1
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Released ATP Mediates Spermatozoa Chemotaxis Promoted by Uterus-Derived Factor (UDF) in Ascaris suum. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23074069. [PMID: 35409429 PMCID: PMC8999757 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23074069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Fertilization requires sperm migration toward oocytes and subsequent fusion. Sperm chemotaxis, a process in which motile sperm are attracted by factors released from oocytes or associated structures, plays a key role in sperm migration to oocytes. Here, we studied sperm chemotaxis in the nematode Ascaris suum. Our data show that uterus-derived factor (UDF), the protein fraction of uterine extracts, can attract spermatozoa. UDF is heat resistant, but its activity is attenuated by certain proteinases. UDF binds to the surface of spermatozoa but not spermatids, and this process is mediated by membranous organelles that fuse with the plasma membrane. UDF induces spermatozoa to release ATP from intracellular storage sites to the extracellular milieu, and extracellular ATP modulates sperm chemotaxis. Moreover, UDF increases protein serine phosphorylation (pS) levels in sperm, which facilitates sperm chemotaxis. Taken together, we revealed that both extracellular ATP and intracellular pS signaling are involved in Ascaris sperm chemotaxis. Our data provide insights into the mechanism of sperm chemotaxis in Ascaris suum.
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2
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Wozniak KL, Bainbridge RE, Summerville DW, Tembo M, Phelps WA, Sauer ML, Wisner BW, Czekalski ME, Pasumarthy S, Hanson ML, Linderman MB, Luu CH, Boehm ME, Sanders SM, Buckley KM, Bain DJ, Nicotra ML, Lee MT, Carlson AE. Zinc protection of fertilized eggs is an ancient feature of sexual reproduction in animals. PLoS Biol 2020; 18:e3000811. [PMID: 32735558 PMCID: PMC7423145 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the earliest and most prevalent barriers to successful reproduction is polyspermy, or fertilization of an egg by multiple sperm. To prevent these supernumerary fertilizations, eggs have evolved multiple mechanisms. It has recently been proposed that zinc released by mammalian eggs at fertilization may block additional sperm from entering. Here, we demonstrate that eggs from amphibia and teleost fish also release zinc. Using Xenopus laevis as a model, we document that zinc reversibly blocks fertilization. Finally, we demonstrate that extracellular zinc similarly disrupts early embryonic development in eggs from diverse phyla, including Cnidaria, Echinodermata, and Chordata. Our study reveals that a fundamental strategy protecting human eggs from fertilization by multiple sperm may have evolved more than 650 million years ago.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine L. Wozniak
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Rachel E. Bainbridge
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Dominique W. Summerville
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Maiwase Tembo
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Wesley A. Phelps
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Monica L. Sauer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Bennett W. Wisner
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Madelyn E. Czekalski
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Srikavya Pasumarthy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Meghan L. Hanson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Melania B. Linderman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Catherine H. Luu
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Madison E. Boehm
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Steven M. Sanders
- Department of Surgery and Immunology, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, and Center for Evolutionary Biology and Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Katherine M. Buckley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Daniel J. Bain
- Department of Geology and Environmental Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Matthew L. Nicotra
- Department of Surgery and Immunology, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, and Center for Evolutionary Biology and Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Miler T. Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Anne E. Carlson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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3
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Niksirat H, Andersson L, Golpour A, Chupani L, James P. Quantification of egg proteome changes during fertilization in sterlet Acipenser ruthenus. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2017; 490:189-193. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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4
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Da Ros VG, Muñoz MW, Battistone MA, Brukman NG, Carvajal G, Curci L, Gómez-ElIas MD, Cohen DBJ, Cuasnicu PS. From the epididymis to the egg: participation of CRISP proteins in mammalian fertilization. Asian J Androl 2016; 17:711-5. [PMID: 26112483 PMCID: PMC4577577 DOI: 10.4103/1008-682x.155769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian fertilization is a complex process that involves different steps of interaction between the male and female gametes. In spite of its relevance, the molecular mechanisms underlying this process still remain to be elucidated. The present review describes the contribution of our laboratory to the understanding of mammalian fertilization using Cysteine-RIch Secretory Proteins (CRISP) as model molecules. Substantial evidence obtained from in vitro assays and knockout models shows that epididymal CRISP1 associates with the sperm surface with two different affinities during maturation, and participates in the regulation of signaling pathways during capacitation as well as in both sperm-zona pellucida interaction and gamete fusion. These observations can be extended to humans as judged by our findings showing that the human homolog of the rodent protein (hCRISP1) is also involved in both stages of fertilization. Evidence supports that other members of the CRISP family secreted in the testis (CRISP2), epididymis (CRISP3-4) or during ejaculation (CRISP3) are also involved in sperm-egg interaction, supporting the existence of a functional redundancy and cooperation between homolog proteins ensuring the success of fertilization. Together, our observations indicate that CRISP proteins accompany spermatozoa along their transit through both the male and female reproductive tracts. We believe these results not only contribute to a better mechanistic understanding of fertilization but also support CRISP proteins as excellent candidates for future research on infertility and contraception.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Patricia S Cuasnicu
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, C1428ADN, Argentina
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5
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Ernesto JI, Weigel Muñoz M, Battistone MA, Vasen G, Martínez-López P, Orta G, Figueiras-Fierro D, De la Vega-Beltran JL, Moreno IA, Guidobaldi HA, Giojalas L, Darszon A, Cohen DJ, Cuasnicú PS. CRISP1 as a novel CatSper regulator that modulates sperm motility and orientation during fertilization. J Cell Biol 2015; 210:1213-24. [PMID: 26416967 PMCID: PMC4586743 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201412041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Ca(2+)-dependent mechanisms are critical for successful completion of fertilization. Here, we demonstrate that CRISP1, a sperm protein involved in mammalian fertilization, is also present in the female gamete and capable of modulating key sperm Ca(2+) channels. Specifically, we show that CRISP1 is expressed by the cumulus cells that surround the egg and that fertilization of cumulus-oocyte complexes from CRISP1 knockout females is impaired because of a failure of sperm to penetrate the cumulus. We provide evidence that CRISP1 stimulates sperm orientation by modulating sperm hyperactivation, a vigorous motility required for penetration of the egg vestments. Moreover, patch clamping of sperm revealed that CRISP1 has the ability to regulate CatSper, the principal sperm Ca(2+) channel involved in hyperactivation and essential for fertility. Given the critical role of Ca(2+) for sperm motility, we propose a novel CRISP1-mediated fine-tuning mechanism to regulate sperm hyperactivation and orientation for successful penetration of the cumulus during fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan I Ernesto
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, C1428ADN Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariana Weigel Muñoz
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, C1428ADN Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María A Battistone
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, C1428ADN Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Vasen
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, C1428ADN Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pablo Martínez-López
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelos 62250, México
| | - Gerardo Orta
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelos 62250, México
| | - Dulce Figueiras-Fierro
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelos 62250, México
| | - José L De la Vega-Beltran
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelos 62250, México
| | | | - Héctor A Guidobaldi
- Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5016GCA Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Laura Giojalas
- Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, X5016GCA Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Alberto Darszon
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelos 62250, México
| | - Débora J Cohen
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, C1428ADN Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Patricia S Cuasnicú
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, C1428ADN Buenos Aires, Argentina
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6
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Shrestha B, Sripadi P, Reschke BR, Henderson HD, Powell MJ, Moody SA, Vertes A. Subcellular metabolite and lipid analysis of Xenopus laevis eggs by LAESI mass spectrometry. PLoS One 2014; 9:e115173. [PMID: 25506922 PMCID: PMC4266676 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0115173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2014] [Accepted: 11/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Xenopus laevis eggs are used as a biological model system for studying fertilization and early embryonic development in vertebrates. Most methods used for their molecular analysis require elaborate sample preparation including separate protocols for the water soluble and lipid components. In this study, laser ablation electrospray ionization (LAESI), an ambient ionization technique, was used for direct mass spectrometric analysis of X. laevis eggs and early stage embryos up to five cleavage cycles. Single unfertilized and fertilized eggs, their animal and vegetal poles, and embryos through the 32-cell stage were analyzed. Fifty two small metabolite ions, including glutathione, GABA and amino acids, as well as numerous lipids including 14 fatty acids, 13 lysophosphatidylcholines, 36 phosphatidylcholines and 29 triacylglycerols were putatively identified. Additionally, some proteins, for example thymosin β4 (Xen), were also detected. On the subcellular level, the lipid profiles were found to differ between the animal and vegetal poles of the eggs. Radial profiling revealed profound compositional differences between the jelly coat vitelline/plasma membrane and egg cytoplasm. Changes in the metabolic profile of the egg following fertilization, e.g., the decline of polyamine content with the development of the embryo were observed using LAESI-MS. This approach enables the exploration of metabolic and lipid changes during the early stages of embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bindesh Shrestha
- Department of Chemistry, W. M. Keck Institute for Proteomics Technology and Applications, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Prabhakar Sripadi
- Department of Chemistry, W. M. Keck Institute for Proteomics Technology and Applications, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Brent R. Reschke
- Protea Biosciences, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
| | | | - Matthew J. Powell
- Protea Biosciences, Morgantown, West Virginia, United States of America
| | - Sally A. Moody
- Department of Anatomy and Regenerative Biology, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., United States of America
| | - Akos Vertes
- Department of Chemistry, W. M. Keck Institute for Proteomics Technology and Applications, The George Washington University, Washington, D.C., United States of America
- * E-mail:
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7
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Burnett LA, Sugiyama H, Bieber AL, Chandler DE. Egg jelly proteins stimulate directed motility in Xenopus laevis sperm. Mol Reprod Dev 2012; 78:450-62. [PMID: 21692128 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.21325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Previously we have shown that extracts from Xenopus egg jelly (egg water) increase the passage of sperm through a porous membrane in a dose-dependent manner. Although this assay has shown that sperm accumulation occurs only in the presence of an egg water gradient, it has not revealed the dynamic features of how Xenopus sperm swim in such gradients. Here, we use video microscopic observations to trace sperm trajectories in a Zigmond chamber. Our results show that Xenopus sperm swim in linear and gently curving paths and only infrequently perform turns. In the presence of an egg water gradient, however, the percent of sperm swimming up the gradient axis and the net distance traveled by each sperm along this axis was increased significantly. There was no change in curvilinear velocity. Rather, the orientation of sperm travel was shifted to more closely match that of the gradient axis. In addition, using a porous filter assay, we demonstrate that the egg water protein allurin, in both purified and recombinant forms, stimulates directed motility of sperm. Finally, we use Oregon Green 488-conjugated allurin to show that this protein binds primarily to the sperm midpiece; binding of allurin to the entire head was observed in a minor subpopulation of sperm. Dose dependence of allurin binding occurred over the 0-1 µg/ml range and correlated well with previously published dose-dependent sperm attraction data. Binding was rapid with a half-time of about 10 sec. These data suggest that egg water proteins bind to sperm and modify sperm-orienting behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey A Burnett
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287-4501, USA
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8
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Burnett LA, Washburn CA, Sugiyama H, Xiang X, Olson JH, Al-Anzi B, Bieber AL, Chandler DE. Allurin, an amphibian sperm chemoattractant having implications for mammalian sperm physiology. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2012; 295:1-61. [PMID: 22449486 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-394306-4.00007-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Eggs of many species are surrounded by extracellular coats that emit ligands to which conspecific sperm respond by undergoing chemotaxis and changes in metabolism, motility, and acrosomal status in preparation for fertilization. Here we review methods used to measure sperm chemotaxis and focus on recent studies of allurin, a 21-kDa protein belonging to the Cysteine-RIch Secretory Protein (CRISP) family that has chemoattraction activity for both amphibian and mammalian sperm. Allurin is unique in being the first extensively characterized Crisp protein found in the female reproductive tract and is the product of a newly discovered amphibian gene within a gene cluster that has been largely conserved in mammals. Study of its expression, function, and tertiary structure could lead to new insights in the role of Crisp proteins in sperm physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey A Burnett
- Department of Animal Science, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
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9
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Burnett LA, Anderson DM, Rawls A, Bieber AL, Chandler DE. Mouse sperm exhibit chemotaxis to allurin, a truncated member of the cysteine-rich secretory protein family. Dev Biol 2011; 360:318-28. [PMID: 22008793 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2011] [Revised: 09/23/2011] [Accepted: 09/26/2011] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Allurin, a 21 kDa protein isolated from egg jelly of the frog Xenopus laevis, has previously been demonstrated to attract frog sperm in two-chamber and microscopic assays. cDNA cloning and sequencing has shown that allurin is a truncated member of the Cysteine-Rich Secretory Protein (CRISP) family, whose members include mammalian sperm-binding proteins that have been postulated to play roles in spermatogenesis, sperm capacitation and sperm-egg binding in mammals. Here, we show that allurin is a chemoattractant for mouse sperm, as determined by a 2.5-fold stimulation of sperm passage across a porous membrane and by analysis of sperm trajectories within an allurin gradient as observed by time-lapse microscopy. Chemotaxis was accompanied by an overall change in trajectory from circular to linear thereby increasing sperm movement along the gradient axis. Allurin did not increase sperm velocity although it did produce a modest increase in flagellar beat frequency. Oregon Green 488-conjugated allurin was observed to bind to the sub-equatorial region of the mouse sperm head and to the midpiece of the flagellum. These findings demonstrate that sperm have retained the ability to bind and respond to truncated Crisp proteins over 300 million years of vertebrate evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey A Burnett
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA
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10
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Tholl N, Naqvi S, McLaughlin E, Boyles S, Bieber AL, Chandler DE. Swimming of Xenopus laevis sperm exhibits multiple gears and its duration is extended by egg jelly constituents. THE BIOLOGICAL BULLETIN 2011; 220:174-185. [PMID: 21712226 DOI: 10.1086/bblv220n3p174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The motility of Xenopus sperm is initiated by the osmotic shock experienced when these cells are ejaculated into low-salinity pond water. Motility is brief and is required for the sperm to penetrate the jelly layers and fertilize the egg. In this study we demonstrate that extracts of egg jelly contain factors that extend the period of sperm motility as well as providing a chemoattractant activity as previously reported. Both activities are partially dependent on extracellular calcium. Time-lapse and video microscopy show that after activation of motility the number of motile sperm decreases rapidly, with a half-time of about 2 min. Addition of 10% v/v egg jelly extract ("egg water") increased the number of motile sperm 2-fold over controls at 20 s and about 4- to 10-fold over controls at 10 min after initiation of motility. Extension of motility lifetime was not mediated by a nonspecific protein or by allurin, the egg-water protein that has chemoattractant activity. The helical path of Xenopus sperm exhibited tight coupling between rotational and forward velocities in egg jelly, but coupling changed rapidly from moment to moment in low-salinity buffer. Our observations suggest that jelly-derived factors regulate both the longevity and directionality of sperm propulsion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Tholl
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287-4501, USA
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11
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Krug PJ, Riffell JA, Zimmer RK. Endogenous signaling pathways and chemical communication between sperm and egg. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2009; 212:1092-100. [PMID: 19329742 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.027029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) sperm detect a waterborne chemical cue released by conspecific eggs, and change their swimming behavior to increase the likelihood of fertilization success. Previously, we isolated the natural sperm attractant by bioassay-guided fractionation and high-performance liquid chromatography, and chemically identified it as the free-amino acid l-tryptophan (l-Trp). In the present study, levels of this ecologically meaningful compound were quantified in various abalone tissues, and in freshly spawned eggs. Tryptophan was the least abundant of 19 dissolved free amino acids (DFAAs) in ovary, testis, foot muscle, gill, stomach and hemolymph. As a proportion of the DFAA pool, however, Trp concentrations were significantly elevated in eggs (three- to seven-times higher) relative to all other sampled tissues. Natural rates of Trp release from eggs also were measured and correlated with fertility. Fertilization success peaked during an initial 30 min period (post-spawn), but decreased to nil over the next 50 min. Closely paralleling these events, Trp accumulated in seawater around freshly spawned eggs for the first 45 min (post-spawn) before decaying rapidly from solution. Older eggs stopped releasing Trp approximately when they became infertile, revealing a critical link between gamete physiology and chemical signaling. This apparent negative feedback loop did not arise from tryptophan oxidation, uptake by bacteria in seawater, or a degrading enzyme released by eggs. As a metabolic precursor critical to development of the larval nervous system, Trp could be an honest indicator of egg fitness for prospective sperm suitors. Our results suggest that endogenous signaling pathways have been co-opted for external communication between gametes, as an adaptation to increase reproductive success by promoting sperm navigation towards fertile eggs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick J Krug
- Department of Biological Sciences, California State University, Los Angeles, CA 90032, USA
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12
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Sugiyama H, Burnett L, Xiang X, Olson J, Willis S, Miao A, Akema T, Bieber AL, Chandler DE. Purification and multimer formation of allurin, a sperm chemoattractant from Xenopus laevis egg jelly. Mol Reprod Dev 2009; 76:527-36. [PMID: 18951371 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.20969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Allurin, a sperm chemoattractant isolated from Xenopus laevis egg jelly, can be purified in one step from an extract of diffusible jelly proteins ("egg water") using a FPLC or HPLC anion exchange column and a multi-step NaCl gradient. Allurin homomultimers were detected by Western blotting with antibodies prepared against the purified protein or peptides within the protein. Allurin multimers were stable and resisted dissociation by SDS and beta-mercaptoethanol. Alkylation of allurin provided evidence for two free sulfhydryl groups but did not eliminate multimer formation, suggesting that intermolecular disulfide bond formation is not required for allurin aggregation. Concentration of egg water was accompanied by a reduction of chemoattractant activity that could not be fully accounted for by homomultimer formation. Rather, the presence of a multiphasic dose-activity curve upon partial purification and formation of hetero-allurin complexes during concentration suggested that egg water may contain allurin-binding proteins that reduce multimer formation and activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitoshi Sugiyama
- Department of Physiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kawasaki, Japan
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13
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Gibbs GM, Roelants K, O'Bryan MK. The CAP superfamily: cysteine-rich secretory proteins, antigen 5, and pathogenesis-related 1 proteins--roles in reproduction, cancer, and immune defense. Endocr Rev 2008; 29:865-97. [PMID: 18824526 DOI: 10.1210/er.2008-0032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 352] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The cysteine-rich secretory proteins, antigen 5, and pathogenesis-related 1 proteins (CAP) superfamily members are found in a remarkable range of organisms spanning each of the animal kingdoms. Within humans and mice, there are 31 and 33 individual family members, respectively, and although many are poorly characterized, the majority show a notable expression bias to the reproductive tract and immune tissues or are deregulated in cancers. CAP superfamily proteins are most often secreted and have an extracellular endocrine or paracrine function and are involved in processes including the regulation of extracellular matrix and branching morphogenesis, potentially as either proteases or protease inhibitors; in ion channel regulation in fertility; as tumor suppressor or prooncogenic genes in tissues including the prostate; and in cell-cell adhesion during fertilization. This review describes mammalian CAP superfamily gene expression profiles, phylogenetic relationships, protein structural properties, and biological functions, and it draws into focus their potential role in health and disease. The nine subfamilies of the mammalian CAP superfamily include: the human glioma pathogenesis-related 1 (GLIPR1), Golgi associated pathogenesis related-1 (GAPR1) proteins, peptidase inhibitor 15 (PI15), peptidase inhibitor 16 (PI16), cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs), CRISP LCCL domain containing 1 (CRISPLD1), CRISP LCCL domain containing 2 (CRISPLD2), mannose receptor like and the R3H domain containing like proteins. We conclude that overall protein structural conservation within the CAP superfamily results in fundamentally similar functions for the CAP domain in all members, yet the diversity outside of this core region dramatically alters target specificity and, therefore, the biological consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard M Gibbs
- Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, 27-31 Wright Street, Clayton 3168, Australia.
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14
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Hirohashi N, Kamei N, Kubo H, Sawada H, Matsumoto M, Hoshi M. Egg and sperm recognition systems during fertilization. Dev Growth Differ 2008; 50 Suppl 1:S221-38. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1440-169x.2008.01017.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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15
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Affiliation(s)
- U. Benjamin Kaupp
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institut für Neurowissenschaften und Biophysik 1, D-52425 Jülich, Germany;
| | - Nachiket D. Kashikar
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institut für Neurowissenschaften und Biophysik 1, D-52425 Jülich, Germany;
| | - Ingo Weyand
- Forschungszentrum Jülich, Institut für Neurowissenschaften und Biophysik 1, D-52425 Jülich, Germany;
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16
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Burnett LA, Boyles S, Spencer C, Bieber AL, Chandler DE. Xenopus tropicalis allurin: expression, purification, and characterization of a sperm chemoattractant that exhibits cross-species activity. Dev Biol 2008; 316:408-16. [PMID: 18342304 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2008.01.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2007] [Revised: 01/30/2008] [Accepted: 01/31/2008] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Previously we reported the identification of the first vertebrate sperm chemoattractant, allurin, in the frog Xenopus laevis (Xl) and demonstrated that it was a member of the CRISP family of proteins. Here we report identification, purification, and characterization of Xenopus tropicalis (Xt) allurin, a homologous protein in X. tropicalis. "Egg water" as well as purified allurin from both species exhibit efficient cross-species sperm chemoattractant activity. Western blots show that Xt egg water contains a single anti-allurin cross-reactive protein whose molecular weight (20,497 Da by MALDI MS) agrees well with the molecular weight of the hypothetical gene product for a newly recognized "Crisp A" gene in the X. tropicalis genome. A recombinant form of the protein, expressed in 3T3 cells, exhibits chemoattraction for both Xt and Xl sperm and cross reacts with anti-allurin antibodies. Examination of Crisp protein expression in the Xt oviduct using RT-PCR showed that of five documented Xt Crisp genes (Crisps 2, 3, LD1, LD2 and A) only Crisp A was expressed. In contrast, Crisp 2, Crisp 3, Crisp LD1, and Crisp LD2, but not Crisp A, were all found to be expressed in the Xt testes while subsets of Crisp proteins where expressed in the Xt ovary. These data suggest that Crisp proteins in amphibians may play multiple roles in sperm production, maturation and guidance just as they are thought to in mammals indicating that Crisp protein involvement in reproduction may not be limited to mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey A Burnett
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, School of Life Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA
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Krapf D, Visconti PE, Arranz SE, Cabada MO. Egg water from the amphibian Bufo arenarum induces capacitation-like changes in homologous spermatozoa. Dev Biol 2007; 306:516-24. [PMID: 17459363 PMCID: PMC2562786 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2007.03.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2007] [Revised: 03/19/2007] [Accepted: 03/21/2007] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian sperm acquire fertilizing capacity after residing in the female tract, where physiological changes named capacitation take place. In animals with external fertilization as amphibians, gamete interactions are first established between sperm and molecules of the egg jelly coat released into the medium. Since dejellied oocytes are not normally fertilized, the aim of this study was to determine if the jelly coat of the toad Bufo arenarum promotes a "capacitating" activity on homologous sperm. We found that sperm incubation in diffusible substances of the jelly coat (egg water) for 90-180 s is sufficient to render sperm transiently capable of fertilizing dejellied oocytes. The fertilizing state was correlated with an increase of protein tyrosine phosphorylation and a decrease of sperm cholesterol content. Inhibition of either the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation or cholesterol efflux affected the acquisition of fertilizing capacity. Phosphorylation and fertilization could be promoted with NaHCO(3) and also by addition of beta cyclodextrin. Moreover, sperm could gain the ability to fertilize dejellied oocytes in the presence of these compounds. These data indicate that sperm should undergo a series of molecular changes to gain fertilizing capacity; these changes are reminiscent of mammalian sperm capacitation and take place before the acrosome reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darío Krapf
- División Biología del Desarrollo, IBR (CONICET-UNR) and Area Biología, FCByF, UNR, Argentina
| | - Pablo E. Visconti
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Silvia E Arranz
- División Biología del Desarrollo, IBR (CONICET-UNR) and Area Biología, FCByF, UNR, Argentina
| | - Marcelo O Cabada
- División Biología del Desarrollo, IBR (CONICET-UNR) and Area Biología, FCByF, UNR, Argentina
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18
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Satake N, Elliott RMA, Watson PF, Holt WV. Sperm selection and competition in pigs may be mediated by the differential motility activation and suppression of sperm subpopulations within the oviduct. J Exp Biol 2006; 209:1560-72. [PMID: 16574812 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.02136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
SUMMARYWhen spermatozoa from two or more boars are mixed and females inseminated,the resulting litters are often skewed in favour of one male but there is currently no satisfactory physiological explanation for this effect. However,to reach the oocytes, the spermatozoa must enter the oviduct where they are exposed to factors that modulate their activity. They either become sequestered within the oviductal sperm reservoir or bypass the reservoir and proceed towards the oocytes. The oviduct may therefore hold the key to mammalian sperm selection, thereby explaining why laboratory tests of sperm function, performed on whole ejaculates, are unable to account for the boar-specific skewing effects. We have previously shown that boar sperm motility is highly stimulated by bicarbonate, a naturally abundant component of oviductal fluid. Using motility-based sperm subpopulation analysis, we show here that the relative sizes of bicarbonate-responsive and unresponsive sperm subpopulations vary between individual boars. Proteins derived from oviduct epithelial plasma membranes suppress the activation response and modify sperm movement trajectories in a subpopulation-specific and dose-dependent manner. The suppression response varies between boars and some spermatozoa remain unsuppressed in the presence of oviductal proteins. When boars are ranked according to their susceptibility to bicarbonate-induced stimulation, rankings differ depending upon the presence or absence of oviductal proteins. The suppression response is not caused by inhibition of bicarbonate uptake; on the contrary this is enhanced by oviductal proteins. We suggest that the boar-specific and sperm subpopulation-specific interactions between sperm motility activation and suppression responses are likely to result in sperm selection before the spermatozoa meet the oocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nana Satake
- Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, Regent's Park, UK
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Takahashi S, Nakazawa H, Watanabe A, Onitake K. The outermost layer of egg-jelly is crucial to successful fertilization in the newt,Cynops pyrrhogaster. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006; 305:1010-7. [PMID: 17068800 DOI: 10.1002/jez.a.295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The significance of egg-jelly layers in internal fertilization was evaluated in the newt, Cynops pyrrhogaster. In this species, six egg-jelly layers, J1, J2, J3, J4, J5 and the outermost J6 layers, are accumulated on the surface of the fertilizable eggs in pars convoluta of the oviduct. When a large number of sperm (about 6 x 10(5)) were placed on eggs having different numbers of jelly layers, all the eggs were fully fertilized, although many of the eggs developed abnormally. Upon insemination using about 600 sperm, only eggs with the full set of jelly layers were fertilized at a high rate with normal development. Since around 300 (the range of 48-1,192) sperm were observed on and in the egg-jelly in naturally spawned eggs, we conclude that the J6 layer must be present on the outermost surface of the egg-jelly for successful internal fertilization of the newt. Previous studies have suggested that the J6 layer is a prerequisite for the initiation of sperm motility and the acrosome reaction. In the present study, the fertilization rate decreased in eggs with a full set of jelly layers when inseminated using acrosome-reacted and motile sperm. However, the fertilization rate was high when motile sperm with intact acrosome was used. These results suggest that induction of the sperm acrosome reaction in the J6 layer is an important step in the internal fertilization of the newt.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigekazu Takahashi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-8560, Japan
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Abstract
Fertilization is the union of a single sperm and an egg, an event that results in a diploid embryo. Animals use many mechanisms to achieve this ratio; the most prevalent involves physically blocking the fusion of subsequent sperm. Selective pressures to maintain monospermy have resulted in an elaboration of diverse egg and sperm structures. The processes employed for monospermy are as diverse as the animals that result from this process. Yet, the fundamental molecular requirements for successful monospermic fertilization are similar, implying that animals may have a common ancestral block to polyspermy. Here, we explore this hypothesis, reviewing biochemical, molecular, and genetic discoveries that lend support to a common ancestral mechanism. We also consider the evolution of alternative or radical techniques, including physiological polyspermy, with respect to our ability to describe a parsimonious guide to fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian L Wong
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cellular Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912, USA
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