1991年和1994年分别获兰州大学学士和硕士学位，2000年获兰州大学和中国科学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。现任中国科学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、中国植物学会副秘书长，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。近年来在Cell、PNAS、Genes & Development、Plant Cell、PLoS Genetics、Plant Physiology、Molecular Plant、Plant Journal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：

我们的研究方向为植物激素，尤其是生长素合成与代谢途径，及其调控植物器官发生、生长发育和对环境响应的分子机理。研究目标是以水稻和拟南芥为模式植物，阐明生长素生物合成、代谢、极性运输以及信号转导途径在器官发生与发育中作用的分子遗传机理，为提高农作物产量提供理论依据。研究内容包括：1）生长素生物合成代谢、极性运输以及信号转导途径2）生长素在器官发生中的作用机理3）生长素与其他激素相互作用机理

主持和参加的科研项目：

[1] “拟南芥NCOT1基因在胚胎发育中的作用机理研究”(2012.01-2015.12), 国家自然科学基金面上项目（批准号：31171389），资助金额50万元，主持人：程佑发

[2] “生长素合成代谢与信号转导控制花序和果实发育启动机理研究”(2011.01-2013.12), 国家自然科学基金重大研究计划培育项目（批准号：91017008），资助金额80万元，主持人：程佑发

研究论文（注*为通讯作者,§为共同第一作者）：

2018

Zeng W§, Dai XH§, Sun J§, Hou YF, Ma X, Cao XF*, Zhao YD, Cheng YF*. 2018. Modulation of auxin signaling and development by polyadenylation machinery. Plant Physiol., DOI: 10.1104/pp.18.00782.

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 (PhragmitescommunisTrin.). Chinese Science Bulletin, 46 (10): 850-854

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