Molecular Plant, 8(3):454–466.
Seifu Juneidi, Hieng-Ming Ting, and Alexander van der Krol (2014) Tissue specific expression of a terpene synthase in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves. American Journal of Plant Sciences, 5(18):2799-2810.
Hieng-Ming Ting, Bo Wang, Anna-Margareta Rydén, Lotte Woittiez, Teun van Herpen, Francel W.A. Verstappen, Carolien Ruyter-Spira, Jules Beekwilder, Harro J. Bouwmeester, and Alexander van der Krol (2013) The metabolite chemotype of Nicotiana benthamianatransiently expressing artemisinin biosynthetic pathway genes is a function of CYP71AV1 type and relative gene dosage. New Phytologist, 199(2):352–366.
Na Tian, Shuoqian Liu, Hieng-Ming Ting, Jianan Huang, Sander van der Krol, Harro Bouwmeester, and Zhonghua Liu (2013) An improved Agrobacterium tumefaciens mediated transformation of Artemisia annua L. by using stem internodes as explants. Czech Journal of Genetics and Plant Breeding, 49(3): 123–129.