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Cordero-Martínez J, Jimenez-Gutierrez GE, Aguirre-Alvarado C, Alacántara-Farfán V, Chamorro-Cevallos G, Roa-Espitia AL, Hernández-González EO, Rodríguez-Páez L. Participation of signaling proteins in sperm hyperactivation. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2022; 68:315-330. [DOI: 10.1080/19396368.2022.2122761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Joaquín Cordero-Martínez
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica Farmacológica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | | | - Charmina Aguirre-Alvarado
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica Farmacológica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, Mexico
- Unidad de Investigación Médica en Inmunología e Infectología Centro Médico Nacional La Raza, IMSS, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Verónica Alacántara-Farfán
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica Farmacológica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Germán Chamorro-Cevallos
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Preclínica Departamento de Farmacia Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Ana L. Roa-Espitia
- Departamento de Biología Celular Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, México City, Mexico
| | - Enrique O. Hernández-González
- Departamento de Biología Celular Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados del Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, México City, Mexico
| | - Lorena Rodríguez-Páez
- Laboratorio de Bioquímica Farmacológica, Departamento de Bioquímica, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Ciudad de México, Mexico
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Arora UP, Dumont BL. Meiotic drive in house mice: mechanisms, consequences, and insights for human biology. Chromosome Res 2022; 30:165-186. [PMID: 35829972 PMCID: PMC9509409 DOI: 10.1007/s10577-022-09697-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Meiotic drive occurs when one allele at a heterozygous site cheats its way into a disproportionate share of functional gametes, violating Mendel's law of equal segregation. This genetic conflict typically imposes a fitness cost to individuals, often by disrupting the process of gametogenesis. The evolutionary impact of meiotic drive is substantial, and the phenomenon has been associated with infertility and reproductive isolation in a wide range of organisms. However, cases of meiotic drive in humans remain elusive, a finding that likely reflects the inherent challenges of detecting drive in our species rather than unique features of human genome biology. Here, we make the case that house mice (Mus musculus) present a powerful model system to investigate the mechanisms and consequences of meiotic drive and facilitate translational inferences about the scope and potential mechanisms of drive in humans. We first detail how different house mouse resources have been harnessed to identify cases of meiotic drive and the underlying mechanisms utilized to override Mendel's rules of inheritance. We then summarize the current state of knowledge of meiotic drive in the mouse genome. We profile known mechanisms leading to transmission bias at several established drive elements. We discuss how a detailed understanding of meiotic drive in mice can steer the search for drive elements in our own species. Lastly, we conclude with a prospective look into how new technologies and molecular tools can help resolve lingering mysteries about the prevalence and mechanisms of selfish DNA transmission in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uma P Arora
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, 136 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA, 02111, USA
| | - Beth L Dumont
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609, USA.
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, 136 Harrison Ave, Boston, MA, 02111, USA.
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Castaneda JM, Miyata H, Archambeault DR, Satouh Y, Yu Z, Ikawa M, Matzuk MM. Mouse t-complex protein 11 is important for progressive motility in sperm†. Biol Reprod 2020; 102:852-862. [PMID: 31837139 PMCID: PMC7124965 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The t-complex is defined as naturally occurring variants of the proximal third of mouse chromosome 17 and has been studied by mouse geneticists for decades. This region contains many genes involved in processes from embryogenesis to sperm function. One such gene, t-complex protein 11 (Tcp11), was identified as a testis-specific gene whose protein is present in elongating spermatids. Later work on Tcp11 localized TCP11 to the sperm surface and acrosome cap and implicated TCP11 as important for sperm capacitation through the cyclic AMP/Protein Kinase A pathway. Here, we show that TCP11 is cytoplasmically localized to elongating spermatids and absent from sperm. In the absence of Tcp11, male mice have severely reduced fertility due to a significant decrease in progressively motile sperm; however, Tcp11-null sperm continues to undergo tyrosine phosphorylation, a hallmark of capacitation. Interestingly, null sperm displays reduced PKA activity, consistent with previous reports. Our work demonstrates that TCP11 functions in elongated spermatids to confer proper motility in mature sperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio M Castaneda
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Haruhiko Miyata
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Denise R Archambeault
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Yuhkoh Satouh
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Gunma, Japan
| | - Zhifeng Yu
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan and
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Martin M Matzuk
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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Lindholm A, Sutter A, Künzel S, Tautz D, Rehrauer H. Effects of a male meiotic driver on male and female transcriptomes in the house mouse. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20191927. [PMID: 31718496 PMCID: PMC6892043 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.1927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Not all genetic loci follow Mendel's rules, and the evolutionary consequences of this are not yet fully known. Genomic conflict involving multiple loci is a likely outcome, as restoration of Mendelian inheritance patterns will be selected for, and sexual conflict may also arise when sexes are differentially affected. Here, we investigate effects of the t haplotype, an autosomal male meiotic driver in house mice, on genome-wide gene expression patterns in males and females. We analysed gonads, liver and brain in adult same-sex sibling pairs differing in genotype, allowing us to identify t-associated differences in gene regulation. In testes, only 40% of differentially expressed genes mapped to the approximately 708 annotated genes comprising the t haplotype. Thus, much of the activity of the t haplotype occurs in trans, and as upregulation. Sperm maturation functions were enriched among both cis and trans acting t haplotype genes. Within the t haplotype, we observed more downregulation and differential exon usage. In ovaries, liver and brain, the majority of expression differences mapped to the t haplotype, and were largely independent of the differences seen in the testis. Overall, we found widespread transcriptional effects of this male meiotic driver in the house mouse genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Lindholm
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Sutter
- Department of Evolutionary Biology and Environmental Studies, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
- School of Biological Sciences, Norwich Research Park, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Sven Künzel
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann-Strasse 2, 24306 Plön, Germany
| | - Diethard Tautz
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, August-Thienemann-Strasse 2, 24306 Plön, Germany
| | - Hubert Rehrauer
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, ETH Zurich/University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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Agarwal A, Sharma R, Durairajanayagam D, Cui Z, Ayaz A, Gupta S, Willard B, Gopalan B, Sabanegh E. Spermatozoa protein alterations in infertile men with bilateral varicocele. Asian J Androl 2016; 18:43-53. [PMID: 25999357 PMCID: PMC4736356 DOI: 10.4103/1008-682x.153848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Among infertile men, a diagnosis of unilateral varicocele is made in 90% of varicocele cases and bilateral in the remaining varicocele cases. However, there are reports of under-diagnosis of bilateral varicocele among infertile men and that its prevalence is greater than 10%. In this prospective study, we aimed to examine the differentially expressed proteins (DEP) extracted from spermatozoa cells of patients with bilateral varicocele and fertile donors. Subjects consisted of 17 men diagnosed with bilateral varicocele and 10 proven fertile men as healthy controls. Using the LTQ-orbitrap elite hybrid mass spectrometry system, proteomic analysis was done on pooled samples from 3 patients with bilateral varicocele and 5 fertile men. From these samples, 73 DEP were identified of which 58 proteins were differentially expressed, with 7 proteins unique to the bilateral varicocele group and 8 proteins to the fertile control group. Majority of the DEPs were observed to be associated with metabolic processes, stress responses, oxidoreductase activity, enzyme regulation, and immune system processes. Seven DEP were involved in sperm function such as capacitation, motility, and sperm-zona binding. Proteins TEKT3 and TCP11 were validated by Western blot analysis and may serve as potential biomarkers for bilateral varicocele. In this study, we have demonstrated for the first time the presence of DEP and identified proteins with distinct reproductive functions which are altered in infertile men with bilateral varicocele. Functional proteomic profiling provides insight into the mechanistic implications of bilateral varicocele-associated male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashok Agarwal
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA,
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Stanger SJ, Law EA, Jamsai D, O'Bryan MK, Nixon B, McLaughlin EA, Aitken RJ, Roman SD. A novel germ cell protein, SPIF (sperm PKA interacting factor), is essential for the formation of a PKA/TCP11 complex that undergoes conformational and phosphorylation changes upon capacitation. FASEB J 2016; 30:2777-91. [DOI: 10.1096/fj.201500136r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Accepted: 04/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Simone J. Stanger
- Centre for Chemical Biology, University of NewcastleCallaghanNew South WalesAustralia
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive ScienceUniversity of NewcastleCallaghanNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Environmental and Life SciencesUniversity of NewcastleCallaghanNew South WalesAustralia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and DevelopmentUniversity of NewcastleCallaghanNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Estelle A. Law
- School of Environmental and Life SciencesUniversity of NewcastleCallaghanNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Duangporn Jamsai
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and DevelopmentUniversity of NewcastleCallaghanNew South WalesAustralia
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental BiologyMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Moira K. O'Bryan
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and DevelopmentUniversity of NewcastleCallaghanNew South WalesAustralia
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental BiologyMonash UniversityMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Brett Nixon
- Centre for Chemical Biology, University of NewcastleCallaghanNew South WalesAustralia
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive ScienceUniversity of NewcastleCallaghanNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Environmental and Life SciencesUniversity of NewcastleCallaghanNew South WalesAustralia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and DevelopmentUniversity of NewcastleCallaghanNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Eileen A. McLaughlin
- Centre for Chemical Biology, University of NewcastleCallaghanNew South WalesAustralia
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive ScienceUniversity of NewcastleCallaghanNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Environmental and Life SciencesUniversity of NewcastleCallaghanNew South WalesAustralia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and DevelopmentUniversity of NewcastleCallaghanNew South WalesAustralia
| | - R. John Aitken
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive ScienceUniversity of NewcastleCallaghanNew South WalesAustralia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and DevelopmentUniversity of NewcastleCallaghanNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Shaun D. Roman
- Centre for Chemical Biology, University of NewcastleCallaghanNew South WalesAustralia
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive ScienceUniversity of NewcastleCallaghanNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Environmental and Life SciencesUniversity of NewcastleCallaghanNew South WalesAustralia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and DevelopmentUniversity of NewcastleCallaghanNew South WalesAustralia
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Gonadal transcriptomic analysis and differentially expressed genes in the testis and ovary of the Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). BMC Genomics 2015; 16:1006. [PMID: 26607692 PMCID: PMC4659196 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-2219-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) is the world’s most prevalent cultured crustacean species. However, the supply of high-quality broodstocks is limited and baseline information related to its reproductive activity and molecular issues related to gonad development are scarce. In this study, we performed transcriptome sequencing on the gonads of adult male and female L. vannamei to identify sex-related genes. Results A total of 25.16 gigabases (Gb) of sequences were generated from four L. vannamei gonadal tissue libraries. After quality control, 24.11 Gb of clean reads were selected from the gonadal libraries. De-novo assembly of all the clean reads generated a total of 65,218 unigenes with a mean size of 1021 bp and a N50 of 2000 bp. A search of all-unigene against Nr, SwissProt, KEGG, COG and NT databases resulted in 26,482, 23,062, 20,659, 11,935 and 14,626 annotations, respectively, providing a total of 30,304 annotated unigenes. Among annotated unigenes, 12,320 unigenes were assigned to gene ontology categories and 20,659 unigenes were mapped to 258 KEGG pathways. By comparing the ovary and testis libraries, 19,279 testicular up-regulated and 3,529 ovarian up-regulated unigenes were identified. Enrichment analysis of differentially expressed unigenes resulted in 1060 significantly enriched GO terms and 34 significantly enriched KEGG pathways. Nine ovary-specific, 6 testis-specific, 45 testicular up-regulated and 39 ovarian up-regulated unigenes were then confirmed by semi-quantitative PCR and quantitative real-time PCR. In addition, using all-unigenes as a reference, a total of 13,233 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were identified in 10,411 unigene sequences. Conclusions The present study depicts the first large-scale RNA sequencing of shrimp gonads. We have identified many important sex-related functional genes, GO terms and pathways, all of which will facilitate future research into the reproductive biology of shrimp. We expect that the SSRs detected in this study can then be used as genetic markers for germplasm evaluation of breeding and imported populations. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-015-2219-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Agarwal A, Sharma R, Durairajanayagam D, Ayaz A, Cui Z, Willard B, Gopalan B, Sabanegh E. Major protein alterations in spermatozoa from infertile men with unilateral varicocele. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2015; 13:8. [PMID: 25890347 PMCID: PMC4383193 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-015-0007-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2014] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The etiology of varicocele, a common cause of male factor infertility, remains unclear. Proteomic changes responsible for the underlying pathology of unilateral varicocele have not been evaluated. The objective of this prospective study was to employ proteomic techniques and bioinformatic tools to identify and analyze proteins of interest in infertile men with unilateral varicocele. METHODS Spermatozoa from infertile men with unilateral varicocele (n=5) and from fertile men (control; n=5) were pooled in two groups respectively. Proteins were extracted and separated by 1-D SDS-PAGE. Bands were digested and identified on a LTQ-Orbitrap Elite hybrid mass spectrometer system. Bioinformatic analysis identified the pathways and functions of the differentially expressed proteins (DEP). RESULTS Sperm concentration, motility and morphology were lower, and reactive oxygen species levels were higher in unilateral varicocele patients compared to healthy controls. The total number of proteins identified were 1055, 1010 and 1042 in the fertile group, and 795, 713 and 763 proteins in the unilateral varicocele group. Of the 369 DEP between both groups, 120 proteins were unique to the fertile group and 38 proteins were unique to the unilateral varicocele group. Compared to the control group, 114 proteins were overexpressed while 97 proteins were underexpressed in the unilateral varicocele group. We have identified 29 proteins of interest that are involved in spermatogenesis and other fundamental reproductive events such as sperm maturation, acquisition of sperm motility, hyperactivation, capacitation, acrosome reaction and fertilization. The major functional pathways of the 359 DEP related to the unilateral varicocele group involve metabolism, disease, immune system, gene expression, signal transduction and apoptosis. Functional annotations showed that unilateral varicocele mostly affected small molecule biochemistry and post-translational modification proteins. Proteins expressed uniquely in the unilateral varicocele group were cysteine-rich secretory protein 2 precursor (CRISP2) and arginase-2 (ARG2). CONCLUSIONS The expression of these proteins of interest are altered and possibly functionally compromised in infertile men with unilateral varicocele. If validated, these proteins may lead to potential biomarker(s) and help better understand the mechanism involved in the pathophysiology of unilateral varicocele in infertile men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashok Agarwal
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Mail Code X-11, 10681 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| | - Rakesh Sharma
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Mail Code X-11, 10681 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| | - Damayanthi Durairajanayagam
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Mail Code X-11, 10681 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| | - Ahmet Ayaz
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Mail Code X-11, 10681 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| | - Zhihong Cui
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Mail Code X-11, 10681 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| | - Belinda Willard
- Proteomics Research Core Services, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| | - Banu Gopalan
- Proteomics Research Core Services, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
| | - Edmund Sabanegh
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Glickman Urological & Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Mail Code X-11, 10681 Carnegie Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44195, USA.
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Cocquet J, Ellis PJI, Mahadevaiah SK, Affara NA, Vaiman D, Burgoyne PS. A genetic basis for a postmeiotic X versus Y chromosome intragenomic conflict in the mouse. PLoS Genet 2012; 8:e1002900. [PMID: 23028340 PMCID: PMC3441658 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2012] [Accepted: 07/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Intragenomic conflicts arise when a genetic element favours its own transmission to the detriment of others. Conflicts over sex chromosome transmission are expected to have influenced genome structure, gene regulation, and speciation. In the mouse, the existence of an intragenomic conflict between X- and Y-linked multicopy genes has long been suggested but never demonstrated. The Y-encoded multicopy gene Sly has been shown to have a predominant role in the epigenetic repression of post meiotic sex chromatin (PMSC) and, as such, represses X and Y genes, among which are its X-linked homologs Slx and Slxl1. Here, we produced mice that are deficient for both Sly and Slx/Slxl1 and observed that Slx/Slxl1 has an opposite role to that of Sly, in that it stimulates XY gene expression in spermatids. Slx/Slxl1 deficiency rescues the sperm differentiation defects and near sterility caused by Sly deficiency and vice versa. Slx/Slxl1 deficiency also causes a sex ratio distortion towards the production of male offspring that is corrected by Sly deficiency. All in all, our data show that Slx/Slxl1 and Sly have antagonistic effects during sperm differentiation and are involved in a postmeiotic intragenomic conflict that causes segregation distortion and male sterility. This is undoubtedly what drove the massive gene amplification on the mouse X and Y chromosomes. It may also be at the basis of cases of F1 male hybrid sterility where the balance between Slx/Slxl1 and Sly copy number, and therefore expression, is disrupted. To the best of our knowledge, our work is the first demonstration of a competition occurring between X and Y related genes in mammals. It also provides a biological basis for the concept that intragenomic conflict is an important evolutionary force which impacts on gene expression, genome structure, and speciation. Both copies of a gene have normally an equal chance of being inherited; however, some genes can act “selfishly” to be transmitted to >50% of offspring: a phenomenon known as transmission distortion. Distorting genes on the X or Y chromosome leads to an excess of female/male offspring respectively. This then sets up a “genomic conflict” (arms race) between the sex chromosomes that can radically affect their gene content. Male mice that have lost part of their Y produce >50% female offspring and show over-activation of multiple genes on the X, providing strong circumstantial evidence for distortion. Here, we demonstrate the existence of a genomic conflict regulated by the genes Slx/Slxl1 and Sly, present in ∼50 to 100 copies on the X and Y chromosomes respectively. SLX/SLXL1 and SLY proteins have antagonistic effects on sex chromosome expression in developing sperm and skew the offspring sex-ratio in favor of females/males. Interestingly, while deficiency of either gene alone leads to severe fertility problems, fertility is improved when both genes are deficient. We believe that the conflict in which Slx/Slxl1 and Sly are involved led to the amplification of X and Y genes and may have played an important role in mouse speciation.
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Delbes G, Yanagiya A, Sonenberg N, Robaire B. PABP interacting protein 2A (PAIP2A) regulates specific key proteins during spermiogenesis in the mouse. Biol Reprod 2012; 86:95. [PMID: 22190698 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.111.092619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
During spermiogenesis, expression of the specific proteins needed for proper differentiation of male germ cells is under translational control. We have shown that PAIP2A is a major translational regulator involved in the maturation of male germ cells and male fertility. To identify the proteins controlled by PAIP2A during spermiogenesis, we characterized the proteomic profiles of elongated spermatids from wild-type (WT) mice and mice that were Paip2a/Paip2b double-null mutants (DKO). Elongated spermatid populations were obtained and proteins were extracted and separated on gradient polyacrylamide gels. The gels were digested with trypsin and peptides were identified by mass spectrometry. We identified 632 proteins with at least two unique peptides and a confidence level of 95%. Only 209 proteins were consistently detected in WT or DKO replicates with more than five spectra. Twenty-nine proteins were differentially expressed with at least a 1.5-fold change; 10 and 19 proteins were down- and up-regulated, respectively, in DKO compared to WT mice. We confirmed the significantly different expression levels of three proteins, EIF4G1, AKAP4, and HK1, by Western blot analysis. We have characterized novel proteins that have their expression controlled by PAIP2A; of these, 50% are involved in flagellar structure and sperm motility. Although several proteins affected by abrogation of Paip2a have established roles in reproduction, the roles of many others remain to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geraldine Delbes
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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11
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Liu Y, Jiang M, Li C, Yang P, Sun H, Tao D, Zhang S, Ma Y. Human t-Complex Protein 11 (TCP11), a Testis-Specific Gene Product, Is a Potential Determinant of the Sperm Morphology. TOHOKU J EXP MED 2011; 224:111-7. [PMID: 21597245 DOI: 10.1620/tjem.224.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Liu
- Department of Medical genetics & Division of Morbid Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University
| | - Min Jiang
- Human sperm bank, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University
| | - Chao Li
- Department of Medical genetics & Division of Morbid Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University
| | - Ping Yang
- Department of Medical genetics & Division of Morbid Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University
| | - Huaqin Sun
- Department of Medical genetics & Division of Morbid Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University
| | - Dachang Tao
- Department of Medical genetics & Division of Morbid Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University
| | - Sizhong Zhang
- Department of Medical genetics & Division of Morbid Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University
| | - Yongxin Ma
- Department of Medical genetics & Division of Morbid Genomics, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University
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Fraser LR. The "switching on" of mammalian spermatozoa: molecular events involved in promotion and regulation of capacitation. Mol Reprod Dev 2010; 77:197-208. [PMID: 19908247 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.21124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Following the discovery of mammalian sperm capacitation and its fundamental importance for the acquisition of fertilizing potential, it has gradually become possible to identify some specific molecules and molecular events that play pivotal roles in the "switching on" of spermatozoa. These are discussed in the context of the promotion and regulation of capacitation, emphasizing differences between commonly used conditions in vitro and the environment in vivo where spermatozoa normally undergo capacitation. Although typical culture media used in vitro do support capacitation, they do not prevent capacitated cells from undergoing spontaneous acrosome reactions and so losing fertilizing potential. This is not a problem in vitro, but could be in vivo where few spermatozoa reach the site of fertilization. Several small molecules, known to be present in vivo, have been shown in vitro to bind to spermatozoa and to regulate capacitation, first accelerating capacitation and then inhibiting spontaneous acrosome reactions, by regulating cAMP production. Since spermatozoa would contact these molecules during and after ejaculation, it is plausible that they serve a similar function in vivo. The mechanisms whereby the presence or absence of decapacitation factors might alter plasma membrane architecture and so alter functionality of a number of membrane-associated enzymes involved in capacitation are also considered. Finally, several unresolved issues relating to events during capacitation are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn R Fraser
- Division of Reproduction and Endocrinology, School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK.
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Marinho CE, Almeida-Santos SM, Yamasaki SC, Silveira PF. Seasonal variation of peptidase activities in the reproductive tract of Crotalus durissus terrificus. Gen Comp Endocrinol 2009; 160:84-92. [PMID: 19027015 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygcen.2008.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2008] [Revised: 10/05/2008] [Accepted: 10/26/2008] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Seasonal quantitative patterns of acid (APA), basic (APB), puromycin-sensitive (APN-PS) and puromycin-insensitive neutral (APN-PI), cystyl (CAP), dipeptidyl IV (DPPIV), type-1 pyroglutamyl (PAP-I) and prolyl-imino (PIP) aminopeptidases and prolyl oligopeptidase (POP) activities in soluble (SF) and solubilized membrane-bound (MF) fractions from ductus deferens, vagina and uterus were studied to evaluate their relationships with the reproductive cycle and the extensive long-term spermatozoa storage (LTSS) of the Neotropical rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus. APB, PIP and POP were detected only in SF, while other peptidases were detected in SF and MF. APB, APN-PI and APN-PS were predominant in most tissues in all seasons. Peptidase activities had a common pattern of increment during the dry season (winter/autumn), which coincides with the mating period (autumn) and LTSS in the female (winter), as well as the reduction of spermatozoa motility and maintenance of fertilization capacity of spermatozoa. The high CAP activity in the soluble fraction of the vagina during winter, compared to summer (time of parturition) and spring, coincides with the relaxation of this tissue. In the soluble fraction, the low PAP-I activity of the ductus deferens coincided with its high activity in the vagina during the winter; and the inverse occurred in summer, which is consistent with the physiological process of preserving spermatozoon viability. In conclusion, the studied peptidase activities had seasonal and tissue-specific characteristics, which suggest a relevant role in the reproductive physiology of C. d. terrificus.
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Adeoya-Osiguwa SA, Gibbons R, Fraser LR. Identification of functional alpha2- and beta-adrenergic receptors in mammalian spermatozoa. Hum Reprod 2006; 21:1555-63. [PMID: 16488904 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/del016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A recent study of several compounds, structurally related to amphetamine, provided evidence that mammalian spermatozoa might have adrenergic receptors able to regulate cAMP production. The present study investigated this possibility using physiological and immunochemical analyses of mouse and human spermatozoa. METHODS Antibodies specific for different receptor subtypes were used for Western blotting of mouse and human sperm lysates and for immunocytochemical evaluation of whole mouse and human spermatozoa. Uncapacitated and capacitated mouse spermatozoa were incubated with specific agonists and antagonists for alpha2-, beta1-, beta2- and beta3-adrenergic receptors for approximately 35 min and then assessed using chlortetracycline (CTC) fluorescence. RESULTS Western blotting revealed proteins of the correct size for all these receptors; immunolocalization indicated their presence on the head, especially acrosomal and neck regions, and flagellum of both mouse and human spermatozoa. CTC results indicated significant responses to agonists for all of the beta-receptors in uncapacitated cells, with agonist effectiveness being beta1 > beta2 > beta3; relevant antagonists blocked responses. In contrast, an agonist and antagonist for alpha2-receptors acted only on capacitated spermatozoa. CONCLUSION These experiments provide the first good evidence that mammalian spermatozoa have both beta-adrenergic receptors, known to stimulate cAMP production by membrane-associated adenylyl cyclases (mACs), and alpha2-adrenergic receptors, known to inhibit cAMP production by mACs. Responses are capacitation state dependent and provide a mechanism for inhibiting spontaneous acrosome reactions and helping to maintain fertilizing ability. These results suggest that the use of amphetamine-related compounds, either for medical or for social reasons, might have an unexpected positive impact on fertility.
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Yu H, Jiang D, Guo Z, Saiyin H, Guo J, Wang X, Yu L. TCP10L is expressed specifically in spermatogenic cells and binds to death associated protein kinase-3. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2005; 28:163-70. [PMID: 15910542 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2605.2005.00522.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The human transcriptional factor T-complex protein 10 like (TCP10L) gene is expressed exclusively in the liver and testis. However, the function of TCP10L in the testis remains unknown. We examined the expression of TCP10L in human testis and found that TCP10L was expressed specifically in the nucleus of spermatogenic cells during spermatogenesis. In addition, we identified death associated protein kinase 3 (DAPK-3/ZIP kinase) as a binding partner for TCP10L by yeast two-hybrid screening, followed with immunoprecipitation and subcellular localization experiments. Mutagenesis study revealed that this interaction was dependant on the leucine zipper motif-containing region. The specific expression pattern of TCP10L and interaction with DAPK-3 implies that TCP10L might play crucially important roles in spermatogenesis through its interaction with DAPK-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxiu Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Genetics, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
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Fraser LR, Adeoya-Osiguwa S, Baxendale RW, Mededovic S, Osiguwa OO. First messenger regulation of mammalian sperm function via adenylyl cyclase/cAMP. J Reprod Dev 2005; 51:37-46. [PMID: 15750295 DOI: 10.1262/jrd.51.37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
When released into an appropriate environment, mammalian spermatozoa begin to capacitate and then continue until fully capacitated and able to fertilize. During capacitation in vitro, some cells 'over-capacitate' and undergo spontaneous acrosome reactions; this would be highly undesirable in vivo since already acrosome-reacted spermatozoa are non-fertilizing. Recent studies have revealed that seminal plasma contains several small molecules that bind to specific receptors on the sperm plasma membrane and act as 'first messengers', causing biologically important changes in availability of the 'second messenger' cAMP. Fertilization promoting peptide (FPP), calcitonin and adenosine all regulate cAMP production, stimulating it in uncapacitated spermatozoa and then inhibiting it in capacitated cells; in contrast, angiotensin II stimulates cAMP throughout capacitation. The molecules that regulate cAMP appear to do so via G protein-modulated changes in membrane associated adenylyl cyclases (mACs). Both mouse and human spermatozoa have been shown to have Galphas and Galphai2, as well as several isoforms of mAC, located in the same regions as the specific receptors. Thus spermatozoa possess the required elements for several separate signal transduction pathways, many of which regulate mAC/cAMP and so maintain sperm fertilizing ability. In vivo, such responses could increase the chances of successful fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn R Fraser
- Reproduction and Rhythms Group, Centre for Reproduction, Endocrinology and Diabetes, School of Biomedical Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, UK.
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Adeoya-Osiguwa SA, Fraser LR. Cathine and norephedrine, both phenylpropanolamines, accelerate capacitation and then inhibit spontaneous acrosome loss. Hum Reprod 2004; 20:198-207. [PMID: 15513978 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/deh566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cathinone, released when Catha edulis leaves (khat) are chewed, has euphoric, stimulatory properties. It is metabolized to the phenylpropanolamines (PPAs) cathine and norephedrine. This study investigated whether PPAs affect mammalian sperm function, using primarily mouse, but also human, spermatozoa. METHODS Uncapacitated sperm suspensions were treated with cathine, norephedrine, adrenaline and noradrenaline, then assessed using chlortetracycline (CTC) fluorescence. Cathine and adrenaline were also evaluated using in vitro fertilization. Capacitated suspensions were treated with PPAs+/-progesterone and+/-pertussis toxin. Finally, cAMP production was evaluated in uncapacitated and capacitated suspensions. RESULTS In uncapacitated mouse spermatozoa, cathine, norephedrine, adrenaline and noradrenaline all significantly accelerated capacitation; uncapacitated human spermatozoa responded similarly to cathine. Consistent with these results, cathine- and adrenaline-treated suspensions were significantly more fertile than controls. In capacitated spermatozoa, both PPAs inhibited spontaneous acrosome reactions (ARs) but progesterone could over-ride this inhibition. Pertussis toxin abolished cathine's inhibition of ARs, suggesting G protein involvement. Finally, cathine and adrenaline significantly stimulated cAMP production in uncapacitated suspensions, but significantly inhibited it in capacitated suspensions. CONCLUSIONS This is the first demonstration that PPAs can directly affect mammalian sperm function, accelerating capacitation and inhibiting spontaneous ARs. These responses correlated with initial stimulation and subsequent inhibition of cAMP production. Adrenaline/noradrenaline elicited similar responses, suggesting the presence of adrenergic receptors. Therefore, regulation of adenylyl cyclase/cAMP in a G protein-mediated fashion by PPAs may possibly involve adrenergic receptors. These results suggest that PPAs, at appropriate doses, might provide a novel approach to enhance natural fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan A Adeoya-Osiguwa
- Centre for Reproduction Endocrinology and Diabetes School of Biomedical Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London SE1 1UL, UK
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Wang H, Zhou Z, Xu M, Li J, Xiao J, Xu ZY, Sha J. A spermatogenesis-related gene expression profile in human spermatozoa and its potential clinical applications. J Mol Med (Berl) 2004; 82:317-24. [PMID: 14985855 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-004-0526-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2003] [Accepted: 01/02/2004] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is an essential stage in the human reproductive process. In a previously study aiming to determine which genes might be involved in spermatogenesis, we compared the gene expression profiles of adult and fetal testes by hybridizing cDNA probes prepared from adult and fetal testes to membranes dotted with gene clones derived from a commercial human testis library. We identified 266 differentially expressed genes that showed higher expression levels in adult testes, indicating their potential roles in spermatogenesis. In the present study, we applied the same cDNA microarray technique to the analysis of gene expression in the spermatozoa of normal fertile men and found 149 genes that were expressed at higher levels in adult testis. A further study of five sperm motility-related genes selected from this profile by real-time PCR revealed that there was significant difference in the expression levels of two genes ( TPX-1, testis-specific protein 1 and LDHC, lactate dehydrogenase C, transcript variant 1) between normal ( n=29) and motility impaired ( n=24) semen samples, indicating that these genes are involved in sperm function. Our results demonstrated that spermatogenesis-related gene profiling could help to assess sperm quality in humans, and further study of these genes will help us to elucidate the mechanisms involved in spermatogenesis and diseases relating to human infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, 210029 Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
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Baxendale RW, Fraser LR. Evidence for multiple distinctly localized adenylyl cyclase isoforms in mammalian spermatozoa. Mol Reprod Dev 2003; 66:181-9. [PMID: 12950106 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.10344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In addition to a bicarbonate-regulated soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC), mammalian spermatozoa, like somatic cells, appear to contain receptor/G protein-regulated AC activity that contributes to the modulation of specialized cell processes. This study provides evidence that agents, known to influence somatic membrane-associated AC (mAC) but apparently not germ cell sAC, can modulate cAMP production and functional state in mouse spermatozoa. Specifically, forskolin significantly enhanced cAMP production and capacitation, while inclusion of 2',5'-dideoxyadenosine significantly blocked these responses. Furthermore, GTPgammaS and NaF stimulated cAMP, but GDPbetaS and mastoparan had no apparent effect, consistent with recent evidence that G(s), but not G(i), contributes to AC/cAMP regulation in uncapacitated cells. In addition, intact mouse spermatozoa were screened for all known mAC isoforms by immunolocalization, using commercially available specific antibodies. The most abundant isoforms appeared to be AC2, AC3, and AC8, each with distinct distributions in the acrosomal and flagellar regions; AC1 and AC4 also appeared to be present, although less abundantly, in the midpiece and acrosomal cap regions, respectively. Intriguingly, however, Western blotting revealed that the major immunoreactive proteins in mouse sperm lysates were considerably smaller (approximately 50-60 kDa) than their somatic cell counterparts, suggesting that mature spermatozoa contain multiple mACs which may function in a shortened form. Of particular interest were AC3 and AC8, located in the same regions as, and hence possibly directly associated with, specific cell surface receptors and G proteins that are able to regulate the spermatozoon's acquisition and maintenance of fertilizing ability via changes in AC/cAMP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhona W Baxendale
- Centre for Reproduction Endocrinology and Diabetes, School of Biomedical Sciences, Kings College London, Guys Campus, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
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Adeoya-Osiguwa SA, Fraser LR. Calcitonin acts as a first messenger to regulate adenylyl cyclase/cAMP and mammalian sperm function. Mol Reprod Dev 2003; 65:228-36. [PMID: 12704735 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.10273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Calcitonin stimulates capacitation in uncapacitated mouse spermatozoa and then inhibits spontaneous acrosome loss in capacitated cells, responses similar to those elicited by fertilization promoting peptide (FPP), a peptide known to regulate the adenylyl cyclase/cAMP pathway. This study investigated the hypothesis that calcitonin also modulates this pathway. Calcitonin significantly stimulated cAMP production in uncapacitated spermatozoa and then inhibited it in capacitated cells; the magnitude of both stimulatory and inhibitory changes was similar to that obtained with FPP but the inhibitory responses to FPP preceded those of calcitonin. This possibly reflects the involvement of two different adenosine receptors in response to FPP compared with one calcitonin receptor. Calcitonin receptors were located on the acrosomal cap and the flagellum, the midpiece having a greater abundance than the principal piece. Although both calcitonin and adenosine receptors are found in the head and flagellum, there was no evidence for cross-talk between them. Chlortetracycline investigations to determine the minimum extracellular Ca(2+) requirement for responses to calcitonin revealed that calcitonin significantly stimulated capacitation in Ca(2+)-deficient medium but FPP did not. Calcitonin also significantly stimulated cAMP production under these conditions, and similarly preincubated suspensions, when diluted into +Ca(2+) medium, were significantly more fertile in vitro than untreated controls. These results indicate that calcitonin, like FPP, acts as a first messenger to regulate the production of cAMP and mammalian sperm function, but the differences in Ca(2+) requirements suggest that calcitonin and FPP may regulate different isoforms of adenylyl cyclase.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Adeoya-Osiguwa
- Centre for Reproduction, Endocrinology and Diabetes, School of Biomedical Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London Bridge, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
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Adeoya-Osiguwa SA, Fraser LR. Capacitation state-dependent changes in adenosine receptors and their regulation of adenylyl cyclase/cAMP. Mol Reprod Dev 2002; 63:245-55. [PMID: 12203835 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.90009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
This study was designed to localize adenosine receptors and to provide evidence that specific receptors are active only in either uncapacitated or capacitated mouse spermatozoa, where they play a role in regulating cAMP production. Using specific antibodies, stimulatory A(2A) receptors were localized primarily on the acrosomal cap region and the flagellar principal piece. Interestingly, the staining was much more pronounced in uncapacitated than in capacitated spermatozoa, suggesting capacitation-dependent changes in epitope accessibility. A(1) receptors showed a very similar distribution, but the staining was markedly greater in capacitated than in uncapacitated cells. After addition of purified decapacitation factor (DF) to capacitated cells, strong staining for A(2A) was regained, suggesting reversibility in epitope accessibility. Chlortetracycline analysis revealed that an agonist specific for A(2A) receptors had no detectable effect on capacitated cells, but after DF-induced decapacitation, the agonist then stimulated capacitation. That agonist also significantly stimulated cAMP production in uncapacitated cells, had no effect on capacitated cells, but regained the ability to stimulate cAMP in the latter following DF treatment. In contrast, an A(1) agonist inhibited cAMP in capacitated cells. These results indicate that specific adenosine receptors function in a reversible manner in one or other capacitation state, resulting in regulation of cAMP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan A Adeoya-Osiguwa
- Endocrinology and Reproduction Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London Bridge, London, United Kingdom
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Fraser LR, Adeoya-Osiguwa SA. Fertilization promoting peptide — A possible regulator of sperm function in vivo. VITAMINS AND HORMONES 2001; 63:1-28. [PMID: 11358112 DOI: 10.1016/s0083-6729(01)63001-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
Fertilization promoting peptide (FPP), a tripeptide related to thyrotrophin releasing hormone (TRH), is found in seminal plasma. Recent evidence obtained in vitro suggests that FPP may play an important role in regulating sperm fertility in vivo. Specifically, FPP initially stimulates nonfertilizing (uncapacitated) spermatozoa to "switch on" and become fertile more quickly, but then arrests capacitation so that spermatozoa do not undergo spontaneous acrosome loss and therefore do not lose fertilizing potential. These responses are mimicked, and indeed augmented, by adenosine, known to regulate the adenylyl cyclase (AC)/cAMP signal transduction pathway. Both FPP and adenosine have been shown to stimulate cAMP production in uncapacitated cells but inhibit it in capacitated cells, with FPP receptors somehow interacting with adenosine receptors and G proteins to achieve regulation of AC. These events affect the tyrosine phosphorylation state of various proteins, some being important in the initial "switching on," others possibly being involved in the acrosome reaction itself. Calcitonin and angiotensin II, also found in seminal plasma, have similar effects in vitro on uncapacitated spermatozoa and can augment responses to FPP, suggesting that all four molecules may be involved in regulating availability of cAMP. It is plausible that these molecules have similar effects in vivo, affecting fertility by stimulating and then maintaining fertilizing potential. Either reductions in the availability of FPP, adenosine, calcitonin, and angiotensin II or defects in their receptors could contribute to male infertility. These exciting results may provide new approaches for diagnostic tests and treatments of certain categories of male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- L R Fraser
- Endocrinology and Reproduction Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, King's College London, United Kingdom
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Adeoya-Osiguwa SA, Fraser LR. Fertilization promoting peptide and adenosine, acting as first messengers, regulate cAMP production and consequent protein tyrosine phosphorylation in a capacitation-dependent manner. Mol Reprod Dev 2000; 57:384-92. [PMID: 11066068 DOI: 10.1002/1098-2795(200012)57:4<384::aid-mrd11>3.0.co;2-u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Fertilization promoting peptide (FPP) and adenosine have been shown to act as first messengers, regulating availability of the second messenger cAMP by initially stimulating cAMP production in uncapacitated spermatozoa and then inhibiting it in capacitated cells. This study investigated possible capacitation-related changes in protein tyrosine phosphorylation in response to FPP and adenosine. Time-dependent changes in phosphorylation of proteins of approximately 30-140 kDa were observed in both uncapacitated and capacitated suspensions, the general level of phosphorylation being markedly greater in capacitated cells. In the presence of FPP, phosphorylation was stimulated in uncapacitated but inhibited in capacitated spermatozoa, compared with untreated control samples. Adenosine, cholera toxin, and CGS-21680, a stimulatory A(2a) adenosine receptor agonist, also stimulated phosphorylation in uncapacitated spermatozoa, while Gln-FPP, a competitive inhibitor of FPP, blocked responses to FPP. In capacitated cells, FPP's inhibition of phosphorylation was abolished when cells were treated with FPP in the presence of pertussis toxin. Consistent with the capacitation-dependent effects of FPP and adenosine on cAMP production, these results support the hypothesis that FPP and adenosine modulate sperm function by regulating the AC/cAMP signaling pathway and, consequently, protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Of particular significance is the identification of several phosphoproteins showing FPP-induced alterations in phosphorylation. In uncapacitated spermatozoa, proteins of approximately 116, 95, 82, 75, 66, 56, and 42 kDa showed increased phosphorylation, while in capacitated cells, phosphoproteins of approximately 116, 95, 82, 75, 70, 66, 56, and 50 kDa showed decreased phosphorylation. This suggests that these particular proteins may be involved in stimulation and arrest of capacitation, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Adeoya-Osiguwa
- Endocrinology and Reproduction Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London Bridge, London, UK
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Redkar AA, Si Y, Twine SN, Pilder SH, Olds-Clarke P. Genes in the first and fourth inversions of the mouse t complex synergistically mediate sperm capacitation and interactions with the oocyte. Dev Biol 2000; 226:267-80. [PMID: 11023686 DOI: 10.1006/dbio.2000.9870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The t haplotypes (t) are recent evolutionary derivatives of an alternate form of the mouse t complex region located at the proximal end of chromosome 17. This variant form of approximately 1% of the mouse genome is a source of mutations altering numerous sperm functions crucial for fertilization. Males that carry two t haplotypes (t/t) are invariably sterile. t haplotypes contain four inversions relative to the wild-type t complex (+), so that in matings involving a +/t heterozygote, t is usually transmitted as a single unit. However, rare recombinants have been recovered, which carry only part of the t genotype and express only some of the t-dependent phenotypes. Use of these partial t haplotypes in genetic crosses has resulted in the general location of the two major t male sterility factors, S1 and S2, within inversions 1 and 4, respectively. Since sterility can result from a plethora of sperm defects, we have made a detailed study of various functional parameters of sperm from mice carrying S1 or S2 heterozygously or homozygously or in combination. Both S1 and S2 contain mutations altering sperm functions, including motility, capacitation, binding to the zona pellucida, binding to the oocyte membrane, and penetration of the zona pellucida-free oocyte. Therefore it seems clear that each of these factors contains multiple genes contributing to sterility. Furthermore, our results indicate that genes within S1 interact with genes in S2 for all sperm functions examined. However, S1 and S2 genes affecting motility interact in a purely additive fashion, while S1 and S2 genes affecting most other sperm characteristics interact in a synergistic manner. Additionally, the patterns of synergism between S1 and S2 for abnormalities in capacitation, sperm-oolemma binding, and zona-free oocyte penetration are nearly identical. This suggests that these three defects are caused by mutation of the same gene within each sterility factor. These findings will not only be instrumental in matching the various t haplotype sperm defects to candidate genes for S1 and S2, but will facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the cellular and genetic mechanisms underlying t haplotype male sterility.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Redkar
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19140, USA
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25
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Funahashi H, Fujiwara T, Nagai T. Modulation of the function of boar spermatozoa via adenosine and fertilization promoting peptide receptors reduce the incidence of polyspermic penetration into porcine oocytes. Biol Reprod 2000; 63:1157-63. [PMID: 10993840 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod63.4.1157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Effects of adenosine and pGlu-Glu-ProNH(2) (FPP) on the function and in vitro penetration of boar spermatozoa were examined. First, the effects of dibutyryl cAMP or agonists and antagonists of adenosine receptors (inhibitory adenosine receptors, A1AdR; stimulatory adenosine receptors, A2AdR) on freshly ejaculated spermatozoa were determined by chlortetracycline fluorescence assessment. Capacitation of spermatozoa was stimulated when they were cultured in a medium with dibutyryl cAMP, adenosine, A2AdR agonist, and adenosine plus A1AdR antagonist (CPT). However, acrosome reaction was inhibited only by adenosine. A1AdR agonist did not affect intact spermatozoa. A2AdR antagonist (DMPX) neutralized all of the effects of adenosine. Second, interaction of adenosine and FPP was examined. Gln-FPP, a competitive inhibitor of FPP, and DMPX inhibited the effects of adenosine and FPP, and CPT neutralized the inhibitory effect of FPP on acrosome reaction. Last, the effects of adenosine, FPP, and caffeine on the rate of sperm penetration were examined using frozen-thawed spermatozoa. Adenosine, FPP, and caffeine significantly enhanced the rate of sperm penetration as compared with the case of no additions. Caffeine treatment resulted in a high rate of polyspermic fertilization. In contrast, adenosine and FPP treatments resulted in an increased proportion of normal fertilization in in vitro-matured oocytes. These results suggest that boar spermatozoa can be modulated by the adenylyl cyclase/cAMP pathway via A2AdR in intact cells to induce capacitation and A1AdR in capacitated cells to inhibit spontaneous acrosome loss and that FPP receptors interact with A2AdR in intact cells and with A1AdR in capacitated cells. Furthermore, adenosine and FPP seem to be useful in reducing the incidence of polyspermic penetration.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Funahashi
- Faculty of Agriculture, Okayama University, Okayama 700-8530, Japan.
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Funahashi H, Asano A, Fujiwara T, Nagai T, Niwa K, Fraser LR. Both fertilization promoting peptide and adenosine stimulate capacitation but inhibit spontaneous acrosome loss in ejaculated boar spermatozoa in vitro. Mol Reprod Dev 2000; 55:117-24. [PMID: 10602282 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1098-2795(200001)55:1<117::aid-mrd16>3.0.co;2-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Both fertilization promoting peptide (FPP) and adenosine stimulate capacitation and inhibit spontaneous acrosome loss in epididymal mouse spermatozoa; these responses involve modulation of the adenylyl cyclase (AC)/cAMP signal transduction pathway. However, it was unclear whether these responses were restricted to the mouse or possibly common to many mammalian species. To address this question, the response of boar spermatozoa to FPP and/or adenosine was evaluated. FPP is found in nanomolar concentrations in seminal plasma of several mammals, but not the pig. When cultured in caffeine-containing Medium 199 for 2 hr, chlortetracycline fluorescence evaluation indicated that neither FPP nor adenosine stimulated boar sperm capacitation per se but did inhibit spontaneous acrosome loss. However, in caffeine-free medium, FPP and adenosine both stimulated capacitation and inhibited spontaneous acrosome loss, suggesting that boar spermatozoa have receptors for both FPP and adenosine. Gln-FPP, a competitive inhibitor of FPP in mouse spermatozoa, has recently been shown to inhibit mouse sperm responses to adenosine as well, suggesting that FPP receptors and adenosine receptors interact in some way. Used with boar spermatozoa, Gln-FPP also significantly inhibited responses to both FPP and adenosine. These responses suggest that mechanisms whereby FPP and adenosine can regulate sperm function, via AC/cAMP, are of considerable physiological significance. Mouse, human, and now boar spermatozoa have been shown to respond to FPP, suggesting that these mechanisms may be common to many mammalian species. We also suggest that the effects of FPP and adenosine could also be exploited to maximize monospermic fertilization in porcine in vitro fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Funahashi
- Faculty of Agriculture, Okayama University, Tsushima-naka, Okayama, Japan.
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Fraser LR, Adeoya-Osiguwa S. Modulation of adenylyl cyclase by FPP and adenosine involves stimulatory and inhibitory adenosine receptors and g proteins. Mol Reprod Dev 1999; 53:459-71. [PMID: 10398422 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1098-2795(199908)53:4<459::aid-mrd12>3.0.co;2-t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
FPP and adenosine modulate the adenylyl cyclase (AC)/cAMP signal transduction pathway in mammalian spermatozoa to elicit a biphasic response, initially stimulating capacitation and then inhibiting spontaneous acrosome loss. This study addressed the hypothesis that responses to FPP involve interactions between receptors for FPP and adenosine, the biphasic responses involving stimulatory and inhibitory adenosine receptors. Gln-FPP, a competitive inhibitor of FPP, significantly inhibited binding of an adenosine analogue and responses to adenosine, especially in capacitated suspensions, consistent with interaction between FPP and adenosine receptors. CGS-21680 (1 microM), a stimulatory A2a adenosine receptor agonist, significantly stimulated capacitation and cAMP in uncapacitated cells, while cyclopentyl adenosine (1 microM), an inhibitory A1 adenosine receptor agonist only affected capacitated cells, inhibiting spontaneous acrosome loss. Responses to FPP and adenosine were inhibited in uncapacitated cells by a selective A2a antagonist and in capacitated cells by a selective A1 antagonist; subsequent investigations indicated possible involvement of G proteins. Like FPP, cholera toxin stimulated capacitation and cAMP production in uncapacitated cells, suggesting involvement of a G protein with a Galphas subunit. In contrast, pertussis toxin prevented FPP's inhibition of both spontaneous acrosome loss and cAMP production, suggesting involvement of a Galphai/o subunit. Immunoblotting evidence revealed the presence of proteins of the appropriate molecular weights for Galphas, Galphai2, Galpha i3, and Galphao subunits. This study provides the first direct evidence suggesting the involvement of two different types of adenosine receptors and both Galphas and Galphai/o subunits in the regulation of capacitation, resulting in modulation of AC activity and availability of cAMP.
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Affiliation(s)
- L R Fraser
- Anatomy and Human Biology, King's College London, Strand, London, United Kingdom.
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Abstract
The mouse t-complex, located on chromosome 17, contains genes known to influence male, but not female, fertility. Although some t-complex genes are recessive lethals, t-chromosomes are maintained in the population by transmission ratio distortion. When male mice heterozygous for the t-chromosome mate with wild-type females, most offspring will possess the t-chromosome, indicating a link between t-complex genes and sperm function. Several proteins coded for by t-complex genes have been localised in the sperm flagellum, suggesting roles relating to motility. Another t-complex protein appears able to regulate the adenylyl cyclase/cAMP signal transduction pathway, known to play an important role in capacitation. Defective motility and/or failure to capacitate ("switch on") would result in poorly fertile or infertile spermatozoa. Given the existence of human homologues for many genes in the t-complex and the prevalence of "male factor" infertility, information obtained about the t-complex not only will provide insight into basic biological mechanisms but may be of future clinical relevance as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- L R Fraser
- Anatomy and Human Biology Group and Developmental Biology Research Centre, London, United Kingdom.
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Adeoya-Osiguwa SA, Dudley RK, Hosseini R, Fraser LR. FPP modulates mammalian sperm function via TCP-11 and the adenylyl cyclase/cAMP pathway. Mol Reprod Dev 1998; 51:468-76. [PMID: 9820206 DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1098-2795(199812)51:4<468::aid-mrd14>3.0.co;2-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Fertilization promoting peptide (FPP; pGlu-Glu-ProNH2), which is found in seminal plasma, promotes capacitation but inhibits spontaneous acrosome loss in mammalian spermatozoa in vitro. Adenosine, known to modulate the adenylyl cyclase (AC)/cAMP pathway, elicits these same responses whereas FPP + adenosine produces an enhanced response, leading to the hypothesis that FPP and adenosine modulate the same signal transduction pathway but act via different receptors. TCP-11, the product of a t-complex gene, is the putative receptor for FPP: Fab fragments of anti-TCP-11 antibodies have the same effect as FPP on mouse spermatozoa and Gln-FPP, a competitive inhibitor of FPP, also competitively inhibits responses to the Fab fragments. In the present study, specific binding of 3H-FPP to sperm membranes was significantly inhibited by 200 nM Gln-FPP and anti-TCP-11 Fab fragments (1/25 dilution), thus confirming that FPP, Gln-FPP, and Fab fragments compete for the same binding site. In addition, spermatozoa treated with A23187 to induce the acrosome reaction bound significantly less 3H-FPP than untreated cells, suggesting that a large proportion of the FPP binding sites are associated with the acrosomal cap region; TCP-11 is located in this region. In other experiments, 100 nM FPP significantly stimulated cAMP production in mouse sperm membranes, permeabilized cells and intact cells. Furthermore, Gln-FPP inhibited production of cAMP in response to FPP but not to adenosine (10 microM) or its analogue NECA (100 nM), supporting the involvement of two different receptors. Finally, anti-TCP-11 Fab fragments (1/25 dilution) significantly stimulated cAMP production, whereas low Fab (1/200; nonstimulatory when used alone) plus adenosine (10 microM) significantly enhanced the stimulation of capacitation by adenosine. These results support the hypotheses that TCP-11 is the receptor for FPP and that FPP<-->TCP-11 interactions modulate AC/cAMP.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Adeoya-Osiguwa
- Anatomy and Human Biology, King's College London, Strand, United Kingdom
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Abstract
Fertilization promoting peptide (FPP; pGlu-Glu-ProNH2) is produced by the prostate gland and secreted into seminal plasma. When added to uncapacitated mouse and human sperm suspensions, it stimulates capacitation as demonstrated by both cytological changes and increased fertilizing ability in vitro. When added to capacitated suspensions, FPP inhibits spontaneous acrosome loss but cells retain high fertility in vitro. Adenosine elicits similar responses to FPP in both uncapacitated and capacitated cells and FPP + adenosine has a greater effect on uncapacitated cells than either used individually. We have proposed that these two molecules modulate the same pathway (adenylate cyclase/cAMP) but act via different receptors. The structure of FPP is crucial for bioactivity: loss of the terminal amide group abolishes activity and substitution of the central glutamic acid can markedly alter activity. Most recently we have found that stimulation of TCP-11, the product of the mouse t-complex gene Tcp-11, elicits responses indistinguishable from those obtained with FPP and we have hypothesized that the protein TCP-11 is the receptor for FPP. The existence of a human homologue for Tcp-11 suggests that the gene product, in conjunction with FPP, could play an important role in human fertility.
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