Dendrobium officinale Kimura et Migo is a traditional Chinese orchid herb that has both ornamental value and a broad range of therapeutic effects. Here, we report the first de novo assembled 1.35 Gb genome sequences for D. officinale by combining the second-generation Illumina Hiseq 2000 and third-generation PacBio sequencing technologies. We found that orchids have a complete inflorescence gene set and have some specific inflorescence genes. We observed gene expansion in gene families related to fungus symbiosis and drought resistance. We analyzed biosynthesis pathways of medicinal components of D. officinale and found extensive duplication of SPS and SuSy genes, which are related to polysaccharide generation, and that the pathway of D. officinale alkaloid synthesis could be extended to generate 16-epivellosimine. The D. officinale genome assembly demonstrates a new approach to deciphering large complex genomes and, as an important orchid species and a traditional Chinese medicine, the D. officinale genome will facilitate future research on the evolution of orchid plants, as well as the study of medicinal components and potential genetic breeding of the dendrobe.

These observations suggest that, in addition to the striking effects of ORF-based single nucleotide polymorphisms on TPMT activity, the VNTR within the 5'-flanking region of the TPMT gene also may modulate levels of RBC TPMT activity.

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A highly efficient oxidation of cyclohexane to cyclohexanol and cyclohexanone is accomplished over calcined Au/ZSM-5 molecular sieve catalyst with oxygen as oxidant.

Ion channels are crucial in the generation and modulation of excitability in the nervous system and have been implicated in human epilepsy. Forty-one epilepsy-associated ion channel genes and their mutations are systematically reviewed. In this paper, we analyzed the genotypes, functional alterations (funotypes), and phenotypes of these mutations. Eleven genes featured loss-of-function mutations and six had gain-of-function mutations. Nine genes displayed diversified funotypes, among which a distinct funotype-phenotype correlation was found in SCN1A. These data suggest that the funotype is an essential consideration in evaluating the pathogenicity of mutations and a distinct funotype or funotype-phenotype correlation helps to define the pathogenic potential of a gene.

The morphological modulation and phase conversion of a-and b-Ni(OH) 2 complex architectures with varying subunits from nanopetals, nanocolumns, nanocones, and nanoflakes were investigated using a facile coordination homogeneous precipitation method in the Ni(NO 3 ) 2 + urea system. Slow growth and nucleation rates due to relatively low reaction temperatures and molar ratios of CO(NH 2 ) 2 to Ni(NO 3 ) 2 induced the formation of uniform flower-like a-Ni(OH) 2 architectures. Such flower-like architectures originated from subordinate nanopetals that grow perpendicular to the primordial nanopetal surface and are driven by minimum surface free energy effects. At relatively high reaction temperatures, flower-like a-Ni(OH) 2 can transform into b-Ni(OH) 2 microspheres assembled from nanocolumns, nanocones, and even nanoflakes by varying the reaction time. These processes could be related to the synergetic effect of the anisotropic growth and continuous increase in mass transportation along the [001] direction. Flower-like a-Ni(OH) 2 exhibited better electrochemical activity for glucose oxidation compared with b-Ni(OH) 2 microspheres consisting of nanocones because of its special flower-like morphology with high specific surface areas, well-ordered pores, and layered structures intercalated by water and anions. The approach in this study can be used to fabricate other metal hydroxide nanostructures. Flower-like Ni(OH) 2 nanoarchitectures have potential applications in rechargeable batteries, photonic catalysis, and non-enzymatic sensors for glucose.

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Postfermented Pu-erh tea (PE) protects against metabolic syndrome (MS), but little is known regarding its underlying mechanisms. Animal experiments were performed to determine whether the gut microbiota mediated the improvement in diet-induced MS by PE and its main active components (PEAC). We confirmed that PE altered the body composition and energy efficiency, attenuated metabolic endotoxemia and systemic and multiple-tissue inflammation, and improved the glucose and lipid metabolism disorder in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice via multiple pathways. Notably, PE promoted the lipid oxidation and browning of white adipose tissue (WAT) in HFD-fed mice. Polyphenols and caffeine (CAF) played critical roles in improving these parameters. Meanwhile, PE remodeled the disrupted intestinal homeostasis that was induced by the HFD. Many metabolic changes observed in the mice were significantly correlated with alterations in specific gut bacteria. and were speculated to be the key gut bacterial links between the PEAC treatment and MS at the genus and species levels. Interestingly, administration altered body composition and energy efficiency, promoted the browning of WAT, and improved the lipid and glucose metabolism disorder in the HFD-fed mice, whereas administration reduced the HFD-induced liver and intestinal inflammatory responses. In summary, polyphenol- and CAF-rich PE improved diet-induced MS, and this effect was associated with a remodeling of the gut microbiota.