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Yang L, Liao J, Huang H, Lee TL, Qi H. Stage-specific regulation of undifferentiated spermatogonia by AKT1S1-mediated AKT-mTORC1 signaling during mouse spermatogenesis. Dev Biol 2024; 509:11-27. [PMID: 38311163 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Undifferentiated spermatogonia are composed of a heterogeneous cell population including spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). Molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of various spermatogonial cohorts during their self-renewal and differentiation are largely unclear. Here we show that AKT1S1, an AKT substrate and inhibitor of mTORC1, regulates the homeostasis of undifferentiated spermatogonia. Although deletion of Akt1s1 in mouse appears not grossly affecting steady-state spermatogenesis and male mice are fertile, the subset of differentiation-primed OCT4+ spermatogonia decreased significantly, whereas self-renewing GFRα1+ and proliferating PLZF+ spermatogonia were sustained. Both neonatal prospermatogonia and the first wave spermatogenesis were greatly reduced in Akt1s1-/- mice. Further analyses suggest that OCT4+ spermatogonia in Akt1s1-/- mice possess altered PI3K/AKT-mTORC1 signaling, gene expression and carbohydrate metabolism, leading to their functionally compromised developmental potential. Collectively, these results revealed an important role of AKT1S1 in mediating the stage-specific signals that regulate the self-renewal and differentiation of spermatogonia during mouse spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lele Yang
- Center for Cell Lineage and Development, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; GIBH-HKU Guangdong-Hong Kong Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; GIBH-CUHK Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Jinyue Liao
- GIBH-CUHK Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Hongying Huang
- The Experimental Animal Center, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China
| | - Tin Lap Lee
- GIBH-CUHK Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Huayu Qi
- Center for Cell Lineage and Development, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; GIBH-HKU Guangdong-Hong Kong Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Center, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China; GIBH-CUHK Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.
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2
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Nabulindo NW, Nguhiu-Mwangi J, Kipyegon AN, Ogugo M, Muteti C, Christian T, Oatley MJ, Oatley JM, Kemp S. Culture of Kenyan Goat (Capra hircus) Undifferentiated Spermatogonia in Feeder-Free Conditions. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:894075. [PMID: 35928111 PMCID: PMC9343694 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.894075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The undifferentiated spermatogonial population in mammalian testes contains a spermatogonial stem cell (SSC) population that can regenerate continual spermatogenesis following transplantation. This capacity has the potential to be exploited as a surrogate sires breeding tool to achieve widespread dissemination of desirable genetics in livestock production. Because SSCs are relatively rare in testicular tissue, the ability to expand a population in vitro would be advantageous to provide large numbers for transplantation into surrogate recipient males. Here, we evaluated conditions that would support long-term in-vitro maintenance of undifferentiated spermatogonia from a goat breed that is endemic to Kenyan livestock production. Single-cell suspensions enriched for undifferentiated spermatogonia from pre-pubertal bucks were seeded on laminin-coated tissue culture plates and maintained in a commercial media based on serum-free composition. The serum-free media was conditioned on goat fetal fibroblasts and supplemented with a growth factor cocktail that included glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), stromal cell-derived factor (SDF), and fibroblast growth factor (FGF) before use. Over 45 days, the primary cultures developed a cluster morphology indicative of in-vitro grown undifferentiated spermatogonia from other species and expressed the germ cell marker VASA, as well as the previously defined spermatogonial marker such as promyelocytic leukemia zinc finger (PLZF). Taken together, these findings provide a methodology for isolating the SSC containing undifferentiated spermatogonial population from goat testes and long-term maintenance in defined culture conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nakami Wilkister Nabulindo
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health Laboratory, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
- Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
- *Correspondence: Nakami Wilkister Nabulindo ;
| | - James Nguhiu-Mwangi
- Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Ambrose Ng'eno Kipyegon
- Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Moses Ogugo
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health Laboratory, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Charity Muteti
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health Laboratory, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Tiambo Christian
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health Laboratory, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Melissa J. Oatley
- Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Jon M. Oatley
- Center for Reproductive Biology, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, United States
| | - Stephen Kemp
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health Laboratory, International Livestock Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
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3
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Zou Q, Yang L, Shi R, Qi Y, Zhang X, Qi H. Proteostasis regulated by testis-specific ribosomal protein RPL39L maintains mouse spermatogenesis. iScience 2021; 24:103396. [PMID: 34825148 PMCID: PMC8605100 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.103396] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Maintaining proteostasis is important for animal development. How proteostasis influences spermatogenesis that generates male gametes, spermatozoa, is not clear. We show that testis-specific paralog of ribosomal large subunit protein RPL39, RPL39L, is required for mouse spermatogenesis. Deletion of Rpl39l in mouse caused reduced proliferation of spermatogonial stem cells, malformed sperm mitochondria and flagella, leading to sub-fertility in males. Biochemical analyses revealed that lack of RPL39L deteriorated protein synthesis and protein quality control in spermatogenic cells, partly due to reduced biogenesis of ribosomal subunits and ribosome homeostasis. RPL39/RPL39L is likely assembled into ribosomes via H/ACA domain containing NOP10 complex early in ribosome biogenesis pathway. Furthermore, Rpl39l null mice exhibited compromised regenerative spermatogenesis after chemical insult and early degenerative spermatogenesis in aging mice. These data demonstrate that maintaining proteostasis is important for spermatogenesis, of which ribosome homeostasis maintained by ribosomal proteins coordinates translation machinery to the regulation of cellular growth. Rpl39l deletion causes reduced spermatogenesis and subfertility in male mice SSC proliferation, mitochondria and sperm flagella compromised in Rpl39l–/– mice Rpl39l deletion affects ribosomal LSU formation and protein quality control Aberrant proteostasis affects spermatogenesis and regeneration
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianxing Zou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, China.,Center for Cell Lineage and Development, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lele Yang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, China.,Center for Cell Lineage and Development, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Ruona Shi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, China.,Center for Cell Lineage and Development, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, China.,Department of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230000, China
| | - Yuling Qi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, China.,Center for Cell Lineage and Development, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.,Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas (CCLA), Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Xiaofei Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, China.,Center for Cell Lineage and Development, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.,Center for Cell Lineage and Atlas (CCLA), Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Huayu Qi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, China.,Center for Cell Lineage and Development, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510630, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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4
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Use of alginate hydrogel to improve long-term 3D culture of spermatogonial stem cells: stemness gene expression and structural features. ZYGOTE 2021; 30:312-318. [PMID: 34641993 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199421000551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The quality and quantity of a spermatogonial stem-cell (SSC) culture can be measured in less time using a 3D culture in a scaffold. The present study investigated stemness gene expression and the morphological and structural characterization of SSCs encapsulated in alginate. SSCs were harvested from BALB/c neonatal mice testes through two-step mechanical and enzymatic digestion. The spermatogonial populations were separated using magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) using an anti-Thy1 antibody and c-Kit. The SSCs then were encapsulated in alginate hydrogel. After 2 months of SSC culturing, the alginate microbeads were extracted and stained to evaluate their histological properties. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to determine the stemness gene expression. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed to evaluate the SSC morphology, density and scaffold structure. The results showed that encapsulated SSCs had decreased expression of Oct4, Sox2 and Nanos2 genes, but the expression of Nanog, Bcl6b and Plzf genes was not significantly altered. Histological examination showed that SSCs with pale nuclei and numerous nucleolus formed colonies. SEM evaluation revealed that the alginate scaffold structure preserved the SSC morphology and density for more than 60 days. Cultivation of SSCs on alginate hydrogel can affect Oct4, Sox2 and Nanos2 expression.
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5
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Jin J, Zhao R, Chen C, Zhou J, Lu Z, Jin K, Zhang C, Wang M, Sun C, Wang Y, Zhang W, Li T, Zuo Q, Zhang Y, Chen G, Li B. The Lbc gene promotes differentiation of chicken embryo stem cell into spermatogonial stem cells via the regulation of transcriptional factor Hoxa5. J Cell Biochem 2019; 120:6952-6961. [PMID: 30656739 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.27760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Recently, the surface marker genes of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) were increasingly excavated and verified. However, few studies focused on the key genes involved in the regulation of SSCs differentiation. Our laboratory has screened the Lbc gene (GenBank accession number: XM_429585.3), which is specifically expressed on the SSCs. The aim of this study is to investigate the function of Lbc and its regulatory mechanism for SSCs. The indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) showed that Lbc was located in both nucleus and cytoplasm. Lbc was also overexpressed and knocked out both in vitro and in vivo to verify its function in SSCs, respectively. As a result, the overexpressed Lbc could promote the formation of spermatogonial stem cells like cells (SSCs-like), while the deficiency of Lbc blocked the formation of SSCs-like. We also identified the core region of Lbc promoter that located into the upstream of the transcription initiation site -247 to -2bp. Moreover, the activity of Lbc promoter could be increased by histone acetylation which is leading to the higher expression of Lbc. When we mutated the transcription factor HOXA5 and SOX10 that bound to the core region of Lbc promoter, HOXA5 could reduce the transcription activity of Lbc whereas the SOX10 was not. Currently, we found Lbc is a new specific marker of SSCs. This gene can be modified by histone acetylated and promote the formation of chicken SSCs via the transcription factor HOXA5. The present research will lay the foundation for further study on the regulatory mechanism of SSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Jin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Ruifeng Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Jing Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Zhenyu Lu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Kai Jin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Man Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Changhua Sun
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yingjie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Wenhui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Tingting Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Qisheng Zuo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yani Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Guohong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Bichun Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
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6
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Zuo Q, Jin K, Wang Y, Song J, Zhang Y, Li B. CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Deletion of C1EIS
Inhibits Chicken Embryonic Stem Cell Differentiation Into Male Germ Cells (Gallus gallus
). J Cell Biochem 2017; 118:2380-2386. [DOI: 10.1002/jcb.25900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Qisheng Zuo
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology; Yangzhou University; Yangzhou 225009 P.R. China
| | - Kai Jin
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology; Yangzhou University; Yangzhou 225009 P.R. China
| | - Yingjie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology; Yangzhou University; Yangzhou 225009 P.R. China
| | - Jiuzhou Song
- Animal and Avian Sciences; University of Maryland; College Park 20741 Maryland
| | - Yani Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology; Yangzhou University; Yangzhou 225009 P.R. China
| | - Bichun Li
- Key Laboratory of Animal Breeding Reproduction and Molecular Design for Jiangsu Province, College of Animal Science and Technology; Yangzhou University; Yangzhou 225009 P.R. China
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7
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Huang Y, Xiong Y, Lin Z, Feng X, Jiang X, Songyang Z, Huang J. Specific Tandem 3'UTR Patterns and Gene Expression Profiles in Mouse Thy1+ Germline Stem Cells. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0145417. [PMID: 26713853 PMCID: PMC4699828 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0145417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2015] [Accepted: 12/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A recently developed strategy of sequencing alternative polyadenylation (APA) sites (SAPAS) with second-generation sequencing technology can be used to explore complete genome-wide patterns of tandem APA sites and global gene expression profiles. spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) maintain long-term reproductive abilities in male mammals. The detailed mechanisms by which SSCs self-renew and generate mature spermatozoa are not clear. To understand the specific alternative polyadenylation pattern and global gene expression profile of male germline stem cells (GSCs, mainly referred to SSCs here), we isolated and purified mouse Thy1+ cells from testis by magnetic-activated cell sorting (MACS) and then used the SAPAS method for analysis, using pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and differentiated mouse embryonic fibroblast cells (MEFs) as controls. As a result, we obtained 99,944 poly(A) sites, approximately 40% of which were newly detected in our experiments. These poly(A) sites originated from three mouse cell types and covered 17,499 genes, including 831 long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) genes. We observed that GSCs tend to have shorter 3'UTR lengths while MEFs tend towards longer 3'UTR lengths. We also identified 1337 genes that were highly expressed in GSCs, and these genes were highly consistent with the functional characteristics of GSCs. Our detailed bioinformatics analysis identified APA site-switching events at 3'UTRs and many new specifically expressed genes in GSCs, which we experimentally confirmed. Furthermore, qRT-PCR was performed to validate several events of the 334 genes with distal-to-proximal poly(A) switch in GSCs. Consistently APA reporter assay confirmed the total 3'UTR shortening in GSCs compared to MEFs. We also analyzed the cis elements around the proximal poly(A) site preferentially used in GSCs and found C-rich elements may contribute to this regulation. Overall, our results identified the expression level and polyadenylation site profiles and these data provide new insights into the processes potentially involved in the GSC life cycle and spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Huang
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, the First Affiliated Hospital and Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 51000, China
| | - Yuanyan Xiong
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, the First Affiliated Hospital and Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 51000, China
- SYSU-CMU Shunde International Joint Research Institute, Shunde, China
| | - Zhuoheng Lin
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, the First Affiliated Hospital and Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 51000, China
| | - Xuyang Feng
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, the First Affiliated Hospital and Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 51000, China
| | - Xue Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, the First Affiliated Hospital and Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 51000, China
| | - Zhou Songyang
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, the First Affiliated Hospital and Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 51000, China
| | - Junjiu Huang
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine of Guangdong Province, the First Affiliated Hospital and Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 51000, China
- * E-mail:
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8
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Zhou Q, Guo Y, Zheng B, Shao B, Jiang M, Wang G, Zhou T, Wang L, Zhou Z, Guo X, Huang X. Establishment of a proteome profile and identification of molecular markers for mouse spermatogonial stem cells. J Cell Mol Med 2014; 19:521-34. [PMID: 25352495 PMCID: PMC4369810 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.12407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2014] [Accepted: 07/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are undifferentiated cells that are required to maintain spermatogenesis throughout the reproductive life of mammals. Although SSC transplantation and culture provide a powerful tool to identify the mechanisms regulating SSC function, the precise signalling mechanisms governing SSC self-renewal and specific surface markers for purifying SSCs remain to be clearly determined. In the present study, we established a steady SSC culture according to the method described by Shinohara's lab. Fertile progeny was produced after transplantation of cultured SSCs into infertile mouse testis, and the red fluorescence exhibited by the culture cell membranes was stably and continuously transmitted to the offspring. Next, via advanced mass spectrometry and an optimized proteomics platform, we constructed the proteome profile, with 682 proteins expressed in SSCs. Furthermore bioinformatics analysis showed that the list contained several known molecules that are regulated in SSCs. Several nucleoproteins and membrane proteins were chosen for further exploration using immunofluorescence and RT-PCR. The results showed that SALL1, EZH2, and RCOR2 are possibly involved in the self-renewal mechanism of SSCs. Furthermore, the results of tissue-specific expression analysis showed that Gpat2 and Pld6 were uniquely and highly expressed in mouse testes and cultured SSCs. The cellular localization of PLD6 was further explored and the results showed it was primarily expressed in the spermatogonial membrane of mouse testes and cultured SSCs. The proteins identified in this study form the basis for further exploring the molecular mechanism of self-renewal in SSCs and for identifying specific surface markers of SSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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9
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Han NR, Park YH, Yun JI, Park HJ, Park MH, Kim MS, Choi JH, Lee E, Gong SP, Lim JM, Lee ST. Determination of Feeder Cell-Based Cellular Niches Supporting the Colonization and Maintenance of Spermatogonial Stem Cells from Prepubertal Domestic Cat Testes. Reprod Domest Anim 2014; 49:705-10. [DOI: 10.1111/rda.12351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- NR Han
- Department of Animal Biotechnology; College of Animal Life and Science; Kangwon National University; Chuncheon Korea
| | - YH Park
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology; College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Seoul National University; Seoul Korea
| | - JI Yun
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Veterinary Science; Kangwon National University; Chuncheon Korea
| | - HJ Park
- Department of Animal Biotechnology; College of Animal Life and Science; Kangwon National University; Chuncheon Korea
| | - MH Park
- Department of Animal Biotechnology; College of Animal Life and Science; Kangwon National University; Chuncheon Korea
| | - MS Kim
- Department of Animal Biotechnology; College of Animal Life and Science; Kangwon National University; Chuncheon Korea
| | - JH Choi
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Veterinary Science; Kangwon National University; Chuncheon Korea
| | - E Lee
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Institute of Veterinary Science; Kangwon National University; Chuncheon Korea
| | - SP Gong
- Department of Marine Biomaterials and Aquaculture; Pukyong National University; Busan Korea
| | - JM Lim
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology; College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Seoul National University; Seoul Korea
| | - ST Lee
- Department of Animal Biotechnology; College of Animal Life and Science; Kangwon National University; Chuncheon Korea
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10
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An J, Zhang X, Qin J, Wan Y, Hu Y, Liu T, Li J, Dong W, Du E, Pan C, Zeng W. The histone methyltransferase ESET is required for the survival of spermatogonial stem/progenitor cells in mice. Cell Death Dis 2014; 5:e1196. [PMID: 24763053 PMCID: PMC4001319 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2014.171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Revised: 03/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Self-renewal and differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are the foundation of spermatogenesis throughout a male's life. SSC transplantation will be a valuable solution for young male patients to preserve their fertility. As SSCs in the collected testis tissue from the patients are very limited, it is necessary to expansion the SSCs in vitro. Previous studies suggested that histone methyltransferase ERG-associated protein with SET domain (ESET) represses gene expression and is essential for the maintenance of the pool of embryonic stem cells and neurons. The objective of this study was to determine the role of ESET in SSCs using in vitrocell culture and germ cell transplantation. Cell transplantation assay showed that knockdown of ESET reduced the number of seminiferous tubules with spermatogenesis when compared with that of the control. Knockdown of ESET also upregulated the expression of apoptosis-associated genes (such as P53, Caspase9, Apaf1), whereas inhibited the expression of apoptosis-suppressing genes (such as Bcl2l1, X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein). In addition, suppression of ESET led to increase in expression of Caspase9 and activation of Caspase3 (P17) as well as cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase. Among the five ESET-targeting genes (Cox4i2, spermatogenesis and oogenesis Specific Basic Helix-Loop-Helix 2, Nobox, Foxn1 and Dazl) examined by ChIP assay, Cox4i2 was found to regulate SSC apoptosis by the rescue experiment. BSP analyses further showed that DNA methylation in the promoter loci of Cox4i2was influenced by ESET, indicating that ESET also regulated gene expression through DNA methylation in addition to histone methylation. In conclusion, we found that ESET regulated SSC apoptosis by suppressing of Cox4i2 expression through histone H3 lysine 9 tri-methylation and DNA methylation. The results obtained will provide unique insights that would broaden the research on SSC biology and contribute to the treatment of male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- J An
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, China
| | - X Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, China
| | - J Qin
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, China
| | - Y Wan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, China
| | - Y Hu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, China
| | - T Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, China
| | - J Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, China
| | - W Dong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, China
| | - E Du
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, China
| | - C Pan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, China
| | - W Zeng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Shaanxi, China
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11
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Evolutionarily diverged regulation of X-chromosomal genes as a primal event in mouse reproductive isolation. PLoS Genet 2014; 10:e1004301. [PMID: 24743563 PMCID: PMC3990516 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2013] [Accepted: 02/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Improper gene regulation is implicated in reproductive isolation, but its genetic and molecular bases are unknown. We previously reported that a mouse inter-subspecific X chromosome substitution strain shows reproductive isolation characterized by male-specific sterility due to disruption of meiotic entry in spermatogenesis. Here, we conducted comprehensive transcriptional profiling of the testicular cells of this strain by microarray. The results clearly revealed gross misregulation of gene expression in the substituted donor X chromosome. Such misregulation occurred prior to detectable spermatogenetic impairment, suggesting that it is a primal event in reproductive isolation. The misregulation of X-linked genes showed asymmetry; more genes were disproportionally downregulated rather than upregulated. Furthermore, this misregulation subsequently resulted in perturbation of global transcriptional regulation of autosomal genes, probably by cascading deleterious effects. Remarkably, this transcriptional misregulation was substantially restored by introduction of chromosome 1 from the same donor strain as the X chromosome. This finding implies that one of regulatory genes acting in trans for X-linked target genes is located on chromosome 1. This study collectively suggests that regulatory incompatibility is a major cause of reproductive isolation in the X chromosome substitution strain. Reproductive isolation characterized by male sterility and decreased viability is important for speciation, because it suppresses free genetic exchange between two diverged populations and accelerates the genetic divergence. One of the reproductive isolation phenomena, hybrid sterility (sterility in hybrid animals), is possibly caused by deleterious interactions between diverged genetic factors brought by two distinct populations. The polymorphism not only in protein-coding sequences but also in transcriptional regulatory sequences can cause the genetic incompatibility in hybrid animals. However, the precise genetic mechanisms of hybrid sterility are mostly unknown. Here, we report that the expression of X-linked genes derived from one mouse subspecies was largely misregulated in the genetic background of another subspecies. The misregulated expression of the X-linked genes subsequently affected the global expression of autosomal genes. The results collectively indicate that hybrid sterility between the two mouse subspecies is caused by misregulation of gene expression due to genetic incompatibility in the transcriptional regulatory circuitry. Such genetic incompatibility in transcriptional regulation likely underlies reproductive isolation in general.
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Song HW, Wilkinson MF. Transcriptional control of spermatogonial maintenance and differentiation. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2014; 30:14-26. [PMID: 24560784 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2014.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Accepted: 02/11/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a multistep process that generates millions of spermatozoa per day in mammals. A key to this process is the spermatogonial stem cell (SSC), which has the dual property of continually renewing and undergoing differentiation into a spermatogonial progenitor that expands and further differentiates. In this review, we will focus on how these proliferative and early differentiation steps in mammalian male germ cells are controlled by transcription factors. Most of the transcription factors that have so far been identified as promoting SSC self-renewal (BCL6B, BRACHYURY, ETV5, ID4, LHX1, and POU3F1) are upregulated by glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). Since GDNF is crucial for promoting SSC self-renewal, this suggests that these transcription factors are responsible for coordinating the action of GDNF in SSCs. Other transcription factors that promote SSC self-renewal are expressed independently of GDNF (FOXO1, PLZF, POU5F1, and TAF4B) and thus may act in non-GDNF pathways to promote SSC cell growth or survival. Several transcription factors have been identified that promote spermatogonial differentiation (DMRT1, NGN3, SOHLH1, SOHLH2, SOX3, and STAT3); some of these may influence the decision of an SSC to commit to differentiate while others may promote later spermatogonial differentiation steps. Many of these transcription factors regulate each other and act on common targets, suggesting they integrate to form complex transcriptional networks in self-renewing and differentiating spermatogonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye-Won Song
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Miles F Wilkinson
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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Sun R, Qi H. Dynamic expression of combinatorial replication-dependent histone variant genes during mouse spermatogenesis. Gene Expr Patterns 2014; 14:30-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2013.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2013] [Revised: 09/23/2013] [Accepted: 10/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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