Recognizing Plant Cell first authors: Shuang Li

Shuang Li, first author of Histone Acetylation Cooperating with AREB1 Transcription Factor Regulates Drought Response and Tolerance in Populus trichocarpa

Current Position: Ph.D, State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China

Education: BS, School of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, China

Non-scientific Interests: Travelling, mountain hiking and watching movies

 Brief bio: I have always been interested in biological sciences, particularly tree biology. After getting my BS degree from Northeast Forestry University, I joined the State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding of the same university in 2012 to pursue a MS degree in tree molecular biology. With training in molecular biology and many basic experimental skills in my MS research, I started my PhD program since 2015. My PhD thesis research focuses on interactions between H3K9ac modifications and transcriptomes in Populus trichocarpa under drought stress. Using in vivo ChIP, EMSA, and in vivo transactivation assays, we identified that PtrAREB1-2 transcription factor binds to ABRE (ABA-Responsive Element) motifs in drought-responsive genes and recruits the histone acetyltransferase unit ADA2b-GCN5 to activate these genes to develop drought tolerance. The work provides a missing link between epigenetic and transcriptional regulations in drought response and resistance in plants.