Chromosomal‐level reference genome of the incense tree Aquilaria sinensis

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available on open access from Wiley via the DOI in this recordData Accessibility: The raw genome and RNA sequencing data have been deposited in the SRA under Bioproject numbers SRR10737433 and PRJNA534170. The final chromosome assembly was submitted to NCBI Assembly under accession number VZPZ00000000 in NCBI.Trees in the genus Aquilaria (Thymelaeaceae) are known as lign aloes, and are native to the forests of southeast Asia. Lign aloes produce agarwood as an antimicrobial defence. Agarwood has a long history of cultural and medicinal use, and is of considerable commercial value. However, due to habitat destruction and over collection, lign aloes are threatened in the wild. We present a chromosomal‐level assembly for Aquilaria sinensis, a lign aloe endemic to China known as the incense tree, based on Illumina short‐read, 10X Genomics linked‐read, and Hi‐C sequencing data. Our 783.8Mbp A. sinensis genome assembly is of high physical contiguity, with a scaffold N50 of 87.6Mbp, and high completeness, with a 95.8% BUSCO score for eudicotyledon genes. We include 17 transcriptomes from various plant tissues, providing a total of 35,965 gene models. We reveal the first complete set of genes involved in sesquiterpenoid production, plant defence, and agarwood production for the genus Aquilaria, including genes involved in the biosynthesis of sesquiterpenoids via the mevalonic acid (MVA), 1‐deoxy‐D‐xylulose‐5‐phosphate (DXP), and methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathways. We perform a detailed repeat content analysis, revealing that transposable elements account for ~61% of the genome, with major contributions from gypsy‐like and copia‐like LTR retroelements. We also provide a comparative analysis of repeat content across sequenced species in the order Malvales. Our study reveals the first chromosomal‐level genome assembly for a tree in the genus Aquilaria and provides an unprecedented opportunity to address a variety of applied, genomic and evolutionary questions in the Thymelaeaceae more widely.Chinese University of Hong KongAgriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department, Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative RegionBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC

Derivatives of garlic inhibit prostate cancer cell growth under in vitro and in vivo conditions

Despite extensive research worldwide, there is no effective way tocontrol the growth of androgen-independent (AI) prostate cancer.Garlic (Allium sativum) extract has been suggested as an anti-canceragent based on a number of epidemiological studies. As is wellknown several compounds have been isolated from garlic includingthe lipid-soluble allyl sulfur compounds such as diallyl disulfide(DADS) and diallyl trisulfide (DATS) and water soluble compoundssuch as S-allylcysteine (SAC) and S-allylmercaptocysteine (SAMC).We have carried out extensive studies on the effects of SAC andSAMC on prostate cancer cell lines and found that these garlic deriv-atives suppressed prostate cancer cell proliferation, migration andinvasion. This inhibitory effect was associated with induction of mes-enchymal to epithelial transition. More importantly, the SAC andSAMC treatment led to restoration of E-cadherin expression whilethe expression of E-cadherin repressor, Snail, was downregulated.We have also evaluated the effect of these compounds on prostatecancer using a prostate cancer xenograft, CWR22R, and AI prostatecancer in nude mice. The results showed that treatment with thegarlic derivatives inhibited the growth of CWR22R without anydetectable toxic effect on nude mice. The SAC and SAMC inducedgrowth reduction was correlated with a reduction in serum PSA leveland proliferation rate of xenografts. Our results suggest that thesegarlic derivatives may be potential therapeutic agents for the sup-pression of AI prostate cancer.Supported by AICR (05A006-REV2) and RGC grants(HKU7478/03M) to XHW and YCW (HKU7490.03M, 7470/04M,NSFC/RGCN HKU738/03, HKU Foundation Seed Fund, 03).link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Garlic extract synergizes with docetaxel in suppressing the hormone refractory prostate cancer growth

To address the need for fast, accurate interferometric analytical tools, the Fringe Analysis Workstation (FAW) has been developed to analyze complex fringe image data easily and rapidly. FAW has been used for flow studies in aerodynamics and hydrodynamics experiments, and for target shell characterization in inertial confinement fusion research. This paper will describe three major components of the FAW system: input/output, fringe analysis/image processing, and visualization/graphical user interface

S-allylcysteine, a water-soluble garlic derivative, suppresses the growth of a human androgen-independent prostate cancer xenograft, CWR22R, under in vivo conditions

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of S-allylcysteine (SAC) on CWR22R, a human androgen-independent (AI) prostate cancer xenograft, in nude mice. Despite extensive research worldwide there is no effective way to control the growth of prostate cancer, and we previously reported that SAC and S- allylmercaptocysteine (SAMC), two water-soluble derivatives of garlic, inhibit cancer cell invasion through restoration of E-cadherin expression in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effects of SAC on tumour cell proliferation markers such as Ki-67 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and apoptotic regulators including Bcl-2 and cleaved caspase-3, were assessed by immunohistochemical staining. The inhibitory effects of SAC on prostate cancer invasion was examined by immunoreactivity of E-cadherin and its binding proteins α, β and γ-catenins. The serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level at three different times (initiation, middle and end of treatment) and toxicity of SAC on several organs after treatment were assessed. RESULTS: Treatment with SAC resulted in inhibition of the growth of CWR22R, with no detectable toxic effect on nude mice. The SAC-induced growth reduction was correlated with a concurrent reduction in serum PSA level and proliferation rate of xenografts, together with an inhibition of invasion through the restoration of E-cadherin and γ-catenin expression. Furthermore, the apoptotic rate of SAC-treated tumours increased together with a decrease in Bcl-2 and increase in cleaved caspase-3. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that this garlic-derived compound might be a potential therapeutic agent for suppressing AI prostate cancer. © 2006 The Authors.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Does acupuncture therapy alter activation of neural pathway for pain perception in irritable bowel syndrome?: A comparative study of true and sham acupuncture using functional magnetic resonance imaging

Background/Aims: Patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are characterized by abnormal central processing with altered brain activation in response to visceral nociceptive signals. The effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on IBS patients is unclear. The study is set to study the effect of EA on brain activation during noxious rectal distension in IBS patients using a randomized sham-controlled model. Methods: Thirty IBS-diarrhea patients were randomized to true electroacupuncture or sham acupuncture. Functional MRI was performed to evaluate cerebral activation at the following time points: (1) baseline when there was rectal distension only, (2) rectal distension during application of EA, (3) rectal distension after cessation of EA and (4) EA alone with no rectal distension. Group comparison was made under each condition using SPM5 program. Results: Rectal distension induced significant activation of the anterior cingulated cortex, prefrontal cortex, thalamus, temporal regions and cerebellum at baseline. During and immediately after EA, increased cerebral activation from baseline was observed in the anterior cingulated cortex, bilateral prefrontal cortex, thalamus, temporal regions and right insula in both groups. However, true electroacupuncture led to significantly higher activation at right insula, as well as pulvinar and medial nucleus of the thalamus when compared to sham acupuncture. Conclusions: We postulate that acupuncture might have the potential effect of pain modulation in IBS by 2 actions: (1) modulation of serotonin pathway at insula and (2) modulation of mood and affection in higher cortical center via ascending pathway at the pulvinar and medial nucleus of the thalamus. © 2012 The Korean Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Does acupuncture therapy alter activation of neural pathway for pain perception in irritable bowel syndrome? : a comparative study of true and sham acupuncture using functional magnetic resonance imaging

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