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Brandis A, Roy D, Das I, Sheves M, Eisenbach M. Uncommon opsin's retinal isomer is involved in mammalian sperm thermotaxis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10699. [PMID: 38729974 PMCID: PMC11087470 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61488-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years it became apparent that, in mammals, rhodopsin and other opsins, known to act as photosensors in the visual system, are also present in spermatozoa, where they function as highly sensitive thermosensors for thermotaxis. The intriguing question how a well-conserved protein functions as a photosensor in one type of cells and as a thermosensor in another type of cells is unresolved. Since the moiety that confers photosensitivity on opsins is the chromophore retinal, we examined whether retinal is substituted in spermatozoa with a thermosensitive molecule. We found by both functional assays and mass spectrometry that retinal is present in spermatozoa and required for thermotaxis. Thus, starvation of mice for vitamin A (a precursor of retinal) resulted in loss of sperm thermotaxis, without affecting motility and the physiological state of the spermatozoa. Thermotaxis was restored after replenishment of vitamin A. Using reversed-phase ultra-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, we detected the presence of retinal in extracts of mouse and human spermatozoa. By employing UltraPerformance convergence chromatography, we identified a unique retinal isomer in the sperm extracts-tri-cis retinal, different from the photosensitive 11-cis isomer in the visual system. The facts (a) that opsins are thermosensors for sperm thermotaxis, (b) that retinal is essential for thermotaxis, and (c) that tri-cis retinal isomer uniquely resides in spermatozoa and is relatively thermally unstable, suggest that tri-cis retinal is involved in the thermosensing activity of spermatozoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Brandis
- Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, The Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Debarun Roy
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001, Rehovot, Israel
- Department of Neuroscience, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA
| | - Ishita Das
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, The Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Mordechai Sheves
- Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials Science, The Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001, Rehovot, Israel.
| | - Michael Eisenbach
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, 7610001, Rehovot, Israel.
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Ghini V, Meoni G, Vignoli A, Di Cesare F, Tenori L, Turano P, Luchinat C. Fingerprinting and profiling in metabolomics of biosamples. PROGRESS IN NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY 2023; 138-139:105-135. [PMID: 38065666 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnmrs.2023.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023]
Abstract
This review focuses on metabolomics from an NMR point of view. It attempts to cover the broad scope of metabolomics and describes the NMR experiments that are most suitable for each sample type. It is addressed not only to NMR specialists, but to all researchers who wish to approach metabolomics with a clear idea of what they wish to achieve but not necessarily with a deep knowledge of NMR. For this reason, some technical parts may seem a bit naïve to the experts. The review starts by describing standard metabolomics procedures, which imply the use of a dedicated 600 MHz instrument and of four properly standardized 1D experiments. Standardization is a must if one wants to directly compare NMR results obtained in different labs. A brief mention is also made of standardized pre-analytical procedures, which are even more essential. Attention is paid to the distinction between fingerprinting and profiling, and the advantages and disadvantages of fingerprinting are clarified. This aspect is often not fully appreciated. Then profiling, and the associated problems of signal assignment and quantitation, are discussed. We also describe less conventional approaches, such as the use of different magnetic fields, the use of signal enhancement techniques to increase sensitivity, and the potential of field-shuttling NMR. A few examples of biomedical applications are also given, again with the focus on NMR techniques that are most suitable to achieve each particular goal, including a description of the most common heteronuclear experiments. Finally, the growing applications of metabolomics to foodstuffs are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Ghini
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Gaia Meoni
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Alessia Vignoli
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Francesca Di Cesare
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Leonardo Tenori
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario Risonanze Magnetiche Metallo Proteine (CIRMMP), Sesto Fiorentino, Italy
| | - Paola Turano
- Magnetic Resonance Center (CERM), University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Consorzio Interuniversitario Risonanze Magnetiche Metallo Proteine (CIRMMP), Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
| | - Claudio Luchinat
- Consorzio Interuniversitario Risonanze Magnetiche Metallo Proteine (CIRMMP), Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; Giotto Biotech S.r.l., Sesto Fiorentino, Italy.
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