A Chromosome-Scale Genome Assembly of Paper Mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) Provides New Insights into Its Forage and Papermaking Usage.

Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera) is a well-known woody tree historically used for Cai Lun papermaking, one of the four great inventions of ancient China. More recently, Paper mulberry has also been used as forage to address the shortage of feedstuff because of its digestible crude fiber and high protein contents. In this study, we obtained a chromosome-scale genome assembly for Paper mulberry using integrated approaches, including Illumina and PacBio sequencing platform as well as Hi-C, optical, and genetic maps. The assembled Paper mulberry genome consists of 386.83 Mb, which is close to the estimated size, and 99.25% (383.93 Mb) of the assembly was assigned to 13 pseudochromosomes. Comparative genomic analysis revealed the expansion and contraction in the flavonoid and lignin biosynthetic gene families, respectively, accounting for the enhanced flavonoid and decreased lignin biosynthesis in Paper mulberry. Moreover, the increased ratio of syringyl-lignin to guaiacyl-lignin in Paper mulberry underscores its suitability for use in medicine, forage, papermaking, and barkcloth making. We also identified the root-associated microbiota of Paper mulberry and found that Pseudomonas and Rhizobia were enriched in its roots and may provide the source of nitrogen for its stems and leaves via symbiotic nitrogen fixation. Collectively, these results suggest that Paper mulberry might have undergone adaptive evolution and recruited nitrogen-fixing microbes to promote growth by enhancing flavonoid production and altering lignin monomer composition. Our study provides significant insights into genetic basis of the usefulness of Paper mulberry in papermaking and barkcloth making, and as forage. These insights will facilitate further domestication and selection as well as industrial utilization of Paper mulberry worldwide.

[Effect of hydroxyethyl starch 130/0.4 on S100B protein level and cerebral oxygen metabolism in open cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of hydroxyethyl starch (HES) 130/0.4 on S100B protein level and cerebral metabolism of oxygen in open cardiac surgery under cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and to explore whether it has the protective effect of 6%HES130/0.4 as priming solution on cerebral injury during CPB and explore the probable mechanism. METHODS: Forty patients with atrioseptal defect or ventricular septal defect scheduled for elective surgical repair under CPB with moderate hypothermia were randomly divided into two equal groups: HES 130/0.4 group (HES group) in which HES 130/0.4 (voluven) was used as priming solution and gelatin group (GRL group) in which gelofusine (succinylated gelatin) was used as priming solution. ECG, heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), central venous pressure (CVP), arterial partial pressure of oxygen (P(a)O(2),), arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (P(et)CO(2)) and body temperature (naso-pharyngeal and rectal) were continuously monitored during the operation. Blood samples were obtained from the central vein for determination of blood concentrations of S100B protein at the following time points: before CPB (T(0)), 20 minutes after the beginning of CPB (T(1)), immediately after the termination of CPB (T(2)), 60 minutes after the termination of CPB (T(3)), and 24 hours after the termination of CPB (T(4)). The serum S100B protein levels were measured by ELISA. At the same time points blood samples were obtained from the jugular vein and radial artery to undergo blood gas analysis and measurement of blood glucose, based on which the cerebral oxygen metabolic rate/cerebral metabolic rate of glucose (CMRO(2)/CMR(GLU)) was calculated. RESULTS: Compared with the time point of immediately before CPB (T(0)), The S100B protein level of the 2 groups began to increase since the time point T(1), peaked at the time point T(2), began to decrease gradually since the time point T(3), and were still significantly higher than those before CPB at the time point T(4) (all P < 0.01), and the S100B protein levels at different time points of the HES group were all significantly lower than those of the GEL group (all P < 0.01). The S(jv)O(2) and CMRO(2)/CMR(GLU) levels of both groups increased at the time point T(1), decreased at the time points T(2) and T(3), and then restored to normal at the time points T(4). In the GEL group there were no significant differences in the levels between any 2 different time points, however, in the HES group S(jv)O(2) and CMRO(2)/CMR(GLU) levels at T(1) was significantly higher than those at the other time points (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: S100B protein increases significantly in open cardiac surgery under CPB. HES130/0.4 lowers the S100B protein levels from the beginning of CPB to one hour after the termination of CPB with the probable mechanism of improving the cerebral metabolism of oxygen. 6%HES130/0.4 as priming solution may play a protective role in reduction of cerebral injury during CPB and open cardiac surgery.

Inhibition effect of Peg-IFNα-2b and Imatinib alone or combination on imatinib-resistant gastrointestinal stromal tumors cell lines.

To investigate the inhibition effect of polyethylene glycol interferon α-2b and imatinib alone or combination on imatinib-resistant GIST cell lines, and to explore the possible mechanism. Imatinib resistant GIST cell lines (GIST-R) were exposured to either Peg-IFNα-2b or imatinib alone or combination. The proliferative inhibition rates and the combination index (CI) values of GIST-R cells were detected by MTT assay. The apoptotic rates of GIST-R cells were detected by flow cytometry. The expression levels of phospho-mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), and Bcl-2 of GIST-R cells were analyzed by Western blot. GIST-R cells presents remarkable resistance to imatinib, and the resistance index (RI) were (P<0.05). And The proliferative inhibition rate and the apoptotic rate of GIST-R cells in combination of Peg-IFNα2b and Imatinib group were higher than those in Peg-IFNα-2b or imatinib alone group (P<0.05). The CI value of Peg-IFNα-2b and imatinib was less than each alone, which had a synergistic effect (CI=0.63). As compared with the control (GIST-R cells without any treatment), the expression levels of p-mTOR and Bcl-2 proteins of GIST-R cells in combination of Peg-IFNα-2b and imatinib group were decreased (P<0.01). The combination of Peg-IFNα-2b and imatinib generats a synergistic effect in GIST-R cells, and reversal of drug resistance. This effect may be related with apoptosis and down-regulation of the expression of p-mTOR.