Mulberry Branches Research Articles

Mulberry Branch Extracts Enhance the Antioxidant Capacity of Broiler Breast Muscle by Activating the Nrf2 and Cytochrome P450 Signaling Pathway

Mulberry branch extracts (MBEs) have garnered significant attention as natural feed additives and antioxidants; however, their antioxidant properties in meat post-slaughter and their influence on muscle-related metabolic processes remain largely unexplored. Herein, we evaluated the effects of MBEs on the antioxidant capacity and metabolic processes of breast muscle in yellow-feather broilers by adding 0 g/kg, 1.5 g/kg, 3.0 g/kg, and 4.5 g/kg of MBEs to their diets. The results demonstrate that MBEs enhanced the activity of antioxidant enzymes in muscle tissue. Specifically, a real-time quantitative PCR analysis revealed that MBEs increased the expression of antioxidant enzyme genes in a dose-dependent manner, activated the Nrf2 signaling pathway, and upregulated the expression of the Nrf2 gene and its downstream targets at doses of up to 3.0 g/kg. Furthermore, the results of widely targeted metabolomics indicate that the dietary supplementation of MBEs changed the amino acid profile of the muscle, increasing the levels of amino acids and small peptides that contribute to antioxidant properties while reducing the contents of oxidized lipids and carnitine (C5:1) and partially reducing the content of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC). Notably, at doses of up to 3 g/kg, the levels of five signature bile acids increased in correlation with the added dose. A KEGG analysis indicated that the differential metabolites were predominantly enriched in the metabolism of xenobiotics by cytochrome P450, suggesting that the function of MBEs may be associated with the expression of P450 enzymes. In summary, this study demonstrates that MBEs are effective, safe, and natural antioxidants, offering a viable solution to mitigating oxidative stress in the yellow-feather broiler farming industry and even in livestock farming.

Enhancing sodium storage performance of biomass-derived hard carbon via hydrothermal carbonization

Sodium-ion capacitors (SICs), emerging as new energy storage devices with economic and strategic significance, encounter the obstacle of developing anode materials that are high-performance, economical, and environmentally sustainable. However, the advancement of hard carbon as a cost-effective anode material has been impeded due to its inadequate rate performance and cycling stability. Here, discarded mulberry branches are utilized as precursors. Through hydrothermal treatment, the interplanar spacing of graphite-like nanocrystals is expanded, leading to the construction of a hierarchical pore structure and optimization of the ion transmission route. Consequently, the hard carbon electrode achieves a high capacity of 330mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, and maintains a substantial capacity of 175.5mAh g−1 even under a high current density of 10 A g−1. Notably, in extremely cold conditions of –50 °C, the electrode retains a capacity of 155mAh g−1 at 0.1 A g−1, with no significant capacity loss observed after 400 cycles at −20 °C and a current density of 1 A g−1. This study introduces a straightforward and sustainable approach to fabricate advanced hard carbon derived from biomass for application in energy storage systems.

Time scale effect of magnetic ferric oxide modified biochar in-situ remediation of arsenic-contaminated paddy soil

The ferric oxide (Fe3O4)-impregnated magnetic mulberry branch biochar (MBC) was prepared, and a long-term incubation trial was conducted to assess its efficiency in the remediation of As-contaminated soil. The changes in soil physicochemical properties [pH, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), soil organic matter (SOM), and electrical conductivity (EC)], soil nutrient elements, soil enzymes, soil bacterial community structure, and biodiversity at four different doses of MBC (1 %, 3 %, 5 %, and 7 %, wt%) across three aging periods (30, 90, and 180 d) were revealed. The results showed that the residual state of As increased by 161.4 % after 180 day of incubation with 5 % MBC. Spearman correlation and random forest model analyses revealed that available nitrogen had the highest contribution to the arsenic passivation process in soil. The addition of 5 % MBC significantly altered the bacterial abundance and composition in the soil. Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, Bacteroidetes, and Acidobacteriota were identified as the predominant bacteria at the phylum level in all treated groups. The visualizations of soil bacterial co-occurrence networks over different passivate periods indicated more cooperative mutualism and complex interactions from day 30–180. After MBC was added to the soil, the arsenic toxicity was reduced with increasing aging time through bacterial community succession and co-occurrence networks. Overall, MBC facilitated the conversion of available arsenic by influencing the physicochemical factors and microbial community structure of the soil, thus reducing arsenic toxicity. MBC is a promising material for remediating arsenic-contaminated paddy soils.

Mechanism underlying effects of cellulose-degrading microbial inoculation on amino acid degradation and biosynthesis during composting

Amino acids are essential organic compounds in composting products. However, the mechanism underlying the amino acid metabolism during composting remains unclear. This study aims at exploring the impacts of inoculating cellulose-degrading microbes on amino acid metabolism during composting with mulberry branches and silkworm excrements. Cellulose-degrading microbial inoculation enhanced amino acid degradation by 18%–43% by increasing protease and sucrase activities and stimulating eight amino acid degradation pathways from the initial to thermophilic phases, with Enterococcus, Saccharomonospora, Corynebacterium being the dominant bacterial genera, but stimulated amino acid production by 54% by increasing sucrase and urease activities, decreasing β-glucosidase activities, and stimulating twenty-two amino acid synthesis pathways at the mature phase, with Thermobifida, Devosia, and Cellulosimicrobium being the dominant bacterial genera. The results suggest that cellulose-degrading microbial inoculation enhances amino acid degradation from the initial to thermophilic phases and biosynthesis at the mature phase, thereby improving the quality of organic fertilizer.

Network Pharmacology Prediction and Metabolomics Validation of the Novel Targets of Morus alba L. against High-Fat Diet-Induced Diabetes Mellitus in C57/6J Mice

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is an endocrine-metabolic disorder that has limited approaches to treat effectively. Morus alba L., also known as mulberry, is a well-known medicinal plant, and its branch bark has shown hypoglycemic activity. It is rich in antioxidant and anti-inflammatory ingredients. In this study, we used metabolomics combined with network pharmacology to investigate the molecular mechanism and potential key targets of mulberry branch bark powder (MBBP) for treating DM. Serum metabolomics was performed to analyze the differences in metabolites and enrich metabolic pathways. Network pharmacology, based on systems biology tools, was applied to generate the pathway-target-compound network. Integrated analyses were then used to screen for key targets. To verify the obtained key targets, we used a molecular docking method and experimental validation. Our findings revealed that thirty-five endogenous metabolites contributed to the therapeutic impact of MBBP against DM. The analysis of 10 hub genes in the compound-target network partially supported the enrichment of metabolic pathways. Further analysis focused on two compounds (eugenol and mulberrofuran A) and three key targets (NOS2, MAOA, and CYP1A1). This study explores the active compounds of MBBP against DM and provides a novel perspective for improving DM treatment based on key targets.

Efficient extraction of highly reactive lignin from waste mulberry branches

Efficient extraction of highly reactive lignin from waste mulberry branches

Mulberry branch fiber improved lipid metabolism and egg yolk fatty acid composition of laying hens via the enterohepatic axis

BackgroundThe utilization of mulberry branch fiber (MF), the largest by-product of the sericulture industry, is an important issue. Supplementation with MF as a dietary fiber for poultry may serve as a useful application. However, little is known about the effects of MF on liver lipid metabolism and egg yolk fatty acid composition of laying hens and their underlying mechanisms. In this study, we performed a multi-omics investigation to explore the variations in liver lipid metabolism, egg yolk fatty acid composition, gut microbiota, and the associations among them induced by dietary MF in laying hens.ResultsDietary MF had no harmful effects on the laying performance or egg quality in laying hens. The enzyme activities associated with lipid metabolism in the liver were altered by the addition of 5% MF, resulting in reduced liver fat accumulation. Furthermore, dietary 5% MF induced the variation in the fatty acid profiles of egg yolk, and increased the polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content. We observed a significant reduction in the diversity of both gut bacteria and changes in their compositions after the addition of MF. Dietary MF significantly increased the abundance of genes involved in fatty acid biodegradation, and short-chain fatty acids biosynthesis in the gut microbiota of laying hens. The significant correlations were observed between the liver lipid metabolism enzyme activities of hepatic lipase, lipoprotein lipase, and total esterase with gut microbiota, including negative correlations with gut microbiota diversity, and multiple correlations with gut bacteria and viruses. Moreover, various correlations between the contents of PUFAs and monounsaturated fatty acids in egg yolk with the gut microbiota were obtained. Based on partial-least-squares path modeling integrated with the multi-omics datasets, we deduced the direct effects of liver enzyme activities and gut bacterial compositions on liver fat content and the roles of liver enzyme activities and gut bacterial diversity on egg yolk fatty acid composition.ConclusionsThe results indicate that dietary MF is beneficial to laying hens as it reduces the liver fat and improves egg yolk fatty acid composition through the enterohepatic axis.CByDGCz_6LcoMs-GQqtpHGVideo Graphical

桑葚机械振动收获参数优化与试验研究

The mechanized harvesting of mulberry is important for its production. In the process of harvesting, it is considered not only the mechanical damage of mulberry fruit but also its harvesting efficiency. It is very important to improve the vibration harvesting efficiency of mulberry. In this study, modal analysis of mulberry trees and harmonic response analysis of branches were carried out to determine the harvesting frequency of the branch's vibration and other parameters. The effects of excitation frequency and vibration position on the triaxial acceleration of the mulberry branch at different positions were analyzed by vibration test. Then the triaxial acceleration of branches at different positions was analyzed. The conditions of the mulberry fruit shedding were obtained through theoretical analysis. Through the 20-order modal analysis of mulberry, it is concluded that a better vibration effect can be achieved when the vibration frequency is controlled at 4-16 Hz. According to the harmonic response analysis, the best excitation frequencies are 5-6 Hz, 10-13 Hz, and 14-16 Hz. The harmonic response analysis of fruit branches was carried out, and the stress of fruit stalks at 5 Hz, 10 Hz, and 15 Hz were analyzed. The result shows that the maximum stress is 2.9252×107 Pa, the excitation position is the first-order branch, and the excitation frequency is 15 Hz. The frequencies obtained from modal analysis and harmonious response analysis were used to conduct experiments. When the excitation frequency was 15 Hz, the triaxial accelerations aX, aY, and aZ were 2.12 g, 4.16 g, and 3.99 g, respectively, which were more conducive to the shedding of mulberry fruits.

Purification, structural characterization, and immunoregulatory activity of a polysaccharide from mulberry branch

In view of the fact that mulberry branch has not been effectively utilized and polysaccharide is one of the main active components in mulberry branch, this study aims to reveal the structure and immunomodulatory activity of its polysaccharide. A type of neutral polysaccharides, named mulberry branch polysaccharide-2 (MBP-2), was separated from mulberry branch using DEAE-52 and Sephadex G-100. As analyzed, they were mainly composed of glucose with a molecular weight of approximately 21.7 kDa. Methylation analysis demonstrated that MBP-2 primary contained a → 4)-α-d-Glcp-(1 → , α-d-Glcp-(1 → and → 4, 6)-α-d-Glcp-(1 → structure, which was validated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). In addition, cellular experiments indicated that MBP-2 significantly enhanced the production of NO, TNF-α and IL-6 in RAW264.7 cells, unraveling the potential immunoregulatory activity of MBP-2. Further analysis showed that MBP-2 exerted their immunoregulatory activity mainly via binding with TLR4 to activate the downstream TRIF-dependent signaling pathways.Graphical

Oxyresveratrol Improves Cognitive Impairments and Episodic-like Memory through Modulating Neuroinflammation and PI3K-Akt Signaling Pathway in LPS-Induced Mice.

Oxyresveratrol is one of the active ingredients derived from mulberry branch with strong anti-inflammatory bioactivity. In this research, we want to explore if oxyresveratrol can improve cognitive impairments and episodic-like memory and its mechanism. In LPS-induced BV-2 cells, 25 μM OXY can significantly inhibit the expression of NO and alter the M1/M2 polarization by regulating M1/M2 phenotype makers. In vivo, OXY (50, 100 mg/kg) significantly reversed cognitive impairments and alleviated neuronal injuries caused by neuroinflammation. According to network pharmacology analysis, OXY alleviated neuroinflammation via the PI3K-Akt pathway. In general, the research revealed that OXY can improve cognitive impairments and episodic-like memory through alleviating LPS-induced neuroinflammation and regulating the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

Morus alba L. (Sangzhi) alkaloids mitigate atherosclerosis by regulating M1/M2 macrophage polarization

BackgroundAtherosclerosis (AS) is an important cause of cardiovascular disease, posing a substantial health risk. Recognized as a chronic inflammatory disorder, AS hinges on the pivotal involvement of macrophages in arterial inflammation, participating in its formation and progression. Sangzhi alkaloid (SZ-A) is a novel natural alkaloid extracted from the mulberry branches, has extensive pharmacological effects and stable pharmacokinetic characteristics. However, the effects and mechanisms of SZ-A on AS remain unclear. PurposeTo explore the effect and underlying mechanisms of SZ-A on inflammation mediated by macrophages and its role in AS development. MethodsAtherosclerosis was induced in vivo in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice through a high-fat and high-choline diet. We utilized macrophages and vascular endothelial cells to investigate the effects of SZ-A on macrophage polarization and its anti-inflammatory properties on endothelial cells in vitro. The transcriptomic analyses were used to investigate the major molecule that mediates cell-cell interactions and the antiatherogenic mechanisms of SZ-A based on AS, subsequently validated in vivo and in vitro. ResultsSZ-A demonstrated a significant inhibition in vascular inflammation and alleviation of AS severity by mitigating macrophage infiltration and modulating M1/M2 macrophage polarization in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, SZ-A effectively reduced the release of the proinflammatory mediator C-X-C motif chemokine ligand (CXCL)-10, predominantly secreted by M1 macrophages. This reduction in CXCL-10 contributed to improved endothelial cell function, reduced recruitment of additional macrophages, and inhibited the inflammatory amplification effect. This ultimately led to the suppression of atherogenesis. ConclusionSZ-A exhibited potent anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting macrophage-mediated inflammation, providing a new therapeutic avenue against AS. This is the first study demonstrating the efficacy of SZ-A in alleviating AS severity and offers novel insights into its anti-inflammatory mechanism.

Extraction, purification, structural modification, activities and application of polysaccharides from different parts of mulberry.

The mulberry plant is a member of the Moraceae family and belongs to the Morus genus. Its entire body is a treasure, with mulberries, mulberry leaves, and mulberry branches all suitable for medicinal use. The main active ingredient in mulberries is mulberry polysaccharide. Studies have shown that polysaccharides from different parts of mulberry exhibit antioxidant, antidiabetic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and blood pressure-lowering properties. There are more studies on the biological activities, extraction methods, and structural characterization of polysaccharides from different parts of mulberry. However, the structural characterization of mulberry polysaccharides is mostly confined to the types and proportions of monosaccharides and the molecular weights of polysaccharides, and there are fewer systematic studies on polysaccharides from different parts of mulberry. In order to better understand the bioactive structure of mulberry polysaccharides, this article discusses the recent research progress in the extraction, separation, purification, bioactivity, structural modification, and application of polysaccharides from different parts of mulberry (mulberry leaves, mulberry fruits, and mulberry branches). It also delves into the pharmacological mechanisms of action of mulberry polysaccharides to provide a theoretical basis for further research on mulberry polysaccharides with a view to their deeper application in the fields of feed and nutraceuticals.

Addition of cellulose and hemicellulose degrading microorganisms intensified nitrous oxide emission during composting

This study aims to clarify the mechanisms underlying effects of inoculating cellulose and hemicellulose-degrading microorganisms on nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions during composting with silkworm excrement and mulberry branches. Inoculation with cellulose and hemicellulose–degrading microorganisms resulted in significant increases of total N2O emission by 10.4 ± 2.0 % (349.1 ± 6.2 mg N kg−1 dw) and 26.7 ± 2.1 % (400.6 ± 6.8 mg N kg−1 dw), respectively, compared to the control (316.3 ± 3.6 mg N kg−1 dw). The stimulation of N2O emission was attributed to the enhanced contribution of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and denitrifying bacteria to N2O production, as evidenced by the increased AOB amoA and denitrifying nirK gene abundances. Moreover, microbial inoculation stimulated N2O reduction to N2 owing to increased abundances of nosZⅠ and nosZⅠⅠ genes. These findings highlight the necessity to develop cost-effective and environmentally friendly strategies to reduce N2O emissions when cellulose and hemicellulose-degrading microorganisms are inoculated during composting.

Preparing xylooligosaccharides from paper mulberry branches as a promising prebiotic candidate for in vitro regulation of intestinal microbiota in colitis

Xylooligosaccharides riched in xylobiose and xylotriose exhibit various biological activities as prebiotics. However, the prebiotics of xylooligosaccharides for regulating the intestinal microbiota in colitis models has been rarely investigated. In this study, differences in prebiotic ability of xylooligosaccharides samples from paper mulberry branches using different methods, including autohydrolysis (termed as 170AH), sequent purification by polystyrene-divinylbenzene copolymer resin (termed as 170AH-XAD), and enzymatic hydrolysis using endo-β-1,4-xylanase (170AH-XAD-E) were investigated. Results revealed that 170AH-XAD-E possessing higher fractions of xylobiose and xylotriose exhibited the best performance in vitro by promoting the proliferation of Bifidobacterium adolescentis and Lactobacillus acidophilus, with utilization rates of 92.30% and 91.00%, respectively. Additionally, 170AH-XAD-E outperformed the other samples in increasing the species' abundance of in vivo intestinal microbiota in colitis mouse model induced by Escherichia coli. Furthermore, 170AH-XAD-E selectively promoted the growth of Bacteroides, while inhibiting the proliferation of Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteriota. These abilities of 170AH-XAD-E may be due to its potential to upregulate the population of intestinal microbiota associated with the functional abundance of Cell wall/membrane/envelope biogenesis and Inorganic ion transport and metabolism. Overall, this work demonstrates that XOS with high contents of xylobiose and xylotriose possesses excellent potential as intestinal microbiota regulators and anti-colitis agents.

Microwave Co-pyrolysis of mulberry branches and Chlorella vulgaris under carbon material additives

In this paper, the pyrolysis properties, product yields and interactions of mulberry branches (MB) and Chlorella vulgaris (CV) at different blending ratios were studied by microwave oven. The effects of activated carbon (AC) and biochar (BC) on co-pyrolysis of MB and CV were studied at different amounts (5%, 10%, 15% and 20%). The results showed that the optimal blending ratio was 1:1 (C1M1), and its oil yield was the highest (31.05%). Compared with the PC group, the total weight loss and pyrolysis time of C1M1 group increased by 3.22% and decreased by 296 s, respectively. For bio-oil composition, compared with the theoretical value, the hydrocarbons in bio-oil of C1M1 group increased by 18.56%, while and nitrogenous compounds decreased by 11.54%. After, the optimum adding amount of AC and BC in the C1M1 group was 10% and 5%, respectively. Besides, compared with the non-additive group, the phenols content in bio-oil of the 10% AC and 5% BC groups increased by 10.21% and 3.52%, respectively, but the selectivity of hydrocarbons in bio-oil was reduced. In general, these two carbon material additives could significantly accelerate the co-pyrolysis process, but the content of hydrocarbons in bio-oil decreased and the content of nitrogen compounds increased.

Novel in-situ composites of chlorine-doped CQDs and g-C3N4 with improved interfacial connectivity and accelerated charge transfer to enhance photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline and hydrogen evolution

The photocatalytic performance of graphite-phase carbon nitrides (g-C3N4) composites is severely limited by poor interfacial connectivity and a narrow visible light response range. Although carbon quantum dots (CQDs) can enhance the visible light absorption of g-C3N4, it is difficult to produce effective interfacial connectivity due to their different properties. Herein, a novel “in-situ composite modified by chlorine-doped CQDs” strategy was proposed to further enhance the photocatalytic redox capability of g-C3N4. Specifically, chlorine-doped CQDs (Cl-CQDs) were prepared from mulberry branch powder and sulfoxide chloride directly, and the novel metal-free photocatalyst (Cl-CCN) was prepared by in-situ compounding the Cl-CQDs with g-C3N4. Cl-CCN shows superior photocatalytic tetracycline degradation rate (0.0269 min−1) and hydrogen production rate (1397.5 µmol g−1h−1), which are 14.9 and 2.75 times higher than those of g-C3N4, respectively. The characterization and DFT calculation results reveal that the C − Cl covalent bonds serve as fast electronic channels to bridge the hydrophilic Cl-CQDs and hydrophobic g-C3N4 and significantly enhance the interfacial coupling and charge transfer. On this basis, a possible mechanism for tetracycline degradation and hydrogen production photocatalyzed by Cl-CCN is proposed. This study provides a concise and economical method for modifying and enhancing the photocatalytic activity of composites CQDs/g-C3N4.

The New Emperor's Clothes

Abstract This article contextualizes the visual intrigue that was created by the fifteenth-century Chinese poet and painter Sun Ai (ca. 1452–1536) when he broke from convention by using indigo blue to color the leaves of a cotton plant and a mulberry branch in a pair of paintings now in the Palace Museum, Beijing. The key to the meaning of this unique coloration lies in the poems inscribed by Shen Zhou (1427–1509) and Qian Renfu (1446–1526), as well as the socioeconomic connotations of silk, cotton, and indigo in those scholars' regions. It is argued that these paintings were made shortly after the Hongzhi emperor (r. 1487–1505) banned the submission of multicolored cotton and silk textiles. Considered in that context, the monochromatic use of indigo not only alluded to what cotton fibers and silkworms would ultimately produce—cloth and silk to be dyed indigo—but also stood in stark contrast to the kaleidoscopic appearance of the clothing banned by Hongzhi. The collaboration between Shen Zhou and Qian Renfu makes the paintings prominent examples of the layered nuance achieved in traditional Chinese painting through the interplay of color and poetry.

Hierarchical tubular porous carbon derived from mulberry branches for long-life lead-carbon battery

Lead-carbon batteries (LCBs) possess remarkable technical merits over traditional lead-acid batteries, and the development of applicable carbon-based negative additives is considered as an essential mission for the further exponential advancement of LCBs. Herein, hierarchical tubular porous carbon (HTPC) with high specific surface area derived from mulberry branches was synthesized while evaluating the role of activation temperature on the structural evolution. As a result, the increase of activation temperature improves the specific surface area, reduces the graphitization degree of HTPC, whereas intrinsic tubular structure would collapse under high activation temperature. The critical function of HTPC as negative additive in LCBs is exhaustively elaborated, where the LCBs with 1.2 % HTPC deliver a discharge capacity of 165.4 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C compared with 140.5 mAh g−1 of blank sample. Especially, the cyclic life of LCBs under HRPSoC condition is tremendously extended by 3.17 times compared with the control sample. The performance improvement is attributed to the cooperation of HTPC with excellent conductivity, high specific surface, rich functional groups, and abundant tubular array structures, which facilitate the reduction of the internal resistance, increase the conversion rate of active materials, and inhibit the irreversible sulphation on negative lead. The proposed research provides a sustainable and scalable strategy to recycle the agricultural waste into outstanding carbon materials for high-performance LCBs.

Planting conditions can enhance the bioactivity of mulberry by affecting its composition.

Mulberry (Morus alba L.) has a special significance in the history of agriculture and economic plant cultivation. Mulberry has strong environmental adaptability, a wide planting range, and abundant output. It is not only an important resource for silkworm breeding but also a raw ingredient for various foods and has great potential for the development of biological resources. The bioactivities of mulberry in different planting areas are not the same, which is an obstacle to the development of mulberry. This study collected information on the planting conditions of mulberry branches in 12 planting areas, such as altitude, temperature difference, and precipitation. A comparison of the levels of 12 constituents of mulberry branches from mulberry grown in different planting areas was then made. An in vitro model was used to study the bioactivities of mulberry branches in the 12 planting areas, and mathematical analysis was used to explain the possible reasons for the differences in the composition and bioactivities of mulberry branches in different planting areas. After studying mulberry samples from 12 planting areas in China, it was found that a small temperature difference could affect the antiapoptotic effect of mulberry branch on microvascular endothelial cells by changing the levels and proportions of rutin, hyperoside, and morusin. Adequate irrigation can promote the antioxidation of the mulberry branch on microvascular endothelial cells by changing the levels and proportions of scopoletin and quercitrin. The results of the analysis of planting conditions and the levels of active constituents and their correlation with bioactivities support the improvement of mulberry planting conditions and have great significance in the rational development of mulberry resources. This is the first time that a mathematical analysis method was used to analyze the effects of planting conditions on mulberry biological activity.

Efficient fermentable sugar production from mulberry branch based on a rational design of GH10 xylanase with improved thermal stability

The mulberry branch can be used as a renewable biomass resource for the production of biofuels since it contains a significant amount of lignocellulose. However, the rapid deactivation of enzymes during lignocellulose degradation in a high-temperature environment leads to high costs and low efficiency of enzymatic saccharification. In this study, xylanase was modified by rational design, and xylanase and cellulase were used to synergistically degrade mulberry branches pretreated with seawater. The fermentable sugar yield and degree of synergy (DS) were determined. The dominant mutant S21Y/N318W of Hortaea werneckii xylanase Hwxyl10A was obtained with improved thermostability (T50 increased by 12 °C, t1/2 is 17-fold that of WT). Meanwhile, the specific activity at 75 °C increased from 1470 to 1901 U/mg. Under the condition of seawater immersion pretreatment, the highest yield of fermentable sugar was 313.5 μmol/g, and the highest DS was 1.57 after enzymatic hydrolysis of mulberry branches by cellulase and S21Y/N318W at 50 °C. Therefore, the biotransformation of mulberry branches reducing sugar has been significantly improved, which provides an efficient method of biomass saccharification for biofuel production.