Biology subjects

Li, R.

Publications and source records attributed to Li, R..

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources

bioRxiv2024

Spatiotemporal coordination of actin regulators generates invasive protrusions in cell-cell fusion

Invasive membrane protrusions play a central role in a variety of cellular processes. Unlike filopodia, invasive protrusions are mechanically stiff and propelled by branched actin polymerization. However, how branched actin filaments are organized to create finger-like invasive protrusions is unclear. Here, by examining the mammalian fusogenic synapse, where invasive protrusions are generated to promote cell membrane juxtaposition and fusion, we have uncovered the mechanism underlying invasive protrusion formation. We show that two nucleation promoting factors (NPFs) for the Arp2/3 complex, WAVE and N-WASP, exhibit different localization patterns in the protrusions. While WAVE is closely associated with the plasma membrane at the leading edge of the protrusive structures, N-WASP is enriched with WIP along the actin bundles in the shafts of the protrusions. During protrusion initiation and growth, the Arp2/3 complex nucleates branched actin filaments to generate low density actin clouds, in which the large GTPase dynamin organizes the new branched actin filaments into bundles, followed by actin-bundle stabilization by WIP, the latter functioning as a novel actin-bundling protein. Disrupting any of these components results in defective protrusions and failed myoblast fusion in cultured cells and mouse embryos. Taken together, our study has revealed the intricate spatiotemporal coordination between two NPFs and two actin-bundling proteins in building invasive protrusions at the mammalian fusogenic synapse, and has general implications in understanding invasive protrusion formation in cellular processes beyond cell-cell fusion.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Ten-Fold Expansion MALDI Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Tissues and Cells at 500 nm Resolution

Achieving high spatial resolution in matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI) is crucial for detailed molecular mapping in biological tissues and cells. However, conventional MALDI-MSI platforms are typically limited to spatial resolutions of 5-20 m, restricting their ability to visualize fine subcellular structures. Here, we present a novel ten-fold expansion MALDI-MSI (10X ExMSI) method that attains 500 nm spatial resolution without the need for specialized optics or customized instrumentation. By physically expanding biological samples using a swellable hydrogel matrix, our method maintains high retention and broadens the detection range of lipids, ensuring comprehensive lipid profiling. We demonstrated the effectiveness of 10X ExMSI by visualizing intricate subcellular structures within mouse brain tissues, including individual nuclei, astrocytes, Purkinje cells, and, notably, dendritic arborizations-features previously unresolvable using mass spectrometry imaging. Applying 10X ExMSI to single-cell analysis of cultured cells revealed detailed spatial distributions of lipids at the subcellular to organelle level. Notably, the method is fully compatible with standard commercial MALDI-MSI platforms, enabling widespread adoption without significant additional investment. The 10X ExMSI offers a transformative tool for high-resolution molecular imaging, opening new avenues for molecular analysis in diverse biological and biomedical fields, including neuroscience, pathology, and cellular biology.

biochemistry↗

bioRxiv2024

Systemic and local chronic inflammation and hormone disposition promote a tumor-permissive environment for breast cancer in older women

Estrogen receptor positive (ER+) breast cancer is the most common subtype of breast cancer and is an age-related disease. The peak incidence of diagnosis occurs around age 70, even though these post-menopausal patients have low circulating levels of estradiol (E2). Despite the hormone sensitivity of age-related tumors, we have a limited understanding of the interplay between systemic and local hormones, chronic inflammation, and immune changes that contribute to the growth and development of these tumors. Here, we show that aged F344 rats treated with the dimethylbenz(a)anthracene / medroxyprogestrone acetate (DMBA/MPA) carcinogen develop more tumors at faster rates than their younger counterparts, suggesting that the aged environment promotes tumor initiation and impacts growth. Single-nuclei RNA-seq (snRNA-seq) of the tumors showed broad local immune dysfunction that was associated with circulating chronic inflammation. Across a broad cohort of specimens from patients with ER+ breast cancer and age-matched donors of normal breast tissue, we observe that even with an estrone (E1)-predominant estrogen disposition in the systemic circulation, tumors in older patients increase HSD17B7 expression to convert E1 to E2 in the tumor microenvironment (TME) and have local E2 levels similar to pre-menopausal patients. Concurrently, trackable increases in several chemokines, defined most notably by CCL2, promote a chronically inflamed but immune dysfunctional TME. This unique milieu in the aged TME, characterized by high local E2 and chemokine-enriched chronic inflammation, promotes both accumulation of tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), which serve as signaling hubs, as well as polarization of TAMs towards a CD206+/PD-L1+, immunosuppressive phenotype. Pharmacologic targeting of estrogen signaling (either by HSD17B7 inhibition or with fulvestrant) and chemokine inflammation both decrease local E2 and prevent macrophage polarization. Overall, these findings suggest that chronic inflammation and hormonal disposition are critical contributors to the age-related nature of ER+ breast cancer development and growth and offer potential therapeutic insight to treat these patients. Translational SummaryWe uncover the unique underpinnings establishing how the systemic host environment contributes to the aged breast tumor microenvironment, characterized by high local estradiol and chronic inflammation with immune dysregulation, and show that targeting avenues of estrogen conversion and chronic inflammation work to restore anti-tumor immunity. Graphical Abstract O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=200 HEIGHT=135 SRC="FIGDIR/small/616978v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (38K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@1ecd90borg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@9d7ac8org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@e7fb74org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@2da524_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Connected Chromatin Amplifies Acetylation-modulated Nucleosome Interactions

Histone acetylation is a key regulatory post-translational modification closely as-sociated with gene transcription. In particular, H4K16 acetylation (H4K16ac) is a crucial gene activation marker that induces an open chromatin configuration. While previous studies have explored the effects of H4K16ac on nucleosome interactions, how this local modification affects higher-order chromatin organization remains un-clear. To bridge the chemical modifications of these histone tail lysine residues to global chromatin structure, we utilized a residue-resolution coarse-grained chromatin model and enhanced sampling techniques to simulate charge-neutralization effects of histone acetylation on nucleosome stability, inter-nucleosome interactions, and higher-order chromatin structure. Our simulations reveal that H4K16ac stabilizes a single nucleosome due to the reduced entropic contribution of histone tails during DNA unwrapping. In addition, acetylation modestly weakens inter-nucleosome interactions by diminishing contacts between histone tails, DNA, and nucleosome acidic patches. These weakened interactions are amplified when nucleosomes are connected by linker DNA, whose fluctuation causes significant chromatin destacking and decompaction, exposing nucleosomes for transcriptional activity. Our findings suggest that the geometric constraint imposed by chromatin DNA plays a critical role in driving chromatin structural reorganization upon post-translational modifications.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2024

Single Cell Integration Characterises Metaplasia in Inflammatory Intestinal Diseases

The gastrointestinal (GI) tract consists of connected organs, from the oral cavity to rectum, which function to ensure efficient nutrient uptake and barrier immunity. Diseases of the GI tract affect millions worldwide and as such there are now over 25 published single cell RNA-sequencing (scRNAseq) datasets surveying the GI tract, profiling specific anatomical regions, cell lineages, ages and diseases. To consolidate these efforts, we harmonised and integrated scRNAseq datasets across the whole GI tract from developing and adult human tissues, as well as newly generated data from preterm gut. We uniformly processed 385 samples from 189 healthy controls using a newly developed automated QC approach (scAutoQC). In total, our healthy reference contains [~]1.1 million cells which we annotated to a total of 137 fine-grained cell states. We anchor 13 published and 1 unpublished GI disease datasets covering gastric and colorectal (CRC) cancers, celiac disease, ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohns disease (CD) to this reference, taking our atlas to a total of 1.6 million cells. We provide our atlas as a valuable resource to the community (available at gutcellatlas.org). Using this resource, we discover epithelial cell metaplasia arising from stem cells across intestinal inflammatory diseases (celiac, UC and CD) and CRC with transcriptional similarity to cells of the gastric and Brunners glands. Whilst previously linked to mucosal healing, we now implicate these cells in inflammation through recruitment of immune cells including T cells and neutrophils, and through direct interactions with T cells. Overall, we discover a shift in paradigm whereby changes in stem cells during inflammation lead to altered mucosal tissue architecture, which in turn contributes to ongoing inflammation. These findings highlight that in addition to barrier function, epithelial cells actively contribute to progression of inflammation which may be a function applicable to other tissues and diseases.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2024

Deciphering gene regulatory programs in mouse embryonic skin through single-cell multiomics analysis

BackgroundCell type-specific transcriptional heterogeneity in embryonic mouse skin is well-documented, but few studies have investigated the regulatory mechanisms. ResultsHere, we present high throughput single-cell chromatin accessibility and transcriptome sequencing (HT-scCAT-seq), a method that simultaneously profiles transcriptome and chromatin accessibility. We utilized HT-scCAT-seq to dissect the gene regulatory mechanism governing epidermal stratification, periderm terminal differentiation, and fibroblast specification. ConclusionsBy linking chromatin accessibility to gene expression, we identified candidate cis-regulatory elements (cCREs) and target genes crucial for dermal and epidermal development. We described cells with similar gene expression profiles that exhibit distinct chromatin accessibility statuses during periderm terminal differentiation. Finally, we characterized the underlying lineage-determining transcription factors (TFs), and demonstrated that ALX4 and RUNX2 were candidate TF regulators of the dermal papilla lineage development through in silico perturbation analysis.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Separated attractors in neural landscape of motor cortex encoding motor learning

Animals gain motor learning via decrease of variation through repeated training. The secondary motor (M2) cortex shows an indispensable role in the learning process of the rotarod-learning task. Yet, it remains unclear how population decoding in M2 cortex guides the repetitive training to transform into motor enhancement. We recorded neuronal population activity using Ca2+ imaging during this enhancement revealing that neuronal population correlates of the persistent internal learning state evolves in the process of motor learning. With the behavioral micro-states analysis, we identify the growing periodicity, stability, and consistency with two gradually clearer point attractor in the M2 neural state space. The results show the evolution of attractors in M2 participate in decrease of training-acquisition behavior variation and provide a general framework for the mapping between arbitrary non-task motor learning and neural topological structure.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

Branched actin polymerization drives invasive protrusion formation to promote myoblast fusion during skeletal muscle regeneration

Skeletal muscle regeneration is a multistep process involving the activation, proliferation, differentiation, and fusion of muscle stem cells, known as satellite cells. The fusion of satellite cell-derived mononucleated muscle cells (SCMs) is indispensable for the generation of multinucleated, contractile myofibers during muscle repair. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying SCM fusion during muscle regeneration remain poorly understood. In this study, we uncovered an essential role for branched actin polymerization in SCM fusion. Using conditional knockouts of the Arp2/3 complex and its actin nucleation-promoting factors, N-WASP and WAVE, we demonstrated that branched actin polymerization is required for the SCM fusion, but not for satellite cell proliferation, differentiation, and migration. We showed that the N-WASP and WAVE complexes have partially redundant functions in regulating SCM fusion. Furthermore, we revealed that branched actin polymerization is essential for generating invasive protrusions at the fusogenic synapses in SCMs. Taken together, our study has identified new components of the myoblast fusion machinery in skeletal muscle regeneration and demonstrated a critical role for branched actin-propelled invasive protrusions in this process.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Photosymbiosis Shaped Animal Genome Architecture and Gene Evolution as Revealed in Giant Clams

Symbioses are major drivers of organismal diversification and phenotypic innovation. However, how long-term symbioses shape whole genome evolution in metazoans is still underexplored. Here, we used a giant clam (Tridacna maxima) genome to demonstrate how symbiosis has left complex signatures in an animals genome. Giant clams thrive in oligotrophic waters by forming a remarkable association with photosymbiotic dinoflagellate algae. Genome-based demographic inferences uncovered a tight correlation between T. maxima global population change and major paleoclimate and habitat shifts, highlighting how abiotic and biotic factors dictate T. maxima microevolution. Comparative analyses revealed unique symbiosis-driven genomic features, including expansion and contraction of immunity-related gene families and a large proportion of lineage-specific genes. Strikingly, about 70% of the genome is composed of repetitive elements, especially transposable elements, most likely resulting from a symbiosis-adapted immune system. This work greatly enhances our understanding of genomic drivers of symbiosis that underlie metazoan evolution and diversification.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2024

A STAG2-PAXIP1/PAGR1 axis suppresses lung tumorigenesis

The cohesin complex is a critical regulator of gene expression. STAG2 is the most frequently mutated cohesin subunit across several cancer types and is a key tumor suppressor in lung cancer. Here, we coupled somatic CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing and tumor barcoding with an autochthonous oncogenic KRAS-driven lung cancer model and show that STAG2 is uniquely tumor suppressive among all core and auxiliary cohesin components. The heterodimeric complex components PAXIP1 and PAGR1 have highly correlated effects with STAG2 in human lung cancer cell lines, are tumor suppressors in vivo, and are epistatic to STAG2 in oncogenic KRAS-driven lung tumorigenesis in vivo. STAG2 inactivation elicits changes in gene expression, chromatin accessibility and 3D genome conformation that impact cancer cell state. Gene expression and chromatin accessibility similarities between STAG2- and PAXIP1-deficient neoplastic cells further relates STAG2-cohesin to PAXIP1/PAGR1. These findings reveal a STAG2-PAXIP1/PAGR1 tumor-suppressive axis and uncover novel PAXIP1-dependent and PAXIP1-independent STAG2-cohesin mediated mechanisms of lung tumor suppression. SUMMARYSTAG2 is a frequently mutated cohesin subunit across several cancers and one of the most important functional suppressors of lung adenocarcinoma. Our findings underscore important roles of STAG2 in suppressing lung tumorigenesis and highlight a STAG2-PAXIP1/PAGR1 tumor-suppressive program that may transcend cancer type.

cancer biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Dynamic phosphorylation of Hcm1 promotes fitness in chronic stress

Cell survival depends upon the ability to adapt to changing environments. Environmental stressors trigger an acute stress response program that rewires cell physiology, downregulates proliferation genes and pauses the cell cycle until the cell adapts. After the acute response is resolved, cells resume cycling but at a reduced rate. The importance of cell cycle changes for survival in chronic stress is not clear. Here, we show that dynamic phosphorylation of the yeast cell cycle-regulatory transcription factor Hcm1 is required to maintain fitness in chronic stress. Hcm1 is activated by cyclin dependent kinase (CDK) during S-phase and is inactivated by the phosphatase calcineurin (CN) in response to stressors that signal through increases in cytosolic Ca2+. Expression of a constitutively active, phosphomimetic Hcm1 mutant reduces fitness in stress, suggesting Hcm1 inactivation is required for survival. However, a comprehensive analysis of Hcm1 phosphomutants revealed that Hcm1 activity is also important to survive stress, and that all mutants with fixed phosphorylation states are less fit in stress. Moreover, pulses of Hcm1 activity are necessary to maximize target gene expression in stress. These findings demonstrate that the expression levels of Hcm1 target genes influence fitness in stress and suggest that the dynamic phosphorylation of cell cycle regulators plays a crucial role in promoting survival in stressful environments.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Enhancer activation from transposable elements in extrachromosomal DNA

Extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) drives oncogene amplification and intratumoral heterogeneity in aggressive cancers. While transposable element (TE) reactivation is common in cancer, its role on ecDNA remains unexplored. Here, we map the 3D architecture of MYC-amplified ecDNA in colorectal cancer cells and identify 68 ecDNA-interacting elements (EIEs)--genomic loci enriched for TEs that are frequently integrated onto ecDNA. We focus on an L1M4a1#LINE/L1 fragment co-amplified with MYC, which functions only in the ecDNA amplified context. Using CRISPR-CATCH, CRISPR interference, and reporter assays, we confirm its presence on ecDNA, enhancer activity, and essentiality for cancer cell fitness. These findings reveal that repetitive elements can be reactivated and co-opted as functional rather than inactive sequences on ecDNA, potentially driving oncogene expression and tumor evolution. Our study uncovers a mechanism by which ecDNA harnesses repetitive elements to shape cancer phenotypes, with implications for diagnosis and therapy.

genetics↗

bioRxiv2024

Deficiency in transmitter release triggers homeostatic transcriptional changes that increase presynaptic excitability

Weakening of synaptic transmission at the Drosophila larval neuromuscular junction triggers two forms of homeostatic compensation, one that increases the probability of glutamate release per action potential (Pr) and another that increases motoneuron (MN) activity. We investigated the molecular changes in MNs that underlie the increase in MN activity. RNA-seq analysis on MNs whose glutamate release is weakened by knockdown of components of the MN transmitter release machinery reveals a reduction in expression of a group of genes that encode potassium channels and their positive modulators. These results identify a mechanism of compensation for weakened synaptic transmission by MNs, which engages a transcriptional program in those cells to increase firing and, thereby, ensure sufficient locomotory drive.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2024

Temporal Dynamics and Adaptive Mechanisms of Microbial Communities: Divergent Responses and Network Interactions

Microbial communities are integral to aquatic ecosystems, playing key roles in biogeochemical cycles, nutrient recycling, and ecosystem functioning. Despite their importance, the temporal dynamics of these communities, especially in response to short-term environmental changes, remain inadequately understood. This study utilizes high-throughput amplicon sequencing and Co-occurrence network analysis to elucidate how prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbial communities dynamically respond to short-term environmental fluctuations, and dynamics of networks. Our results reveal distinct temporal patterns, with eukaryotic communities showing consistent increases in diversity, while prokaryotic communities exhibited more pronounced fluctuations and directional changes. Co-occurrence network analysis further highlighted the differences in community structure between phases of homogenization and heterogenization. Specifically, we observed a shift from a more modular network during the homogenization phase to a more centralized network in the heterogenization phase, resulting in increased network fragility. Environmental factors, such as nutrient levels and climatic conditions, were found to play pivotal roles in shaping these dynamics. This study provides critical insights into the resilience and adaptability of microbial communities, emphasizing the intricate interplay between biodiversity, network structure, and ecosystem stability under varying environmental conditions.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2024

Comparative Analysis of Polysaccharide and Cell Wall Structure in Aspergillus nidulans and Aspergillus fumigatus by Solid-State NMR

Invasive aspergillosis poses a significant threat to immunocompromised patients, leading to high mortality rates associated with these infections. Targeting the biosynthesis of cell wall carbohydrates is a promising strategy for antifungal drug development and will be advanced by a molecular-level understanding of the native structures of polysaccharides within their cellular context. Solid-state NMR spectroscopy has recently provided detailed insights into the cell wall organization of Aspergillus fumigatus, but genetic and biochemical evidence highlights species-specific differences among Aspergillus species. In this study, we employed a combination of 13C, 15N, and 1H-detection solid-state NMR, supplemented by Dynamic Nuclear Polarization (DNP), to compare the structural organization of cell wall polymers and their assembly in the cell walls of A. fumigatus and A. nidulans, both of which are key model organisms and human pathogens. The two species exhibited a similar rigid core architecture, consisting of chitin, -glucan, and {beta}-glucan, which contributed to comparable cell wall properties, including polymer dynamics, water retention, and supramolecular organization. However, differences were observed in the chitin, galactosaminogalactan, protein, and lipid content, as well as in the dynamics of galactomannan and the structure of the glucan matrix.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2024

Paraptosome: A Novel Pathological Feature in Paraptotic Cell Death

Paraptosis is a novel form of programmed cell death characterized by distinct morphological features such as swelling of the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria, and cytoplasmic vacuolation. Unlike apoptosis, paraptosis does not involve the activation of caspases or DNA fragmentation. These unique features make paraptosis an intriguing target for cancer therapy, particularly against apoptosis-resistant cells. Here, we report a novel morphological feature of paraptosis: the formation of high-density spherical structure, which we tentatively term "paraptosome." We found that these putative paraptosomes originate from the Golgi apparatus, appearing as high-density formations under light microscopy and colocalizing with the trans-Golgi marker {beta}4GALT1-RFP. Time-lapse confocal microscopy and immunostaining demonstrated that putative paraptosomes form due to Golgi stress or disintegration, leading to severe disruption of Golgi function. Furthermore, we show that paraptosis inducers such as glabridin, morusin, and honokiol can cause significant alterations in the endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondria, autophagosomes, and lysosomes in U251MG glioblastoma cells; however, the formation of putative paraptosomes is not induced by isolated stress inducers. Collectively, these findings suggest that the putative paraptosome may be a novel characteristic structure of paraptosis. The discovery of paraptosomes provides a unique marker for defining paraptotic cell death and offers new insights into the characteristic pathological phenomena associated with multiple organelle dysfunction. This finding broadens the scope of cell biology research by introducing a new structural paradigm linked to paraptosis and may have implications for developing targeted therapies against apoptosis-resistant cancers.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2024

A Tough Biointerface in Human Knee Empowered by Dynamic Phase-transforming Minerals in Collagenous Matrix

Joining heterogeneous materials in engineered structures remains a daunting challenge because of stress concentration, often resulting in unexpected failures1,2. Studying the structures in organisms that evolved for centuries provides valuable insights that can be instrumental in addressing this mechanical challenge3-5. The human meniscus root-bone interface is a remarkable example known for its exceptional fatigue resistance, toughness and interfacial adhesion properties throughout its lifespan6-8. We studied the multiscale graded mineralization structure designs within the 30-micron soft-hard interface at the root-bone junction and examined its toughening mechanisms. This graded interface with interdigitated structures and exponential modulus increase exhibits a phase transition from amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) to gradually matured hydroxyapatite (HAP) crystals, mediated by location-specific distributed biomolecules. In coordination with collagen fibril deformation and reorientation, ACP particles debond with collagen and slide to new positions which enable frictional energy dissipation, and HAP particles arrest cracks. The mineral in transforming phases work synergistically to provide interfacial toughening. The presented biointerface model exemplifies human musculoskeletal systems adaptations to mechanical requirements, offering a blueprint for developing tough interfaces in broad applications.

bioengineering↗

bioRxiv2024

The AP2/ERF transcription factor HcERF5 confers drought tolerance via ABA-mediated signaling in kenaf

The APETALA2/ethylene response factor (AP2/ERFs) are pivotal in regulating abiotic stress responses in plants. However, the specific role of ERFs in kenafs response to drought stress remains unclear. In this study, a transcription factors HcERF5 was isolated from kenaf and its role in drought stress tolerance was analyzed. HcERF5 was found to localize in both nucleus and cytoplasm and could be significantly induced by polyethylene glycol-6000 (PEG-6000) and abscisic acid (ABA) in kenaf seedlings. In transgenic Arabidopsis expressing the HcERF5 promoter-driven {beta}-glucuronidase (GUS), strong GUS activity was observed in roots, stems, and leaves. Overexpression of HcERF5 in Arabidopsis enhanced seed germination rates under drought or ABA stress and improved drought tolerance in seedlings by increasing antioxidant enzyme activities, whereas aterf5 knockout lines exhibited the opposite trend. Additionally, HcERF5 overexpressing Arabidopsis showed significantly increased drought tolerance and reduced sensitivity to ABA. Furthermore, virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of HcERF5 in kenaf reduced drought tolerance, as evidenced by decreased antioxidant enzyme activity, increased stomatal aperture, and elevated levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and proline under drought stress. RNA-seq analysis further revealed that HcERF5 directly regulated ABA signaling pathway. Yeast-two-hybrid (Y2H) assays revealed 29 proteins that interact with HcERF5. Among them, the expression of downstream drought stress-related genes HcPRK, HcRD22, HcMAP2, HcCAB, HcCS, and HcCCoAOMT3 were significantly reduced in HcERF5-silenced plants. Overall, this study highlights the significant potential of HcERF5 in enhancing drought tolerance in kenaf. HighlightO_LIHcERF5 overexpression enhanced drought tolerance in kenaf, however silencing increased drought sensitivity. C_LIO_LIHcERF5 regulates ABA synthesis and increases kenaf stomatal conductance and density under drought stress. C_LIO_LIHcERF5 regulates plant hormone signal transduction, MAPK signalling, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis in kenaf under drought stress. C_LIO_LIProtein interaction revealed HcERF5 interacts with six stress-response genes. C_LI

molecular biology↗