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Su Y, Shea J, Destephanis D, Su Z. Transcriptomic analysis of the spatiotemporal axis of oogenesis and fertilization in C. elegans. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1436975. [PMID: 39224437 PMCID: PMC11366716 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1436975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans hermaphrodite presents a unique model to study the formation of oocytes. However, the size of the model animal and difficulties in retrieval of specific stages of the germline have obviated closer systematic studies of this process throughout the years. Here, we present a transcriptomic level analysis into the oogenesis of C. elegans hermaphrodites. We dissected a hermaphrodite gonad into seven sections corresponding to the mitotic distal region, the pachytene region, the diplotene region, the early diakinesis region and the 3 most proximal oocytes, and deeply sequenced the transcriptome of each of them along with that of the fertilized egg using a single-cell RNA-seq (scRNA-seq) protocol. We identified specific gene expression events as well as gene splicing events in finer detail along the gonad and provided novel insights into underlying mechanisms of the oogenesis process. Furthermore, through careful review of relevant research literature coupled with patterns observed in our analysis, we delineate transcripts that may serve functions in the interactions between the germline and cells of the somatic gonad. These results expand our knowledge of the transcriptomic space of the C. elegans germline and lay a foundation on which future studies of the germline can be based upon.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Zhengchang Su
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, United States
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2
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Su Y, Shea J, DeStephanis D, Su Z. Transcriptomic Analysis of the Spatiotemporal Axis of Oogenesis and Fertilization in C. elegans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.03.597235. [PMID: 38895354 PMCID: PMC11185608 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.03.597235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
The oocyte germline of the C. elegans hermaphrodite presents a unique model to study the formation of oocytes. However, the size of the model animal and difficulties in retrieval of specific stages of the germline have obviated closer systematic studies of this process throughout the years. Here, we present a transcriptomic level analysis into the oogenesis of C. elegans hermaphrodites. We dissected a hermaphrodite gonad into seven sections corresponding to the mitotic distal region, the pachytene, the diplotene, the early diakinesis region and the 3 most proximal oocytes, and deeply sequenced the transcriptome of each of them along with that of the fertilized egg using a single-cell RNA-seq protocol. We identified specific gene expression events as well as gene splicing events in finer detail along the oocyte germline and provided novel insights into underlying mechanisms of the oogenesis process. Furthermore, through careful review of relevant research literature coupled with patterns observed in our analysis, we attempt to delineate transcripts that may serve functions in the interaction between the germline and cells of the somatic gonad. These results expand our knowledge of the transcriptomic space of the C. elegans germline and lay a foundation on which future studies of the germline can be based upon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangqi Su
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Jonathan Shea
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Darla DeStephanis
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Zhengchang Su
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
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3
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Zhang Y, Peng Y, Wang Y, Xu J, Yan H. Novel underlying genetic markers for asthenozoospermia due to abnormal spermatogenesis and reproductive organ inflammation. Exp Ther Med 2024; 27:146. [PMID: 38476923 PMCID: PMC10928817 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2024.12434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Asthenozoospermia, a male fertility disorder, has a complex and multifactorial etiology. Moreover, the effectiveness of different treatments for asthenozoospermia remains uncertain. Hence, by using bioinformatics techniques, the present study aimed to determine the underlying genetic markers and pathogenetic mechanisms associated with asthenozoospermia due to abnormal spermatogenesis and inflammation of the reproductive tract. GSE160749 dataset was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, and the data were filtered to obtain 1336 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with asthenozoospermia. These DEGs were intersected with the epithelial mesenchymal transition datasets to yield 61 candidate DEGs. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analyses were performed, and the results revealed that these candidate DEGs were significantly enriched in the enzyme-linked receptor pathway and the thyroid hormone pathway. A protein-protein interaction network was constructed to identify the key genes of asthenozoospermia. A total of five key genes were identified, among which SOX9 was significantly upregulated, while HSPA4, SMAD2, HIF1A and GSK3B were significantly downregulated. These findings were validated by conducting reverse transcription-quantitative PCR for clinical semen samples. To determine the underlying molecular mechanisms, a regulatory network of transcription factors and miRNA-mRNA interactions was predicted. The expression levels of HSPA4, SMAD2 and GSK3B were positively associated with several related etiological genes of asthenozoospermia. In total, five key genes were closely associated with the level and type of immune cells; higher levels of activated B cells and CD8 T cells were observed in asthenozoospermia. Thus, the findings of the present study may provide clues to determine the underlying novel diagnostic genetic markers and treatment strategies for asthenozoospermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaodong Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The 971st Hospital of Chinese People's Liberation Army, Qindao, Shandong 266071, P.R. China
| | - Yun Peng
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Yao Wang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Jian Xu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Hongli Yan
- Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
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4
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Du M, Chen S, Chen Y, Yuan X, Dong H. Testicular fat deposition attenuates reproductive performance via decreased follicle-stimulating hormone level and sperm meiosis and testosterone synthesis in mouse. Anim Biosci 2024; 37:50-60. [PMID: 37641828 PMCID: PMC10766465 DOI: 10.5713/ab.23.0175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Testicular fat deposition has been reported to affect animal reproduction. However, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. The present study explored whether sperm meiosis and testosterone synthesis contribute to mouse testicular fat depositioninduced reproductive performance. METHODS High fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity CD1 mice (DIO) were used as a testicular fat deposition model. The serum hormone test was performed by agent kit. The quality of sperm was assessed using a Sperm Class Analyzer. Testicular tissue morphology was analyzed by histochemical methods. The expression of spermatocyte marker molecules was monitored by an immuno-fluorescence microscope during meiosis. Analysis of the synthesis of testosterone was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction and reagent kit. RESULTS It was found that there was a significant increase in body weight among DIO mice, however, the food intake showed no difference compared to control mice fed a normal diet (CTR). The number of offspring in DIO mice decreased, but there was no significant difference from the CTR group. The levels of follicle-stimulating hormone were lower in DIO mice and their luteinizing hormone levels were similar. The results showed a remarkable decrease in sperm density and motility among DIO mice. We also found that fat accumulation affected the meiosis process, mainly reflected in the cross-exchange of homologous chromosomes. In addition, overweight increased fat deposition in the testis and reduced the expression of testosterone synthesis-related enzymes, thereby affecting the synthesis and secretion of testosterone by testicular Leydig cells. CONCLUSION Fat accumulation in the testes causes testicular cell dysfunction, which affects testosterone hormone synthesis and ultimately affects sperm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miao Du
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109,
China
| | - Shikun Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109,
China
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150,
Australia
| | - Yang Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109,
China
| | - Xinxu Yuan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284,
USA
| | - Huansheng Dong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109,
China
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Liang Q, Yang H, Zhang Z, Zheng JC, Qin Z. Loss of mammalian glutaminase orthologs impairs sperm function in Caenorhabditis elegans. iScience 2023; 26:106206. [PMID: 36876125 PMCID: PMC9982271 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The decline in sperm function is a major cause of human male infertility. Glutaminase, a mitochondrial enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of glutamine to generate glutamate, takes part in many diverse biological processes such as neurotransmission, metabolism, and cellular senescence. Here we report the role of glutaminase in regulating sperm function. By generating a triple mutant that harbors a loss-of-function allele for each of all three mammalian glutaminase orthologs, we found that glutaminase gene activity is required for optimal Caenorhabditis elegans sperm function. Tissue-specific gene manipulations showed that germline glutaminase activity plays an important role. Moreover, transcriptional profiling and antioxidant treatment suggested that glutaminase promotes sperm function by maintaining cellular redox homeostasis. As maintaining a low level of ROS is crucial to human sperm function, it is very likely that glutaminase plays a similar role in humans and therefore can be a potential target for treating human male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qifei Liang
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Shanghai Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China
| | - Haiyan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200065, China
| | - Zhifei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200065, China
| | - Jialin C. Zheng
- Center for Translational Neurodegeneration and Regenerative Therapy, Shanghai Tongji Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200072, China
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200065, China
- Translational Research Institute of Brain and Brain-Like Intelligence, Shanghai Fourth People’s Hospital Affiliated to Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200081, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Zhao Qin
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopedic Department of Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200065, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
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Kwah JK, Jaramillo-Lambert A. Measuring Embryonic Viability and Brood Size in Caenorhabditis elegans. J Vis Exp 2023:10.3791/65064. [PMID: 36912547 PMCID: PMC10097462 DOI: 10.3791/65064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans is an excellent model organism for the study of meiosis, fertilization, and embryonic development. C. elegans exist as self-fertilizing hermaphrodites, which produce large broods of progeny-when males are present, they can produce even larger broods of cross progeny. Errors in meiosis, fertilization, and embryogenesis can be rapidly assessed as phenotypes of sterility, reduced fertility, or embryonic lethality. This article describes a method to determine embryonic viability and brood size in C. elegans. We demonstrate how to set up this assay by picking a worm onto an individual Modified Youngren's, Only Bacto-peptone (MYOB) plate, establish the appropriate timeframe to count viable progeny and non-viable embryos, and explain how to accurately count live worm specimens. This technique can be used to determine viability in self-fertilizing hermaphrodites as well as cross-fertilization by mating pairs. These relatively simple experiments are easily adoptable for new researchers, such as undergraduate students and first-year graduate students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Kent Kwah
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware
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7
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Rho NY, Mogas T, King WA, Favetta LA. Testis-Specific Protein Y-Encoded (TSPY) Is Required for Male Early Embryo Development in Bos taurus. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043349. [PMID: 36834761 PMCID: PMC9959854 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
TSPY is a highly conserved multi-copy gene with copy number variation (CNV) among species, populations, individuals and within families. TSPY has been shown to be involved in male development and fertility. However, information on TSPY in embryonic preimplantation stages is lacking. This study aims to determine whether TSPY CNV plays a role in male early development. Using sex-sorted semen from three different bulls, male embryo groups referred to as 1Y, 2Y and 3Y, were produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF). Developmental competency was assessed by cleavage and blastocyst rates. Embryos at different developmental stages were analyzed for TSPY CN, mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, TSPY RNA knockdown was performed and embryos were assessed as per above. Development competency was only significantly different at the blastocyst stage, with 3Y being the highest. TSPY CNV and transcripts were detected in the range of 20-75 CN for 1Y, 20-65 CN for 2Y and 20-150 CN for 3Y, with corresponding averages of 30.2 ± 2.5, 33.0 ± 2.4 and 82.3 ± 3.6 copies, respectively. TSPY transcripts exhibited an inverse logarithmic pattern, with 3Y showing significantly higher TSPY. TSPY proteins, detected only in blastocysts, were not significantly different among groups. TSPY knockdown resulted in a significant TSPY depletion (p < 0.05), with no development observed after the eight-cell stage in male embryos, suggesting that TSPY is required for male embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na-Young Rho
- Reproductive Health and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Teresa Mogas
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallés, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - W. Allan King
- Reproductive Health and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
- Karyotekk Inc., Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Laura A. Favetta
- Reproductive Health and Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
- Correspondence:
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8
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Shabtai R, Tzur YB. Male-specific roles of lincRNA in C. elegans fertility. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1115605. [PMID: 37035238 PMCID: PMC10076526 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1115605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The testis is the mammalian tissue with the highest expression levels of long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs). However, most in vivo models have not found significant reductions in male fertility when highly expressed lincRNA genes were removed. This suggests that certain lincRNAs may act redundantly or lack functional roles. In the genome of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, there is an order of magnitude fewer lincRNA genes than in mammals. This characteristic lowers the potential for redundancy, making it an ideal model to test these possibilities. We identified five highly and dynamically expressed lincRNAs in male C. elegans gonads and quantified the fertility of worm strains in which these genes were removed. In contrast to the hermaphrodites of deletion strains, which exhibited no significant reductions in broods, smaller brood sizes were observed in the progeny of males of three of the lincRNA deleted strains. This demonstrates reduced male fertility in worms with those genes removed. Interestingly, reduced brood size was statistically significant only in the last days of egg laying in two of these strains. This suggests the effect is due to early deterioration and aging of the transferred sperm. We detected a mild increase in embryonic lethality in only one of the strains, supporting the possibility that these lincRNAs do not affect fertility through critical roles in essential meiotic processes. Together our results indicate a sexually dimorphic outcome on fertility when lincRNA are removed and show that, unlike mammals, individual lincRNAs in C. elegans do play significant roles in male fertility.
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Zou C, Xu S, Geng H, Li E, Sun W, Yu D. Bioinformatics analysis identifies potential hub genes and crucial pathways in the pathogenesis of asthenozoospermia. BMC Med Genomics 2022; 15:252. [PMID: 36471356 PMCID: PMC9724253 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-022-01407-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asthenozoospermia is a troublesome disease experienced by men in their reproductive years, but its exact etiology remains unclear. To address this problem, this study aims to identify the hub genes and crucial pathways in asthenozoospermia. METHODS We screened two Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets (GSE92578 and GSE22331) to extract the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between normozoospermic and asthenozoospermic men using the "Limma" package. Gene enrichment analyses of the DEGs were conducted using the "clusterProfiler" R package. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was then established using the STRING database. A miRNA-transcription factor-gene network was constructed based on the predicted results of hub genes using the RegNetwork database. The expression of four hub genes in asthenozoospermia and normal samples were verified using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting. RESULTS We identified 271 DEGs, which included 218 upregulated and 53 downregulated in two asthenozoospermia datasets. These DEGs were observed to be markedly enriched in pathways with cell growth and embryonic organ development, phospholipase D signaling pathway, cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, and Wnt signaling pathway. The most significant genes were identified, including COPS7A, CUL3, KLHL7, NEDD4. We then constructed regulatory networks of these genes, miRNAs, and transcription factors. Finally, we found that the COPS7A was significantly upregulated in patients with asthenozoospermia, but CUL3, KLHL7 and NEDD4 were significantly downregulated compared with normal samples. CONCLUSION We applied bioinformatics methods to analyze the DEGs of asthenozoospermia based on the GEO database and identified the novel crucial genes and pathways in this disease. Our findings may provide novel insights into asthenozoospermia and identify new clues for the potential treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ci Zou
- grid.452696.a0000 0004 7533 3408Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical of University, 230601 Hefei, China
| | - Shen Xu
- grid.452696.a0000 0004 7533 3408Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical of University, 230601 Hefei, China
| | - Hao Geng
- grid.452696.a0000 0004 7533 3408Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical of University, 230601 Hefei, China
| | - Enlai Li
- grid.452696.a0000 0004 7533 3408Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical of University, 230601 Hefei, China
| | - Wei Sun
- grid.452696.a0000 0004 7533 3408Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical of University, 230601 Hefei, China
| | - Dexin Yu
- grid.452696.a0000 0004 7533 3408Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical of University, 230601 Hefei, China ,grid.452696.a0000 0004 7533 3408Department of Urology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, NO.678 Furong Road, 230601 Hefei, China
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Park JW, Kim YJ, Lee SJ, Ko JJ, Kim DK, Lee JH. Down-Regulation of Neogenin Decreases Proliferation and Differentiation of Spermatogonia during the Early Phase of Spermatogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314761. [PMID: 36499089 PMCID: PMC9738271 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-obstructive azoospermia is a major clinical issue associated with male infertility that remains to be addressed. Although neogenin is reportedly abundantly expressed in the testis, its role in mammalian spermatogenesis is unknown. We systematically investigated the role of neogenin during spermatogenesis by performing loss-of-function studies. Testis-specific neogenin conditional knock-out (cKO) mice were generated using CRISPR/Cas9 and neogenin-targeting guide RNAs. We analyzed the expression profiles of germ cell factors by RT-PCR and Western blotting. Neogenin localized mainly to spermatogonia in seminiferous tubules of mouse testes. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses further demonstrated that neogenin expression varied during spermatogenesis and was dramatically increased at postnatal day 12-25 during the pubertal stage. In neogenin-cKO mouse testes, the ratio of primary and secondary spermatocytes was significantly decreased compared with the control, while the number of apoptotic testicular cells was significantly increased. Taken together, these results suggest that neogenin plays a pivotal role in the maintenance and proliferation of spermatogonia during the early stage of spermatogenesis in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Woo Park
- CHA Fertility Center Seoul Station, Seoul 04634, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Life Science, CHA University, Pochen 11160, Republic of Korea
| | - Yu Jin Kim
- CHA Fertility Center Seoul Station, Seoul 04634, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Jin Lee
- Institute of Animal Genetic Resources Affiliated with Traditional Hanwoo Co., Ltd., Boryeong 33402, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Jae Ko
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Life Science, CHA University, Pochen 11160, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Keun Kim
- Department of Urology, CHA Fertility Center Seoul Station, CHA University School of Medicine, Seoul 04637, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: (D.K.K.); (J.H.L.); Tel.: +82-2-2002-0309 (D.K.K.); +82-2-2002-0406 (J.H.L.)
| | - Jae Ho Lee
- CHA Fertility Center Seoul Station, Seoul 04634, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Life Science, CHA University, Pochen 11160, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: (D.K.K.); (J.H.L.); Tel.: +82-2-2002-0309 (D.K.K.); +82-2-2002-0406 (J.H.L.)
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11
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Ragle JM, Morrison KN, Vo AA, Johnson ZE, Hernandez Lopez J, Rechtsteiner A, Shakes DC, Ward JD. NHR-23 and SPE-44 regulate distinct sets of genes during Caenorhabditis elegans spermatogenesis. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2022; 12:6711396. [PMID: 36135804 PMCID: PMC9635660 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkac256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is the process through which mature male gametes are formed and is necessary for the transmission of genetic information. While much work has established how sperm fate is promoted and maintained, less is known about how the sperm morphogenesis program is executed. We previously identified a novel role for the nuclear hormone receptor transcription factor, NHR-23, in promoting Caenorhabditis elegans spermatogenesis. The depletion of NHR-23 along with SPE-44, another transcription factor that promotes spermatogenesis, caused additive phenotypes. Through RNA-seq, we determined that NHR-23 and SPE-44 regulate distinct sets of genes. The depletion of both NHR-23 and SPE-44 produced yet another set of differentially regulated genes. NHR-23-regulated genes are enriched in phosphatases, consistent with the switch from genome quiescence to post-translational regulation in spermatids. In the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum, MFP1 and MFP2 control the polymerization of Major Sperm Protein, the molecule that drives sperm motility and serves as a signal to promote ovulation. NHR-23 and SPE-44 regulate several MFP2 paralogs, and NHR-23 depletion from the male germline caused defective localization of MSD/MFP1 and NSPH-2/MFP2. Although NHR-23 and SPE-44 do not transcriptionally regulate the casein kinase gene spe-6, a key regulator of sperm development, SPE-6 protein is lost following NHR-23+SPE-44 depletion. Together, these experiments provide the first mechanistic insight into how NHR-23 promotes spermatogenesis and an entry point to understanding the synthetic genetic interaction between nhr-23 and spe-44.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Matthew Ragle
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | | | - An A Vo
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Zoe E Johnson
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Javier Hernandez Lopez
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Andreas Rechtsteiner
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Diane C Shakes
- Department of Biology, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23185, USA
| | - Jordan D Ward
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
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12
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Al-Yazeedi T, Xu EL, Kaur J, Shakes DC, Pires-daSilva A. Lagging X chromatids specify the orientation of asymmetric organelle partitioning in XX spermatocytes of Auanema rhodensis. Genetics 2022; 222:6762860. [PMID: 36255260 PMCID: PMC9713428 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyac159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The unequal partitioning of molecules and organelles during cell division results in daughter cells with different fates. An extreme example is female meiosis, in which consecutive asymmetric cell divisions give rise to 1 large oocyte and 2 small polar bodies with DNA and minimal cytoplasm. Here, we test the hypothesis that during an asymmetric cell division during spermatogenesis of the nematode Auanema rhodensis, the late segregating X chromatids orient the asymmetric partitioning of cytoplasmic components. In previous studies, the secondary spermatocytes of wild-type XO males were found to divide asymmetrically to generate functional spermatids that inherit components necessary for sperm viability and DNA-containing residual bodies that inherit components to be discarded. Here we extend that analysis to 2 novel contexts. First, the isolation and analysis of a strain of mutant XX pseudomales revealed that such animals have highly variable patterns of X-chromatid segregation. The pattern of late segregating X chromatids nevertheless predicted the orientation of organelle partitioning. Second, while wild-type XX hermaphrodites were known to produce both 1X and 2X sperm, here, we show that spermatocytes within specific spermatogonial clusters exhibit 2 different patterns of X-chromatid segregation that correlate with distinct patterns of organelle partitioning. Together this analysis suggests that A. rhodensis has coopted lagging X chromosomes during anaphase II as a mechanism for determining the orientation of organelle partitioning.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jasmin Kaur
- School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK
| | - Diane C Shakes
- Corresponding author: Department of Biology, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA. (DCS)
| | - Andre Pires-daSilva
- Corresponding author: School of Life Sciences, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, UK (AP-dS)
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13
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Rourke C, Jaramillo-Lambert A. TOP-2 is differentially required for the proper maintenance of the cohesin subunit REC-8 on meiotic chromosomes in Caenorhabditis elegans spermatogenesis and oogenesis. Genetics 2022; 222:iyac120. [PMID: 35951744 PMCID: PMC9526062 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyac120] [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: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
During meiotic prophase I, accurate segregation of homologous chromosomes requires the establishment of chromosomes with a meiosis-specific architecture. The sister chromatid cohesin complex and the enzyme Topoisomerase II (TOP-2) are important components of meiotic chromosome architecture, but the relationship of these proteins in the context of meiotic chromosome segregation is poorly defined. Here, we analyzed the role of TOP-2 in the timely release of the sister chromatid cohesin subunit REC-8 during spermatogenesis and oogenesis of Caenorhabditis elegans. We show that there is a different requirement for TOP-2 in meiosis of spermatogenesis and oogenesis. The loss-of-function mutation top-2(it7) results in premature REC-8 removal in spermatogenesis, but not oogenesis. This correlates with a failure to maintain the HORMA-domain proteins HTP-1 and HTP-2 (HTP-1/2) on chromosome axes at diakinesis and mislocalization of the downstream components that control REC-8 release including Aurora B kinase. In oogenesis, top-2(it7) causes a delay in the localization of Aurora B to oocyte chromosomes but can be rescued through premature activation of the maturation promoting factor via knockdown of the inhibitor kinase WEE-1.3. The delay in Aurora B localization is associated with an increase in the length of diakinesis bivalents and wee-1.3 RNAi mediated rescue of Aurora B localization in top-2(it7) is associated with a decrease in diakinesis bivalent length. Our results imply that the sex-specific effects of TOP-2 on REC-8 release are due to differences in the temporal regulation of meiosis and chromosome structure in late prophase I in spermatogenesis and oogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Rourke
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
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14
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Tollefsen KE, Alonzo F, Beresford NA, Brede DA, Dufourcq-Sekatcheff E, Gilbin R, Horemans N, Hurem S, Laloi P, Maremonti E, Oughton D, Simon O, Song Y, Wood MD, Xie L, Frelon S. Adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) for radiation-induced reproductive effects in environmental species: state of science and identification of a consensus AOP network. Int J Radiat Biol 2022; 98:1816-1831. [PMID: 35976054 DOI: 10.1080/09553002.2022.2110317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Reproductive effects of ionizing radiation in organisms have been observed under laboratory and field conditions. Such assessments often rely on associations between exposure and effects, and thus lacking a detailed mechanistic understanding of causality between effects occurring at different levels of biological organization. The Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP), a conceptual knowledge framework to capture, organize, evaluate and visualize the scientific knowledge of relevant toxicological effects, has the potential to evaluate the causal relationships between molecular, cellular, individual, and population effects. This paper presents the first development of a set of consensus AOPs for reproductive effects of ionizing radiation in wildlife. This work was performed by a group of experts formed during a workshop organized jointly by the Multidisciplinary European Low Dose Initiative (MELODI) and the European Radioecology Alliance (ALLIANCE) associations to present the AOP approach and tools. The work presents a series of taxon-specific case studies that were used to identify relevant empirical evidence, identify common AOP components and propose a set of consensus AOPs that could be organized into an AOP network with broader taxonomic applicability. CONCLUSION Expert consultation led to the identification of key biological events and description of causal linkages between ionizing radiation, reproductive impairment and reduction in population fitness. The study characterized the knowledge domain of taxon-specific AOPs, identified knowledge gaps pertinent to reproductive-relevant AOP development and reflected on how AOPs could assist applications in radiation (radioecological) research, environmental health assessment, and radiological protection. Future advancement and consolidation of the AOPs is planned to include structured weight of evidence considerations, formalized review and critical assessment of the empirical evidence prior to formal submission and review by the OECD sponsored AOP development program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Knut Erik Tollefsen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, Norway.,Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway.,Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway
| | - Frédéric Alonzo
- Health and Environment Division, Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance, France
| | - Nicholas A Beresford
- UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Lancaster Environment Centre, Bailrigg, UK.,School of Science, Engineering & Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Dag Anders Brede
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway.,Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway
| | - Elizabeth Dufourcq-Sekatcheff
- Health and Environment Division, Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance, France
| | - Rodolphe Gilbin
- Health and Environment Division, Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance, France
| | | | - Selma Hurem
- Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway.,Faculty of Veterinary medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway
| | - Patrick Laloi
- Health and Environment Division, Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance, France
| | - Erica Maremonti
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway.,Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway
| | - Deborah Oughton
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway.,Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway
| | - Olivier Simon
- Health and Environment Division, Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance, France
| | - You Song
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, Norway.,Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway
| | - Michael D Wood
- School of Science, Engineering & Environment, University of Salford, Salford, UK
| | - Li Xie
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, Norway.,Centre for Environmental Radioactivity, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), Ås, Norway
| | - Sandrine Frelon
- Health and Environment Division, Institute for Radiological Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), Saint-Paul-Lez-Durance, France
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15
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Banerjee RP, Srayko M. Sperm-specific glycogen synthase kinase 3 is required for sperm motility and the post-fertilization signal for female meiosis II in Caenorhabditis elegans. Development 2022; 149:275553. [DOI: 10.1242/dev.200229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
In most sexually reproducing animals, sperm entry provides the signal to initiate the final stages of female meiosis. In Caenorhabditis elegans, this signal is required for completion of female anaphase I and entry into meiosis II (MII). memi-1/2/3 (meiosis-to-mitosis) encode maternal components that facilitate this process; memi-1/2/3(RNAi) results in a skipped-MII phenotype. Previously, we used a gain-of-function mutation, memi-1(sb41), to identify genetic suppressors that represent candidates for the sperm-delivered signal. Herein, we characterize two suppressors of memi-1(sb41): gskl-1 and gskl-2. Both genes encode functionally redundant sperm glycogen synthase kinase, type 3 (GSK3) protein kinases. Loss of both genes causes defects in male spermatogenesis, sperm pseudopod treadmilling and paternal-effect embryonic lethality. The two kinases locate within the pseudopod of activated sperm, suggesting that they directly or indirectly regulate the sperm cytoskeletal polymer major sperm protein (MSP). The GSK3 genes genetically interact with another memi-1(sb41) suppressor, gsp-4, which encodes a sperm-specific PP1 phosphatase, previously proposed to regulate MSP dynamics. Moreover, gskl-2 gsp-4; gskl-1 triple mutants often skip female MII, similar to memi-1/2/3(RNAi). The GSK3 kinases and PP1 phosphatases perform similar sperm-related functions and work together for post-fertilization functions in the oocyte that involve MEMI.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martin Srayko
- University of Alberta Department of Biological Sciences , , Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9 , Canada
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16
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Spike CA, Tsukamoto T, Greenstein D. Ubiquitin ligases and a processive proteasome facilitate protein clearance during the oocyte-to-embryo transition in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2022; 221:iyac051. [PMID: 35377419 PMCID: PMC9071522 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyac051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitin-mediated degradation of oocyte translational regulatory proteins is a conserved feature of the oocyte-to-embryo transition. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, multiple translational regulatory proteins, including the TRIM-NHL RNA-binding protein LIN-41/Trim71 and the Pumilio-family RNA-binding proteins PUF-3 and PUF-11, are degraded during the oocyte-to-embryo transition. Degradation of each protein requires activation of the M-phase cyclin-dependent kinase CDK-1, is largely complete by the end of the first meiotic division and does not require the anaphase-promoting complex. However, only LIN-41 degradation requires the F-box protein SEL-10/FBW7/Cdc4p, the substrate recognition subunit of an SCF-type E3 ubiquitin ligase. This finding suggests that PUF-3 and PUF-11, which localize to LIN-41-containing ribonucleoprotein particles, are independently degraded through the action of other factors and that the oocyte ribonucleoprotein particles are disassembled in a concerted fashion during the oocyte-to-embryo transition. We develop and test the hypothesis that PUF-3 and PUF-11 are targeted for degradation by the proteasome-associated HECT-type ubiquitin ligase ETC-1/UBE3C/Hul5, which is broadly expressed in C. elegans. We find that several GFP-tagged fusion proteins that are degraded during the oocyte-to-embryo transition, including fusions with PUF-3, PUF-11, LIN-41, IFY-1/Securin, and CYB-1/Cyclin B, are incompletely degraded when ETC-1 function is compromised. However, it is the fused GFP moiety that appears to be the critical determinant of this proteolysis defect. These findings are consistent with a conserved role for ETC-1 in promoting proteasome processivity and suggest that proteasomal processivity is an important element of the oocyte-to-embryo transition during which many key oocyte regulatory proteins are rapidly targeted for degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline A Spike
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - Tatsuya Tsukamoto
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - David Greenstein
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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17
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Zagoskin MV, Wang J, Neff AT, Veronezi GMB, Davis RE. Small RNA pathways in the nematode Ascaris in the absence of piRNAs. Nat Commun 2022; 13:837. [PMID: 35149688 PMCID: PMC8837657 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28482-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Small RNA pathways play key and diverse regulatory roles in C. elegans, but our understanding of their conservation and contributions in other nematodes is limited. We analyzed small RNA pathways in the divergent parasitic nematode Ascaris. Ascaris has ten Argonautes with five worm-specific Argonautes (WAGOs) that associate with secondary 5’-triphosphate 22-24G-RNAs. These small RNAs target repetitive sequences or mature mRNAs and are similar to the C. elegans mutator, nuclear, and CSR-1 small RNA pathways. Even in the absence of a piRNA pathway, Ascaris CSR-1 may still function to “license” as well as fine-tune or repress gene expression. Ascaris ALG-4 and its associated 26G-RNAs target and likely repress specific mRNAs during testis meiosis. Ascaris WAGO small RNAs demonstrate target plasticity changing their targets between repeats and mRNAs during development. We provide a unique and comprehensive view of mRNA and small RNA expression throughout spermatogenesis. Overall, our study illustrates the conservation, divergence, dynamics, and flexibility of small RNA pathways in nematodes. The parasitic nematode Ascaris lacks piRNAs. Here the authors compare Argonaute proteins and small RNAs from C. elegans and Ascaris, expanding our understanding of the conservation, divergence, and flexibility of Argonautes and small RNA pathways in nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maxim V Zagoskin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.,RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - Jianbin Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA. .,RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA. .,Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA. .,UT-ORNL Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA.
| | - Ashley T Neff
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Giovana M B Veronezi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Richard E Davis
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA. .,RNA Bioscience Initiative, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
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18
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X Chromosome Inactivation during Grasshopper Spermatogenesis. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12121844. [PMID: 34946793 PMCID: PMC8700825 DOI: 10.3390/genes12121844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulation of transcriptional activity during meiosis depends on the interrelated processes of recombination and synapsis. In eutherian mammal spermatocytes, transcription levels change during prophase-I, being low at the onset of meiosis but highly increased from pachytene up to the end of diplotene. However, X and Y chromosomes, which usually present unsynapsed regions throughout prophase-I in male meiosis, undergo a specific pattern of transcriptional inactivation. The interdependence of synapsis and transcription has mainly been studied in mammals, basically in mouse, but our knowledge in other unrelated phylogenetically species is more limited. To gain new insights on this issue, here we analyzed the relationship between synapsis and transcription in spermatocytes of the grasshopper Eyprepocnemis plorans. Autosomal chromosomes of this species achieve complete synapsis; however, the single X sex chromosome remains always unsynapsed and behaves as a univalent. We studied transcription in meiosis by immunolabeling with RNA polymerase II phosphorylated at serine 2 and found that whereas autosomes are active from leptotene up to diakinesis, the X chromosome is inactive throughout meiosis. This inactivation is accompanied by the accumulation of, at least, two repressive epigenetic modifications: H3 methylated at lysine 9 and H2AX phosphorylated at serine 139. Furthermore, we identified that X chromosome inactivation occurs in premeiotic spermatogonia. Overall, our results indicate: (i) transcription regulation in E. plorans spermatogenesis differs from the canonical pattern found in mammals and (ii) X chromosome inactivation is likely preceded by a process of heterochromatinization before the initiation of meiosis.
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19
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Tan CH, Kornfeld K. Zinc is an intracellular signal during sperm activation in Caenorhabditis elegans. Development 2021; 148:273336. [PMID: 34739028 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Sperm activation is a rapid and dramatic cell differentiation event that does not involve changes in transcription, and the signaling cascades that mediate this process have not been fully defined. zipt-7.1 encodes a zinc transporter, and zipt-7.1(lf) mutants display sperm-activation defects, leading to the hypothesis that zinc signaling mediates sperm activation in Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we describe the development of a method for dynamic imaging of labile zinc during sperm activation using the zinc-specific fluorescence probe FluoZin-3 AM and time-lapse confocal imaging. Two phases of dynamic changes in labile zinc levels were observed during sperm activation. Forced zinc entry using the zinc ionophore pyrithione activated sperm in vitro, and it suppressed the defects of zipt-7.1(lf) mutants, indicating that high levels of cytosolic zinc are sufficient for sperm activation. We compared activation by zinc pyrithione to activation by extracellular zinc, the Na+/H+ antiporter monensin and the protease cocktail pronase in multiple mutant backgrounds. These results indicate that the protease pathway does not require zinc signaling, suggesting that zinc signaling is sufficient to activate sperm but is not always necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chieh-Hsiang Tan
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kerry Kornfeld
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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20
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Huang Z, Chen F, Xie M, Zhang H, Zhuang Y, Huang C, Li X, Liu H, Chen Z. The I510V mutation in KLHL10 in a patient with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. J Reprod Dev 2021; 67:313-318. [PMID: 34433733 PMCID: PMC8568611 DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2021-063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia is a human infertility syndrome caused by defects in spermatogenesis, spermiogenesis, and sperm maturation, and its etiology remains unclear. Kelch-like 10
(KLHL10) is a component of ubiquitin ligase E3 10 (KLHL10) and plays an important role in male fertility. Deletion or mutation of the Klhl10 gene in
Drosophila or mice results in defects in spermatogenesis or sperm maturation. However, the molecular mechanisms by which KLHL10 functions remain elusive. In this study, we
identified a missense mutation (c.1528A→G, p.I510V) in exon 5 of KLHL10, which is associated with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia in humans. To investigate the effects of this
mutation on KLHL10 function and spermatogenesis and/or spermiogenesis, we generated mutant mice duplicating the amino acid conversion using the clustered regularly interspaced palindromic
repeat/caspase 9 (CRISPR/Cas9) system and designated them Klhl10I510V mice. However, the Klhl10I510V mice did not exhibit any defects in testis development,
spermatogenesis, or sperm motility at ten-weeks-of-age, suggesting that this mutation does not disrupt the KLHL10 function, and may not be the cause of male infertility in the affected
individual with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zicong Huang
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, P. R. China
| | - Feilong Chen
- Department of Pathology, Panyu Maternal and Child Care Service Centre of Guangzhou, Guangzhou 511499, P. R. China
| | - Minyu Xie
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, P. R. China
| | - Hanbin Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, P. R. China
| | - Yuge Zhuang
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, P. R. China
| | - Chuyu Huang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, P. R. China
| | - Xuemei Li
- Reproductive center, Affiliated Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University (Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital), Shenzhen 518017, P. R. China
| | - Hong Liu
- Reproductive center, Affiliated Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital, Southern Medical University (Shenzhen Maternity & Child Healthcare Hospital), Shenzhen 518017, P. R. China
| | - Zhenguo Chen
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, P. R. China
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21
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Peterson JJ, Tocheny CE, Prajapati G, LaMunyon CW, Shakes DC. Subcellular patterns of SPE-6 localization reveal unexpected complexities in Caenorhabditis elegans sperm activation and sperm function. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2021; 11:jkab288. [PMID: 34849789 PMCID: PMC8527485 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
To acquire and maintain directed cell motility, Caenorhabditis elegans sperm must undergo extensive, regulated cellular remodeling, in the absence of new transcription or translation. To regulate sperm function, nematode sperm employ large numbers of protein kinases and phosphatases, including SPE-6, a member of C. elegans' highly expanded casein kinase 1 superfamily. SPE-6 functions during multiple steps of spermatogenesis, including functioning as a "brake" to prevent premature sperm activation in the absence of normal extracellular signals. Here, we describe the subcellular localization patterns of SPE-6 during wild-type C. elegans sperm development and in various sperm activation mutants. While other members of the sperm activation pathway associate with the plasma membrane or localize to the sperm's membranous organelles, SPE-6 surrounds the chromatin mass of unactivated sperm. During sperm activation by either of two semiautonomous signaling pathways, SPE-6 redistributes to the front, central region of the sperm's pseudopod. When disrupted by reduction-of-function alleles, SPE-6 protein is either diminished in a temperature-sensitive manner (hc187) or is mislocalized in a stage-specific manner (hc163). During the multistep process of sperm activation, SPE-6 is released from its perinuclear location after the spike stage in a process that does not require the fusion of membranous organelles with the plasma membrane. After activation, spermatozoa exhibit variable proportions of perinuclear and pseudopod-localized SPE-6, depending on their location within the female reproductive tract. These findings provide new insights regarding SPE-6's role in sperm activation and suggest that extracellular signals during sperm migration may further modulate SPE-6 localization and function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Claire E Tocheny
- Department of Biology, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA
| | - Gaurav Prajapati
- Department of Biological Science, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA 91768, USA
| | - Craig W LaMunyon
- Department of Biological Science, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA 91768, USA
| | - Diane C Shakes
- Department of Biology, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA
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22
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Zograf JK, Trebukhova YA, Yushin VV, Yakovlev KV. Analysis of major sperm proteins in two nematode species from two classes, Enoplus brevis (Enoplea, Enoplida) and Panagrellus redivivus (Chromadorea, Rhabditida), reveals similar localization, but less homology of protein sequences than expected for Nematoda phylum. ORG DIVERS EVOL 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s13127-021-00522-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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23
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Lei Y, Zhang X, Xu Q, Liu S, Li C, Jiang H, Lin H, Kong E, Liu J, Qi S, Li H, Xu W, Lu K. Autophagic elimination of ribosomes during spermiogenesis provides energy for flagellar motility. Dev Cell 2021; 56:2313-2328.e7. [PMID: 34428398 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2021.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
How autophagy initiation is regulated and what the functional significance of this regulation is are unknown. Here, we characterized the role of yeast Vac8 in autophagy initiation through recruitment of PIK3C3-C1 to the phagophore assembly site (PAS). This recruitment is dependent on the palmitoylation of Vac8 and on its middle ARM domains for binding PIK3C3-C1. Vac8-mediated anchoring of PIK3C3-C1 promotes PtdIns3P generation at the PAS and recruitment of the PtdIns3P binding protein Atg18-Atg2. The mouse homolog of Vac8, ARMC3, is conserved and functions in autophagy in mouse testes. Mice lacking ARMC3 have normal viability but show complete male infertility. Proteomic analysis indicated that the autophagic degradation of cytosolic ribosomes was blocked in ARMC3-deficient spermatids, which caused low energy levels of mitochondria and motionless flagella. These studies uncovered a function of Vac8/ARMC3 in PtdIns3-kinase anchoring at the PAS and its physical significance in mammalian spermatogenesis with a germ tissue-specific autophagic function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Lei
- Department of Pathology, West China Second University Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xueguang Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Joint Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (SCU-CUHK), Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Qingjia Xu
- Department of Neurology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Shiyan Liu
- Department of Neurology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Chunxia Li
- Department of Neurology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Department of Urology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Reproductive Medicine Center, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Haocheng Lin
- Department of Urology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China; Department of Reproductive Medicine Center, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Eryan Kong
- Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Jiaming Liu
- Department of Urology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Shiqian Qi
- Department of Urology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Huihui Li
- Department of Pathology, West China Second University Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Wenming Xu
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Joint Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (SCU-CUHK), Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Kefeng Lu
- Department of Neurology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
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Morrison KN, Uyehara CM, Ragle JM, Ward JD, Shakes DC. MFP1/MSD-1 and MFP2/NSPH-2 co-localize with MSP during C. elegans spermatogenesis. MICROPUBLICATION BIOLOGY 2021; 2021. [PMID: 34316545 PMCID: PMC8299296 DOI: 10.17912/micropub.biology.000427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 07/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Until recently, the only verified component of Fibrous Bodies (FBs) within Caenorhabditis elegans spermatocytes was the Major Sperm Protein (MSP), a nematode-specific cytoskeletal element. Earlier studies in the pig parasite Ascaris suum had identified accessory proteins that facilitate MSP polymerization and depolymerization within the pseudopod of crawling spermatozoa. In this study, we show that C. elegans homologs of the two Ascaris accessory proteins MFP1 and MFP2 co-localize with MSP in both the pseudopods of C. elegans sperm and the FBs of C. elegans spermatocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - James Matthew Ragle
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California - Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Jordan D Ward
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California - Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, USA
| | - Diane C Shakes
- Department of Biology, William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia, USA
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25
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Altered Expression of DAAM1 and PREP Induced by Cadmium Toxicity Is Counteracted by Melatonin in the Rat Testis. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12071016. [PMID: 34208970 PMCID: PMC8304460 DOI: 10.3390/genes12071016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is one of the most toxic pollutants for health due to its accumulation in several tissues, including testis. This report confirms that Cd increased oxidative stress and apoptosis of germ and somatic cells and provoked testicular injury, as documented by biomolecular and histological alterations, i.e., CAT and SOD activity, the protein level of steroidogenic enzymes (StAR and 3β-HSD), and morphometric parameters. Additionally, it further documents the melatonin (MLT) coadministration produces affects in mitigating Cd-induced toxicity on adult rat testis, as demonstrated by the reduction of oxidative stress and apoptosis, with reversal of the observed histological changes; moreover, a role of MLT in partially restoring steroidogenic enzymes expression was evidenced. Importantly, the cytoarchitecture of testicular cells was perturbed by Cd exposure, as highlighted by impairment of the expression and localization of two cytoskeleton-associated proteins DAAM1 and PREP, which are involved in the germ cells' differentiation into spermatozoa, altering the normal spermatogenesis. Here, for the first time, we found that the co-treatment with MLT attenuated the Cd-induced toxicity on the testicular DAAM1 and PREP expression. The combined findings provide additional clues about a protective effect of MLT against Cd-induced testicular toxicity by acting on DAAM1 and PREP expression, encouraging further studies to prove its effectiveness in human health.
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Diagnostic accuracy of resistive index of capsular and intratesticular branches of testicular arteries in infertile men with oligoasthenospermia: A case-control study. Biomedicine (Taipei) 2021; 10:18-22. [PMID: 33854930 PMCID: PMC7735981 DOI: 10.37796/2211-8039.1036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 04/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Male infertility accounts for nearly 50% of couples' infertility. Only a few studies evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of resistive index (RI) of testicular arteries using color Doppler imaging to identify male infertility. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of RI of the capsular and intratesticular branches of testicular arteries in infertile men with oligoasthenospermia and its comparison with normal men. Material and methods In a case-control study, 30 patients with oligoasthenospermia (case group) and 30 healthy controls who meet the inclusion criteria, were selected. For all patients, RI was measured using color Doppler ultrasonography in upper and lower testicular poles. Also, testicular volumes were measured for all participants. Results Mean RI of the intratesticular artery (0.624 ± 0.051 versus 0.509 ± 0.054; P < 0.001) and capsular artery (0.663 ± 0.057 versus 0.557 ± 0.055; P < 0.001) were significantly higher in the case group compared to control group. The frequency of abnormal RI of intratesticular artery in the control (13.3%) and case (66.7%) groups were significantly different (OR: 13.0; 95% CI: 3.44-47.59; P < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and overall accuracy (OA) of intratesticular artery RI were 66.67%, 86.67%, 83.33%, 72.22%, and 76.67%, respectively. The frequency of abnormal RI of capsular artery was 23.3% in the control group and 90.0% in the case group (OR: 29.57; 95% CI: 6.85-127.63; P < 0.001). The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and OA of capsular artery RI were 90.0%, 76.67%, 79.41%, 88.46% and 83.33%, respectively. Conclusion The results of this study indicated that assessing testicular Doppler RI of capsular and intratesticular branches of the testicular arteries, as a bio-imaging biomarker, may be a valuable non-invasive and simple complementary diagnostic modality with a high diagnostic value in identifying infertile men with oligoasthenospermia.
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27
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Wellard SR, Zhang Y, Shults C, Zhao X, McKay M, Murray SA, Jordan PW. Overlapping roles for PLK1 and Aurora A during meiotic centrosome biogenesis in mouse spermatocytes. EMBO Rep 2021; 22:e51023. [PMID: 33615678 PMCID: PMC8024899 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202051023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The establishment of bipolar spindles during meiotic divisions ensures faithful chromosome segregation to prevent gamete aneuploidy. We analyzed centriole duplication, as well as centrosome maturation and separation during meiosis I and II using mouse spermatocytes. The first round of centriole duplication occurs during early prophase I, and then, centrosomes mature and begin to separate by the end of prophase I to prime formation of bipolar metaphase I spindles. The second round of centriole duplication occurs at late anaphase I, and subsequently, centrosome separation coordinates bipolar segregation of sister chromatids during meiosis II. Using a germ cell-specific conditional knockout strategy, we show that Polo-like kinase 1 and Aurora A kinase are required for centrosome maturation and separation prior to metaphase I, leading to the formation of bipolar metaphase I spindles. Furthermore, we show that PLK1 is required to block the second round of centriole duplication and maturation until anaphase I. Our findings emphasize the importance of maintaining strict spatiotemporal control of cell cycle kinases during meiosis to ensure proficient centrosome biogenesis and, thus, accurate chromosome segregation during spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen R Wellard
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology DepartmentJohns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Yujiao Zhang
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology DepartmentJohns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Chris Shults
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology DepartmentJohns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Xueqi Zhao
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology DepartmentJohns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMDUSA
| | | | | | - Philip W Jordan
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology DepartmentJohns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public HealthBaltimoreMDUSA
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Price KL, Presler M, Uyehara CM, Shakes DC. The intrinsically disordered protein SPE-18 promotes localized assembly of MSP in Caenorhabditis elegans spermatocytes. Development 2021; 148:dev195875. [PMID: 33558389 PMCID: PMC7938801 DOI: 10.1242/dev.195875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Many specialized cells use unconventional strategies of cytoskeletal control. Nematode spermatocytes discard their actin and tubulin following meiosis, and instead employ the regulated assembly/disassembly of the Major Sperm Protein (MSP) to drive sperm motility. However, prior to the meiotic divisions, MSP is sequestered through its assembly into paracrystalline structures called fibrous bodies (FBs). The accessory proteins that direct this sequestration process have remained mysterious. This study reveals SPE-18 as an intrinsically disordered protein that is essential for MSP assembly within FBs. In spe-18 mutant spermatocytes, MSP forms disorganized cortical fibers, and the cells arrest in meiosis without forming haploid sperm. In wild-type spermatocytes, SPE-18 localizes to pre-FB complexes and functions with the kinase SPE-6 to localize MSP assembly. Changing patterns of SPE-18 localization uncover previously unappreciated complexities in FB maturation. Later, within newly individualized spermatids, SPE-18 is rapidly lost, yet SPE-18 loss alone is insufficient for MSP disassembly. Our findings reveal an alternative strategy for sequestering cytoskeletal elements, not as monomers but in localized, bundled polymers. Additionally, these studies provide an important example of disordered proteins promoting ordered cellular structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari L Price
- Department of Biology, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA
| | - Marc Presler
- Department of Biology, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA
| | | | - Diane C Shakes
- Department of Biology, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA
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29
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Kim J, Min H, Ko S, Shim YH. Depletion of gipc-1 and gipc-2 causes infertility in Caenorhabditis elegans by reducing sperm motility. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2020; 534:219-225. [PMID: 33280819 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.11.108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The G-protein signaling pathway plays a key role in multiple cellular processes and is well conserved in eukaryotes. Although GIPC (G-protein α subunit interacting protein (GAIP)-interacting protein, C terminus) has been studied in several model organisms, little is known about its role in Caenorhabditis elegans. In the present study, we investigated the roles of gipc-1 and gipc-2 in C. elegans. We observed that they were exclusively expressed in sperm throughout the development and that gipc-1; gipc-2 double mutants were infertile. Further examination of sperm development in gipc-1; gipc-2 mutants revealed defective sperm activation and abnormal pseudopod extension that resulted in reduced sperm motility. Moreover, major sperm protein (MSP) was abnormally segregated between spermatids and residual bodies in gipc-1; gipc-2 mutants. Our findings indicate that gipc-1 and gipc-2 are required for the proper pseudopod extension of sperm during the terminal differentiation of spermatids. During this process, the segregation of MSP into spermatids is important for ensuring normal sperm motility during fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaehoon Kim
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyemin Min
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Sunhee Ko
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Yhong-Hee Shim
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea.
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30
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Venditti M, Donizetti A, Aniello F, Minucci S. EH domain binding protein 1-like 1 (EHBP1L1), a protein with calponin homology domain, is expressed in the rat testis. ZYGOTE 2020; 28:441-446. [PMID: 32795384 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199420000301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In this paper, with the aim to find new genes involved in mammalian spermatogenesis, we isolated, for the first time in the rat testis, a partial cDNA clone that encoded EH domain binding protein 1-like 1 (Ehbp1l1), a protein that has a single calponin homology domain (CH). Bioinformatic analysis showed that EHBP1l1 contains three domains: the N-terminal C2-like, the CH and the C-terminal bivalent Mical/EHBP Rab binding (bMERB) domains, which are evolutionarily conserved in vertebrates. We found that Ehbp1l1 mRNA was expressed in several rat tissues, including the liver, intestine, kidney and also in the testis during its development, with a higher level in testis from 12-month-old animals. Interestingly, in situ hybridization experiments revealed that Ehbp1l1 is specifically expressed by types I and II spermatocytes, this result was validated by RT-PCR performed on total RNA obtained from enriched fractions of different testicular cell types. As EHBP1l1 has been described as linked to vesicular transport to the actin cytoskeleton and as an effector of the small GTPase Rab8, we hypothesized that it could participate both in cytoskeletal remodelling and in the regulation of vesicle sorting from the trans-Golgi network to the apical plasma membrane. Our findings provide a better understand of the molecular mechanisms of the differentiation process of spermatogenesis; Ehbp1l1 may also be used as a new marker of testicular activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Venditti
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sez. Fisiologia Umana e Funzioni Biologiche Integrate 'F. Bottazzi', Università degli Studi della Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli' via Costantinopoli, 16-80138 - Napoli, Italy
| | - Aldo Donizetti
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Napoli 'Federico II, via Cinthia', 21-80126 - Napoli, Italy
| | - Francesco Aniello
- Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Napoli 'Federico II, via Cinthia', 21-80126 - Napoli, Italy
| | - Sergio Minucci
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Sez. Fisiologia Umana e Funzioni Biologiche Integrate 'F. Bottazzi', Università degli Studi della Campania 'Luigi Vanvitelli' via Costantinopoli, 16-80138 - Napoli, Italy
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31
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Ragle JM, Aita AL, Morrison KN, Martinez-Mendez R, Saeger HN, Ashley GA, Johnson LC, Schubert KA, Shakes DC, Ward JD. The conserved molting/circadian rhythm regulator NHR-23/NR1F1 serves as an essential co-regulator of C. elegans spermatogenesis. Development 2020; 147:dev193862. [PMID: 33060131 PMCID: PMC7710015 DOI: 10.1242/dev.193862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
In sexually reproducing metazoans, spermatogenesis is the process by which uncommitted germ cells give rise to haploid sperm. Work in model systems has revealed mechanisms controlling commitment to the sperm fate, but how this fate is subsequently executed remains less clear. While studying the well-established role of the conserved nuclear hormone receptor transcription factor, NHR-23/NR1F1, in regulating C. elegans molting, we discovered that NHR-23/NR1F1 is also constitutively expressed in developing primary spermatocytes and is a critical regulator of spermatogenesis. In this novel role, NHR-23/NR1F1 functions downstream of the canonical sex-determination pathway. Degron-mediated depletion of NHR-23/NR1F1 within hermaphrodite or male germlines causes sterility due to an absence of functional sperm, as depleted animals produce arrested primary spermatocytes rather than haploid sperm. These spermatocytes arrest in prometaphase I and fail to either progress to anaphase or attempt spermatid-residual body partitioning. They make sperm-specific membranous organelles but fail to assemble their major sperm protein into fibrous bodies. NHR-23/NR1F1 appears to function independently of the known SPE-44 gene regulatory network, revealing the existence of an NHR-23/NR1F1-mediated module that regulates the spermatogenesis program.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Matthew Ragle
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Abigail L Aita
- Department of Biology, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA
| | | | - Raquel Martinez-Mendez
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Hannah N Saeger
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Guinevere A Ashley
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Londen C Johnson
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Katherine A Schubert
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
| | - Diane C Shakes
- Department of Biology, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA
| | - Jordan D Ward
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California-Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA 95064, USA
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32
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Earley BJ, Mendoza AD, Tan CH, Kornfeld K. Zinc homeostasis and signaling in the roundworm C. elegans. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2020; 1868:118882. [PMID: 33017595 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2020.118882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
C. elegans is a powerful model for studies of zinc biology. Here we review recent discoveries and emphasize the advantages of this model organism. Methods for manipulating and measuring zinc levels have been developed in or adapted to the worm. The C. elegans genome encodes highly conserved zinc transporters, and their expression and function are beginning to be characterized. Homeostatic mechanisms have evolved to respond to high and low zinc conditions. The pathway for high zinc homeostasis has been recently elucidated based on the discovery of the master regulator of high zinc homeostasis, HIZR-1. A parallel pathway for low zinc homeostasis is beginning to emerge based on the discovery of the Low Zinc Activation promoter element. Zinc has been established to play a role in two cell fate determination events, and accumulating evidence suggests zinc may function as a second messenger signaling molecule during vulval cell development and sperm activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Earley
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110, United States of America
| | - Adelita D Mendoza
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110, United States of America
| | - Chieh-Hsiang Tan
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, 1200 E California Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91125, United States of America
| | - Kerry Kornfeld
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid Ave., St. Louis, MO 63110, United States of America.
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33
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Slos D, Yushin VV, Claeys M, Ivanova ES, Kosaka H, Bert W. Structure, development, and evolutive patterns of spermatozoa in rhabditid nematodes (Nematoda: Rhabditida). J Morphol 2020; 281:1411-1435. [PMID: 32845531 DOI: 10.1002/jmor.21255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2020] [Revised: 07/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Spermatogenesis of five rhabditid nematodes was studied using transmission electron microscopy and is described herein. Structure and development of nematode sperm in all available representatives of the extensive order Rhabditida have been analysed and the main characteristics of each infraorder are discussed. The ancestral sperm of the order Rhabditida was reconstructed using maximum likelihood and Bayesian methods based on 44 ultrastructural sperm characters. The hypothetical ancestral spermatogenesis of the order Rhabditida agrees with the previously suggested "rhabditid" pattern and appears to be conserved throughout the order Rhabditida. Despite the enormous variation of rhabditid nematodes, few groups deviate from the ancestral pattern. This conserved pattern can be informative within the phylum Nematoda at order level, but poses limitations when used in taxonomic and phylogenetic analysis within Rhabditida.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dieter Slos
- Nematology Research Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Vladimir V Yushin
- A.V. Zhirmunsky National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Myriam Claeys
- Nematology Research Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Elena S Ivanova
- A.N. Severtsov Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Hajime Kosaka
- Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Wim Bert
- Nematology Research Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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34
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Kuchakulla M, Narasimman M, Khodamoradi K, Khosravizadeh Z, Ramasamy R. How defective spermatogenesis affects sperm DNA integrity. Andrologia 2020; 53:e13615. [PMID: 32324913 DOI: 10.1111/and.13615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is the essential process to maintain and promote male fertility. It is extraordinarily complex with many regulatory elements and numerous steps. The process involves several cell types, regulatory molecules, repair mechanisms and epigenetic regulators. Evidence has shown that fertility can be negatively impacted by reduced sperm DNA integrity. Sources of sperm DNA damage include replication errors and causes of DNA fragmentation which include abortive apoptosis, defective maturation and oxidative stress. This review outlines the process of spermatogenesis, spermatogonial regulation and sperm differentiation; additionally, DNA damage and currently studied DNA repair mechanisms in spermatozoon are also covered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Kuchakulla
- Department of Urology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Manish Narasimman
- Department of Urology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Kajal Khodamoradi
- Department of Urology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Zahra Khosravizadeh
- Department of Urology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Ranjith Ramasamy
- Department of Urology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
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35
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Gao N, Chen Y, Liu X, Zhao Y, Zhu L, Liu A, Jiang W, Peng X, Zhang C, Tang Z, Li X, Chen Y. Weighted single-step GWAS identified candidate genes associated with semen traits in a Duroc boar population. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:797. [PMID: 31666004 PMCID: PMC6822442 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6164-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the pig production industry, artificial insemination (AI) plays an important role in enlarging the beneficial impact of elite boars. Understanding the genetic architecture and detecting genetic markers associated with semen traits can help in improving genetic selection for such traits and accelerate genetic progress. In this study, we utilized a weighted single-step genome-wide association study (wssGWAS) procedure to detect genetic regions and further candidate genes associated with semen traits in a Duroc boar population. Overall, the full pedigree consists of 5284 pigs (12 generations), of which 2693 boars have semen data (143,113 ejaculations) and 1733 pigs were genotyped with 50 K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array. RESULTS Results show that the most significant genetic regions (0.4 Mb windows) explained approximately 2%~ 6% of the total genetic variances for the studied traits. Totally, the identified significant windows (windows explaining more than 1% of total genetic variances) explained 28.29, 35.31, 41.98, and 20.60% of genetic variances (not phenotypic variance) for number of sperm cells, sperm motility, sperm progressive motility, and total morphological abnormalities, respectively. Several genes that have been previously reported to be associated with mammal spermiogenesis, testes functioning, and male fertility were detected and treated as candidate genes for the traits of interest: Number of sperm cells, TDRD5, QSOX1, BLK, TIMP3, THRA, CSF3, and ZPBP1; Sperm motility, PPP2R2B, NEK2, NDRG, ADAM7, SKP2, and RNASET2; Sperm progressive motility, SH2B1, BLK, LAMB1, VPS4A, SPAG9, LCN2, and DNM1; Total morphological abnormalities, GHR, SELENOP, SLC16A5, SLC9A3R1, and DNAI2. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, candidate genes associated with Duroc boars' semen traits, including the number of sperm cells, sperm motility, sperm progressive motility, and total morphological abnormalities, were identified using wssGWAS. KEGG and GO enrichment analysis indicate that the identified candidate genes were enriched in biological processes and functional terms may be involved into spermiogenesis, testes functioning, and male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, North Third Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yilong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Xiaohong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, North Third Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yunxiang Zhao
- Guangxi Xiubo genetics technology Co., LTD, Guigang, 537100, China
| | - Lin Zhu
- Guangxi Xiubo genetics technology Co., LTD, Guigang, 537100, China
| | - Ali Liu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Wei Jiang
- Guangxi Xiubo genetics technology Co., LTD, Guigang, 537100, China
| | - Xing Peng
- Guangxi Xiubo genetics technology Co., LTD, Guigang, 537100, China
| | - Conglin Zhang
- Guangxi Yangxiang Agriculture and Husbandry Co., LTD, Guigang, 537100, China
| | - Zhenshuang Tang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Xinyun Li
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Yaosheng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, North Third Road, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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Gimond C, Vielle A, Silva-Soares N, Zdraljevic S, McGrath PT, Andersen EC, Braendle C. Natural Variation and Genetic Determinants of Caenorhabditis elegans Sperm Size. Genetics 2019; 213:615-632. [PMID: 31395653 PMCID: PMC6781899 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.119.302462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The diversity in sperm shape and size represents a powerful paradigm to understand how selection drives the evolutionary diversification of cell morphology. Experimental work on the sperm biology of the male-hermaphrodite nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has elucidated diverse factors important for sperm fertilization success, including the competitive superiority of larger sperm. Yet despite extensive research, the molecular mechanisms regulating C. elegans sperm size and the genetic basis underlying natural variation in sperm size remain unknown. To address these questions, we quantified male sperm size variation of a worldwide panel of 97 genetically distinct C. elegans strains, allowing us to uncover significant genetic variation in male sperm size. Aiming to characterize the molecular genetic basis of C. elegans male sperm size variation using a genome-wide association study, we did not detect any significant quantitative trait loci. We therefore focused on the genetic analysis of pronounced sperm size differences observed between recently diverged laboratory strains (N2 vs. LSJ1/2). Using mutants and quantitative complementation tests, we demonstrate that variation in the gene nurf-1 underlies the evolution of small sperm in the LSJ lineage. Given the previous discovery that this same nurf-1 variation was central for hermaphrodite laboratory adaptation, the evolution of reduced male sperm size in LSJ strains likely reflects a pleiotropic consequence. Together, our results provide a comprehensive quantification of natural variation in C. elegans sperm size and first insights into the genetic determinants of Caenorhabditis sperm size, pointing at an involvement of the NURF chromatin remodeling complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clotilde Gimond
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Inserm, IBV, Nice 06100, France
| | - Anne Vielle
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Inserm, IBV, Nice 06100, France
| | - Nuno Silva-Soares
- Université Côte d'Azur, CNRS, Inserm, IBV, Nice 06100, France
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciencia, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Stefan Zdraljevic
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208
| | - Patrick T McGrath
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332
| | - Erik C Andersen
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208
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Mechanisms of Stress-Induced Spermatogenesis Impairment in Male Rats Following Unpredictable Chronic Mild Stress (uCMS). Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20184470. [PMID: 31510090 PMCID: PMC6770920 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20184470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The negative association between psychological stress and male fertility has been known for many years. This study was aimed at (i) identifying spermatogenesis impairment induced by psychological stress in rats and (ii) exploring the role of glucocorticoid receptor (GR) signaling in these adverse effects (if they exist). Male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to a six-week period of unpredictable chronic mild stress (uCMS) along with cotreatment of GR antagonist RU486 (1 mg/kg/day). Testicular damage was assessed by testicular pathological evaluation, epididymal sperm concentration, serum testosterone levels, testicular apoptotic cell measurements, and cell cycle progression analyses. Rats in the uCMS group had decreased levels of serum testosterone and decreased epididymal sperm concentration. The uCMS-treated rats also had decreased numbers of spermatids and increased levels of apoptotic seminiferous tubules; additionally, cell cycle progression of spermatogonia was arrested at the G0/G1 phase. Furthermore, uCMS exposure caused an increase in serum corticosterone level and activated GR signaling in the testes including upregulated GR expression. RU486 treatment suppressed GR signaling and alleviated the damaging effects of stress, resulting in an increased epididymal sperm concentration. Overall, this work demonstrated for the first time that the activation of GR signaling mediates stress-induced spermatogenesis impairment and that this outcome is related to cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in germ cells.
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38
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Marcello MR, Druzhinina M, Singson A. Caenorhabditis elegans sperm membrane protein interactome. Biol Reprod 2019; 98:776-783. [PMID: 29546388 PMCID: PMC6037120 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The interaction and organization of proteins in the sperm membrane are important for all aspects of sperm function. We have determined the interactions between 12 known mutationally defined and cloned sperm membrane proteins in a model system for reproduction, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Identification of the interactions between sperm membrane proteins will improve our understanding of and ability to characterize defects in sperm function. To identify interacting proteins, we conducted a split-ubiquitin membrane yeast two-hybrid analysis of gene products identified through genetic screens that are necessary for sperm function and predicted to encode transmembrane proteins. Our analysis revealed novel interactions between sperm membrane proteins known to have roles in spermatogenesis, spermiogenesis, and fertilization. For example, we found that a protein known to play a role in sperm function during fertilization, SPE-38 (a predicted four pass transmembrane protein), interacts with proteins necessary for spermiogenesis and spermatogenesis and could serve as a central organizing protein in the plasma membrane. These novel interaction pairings will provide the foundation for investigating previously unrealized membrane protein interactions during spermatogenesis, spermiogenesis, and sperm function during fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marina Druzhinina
- Waksman Institute, Piscataway, NJ, USA.,Department of Genetics, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - Andrew Singson
- Waksman Institute, Piscataway, NJ, USA.,Department of Genetics, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
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Poush JA, Blouin NA, Di Bona KR, Lažetić V, Fay DS. Regulation of germ cell development by ARI1 family ubiquitin ligases in C. elegans. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17737. [PMID: 30531803 PMCID: PMC6288150 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35691-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
RING-between-RING (RBR) E3 ubiquitin ligases are implicated in various developmental processes, and mutations in genes encoding RBR proteins HHARI/ARIH1 and Parkin are associated with human diseases. Here we show by phylogenetic analysis that the ARI1 family has undergone a dramatic expansion within the Caenorhabditis clade in recent history, a characteristic shared by some genes involved in germline development. We then examined the effects of deleting all ARI1 family members in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which to our knowledge represents the first complete knockout of ARI1 function in a metazoan. Hermaphrodites that lacked or had strongly reduced ARI1 activity had low fecundity and were partially defective in initiation of oocyte differentiation. We provide evidence that the C. elegans ARI1s likely function downstream or in parallel to FBF-1 and FBF-2, two closely related RNA-binding proteins that are required for the switch from spermatogenesis to oogenesis during late larval development. Previous studies have shown that the E2 enzymes UBC-18/UBCH7 and UBC-3/CDC34 can functionally collaborate with ARI1 family members. Our data indicated that UBC-18, but not UBC-3, specifically cooperates with the ARI1s in germline development. These findings provide new insights into the functions of RING-between-RING proteins and Ariadne E3s during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian A Poush
- Department of Molecular Biology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
| | - Nicolas A Blouin
- Department of Molecular Biology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
- Wyoming INBRE Bioinformatics Core, Laramie, USA
| | - Kristin R Di Bona
- Department of Molecular Biology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
| | - Vladimir Lažetić
- Department of Molecular Biology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA
| | - David S Fay
- Department of Molecular Biology, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY, 82071, USA.
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41
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Liu XX, Cai L, Liu FJ. An in silico analysis of human sperm genes associated with asthenozoospermia and its implication in male infertility. Medicine (Baltimore) 2018; 97:e13338. [PMID: 30544396 PMCID: PMC6310515 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000013338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Asthenozoospermia is the most common clinical symptom of male infertility. Molecular markers associated with asthenozoospermia spermatozoa are scarcely identified. The objective of this study was to screen the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in asthenozoospermia spermatozoa and assess the underlying bioinformatics roles in regulation of sperm quality.Based on gene expression omnibus (GEO) database, the GSE22331, GSE1133, and GSE4193 expression profile data were downloaded. The DEGs of asthenozoospermia spermatozoa were identified. Germ cell specific genes in DEGs were further screened. Then, gene ontology (GO) and over-representation analysis of DEGs were performed, followed by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Expressions of selected genes of TEX11, ADAMTS5, ASRGL1, GMCL1, PGK2, KLHL10 in normozoospermia and asthenozoospermia spermatozoa were identified using real time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR).A total of 1323 DEGs were identified, including 1140 down-regulated genes. Twenty one and 96 down-regulated genes were especially expressed in spermatogonia and round spermatids, suggesting their testicular origins and influences on sperm quality. Bioinformatics analysis showed enriched functions of ubiquitin-like protein transferase or protein binding activities in down-regulated genes. Expressions of selected genes were validated by RT-PCR, which was consistent with bioinformatical results.The present study provided a novel insight into the understanding of sperm quality, and a potential method and dataset for the diagnosis and assessment of sperm quality in the event of male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Li Cai
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated YantaiYuhuangding Hospital of Qingdao University, Yantai, Shandong, People's Republic of China
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42
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Tzur YB, Winter E, Gao J, Hashimshony T, Yanai I, Colaiácovo MP. Spatiotemporal Gene Expression Analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans Germline Uncovers a Syncytial Expression Switch. Genetics 2018; 210:587-605. [PMID: 30093412 PMCID: PMC6216576 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.118.301315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental programs are executed by tightly controlled gene regulatory pathways. Here, we combined the unique sample retrieval capacity afforded by laser capture microscopy with analysis of mRNA abundance by CEL-Seq (cell expression by linear amplification and sequencing) to generate a spatiotemporal gene expression map of the Caenorhabditis elegans syncytial germline from adult hermaphrodites and males. We found that over 6000 genes exhibit spatiotemporally dynamic expression patterns throughout the hermaphrodite germline, with two dominant groups of genes exhibiting reciprocal shifts in expression at late pachytene during meiotic prophase I. We found a strong correlation between restricted spatiotemporal expression and known developmental and cellular processes, indicating that these gene expression changes may be an important driver of germ cell progression. Analysis of the male gonad revealed a shift in gene expression at early pachytene and upregulation of subsets of genes following the meiotic divisions, specifically in early and late spermatids, mostly transcribed from the X chromosome. We observed that while the X chromosome is silenced throughout the first half of the gonad, some genes escape this control and are highly expressed throughout the germline. Although we found a strong correlation between the expression of genes corresponding to CSR-1-interacting 22G-RNAs during germ cell progression, we also found that a large fraction of genes may bypass the need for CSR-1-mediated germline licensing. Taken together, these findings suggest the existence of mechanisms that enable a shift in gene expression during prophase I to promote germ cell progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonatan B Tzur
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
- Department of Genetics, Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem 91904, Israel
| | - Eitan Winter
- Department of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Jinmin Gao
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Tamar Hashimshony
- Department of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Itai Yanai
- Department of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
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43
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Ratliff M, Hill-Harfe KL, Gleason EJ, Ling H, Kroft TL, L'Hernault SW. MIB-1 Is Required for Spermatogenesis and Facilitates LIN-12 and GLP-1 Activity in Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2018; 209:173-193. [PMID: 29531012 PMCID: PMC5935030 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.118.300807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2017] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Covalent attachment of ubiquitin to substrate proteins changes their function or marks them for proteolysis, and the specificity of ubiquitin attachment is mediated by the numerous E3 ligases encoded by animals. Mind Bomb is an essential E3 ligase during Notch pathway signaling in insects and vertebrates. While Caenorhabditis elegans encodes a Mind Bomb homolog (mib-1), it has never been recovered in the extensive Notch suppressor/enhancer screens that have identified numerous pathway components. Here, we show that C. elegans mib-1 null mutants have a spermatogenesis-defective phenotype that results in a heterogeneous mixture of arrested spermatocytes, defective spermatids, and motility-impaired spermatozoa. mib-1 mutants also have chromosome segregation defects during meiosis, molecular null mutants are intrinsically temperature-sensitive, and many mib-1 spermatids contain large amounts of tubulin. These phenotypic features are similar to the endogenous RNA intereference (RNAi) mutants, but mib-1 mutants do not affect RNAi. MIB-1 protein is expressed throughout the germ line with peak expression in spermatocytes followed by segregation into the residual body during spermatid formation. C. elegans mib-1 expression, while upregulated during spermatogenesis, also occurs somatically, including in vulva precursor cells. Here, we show that mib-1 mutants suppress both lin-12 and glp-1 (C. elegans Notch) gain-of-function mutants, restoring anchor cell formation and a functional vulva to the former and partly restoring oocyte production to the latter. However, suppressed hermaphrodites are only observed when grown at 25°, and they are self-sterile. This probably explains why mib-1 was not previously recovered as a Notch pathway component in suppressor/enhancer selection experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Ratliff
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
| | - Katherine L Hill-Harfe
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
- Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
| | | | - Huiping Ling
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
| | - Tim L Kroft
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
| | - Steven W L'Hernault
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
- Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Graduate Division of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30322
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44
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Boateng R, Allen AK. New Role for an Old Protein: An Educational Primer for Use with "The Identification of a Novel Mutant Allele of topoisomerase II in Caenorhabditis elegans Reveals a Unique Role in Chromosome Segregation During Spermatogenesis". Genetics 2018; 208:79-88. [PMID: 29301949 PMCID: PMC5753876 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.117.300482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Modern experimental techniques, such as whole-genome sequencing and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 endogenous genome editing, are enabling researchers to identify and further characterize the roles of proteins that were previously thought of as well defined. In the December 2016 issue of GENETICS, an article by Jaramillo-Lambert et al. identified a new role for the enzyme topoisomerase II in Caenorhabditis elegans male meiosis. This Primer article is designed to provide essential background information on C. elegans spermatogenesis and the relevant scientific techniques that will assist students and instructors in their understanding and discussion of the related article.Related article in GENETICS: Jaramillo-Lambert, A., A. S. Fabritius A. S., T. J. Hansen T. J., H. E. Smith H. E., and A. Golden A., 2016 The identification of a novel mutant allele of topoisomerase II in Caenorhabditis elegans reveals a unique role in chromosome segregation during spermatogenesis. Genetics204: 1407-1422.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruby Boateng
- Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059
| | - Anna K Allen
- Department of Biology, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059
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45
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Winter ES, Schwarz A, Fabig G, Feldman JL, Pires-daSilva A, Müller-Reichert T, Sadler PL, Shakes DC. Cytoskeletal variations in an asymmetric cell division support diversity in nematode sperm size and sex ratios. Development 2017; 144:3253-3263. [PMID: 28827395 DOI: 10.1242/dev.153841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Asymmetric partitioning is an essential component of many developmental processes. As spermatogenesis concludes, sperm are streamlined by discarding unnecessary cellular components into cellular wastebags called residual bodies (RBs). During nematode spermatogenesis, this asymmetric partitioning event occurs shortly after anaphase II, and both microtubules and actin partition into a central RB. Here, we use fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy to elucidate and compare the intermediate steps of RB formation in Caenorhabditis elegans, Rhabditis sp. SB347 (recently named Auanema rhodensis) and related nematodes. In all cases, intact microtubules reorganize and move from centrosomal to non-centrosomal sites at the RB-sperm boundary whereas actin reorganizes through cortical ring expansion and clearance from the poles. However, in species with tiny spermatocytes, these cytoskeletal changes are restricted to one pole. Consequently, partitioning yields one functional sperm with the X-bearing chromosome complement and an RB with the other chromosome set. Unipolar partitioning may not require an unpaired X, as it also occurs in XX spermatocytes. Instead, constraints related to spermatocyte downsizing may have contributed to the evolution of a sperm cell equivalent to female polar bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan S Winter
- Department of Biology, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA
| | - Anna Schwarz
- Experimental Center, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, 01307, Germany
| | - Gunar Fabig
- Experimental Center, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, 01307, Germany
| | - Jessica L Feldman
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | | | - Thomas Müller-Reichert
- Experimental Center, Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, 01307, Germany
| | - Penny L Sadler
- Department of Biology, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA.,Department of Biology & Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204, USA
| | - Diane C Shakes
- Department of Biology, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA
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Johnston WL, Krizus A, Ramani AK, Dunham W, Youn JY, Fraser AG, Gingras AC, Dennis JW. C. elegans SUP-46, an HNRNPM family RNA-binding protein that prevents paternally-mediated epigenetic sterility. BMC Biol 2017; 15:61. [PMID: 28716093 PMCID: PMC5513350 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-017-0398-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In addition to DNA, gametes contribute epigenetic information in the form of histones and non-coding RNA. Epigenetic programs often respond to stressful environmental conditions and provide a heritable history of ancestral stress that allows for adaptation and propagation of the species. In the nematode C. elegans, defective epigenetic transmission often manifests as progressive germline mortality. We previously isolated sup-46 in a screen for suppressors of the hexosamine pathway gene mutant, gna-2(qa705). In this study, we examine the role of SUP-46 in stress resistance and progressive germline mortality. RESULTS We identified SUP-46 as an HNRNPM family RNA-binding protein, and uncovered a highly novel role for SUP-46 in preventing paternally-mediated progressive germline mortality following mating. Proximity biotinylation profiling of human homologs (HNRNPM, MYEF2) identified proteins of ribonucleoprotein complexes previously shown to contain non-coding RNA. Like HNRNPM and MYEF2, SUP-46 was associated with multiple RNA granules, including stress granules, and also formed granules on active chromatin. SUP-46 depletion disrupted germ RNA granules and caused ectopic sperm, increased sperm transcripts, and chronic heat stress sensitivity. SUP-46 was also required for resistance to acute heat stress, and a conserved "MYEF2" motif was identified that was needed for stress resistance. CONCLUSIONS In mammals, non-coding RNA from the sperm of stressed males has been shown to recapitulate paternal stress phenotypes in the offspring. Our results suggest that HNRNPM family proteins enable stress resistance and paternally-mediated epigenetic transmission that may be conserved across species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy L. Johnston
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Aldis Krizus
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Arun K. Ramani
- Centre for Computational Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Wade Dunham
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Ji Young Youn
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Andrew G. Fraser
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
- The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Anne-Claude Gingras
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - James W. Dennis
- Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, ON Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
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Claeys M, Yushin VV, Leunissen JL, Claeys J, Bert W. Self-Pressurised Rapid Freezing (SPRF): an easy-to-use and low-cost alternative cryo-fixation method for nematodes. NEMATOLOGY 2017. [DOI: 10.1163/15685411-00003093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Self-Pressurised Rapid Freezing (SPRF), an easy-to-use and low-cost alternative cryo-fixation method, was evaluated based on a comparative analysis of the ultrastructure of spermatozoa of the nematodes Acrobeles complexus and Caenorhabditis elegans. Sealed copper tubes, packed with active nematodes in water, were plunged into nitrogen slush, a semi-solid form of nitrogen. The water inside the capillary copper tube expands upon cooling due to the formation of hexagonal ice, thereby generating high pressure intrinsically for cryo-fixation of the sample. For sperm cells cryo-fixed by SPRF, the preservation of the ultrastructure was comparable to that achieved with high pressure freezing. This was evidenced by the clear details in mitochondria, membranous organelles and cytoskeleton in the pseudopod. It was demonstrated that SPRF fixation did not destroy antigenicity, based on the results of the immunolocalisation of the major sperm protein in both species. In conclusion, SPRF is a low-cost alternative cryo-fixation method for nematodes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Claeys
- Nematology Research Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Vladimir V. Yushin
- National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok 690041, Russia
- Far Eastern Federal University, Vladivostok 690950, Russia
| | | | - Jef Claeys
- Nematology Research Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Belgium
| | - Wim Bert
- Nematology Research Unit, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Belgium
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48
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Jaramillo-Lambert A, Fabritius AS, Hansen TJ, Smith HE, Golden A. The Identification of a Novel Mutant Allele of topoisomerase II in Caenorhabditis elegans Reveals a Unique Role in Chromosome Segregation During Spermatogenesis. Genetics 2016; 204:1407-1422. [PMID: 27707787 PMCID: PMC5161275 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.116.195099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 09/30/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Topoisomerase II alleviates DNA entanglements that are generated during mitotic DNA replication, transcription, and sister chromatid separation. In contrast to mitosis, meiosis has two rounds of chromosome segregation following one round of DNA replication. In meiosis II, sister chromatids segregate from each other, similar to mitosis. Meiosis I, on the other hand, segregates homologs, which requires pairing, synapsis, and recombination. The exact role that topoisomerase II plays during meiosis is unknown. In a screen reexamining Caenorhabditis elegans legacy mutants isolated 30 years ago, we identified a novel allele of the gene encoding topoisomerase II, top-2(it7). In this study, we demonstrate that top-2(it7) males produce dead embryos, even when fertilizing wild-type oocytes. Characterization of early embryonic events indicates that fertilization is successful and sperm components are transmitted to the embryo. However, sperm chromatin is not detected in these fertilized embryos. Examination of top-2(it7) spermatogenic germ lines reveals that the sperm DNA fails to segregate properly during anaphase I of meiosis, resulting in anucleate sperm. top-2(it7) chromosome-segregation defects observed during anaphase I are not due to residual entanglements incurred during meiotic DNA replication and are not dependent on SPO-11-induced double-strand DNA breaks. Finally, we show that TOP-2 associates with chromosomes in meiotic prophase and that chromosome association is disrupted in the germ lines of top-2(it7) mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aimee Jaramillo-Lambert
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Amy S Fabritius
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Tyler J Hansen
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Harold E Smith
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Andy Golden
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
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Developmentally programmed germ cell remodelling by endodermal cell cannibalism. Nat Cell Biol 2016; 18:1302-1310. [PMID: 27842058 PMCID: PMC5129868 DOI: 10.1038/ncb3439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 10/13/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Primordial germ cells (PGCs) in many species associate intimately with endodermal cells, but the significance of such interactions is largely unexplored. Here, we show that Caenorhabditis elegans PGCs form lobes that are removed and digested by endodermal cells, dramatically altering PGC size and mitochondrial content. We demonstrate that endodermal cells do not scavenge lobes PGCs shed, but rather, actively remove lobes from the cell body. CED-10 (Rac)-induced actin, DYN-1 (dynamin) and LST-4 (SNX9) transiently surround lobe necks and are required within endodermal cells for lobe scission, suggesting that scission occurs through a mechanism resembling vesicle endocytosis. These findings reveal an unexpected role for endoderm in altering the contents of embryonic PGCs, and define a form of developmentally programmed cell remodelling involving intercellular cannibalism. Active roles for engulfing cells have been proposed in several neuronal remodelling events, suggesting that intercellular cannibalism may be a more widespread method used to shape cells than previously thought.
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Li Y, Zhang M, Li S, Lv R, Chen P, Liu R, Liang G, Yin L. The Use of the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans to Evaluate the Adverse Effects of Epoxiconazole Exposure on Spermatogenesis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2016; 13:E993. [PMID: 27740608 PMCID: PMC5086732 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13100993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Revised: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that epoxiconazole exposure can affect reproductive function, but few studies have investigated adverse effects on spermatogenesis. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) was used in our study to assess effects of epoxiconazole on spermatogenesis in male nematodes after 48 h of exposure to concentrations of 0.1, 1.0, or 10.0 μg/L. The results demonstrated that epoxiconazole exposure affected spermatogenesis, decreasing the number of total germ cells, mitotic cells, meiotic cells and spermatids, spermatid diameter, and cross-sectional area, and inducing mitotic germ cell proliferation arrest, premature entry into meiosis, and sperm activation inhibition; however, sperm transfer showed no abnormal changes. In addition, the results showed that epoxiconazole activated the transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) signaling pathway and increased the expression levels of gene daf-1, daf-3, daf-4, daf-5 and daf-7 in nematodes. We therefore propose that epoxiconazole acts by activating the TGFβ signaling pathway, leading to the impairment of spermatogenesis and the consequent decline in male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunhui Li
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Minhui Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Shaojun Li
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA.
| | - Rongrong Lv
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Pan Chen
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, NY 10461, USA.
| | - Ran Liu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Geyu Liang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Lihong Yin
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu, China.
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