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Liu Y, Li T, Shi M, Wan Y, Li H, Zhang M, Wang Z, Wang S, Lv Y, Lu G, Liu H, Zhang H, Huang T. MORN2 regulates the morphology and energy metabolism of mitochondria and is required for male fertility in mice. J Transl Med 2024; 22:240. [PMID: 38443933 PMCID: PMC10916217 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05010-3] [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: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mitochondria produce adenosine triphosphate through respiratory activities to power sperm differentiation and motility, and decreased mitochondrial respiratory activity can result in poor sperm motility and asthenospermia. The mitochondrial sheath is a component of the mid-piece of the sperm flagellum, and dysfunction of the sheath can reduce sperm motility and cause male infertility. The membrane occupation and recognition nexus-motif protein 2 (MORN2) is testis enriched in mice, and the MORN motif was reported to play a role in the regulation of bioelectrical signal homeostasis in cardiomyocytes. METHODS We generated Morn2-/- mice using CRISPR/Cas9 and evaluated the potential functions of MORN2 in spermiogenesis through histological analysis, fertility examination, RT-PCR, CASA, immunofluorescence, TUNEL, electron microscopy analysis, mitochondrial energy metabolism analysis, etc. RESULTS: The Morn2-/- mice were infertile, and their sperm showed severe motility defects. Morn2-/- sperm also had abnormal morphology characterized by bent heads, aberrant mitochondrial sheath formation, lower mitochondrial membrane potential, higher levels of reactive oxygen species, and decreased mitochondrial respiratory activity. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates that MORN2 is essential for male fertility and indicates that MORN2 functions in mitochondrial sheath formation and regulates mitochondrial respiratory activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yining Liu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Tongtong Li
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Mingze Shi
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Yanling Wan
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Hanzhen Li
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Mingyu Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Ziqi Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Shiyu Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
| | - Yue Lv
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shandong Provincial Hospital affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- CUHK-SDU Joint Laboratory On Reproductive Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Gang Lu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- CUHK-SDU Joint Laboratory On Reproductive Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hongbin Liu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China
- CUHK-SDU Joint Laboratory On Reproductive Genetics, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Haobo Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, the Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
| | - Tao Huang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Endocrinology of Ministry of Education, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
- Shandong Provincial Clinical Medicine Research Center for Reproductive Health, Shandong University, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
- Shandong Technology Innovation Center for Reproductive Health, Jinan, 250012, Shandong, China.
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Li W, Xing C, Bao L, Han S, Luo T, Wang Z, Fan H. Comprehensive analysis of RNA m6A methylation in pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:576. [PMID: 35953789 PMCID: PMC9373449 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08833-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim To analyze and compare the mRNA N6-methyladenosine modifications in transverse aortic constriction induced mice hearts and normal mice hearts. Materials and methods Colorimetric quantification was used to probe the changes in m6A modifications in the total RNA. The expression of m6A-related enzymes was analyzed via qRT-PCR and western blotting. RNA-seq and MeRIP-seq were performed to identify genes with differences in m6A modifications or expression in the transcriptome profile. Results Compared with the control group, the TAC group exhibited higher m6A methylation levels. FTO and WTAP were downregulated after TAC, while METTL3 was significantly downregulated at the protein level. MeRIP-seq revealed that 1179 m6A peaks were upmethylated and 733 m6A peaks were downmethylated, and biological analysis of these genes exhibited a strong relationship with heart function. Conclusion Our findings provide novel information regarding m6A modification and gene expression changes in cardiac hypertrophy, which may be fundamental for further research. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08833-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weidong Li
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No.100 Kexuedadao Road, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Chenxv Xing
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No.100 Kexuedadao Road, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Limeng Bao
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No.100 Kexuedadao Road, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Shengna Han
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No.100 Kexuedadao Road, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Tianxia Luo
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, No.156 Jinshui Road, Zhengzhou, 450052, China
| | - Zhiju Wang
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No.100 Kexuedadao Road, Zhengzhou, 450000, China
| | - Hongkun Fan
- Department of Physiology and Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, No.100 Kexuedadao Road, Zhengzhou, 450000, China.
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Abstract
Junctophilins (JPHs) comprise a family of structural proteins that connect the plasma membrane to intracellular organelles such as the endo/sarcoplasmic reticulum. Tethering of these membrane structures results in the formation of highly organized subcellular junctions that play important signaling roles in all excitable cell types. There are four JPH isoforms, expressed primarily in muscle and neuronal cell types. Each JPH protein consists of 6 'membrane occupation and recognition nexus' (MORN) motifs, a joining region connecting these to another set of 2 MORN motifs, a putative alpha-helical region, a divergent region exhibiting low homology between JPH isoforms, and a carboxy-terminal transmembrane region anchoring into the ER/SR membrane. JPH isoforms play essential roles in developing and maintaining subcellular membrane junctions. Conversely, inherited mutations in JPH2 cause hypertrophic or dilated cardiomyopathy, while trinucleotide expansions in the JPH3 gene cause Huntington Disease-Like 2. Loss of JPH1 protein levels can cause skeletal myopathy, while loss of cardiac JPH2 levels causes heart failure and atrial fibrillation, among other disease. This review will provide a comprehensive overview of the JPH gene family, phylogeny, and evolutionary analysis of JPH genes and other MORN domain proteins. JPH biogenesis, membrane tethering, and binding partners will be discussed, as well as functional roles of JPH isoforms in excitable cells. Finally, potential roles of JPH isoform deficits in human disease pathogenesis will be reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan E Lehnart
- Cellular Biophysics and Translational Cardiology Section, Heart Research Center Göttingen, University Medical Center Göttingen, Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, Georg-August University Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.,Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site Göttingen, Germany
| | - Xander H T Wehrens
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States; Departments of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Medicine (Cardiology), Pediatrics (Cardiology), Neuroscience, and Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
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