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Zhu T, Zhang Y, Sheng X, Zhang X, Chen Y, Zhu H, Guo Y, Qi Y, Zhao Y, Zhou Q, Chen X, Guo X, Zhao C. Absence of CEP78 causes photoreceptor and sperm flagella impairments in mice and a human individual. eLife 2023; 12:76157. [PMID: 36756949 PMCID: PMC9984195 DOI: 10.7554/elife.76157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Cone-rod dystrophy (CRD) is a genetically inherited retinal disease that can be associated with male infertility, while the specific genetic mechanisms are not well known. Here, we report CEP78 as a causative gene of a particular syndrome including CRD and male infertility with multiple morphological abnormalities of sperm flagella (MMAF) both in human and mouse. Cep78 knockout mice exhibited impaired function and morphology of photoreceptors, typified by reduced ERG amplitudes, disrupted translocation of cone arrestin, attenuated and disorganized photoreceptor outer segments (OS) disks and widen OS bases, as well as interrupted connecting cilia elongation and abnormal structures. Cep78 deletion also caused male infertility and MMAF, with disordered '9+2' structure and triplet microtubules in sperm flagella. Intraflagellar transport (IFT) proteins IFT20 and TTC21A are identified as interacting proteins of CEP78. Furthermore, CEP78 regulated the interaction, stability, and centriolar localization of its interacting protein. Insufficiency of CEP78 or its interacting protein causes abnormal centriole elongation and cilia shortening. Absence of CEP78 protein in human caused similar phenotypes in vision and MMAF as Cep78-/- mice. Collectively, our study supports the important roles of CEP78 defects in centriole and ciliary dysfunctions and molecular pathogenesis of such multi-system syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yuxin Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Eye & ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Xunlun Sheng
- Gansu Aier Ophthalmiology and Optometry HospitalLanzhouChina
- Ningxia Eye Hospital, People’s Hospital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Third Clinical Medical College of Ningxia Medical UniversityYinchuanChina
| | - Xiangzheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Hongjing Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yueshuai Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yaling Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yichen Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Qi Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Xue Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Xuejiang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Chen Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Eye & ENT Hospital, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
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2
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A male germ-cell-specific ribosome controls male fertility. Nature 2022; 612:725-731. [PMID: 36517592 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-05508-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Ribosomes are highly sophisticated translation machines that have been demonstrated to be heterogeneous in the regulation of protein synthesis1,2. Male germ cell development involves complex translational regulation during sperm formation3. However, it remains unclear whether translation during sperm formation is performed by a specific ribosome. Here we report a ribosome with a specialized nascent polypeptide exit tunnel, RibosomeST, that is assembled with the male germ-cell-specific protein RPL39L, the paralogue of core ribosome (RibosomeCore) protein RPL39. Deletion of RibosomeST in mice causes defective sperm formation, resulting in substantially reduced fertility. Our comparison of single-particle cryo-electron microscopy structures of ribosomes from mouse kidneys and testes indicates that RibosomeST features a ribosomal polypeptide exit tunnel of distinct size and charge states compared with RibosomeCore. RibosomeST predominantly cotranslationally regulates the folding of a subset of male germ-cell-specific proteins that are essential for the formation of sperm. Moreover, we found that specialized functions of RibosomeST were not replaceable by RibosomeCore. Taken together, identification of this sperm-specific ribosome should greatly expand our understanding of ribosome function and tissue-specific regulation of protein expression pattern in mammals.
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3
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Li H, Chen H, Zhang X, Qi Y, Wang B, Cui Y, Ren J, Zhao Y, Chen Y, Zhu T, Wang Y, Yao L, Guo Y, Zhu H, Li Y, Situ C, Guo X. Global phosphoproteomic analysis identified key kinases regulating male meiosis in mouse. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:467. [PMID: 35930080 PMCID: PMC11071816 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04507-8] [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: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Meiosis, a highly conserved process in organisms from fungi to mammals, is subjected to protein phosphorylation regulation. Due to the low abundance of phosphorylation, there is a lack of systemic characterization of phosphorylation regulation of meiosis in mammals. Using the phosphoproteomic approach, we profiled large-scale phosphoproteome of purified primary spermatocytes undergoing meiosis I, and identified 14,660 phosphorylation sites in 4419 phosphoproteins. Kinase-substrate phosphorylation network analysis followed by in vitro meiosis study showed that CDK9 was essential for meiosis progression to metaphase I and had enriched substrate phosphorylation sites in proteins involved in meiotic cell cycle. In addition, histones and epigenetic factors were found to be widely phosphorylated. Among those, HASPIN was found to be essential for male fertility. Haspin knockout led to misalignment of chromosomes, apoptosis of metaphase spermatocytes and a decreased number of sperm by deregulation of H3T3ph, chromosomal passenger complex (CPC) and spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). The complicated protein phosphorylation and its important regulatory functions in meiosis indicated that in-depth studies of phosphorylation-mediated signaling could help us elucidate the mechanisms of meiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haojie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Hong Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Xiangzheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yaling Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Bing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
- School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yiqiang Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Jie Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yichen Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Tianyu Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yue Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Liping Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yueshuai Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Hui Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Sir Run Run Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
| | - Chenghao Situ
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
| | - Xuejiang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
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4
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Sha Y, Liu W, Wei X, Zhu X, Tang B, Zhang X, Yang X, Wang Y, Wang X. Pathogenic variants of ATG4D in infertile men with non-obstructive azoospermia identified using whole-exome sequencing. Clin Genet 2021; 100:280-291. [PMID: 33988247 DOI: 10.1111/cge.13995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is the most severe form of male infertility, and it is primarily associated with genetic defects. We performed whole-exome sequencing of 236 patients with NOA and identified a homozygous pathogenic variant of autophagy-related 4D cysteine peptidase (ATG4D) in two siblings from a consanguineous family and compound heterozygous pathogenic variants of ATG4D in two sporadic cases. The expression of LC3B, a regulator of autophagic activity, was significantly decreased, and the apoptosis rate of spermatogenic cells in testicular tissues was increased. Transfection of GC-2spd cells with a ATG4D mutant plasmid (Flag-Atg4dmut ) significantly decreased the expression level of Lc3b and increased the rate of apoptosis. Moreover, a pathogenic variant in X-linked ATG4A and compound heterozygous pathogenic variants of ATG4B were identified in one patient each. All novel variants were segregated by disease phenotype and were predicted to be pathogenic. Our findings revealed that autophagy-related cysteine peptidase family genes may play crucial roles in human spermatogenesis and identified ATG4D as a novel candidate gene for male infertility due to NOA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanwei Sha
- Department of Andrology, United Diagnostic and Research Centre for Clinical Genetics, School of Public Health & Women and Children's Hospital, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Wensheng Liu
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoli Wei
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xingshen Zhu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Bowen Tang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xiaoya Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Cellular Stress Biology, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xiaoyu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Clinical Centre of Reproductive Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yifeng Wang
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Zhujiang Hospital of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiong Wang
- Reproductive Medicine Centre, Affiliated Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, China
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Zhang Y, Xu X, Hu M, Wang X, Cheng H, Zhou R. SPATA33 is an autophagy mediator for cargo selectivity in germline mitophagy. Cell Death Differ 2021; 28:1076-1090. [PMID: 33087875 PMCID: PMC7937689 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-020-00638-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Selective autophagic degradation of mitochondria (mitophagy) is important in maintaining proper cellular homeostasis. Here, we found that SPATA33 is a novel autophagy mediator for mitophagy in testis. The SPATA33 protein localizes on mitochondria via its binding of the carboxyl terminal with the outer mitochondrial membrane protein VDAC2. Upon starvation induction, SPATA33 is recruited to autophagosome by binding the autophagy machinery ATG16L1 via its N-terminal along with mitochondria. Notably, Spata33 knockout inhibited autophagy and overexpression can promote autophagosome formation for mitochondrial sequestration. Therefore, SPATA33 confers selectivity for mitochondrial degradation and promotes mitophagy in male germline cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan, China
- Luoyang Normal University, Henan, China
| | - Xu Xu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Mengxin Hu
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Hanhua Cheng
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan, China.
| | - Rongjia Zhou
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Cell Homeostasis, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan, China.
- Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan University, 430072, Wuhan, China.
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6
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Shen C, Li M, Zhang P, Guo Y, Zhang H, Zheng B, Teng H, Zhou T, Guo X, Huo R. A Comparative Proteome Profile of Female Mouse Gonads Suggests a Tight Link between the Electron Transport Chain and Meiosis Initiation. Mol Cell Proteomics 2018; 17:31-42. [PMID: 29158290 PMCID: PMC5750849 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m117.066993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Revised: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Generation of haploid gametes by meiosis is a unique property of germ cells and is critical for sexual reproduction. Leaving mitosis and entering meiosis is a key step in germ cell development. Several inducers or intrinsic genes are known to be important for meiotic initiation, but the regulation of meiotic initiation, especially at the protein level, is still not well understood. We constructed a comparative proteome profile of female mouse fetal gonads at specific time points (11.5, 12.5, and 13.5 days post coitum), spanning a critical window for initiation of meiosis in female germ cells. We identified 3666 proteins, of which 473 were differentially expressed. Further bioinformatics analysis showed that these differentially expressed proteins were enriched in the mitochondria, especially in the electron transport chain and, notably, 9 proteins in electron transport chain Complex I were differentially expressed. We disrupted the mitochondrial electron transport chain function by adding the complex I inhibitor, rotenone to 11.5 days post coitum female gonads cultured in vitro. This treatment resulted in a decreased proportion of meiotic germ cells, as assessed by staining for histone γH2AX. Rotenone treatment also caused decreased ATP levels, increased reactive oxygen species levels and failure of the germ cells to undergo premeiotic DNA replication. These effects were partially rescued by adding Coenzyme Q10. Taken together, our results suggested that a functional electron transport chain is important for meiosis initiation. Our characterization of the quantitative proteome of female gonads provides an inventory of proteins, useful for understanding the mechanisms of meiosis initiation and female fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Shen
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, P.R. China
- §Center for Reproduction and Genetics, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Suzhou Hospital, Suzhou 215002, P.R. China
| | - Mingrui Li
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, P.R. China
| | - Pan Zhang
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, P.R. China
| | - Yueshuai Guo
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, P.R. China
| | - Hao Zhang
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, P.R. China
| | - Bo Zheng
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, P.R. China
- §Center for Reproduction and Genetics, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Suzhou Hospital, Suzhou 215002, P.R. China
| | - Hui Teng
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, P.R. China
| | - Tao Zhou
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, P.R. China
| | - Xuejiang Guo
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, P.R. China;
| | - Ran Huo
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, P.R. China;
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Yin J, Ni B, Tian ZQ, Yang F, Liao WG, Gao YQ. Regulatory effects of autophagy on spermatogenesis. Biol Reprod 2017; 96:525-530. [DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.116.144063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Accepted: 01/30/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yin
- Department of Pathophysiology and High Altitude Pathology, Key Laboratory of High Altitude Environment Medicine, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of High Altitude Medicine, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, PR China
| | - Bing Ni
- Department of Pathophysiology and High Altitude Pathology, Key Laboratory of High Altitude Environment Medicine, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of High Altitude Medicine, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, PR China
| | - Zhi-qiang Tian
- Institute of Immunology, PLA, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, PR China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Pathophysiology and High Altitude Pathology, Key Laboratory of High Altitude Environment Medicine, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of High Altitude Medicine, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, PR China
| | - Wei-gong Liao
- Department of Pathophysiology and High Altitude Pathology, Key Laboratory of High Altitude Environment Medicine, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of High Altitude Medicine, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, PR China
| | - Yu-qi Gao
- Institute of Medicine and Hygienic Equipment for High Altitude Region, Key Laboratory of High Altitude Environment Medicine, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of High Altitude Medicine, College of High Altitude Military Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, PR China
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Zheng B, Zhao D, Zhang P, Shen C, Guo Y, Zhou T, Guo X, Zhou Z, Sha J. Quantitative Proteomics Reveals the Essential Roles of Stromal Interaction Molecule 1 (STIM1) in the Testicular Cord Formation in Mouse Testis. Mol Cell Proteomics 2015. [PMID: 26199344 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m115.049569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Testicular cord formation in male gonadogenesis involves assembly of several cell types, the precise molecular mechanism is still not well known. With the high-throughput quantitative proteomics technology, a comparative proteomic profile of mouse embryonic male gonads were analyzed at three time points (11.5, 12.5, and 13.5 days post coitum), corresponding to critical stages of testicular cord formation in gonadal development. 4070 proteins were identified, and 338 were differentially expressed, of which the Sertoli cell specific genes were significant enrichment, with mainly increased expression across testis cord development. Additionally, we found overrepresentation of proteins related to oxidative stress in these Sertoli cell specific genes. Of these differentially expressed oxidative stress-associated Sertoli cell specific protein, stromal interaction molecule 1, was found to have discrepant mRNA and protein regulations, with increased protein expression but decreased mRNA levels during testis cord development. Knockdown of Stim1 in Sertoli cells caused extensive defects in gonadal development, including testicular cord disruption, loss of interstitium, and failed angiogenesis, together with increased levels of reactive oxygen species. And suppressing the aberrant elevation of reactive oxygen species could partly rescue the defects of testicular cord development. Taken together, our results suggest that reactive oxygen species regulation in Sertoli cells is important for gonadogenesis, and the quantitative proteomic data could be a rich resource to the elucidation of regulation of testicular cord development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zheng
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Dan Zhao
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Pan Zhang
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Cong Shen
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Yueshuai Guo
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Tao Zhou
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Xuejiang Guo
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Zuomin Zhou
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Jiahao Sha
- From the ‡State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
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Shen J, Chen W, Shao B, Qi Y, Xia Z, Wang F, Wang L, Guo X, Huang X, Sha J. Lamin A/C proteins in the spermatid acroplaxome are essential in mouse spermiogenesis. Reproduction 2014; 148:479-87. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-14-0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Spermiogenesis is a complex process of terminal differentiation that is necessary to produce mature sperm. Using protein expression profiles of mouse and human testes generated from our previous studies, we chose to examine the actions of lamin A/C in the current investigation. Lamin A and lamin C are isoforms of the A-type lamins that are encoded by theLMNAgene. Our results showed that lamin A/C was expressed in the mouse testis throughout the different stages of spermatogenesis and in mature sperm. Lamin A/C was also expressed in mouse haploid germ cells and was found to be localized to the acroplaxome in spermiogenesis, from round spermatids until mature spermatozoa. The decreased expression of lamin A/C following injections of siRNA againstLmnacaused a significant increase in caudal sperm head abnormalities when compared with negative controls. These abnormalities were characterized by increased fragmentation of the acrosome and abnormal vesicles, which failed to fuse to the developing acrosome. This fragmentation also caused significant alterations in nuclear elongation and acrosome formation. Furthermore, we found that lamin A/C interacted with the microtubule plus-end-tracking protein CLIP170. These results suggest that lamin A/C is critical for proper structural and functional development of the sperm acrosome and head shape.
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MacLeod G, Taylor P, Mastropaolo L, Varmuza S. Comparative phosphoproteomic analysis of the mouse testis reveals changes in phosphopeptide abundance in response to Ppp1cc deletion. EUPA OPEN PROTEOMICS 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.euprot.2013.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Liu M, Shi X, Bi Y, Qi L, Guo X, Wang L, Zhou Z, Sha J. SHCBP1L, a conserved protein in mammals, is predominantly expressed in male germ cells and maintains spindle stability during meiosis in testis. Mol Hum Reprod 2014; 20:463-75. [PMID: 24557841 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gau014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Male subfertility due to falling sperm counts has become an increasing problem over a short timescale (50-70 years). Recently, bioinformatics analysis of the human testis proteome has revealed the existence of human-testicular-predominantly-expressed-proteins, which are highly associated with spermatogenesis, although the functions of many of these proteins are still unknown. To understand the function of one of these proteins, SHCBP1L (1700012A16RIKEN), a knockout mouse was produced in which this gene was removed. Using this model, we showed that SHCBP1L binds to another protein, HSPA2, and maintains stability of the spindle. We showed that this complex was not present in knockout mice and that an abnormal number of spermatocytes were held in the early stages of meiosis. Many of these cells were undergoing programmed cell-death, or apoptosis, which is highly unusual for cells during the early stages of meiosis. We also found that proteins very similar to SHCBP1L exist in many other mammals. This led us to propose that SHCBP1L plays an important role in spermatogenesis in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaodan Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ye Bi
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lin Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xuejiang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zuomin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jiahao Sha
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, Jiangsu, China
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Zhou A, Pawlowski WP. Regulation of meiotic gene expression in plants. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2014; 5:413. [PMID: 25202317 PMCID: PMC4142721 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2014] [Accepted: 08/04/2014] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
With the recent advances in genomics and sequencing technologies, databases of transcriptomes representing many cellular processes have been assembled. Meiotic transcriptomes in plants have been studied in Arabidopsis thaliana, rice (Oryza sativa), wheat (Triticum aestivum), petunia (Petunia hybrida), sunflower (Helianthus annuus), and maize (Zea mays). Studies in all organisms, but particularly in plants, indicate that a very large number of genes are expressed during meiosis, though relatively few of them seem to be required for the completion of meiosis. In this review, we focus on gene expression at the RNA level and analyze the meiotic transcriptome datasets and explore expression patterns of known meiotic genes to elucidate how gene expression could be regulated during meiosis. We also discuss mechanisms, such as chromatin organization and non-coding RNAs that might be involved in the regulation of meiotic transcription patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wojciech P. Pawlowski
- *Correspondence: Wojciech P. Pawlowski, School of Integrative Plant Sciences, Cornell University, 401 Bradfield Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA e-mail:
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13
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MacLeod G, Shang P, Booth GT, Mastropaolo LA, Manafpoursakha N, Vogl AW, Varmuza S. PPP1CC2 can form a kinase/phosphatase complex with the testis-specific proteins TSSK1 and TSKS in the mouse testis. Reproduction 2013; 147:1-12. [PMID: 24088291 DOI: 10.1530/rep-13-0224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The mouse protein phosphatase gene Ppp1cc is essential for male fertility, with mutants displaying a failure in spermatogenesis including a widespread loss of post-meiotic germ cells and abnormalities in the mitochondrial sheath. This phenotype is hypothesized to be responsible for the loss of the testis-specific isoform PPP1CC2. To identify PPP1CC2-interacting proteins with a function in spermatogenesis, we carried out GST pull-down assays in mouse testis lysates. Amongst the identified candidate interactors was the testis-specific protein kinase TSSK1, which is also essential for male fertility. Subsequent interaction experiments confirmed the capability of PPP1CC2 to form a complex with TSSK1 mediated by the direct interaction of each with the kinase substrate protein TSKS. Interaction between PPP1CC2 and TSKS is mediated through an RVxF docking motif on the TSKS surface. Phosphoproteomic analysis of the mouse testis identified a novel serine phosphorylation site within the TSKS RVxF motif that appears to negatively regulate binding to PPP1CC2. Immunohistochemical analysis of TSSK1 and TSKS in the Ppp1cc mutant testis showed reduced accumulation to distinct cytoplasmic foci and other abnormalities in their distribution consistent with the loss of germ cells and seminiferous tubule disorganization observed in the Ppp1cc mutant phenotype. A comparison of Ppp1cc and Tssk1/2 knockout phenotypes via electron microscopy revealed similar abnormalities in the morphology of the mitochondrial sheath. These data demonstrate a novel kinase/phosphatase complex in the testis that could play a critical role in the completion of spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graham MacLeod
- Department of Cell and Systems Biology, University of Toronto, 25 Harbord Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G5
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MacLeod G, Varmuza S. The application of proteomic approaches to the study of mammalian spermatogenesis and sperm function. FEBS J 2013; 280:5635-51. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.12461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2013] [Revised: 07/04/2013] [Accepted: 07/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Graham MacLeod
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology; University of Toronto; ON Canada
| | - Susannah Varmuza
- Department of Cell & Systems Biology; University of Toronto; ON Canada
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Bioinformatics for spermatogenesis: annotation of male reproduction based on proteomics. Asian J Androl 2013; 15:594-602. [PMID: 23852026 DOI: 10.1038/aja.2013.67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2013] [Revised: 04/27/2013] [Accepted: 05/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Proteomics strategies have been widely used in the field of male reproduction, both in basic and clinical research. Bioinformatics methods are indispensable in proteomics-based studies and are used for data presentation, database construction and functional annotation. In the present review, we focus on the functional annotation of gene lists obtained through qualitative or quantitative methods, summarizing the common and male reproduction specialized proteomics databases. We introduce several integrated tools used to find the hidden biological significance from the data obtained. We further describe in detail the information on male reproduction derived from Gene Ontology analyses, pathway analyses and biomedical analyses. We provide an overview of bioinformatics annotations in spermatogenesis, from gene function to biological function and from biological function to clinical application. On the basis of recently published proteomics studies and associated data, we show that bioinformatics methods help us to discover drug targets for sperm motility and to scan for cancer-testis genes. In addition, we summarize the online resources relevant to male reproduction research for the exploration of the regulation of spermatogenesis.
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16
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Liu M, Hu Z, Qi L, Wang J, Zhou T, Guo Y, Zeng Y, Zheng B, Wu Y, Zhang P, Chen X, Tu W, Zhang T, Zhou Q, Jiang M, Guo X, Zhou Z, Sha J. Scanning of novel cancer/testis proteins by human testis proteomic analysis. Proteomics 2013; 13:1200-10. [DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201200489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2012] [Revised: 12/20/2012] [Accepted: 01/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mingxi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Nanjing Medical University; Nanjing; China
| | - Zhibin Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Nanjing Medical University; Nanjing; China
| | - Lin Qi
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Nanjing Medical University; Nanjing; China
| | - Jing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Nanjing Medical University; Nanjing; China
| | - Tao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Nanjing Medical University; Nanjing; China
| | - Yueshuai Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Nanjing Medical University; Nanjing; China
| | - Yan Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Nanjing Medical University; Nanjing; China
| | - Bo Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Nanjing Medical University; Nanjing; China
| | - Yibo Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Nanjing Medical University; Nanjing; China
| | - Pan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Nanjing Medical University; Nanjing; China
| | - Xin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Nanjing Medical University; Nanjing; China
| | - Wenjiao Tu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Nanjing Medical University; Nanjing; China
| | - Ting Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Nanjing Medical University; Nanjing; China
| | - Quan Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Nanjing Medical University; Nanjing; China
| | - Min Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Nanjing Medical University; Nanjing; China
| | - Xuejiang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Nanjing Medical University; Nanjing; China
| | - Zuomin Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Nanjing Medical University; Nanjing; China
| | - Jiahao Sha
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine; Nanjing Medical University; Nanjing; China
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Gan H, Cai T, Lin X, Wu Y, Wang X, Yang F, Han C. Integrative proteomic and transcriptomic analyses reveal multiple post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms of mouse spermatogenesis. Mol Cell Proteomics 2013; 12:1144-57. [PMID: 23325766 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m112.020123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian spermatogenesis consists of many cell types and biological processes and serves as an excellent model for studying gene regulation at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. Many key proteins, miRNAs, and perhaps piRNAs have been shown to be involved in post-transcriptional regulation of spermatogenesis. However, a systematic method for assessing the relationship between protein and mRNA expression has not been available for studying mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulation. In the present study, we used the iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomic approach to identify 2008 proteins in mouse type A spermatogonia, pachytene spermatocytes, round spermatids, and elongative spermatids with high confidence. Of these proteins, 1194 made up four dynamically changing clusters, which reflect the mitotic amplification, meiosis, and post-meiotic development of germ cells. We identified five major regulatory mechanisms termed "transcript only," "transcript degradation," "translation repression," "translation de-repression," and "protein degradation" based on changes in protein level relative to changes in mRNA level at the mitosis/meiosis transition and the meiosis/post-meiotic development transition. We found that post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms are related to the generation of piRNAs and antisense transcripts. Our results provide a valuable inventory of proteins produced during mouse spermatogenesis and contribute to elucidating the mechanisms of the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression in mammalian spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyun Gan
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100080, PR China
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Autophagy and apoptosis act as partners to induce germ cell death after heat stress in mice. PLoS One 2012; 7:e41412. [PMID: 22848486 PMCID: PMC3405141 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0041412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2012] [Accepted: 06/22/2012] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Testicular heating suppresses spermatogenesis which is marked by germ cell loss via apoptotic pathways. Recently, it is reported that autophagy also can be induced by heat treatment in somatic cells. In this study, the status of autophagy in germ cells after heat treatment, as well as the partnership between autophagy and apoptosis in these cells was investigated. The results demonstrated that besides initiating apoptotic pathways, heat also induced autophagic pathways in germ cells. Exposure of germ cells to hyperthermia resulted in several specific features of the autophagic process, including autophagosome formation and the conversion of LC3-I to LC3-II. Furthermore, the ubiquitin-like protein conjugation system was implicated as being likely responsible for heat-induced autophagy in germ cells since all genes involving this system were found to be expressed in the testes. In addition, the upstream protein in this system, Atg7 (Autophagy-related gene 7), was found to be expressed in all types of spermatogenic cells, and its expression level was positively correlated with the level of autophagy in germ cells. As a result, Atg7 was selected as the investigative target to further analyze the role of autophagy in heat-induced germ cell death. It was shown that down expression of Atg7 protein resulted in the notable decrease in the level of autophagy in heat-treated germ cells, and this down-regulation of autophagy caused by Atg7 knockdown further reduced the apoptotic rate of germ cells. These results suggest that autophagy plays a positive role in the process of germ cell apoptosis after heat treatment. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that heat triggers autophagy and apoptosis in germ cells. These two mechanisms might act as partners, not antagonist, to induce cell death and lead to eventual destruction of spermatogenesis.
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Wu Y, Chen X, Wang S, Jiang M, Zheng B, Zhou Q, Bi Y, Zhou Z, Huang X, Sha J. Flotillin-2 is an acrosome-related protein involved in mouse spermiogenesis. J Biomed Res 2012; 26:278-87. [PMID: 23554761 PMCID: PMC3596745 DOI: 10.7555/jbr.26.20120030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2012] [Revised: 04/27/2012] [Accepted: 05/03/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a complex process of terminal differentiation by which mature sperms are generated, and it can be divided into three phases: mitosis, meiosis and spermiogenesis. In a previous study, we established a series of proteomic profiles for spermatogenesis to understand the regulation of male fertility and infertility. Here, we further investigated the localization and the role of flotillin-2 in spermiogenesis. Flotillin-2 expression was investigated in the testis of male CD1 mice at various developmental stages of spermatogenesis by using Western blotting, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Flotillin-2 was knocked down in vivo in three-week-old male mice using intratesticular injection of small inhibitory RNA (siRNA), and sperm abnormalities were assessed three weeks later. Flotillin-2 was expressed at high levels in male germ cells during spermatogenesis. Flotillin-2 immunoreactivity was observed in pachytene spermatocytes as a strong dot-shaped signal and in round spermatids as a sickle-shaped distribution ahead of the acrosome. Immunofluorescence confirmed flotillin-2 was localized in front of the acrosome in round spermatids, indicating that flotillin-2 was localized to the Golgi apparatus. Knockdown of flotillin-2in vivo led to a significant increase in head sperm abnormalities isolated from the cauda epididymis, compared with control siRNA-injected testes. This study indicates that flotillin-2 is a novel Golgi-related protein involved in sperm acrosome biogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibo Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, China
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