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Ding N, Zhang Y, Wang J, Liu J, Zhang J, Zhang C, Zhou L, Cao J, Jiang L. Lipidomic and transcriptomic characteristics of boar seminal plasma extracellular vesicles associated with sperm motility. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2024; 1870:159561. [PMID: 39232998 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2024.159561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 08/25/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
Seminal plasma extracellular vesicles (SPEVs) play an important role in regulating sperm motility by delivering various cargoes, such as miRNAs, mRNAs, proteins and metabolites. However, information on the lipid compositions of SPEVs and their roles in semen quality is limited. Here, we performed high-throughput transcriptomic and lipidomic analysis on SPEVs isolated from 20 boars with high or low sperm motility. Then, we evaluated the lipid composition and gene expression characteristics of SPEVs and identified the specific lipids and genes related to sperm motility. As a result, a total of 26 lipid classes were identified in SPEVs, and five subclasses, CerG2, CerG3, LPE, LPS and TG, were significantly different in boars with high and low sperm motility. In addition, 195 important lipids and 334 important genes were identified by weighted gene coexpression analysis (WGCNA) and differential expression analysis. We observed that several important genes and lipids in SPEVs potentially influence sperm motility via glycerophospholipid metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism, the sphingolipid signaling pathway and the ferroptosis pathway. Furthermore, we found a significant correlation between the content of 22 lipids and the expression levels of 67 genes (|cor| > 0.8, P < 0.05). Moreover, we observed that three important gene-lipid linkages (CerG1 (d22:0/24:0) - RCAN3, Cer (d18:1/24:0) - SCFD2 and CerG1 (d18:0/24:1) - SCFD2) were strongly correlated with sperm motility. Based on the results, some genes and lipids in SPEVs may play important roles in sperm motility by interacting with sperm through important pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Animal Science & Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Yu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Animal Science & Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Jiayao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Animal Science & Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Jianfeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Animal Science & Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Jing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Animal Science & Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Chun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Animal Science & Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Lei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Animal Science & Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Jinkang Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Animal Science & Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China
| | - Li Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Animal Science & Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, PR China.
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Kodzik N, Ciereszko A, Judycka S, Słowińska M, Szczepkowska B, Świderska B, Dietrich MA. Cryoprotectant-specific alterations in the proteome of Siberian sturgeon spermatozoa induced by cryopreservation. Sci Rep 2024; 14:17707. [PMID: 39085328 PMCID: PMC11291920 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-68395-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Cryopreservation is crucial for conserving genetic diversity in endangered species including the critically endangered group of sturgeons (Acipenseridae), but it can compromise sperm quality and protein profiles. Although cryopreservation with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and methanol (MeOH) results in the recovery of good post-thaw motility, DMSO-preserved sperm show reduced fertilization ability. This study was conducted in Siberian sturgeon as a model for Acipenserid fishes to explore the effects of DMSO and MeOH on the proteome of semen using advanced proteomics methods-liquid chromatography‒mass spectrometry and two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis. We analyzed the proteomic profiles of fresh and cryopreserved spermatozoa and their extracellular medium and showed that cryopreservation decreases motility and viability and increases reactive oxygen species levels, membrane fluidity, and acrosome damage. Despite having similar post-thaw semen motility, sperm treated with DMSO had significantly lower fertilization success (6.2%) than those treated with MeOH (51.2%). A total of 224 and 118 differentially abundant proteins were identified in spermatozoa preserved with MeOH and DMSO, respectively. MeOH-related proteins were linked to chromosomal structure and mitochondrial functionality, while DMSO-related proteins impacted fertilization by altering the acrosome reaction and binding of sperm to the zona pellucida and nuclear organization. Additionally, cryopreservation led to alterations in the proacrosin/acrosin system in both cryoprotectants. This study provides the first comprehensive proteomic characterization of Siberian sturgeon sperm after cryopreservation, offering insights into how cryoprotectants impact fertilization ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Kodzik
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10-748, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Andrzej Ciereszko
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10-748, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Sylwia Judycka
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10-748, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Mariola Słowińska
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10-748, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Bożena Szczepkowska
- Department of Sturgeon Fish Breeding, National Inland Fisheries Research Institute in Olsztyn, 11-610, Pozezdrze, Pieczarki, Poland
| | - Bianka Świderska
- Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Pawinskiego 5a, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Mariola A Dietrich
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Tuwima 10, 10-748, Olsztyn, Poland.
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Asad M, Liao J, Chen J, Munir F, Pang S, Abbas AN, Yang G. Exploring the role of the ovary-serine protease gene in the female fertility of the diamondback moth using CRISPR/Cas9. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:3194-3206. [PMID: 38348909 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Oogenesis is a complex pathway necessary for proper female reproduction in insects. Ovary-serine protease (Osp) is a homologous gene of serine protease Nudel (SpNudel) and plays an essential role in the oogenesis and ovary development of Drosophila melanogaster. However, the function of Osp is not determined in Plutella xylostella, a highly destructive pest of cruciferous crops. RESULTS The PxOsp gene comprises a 5883-bp open-reading frame that encodes a protein consisting of 1994 amino acids, which contain four conserved domains. PxOsp exhibited a high relative expression in adult females with a specific expression in the ovary. Through the utilization of CRISPR/Cas9 technology, homozygous mutants of PxOsp were generated. These homozygous mutant females produced fewer eggs (average of 56 eggs/female) than wild-type (WT) females (average of 97 eggs/female) when crossed with WT males, and these eggs failed to hatch. Conversely, mutant males produced normal progeny when crossed with WT females. The ovarioles in homozygous mutant females were significantly shorter (5.02 mm in length) and contained fewer eggs (average of 3 eggs/ovariole) than WT ovarioles (8.09 mm in length with an average of 8 eggs/ovariole). Moreover, eggs laid by homozygous mutant females were fragile, with irregular shapes, and were unable to maintain structural integrity due to eggshell ruptures. However, no significant differences were observed between WT and mutant individuals regarding developmental duration, pupal weight, and mating behavior. CONCLUSION Our study suggesteds that PxOsp plays a vital role in female reproduction, particularly in ovary and egg development. Disrupting PxOsp results in recessive female sterility while leaving the male reproductive capability unaffected. This report represents the first study of a haplosufficient gene responsible for female fertility in lepidopteran insects. Additionally, these findings emphasize PxOsp as a potential target for genetically-based pest management of P. xylostella. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Asad
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian/Taiwan Crops and College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, China
- Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Green Pest Control, Fujian Province University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jianying Liao
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian/Taiwan Crops and College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, China
- Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Green Pest Control, Fujian Province University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian/Taiwan Crops and College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, China
- Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Green Pest Control, Fujian Province University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Faisal Munir
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian/Taiwan Crops and College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, China
- Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Green Pest Control, Fujian Province University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Senbo Pang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian/Taiwan Crops and College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, China
- Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Green Pest Control, Fujian Province University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Anam Noreen Abbas
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian/Taiwan Crops and College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, China
- Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Green Pest Control, Fujian Province University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Guang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control for Fujian/Taiwan Crops and College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Ecological Pest Control, Ministry of Education, Fuzhou, China
- Ministerial and Provincial Joint Innovation Centre for Safety Production of Cross-Strait Crops, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management for Fujian-Taiwan Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Fuzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Green Pest Control, Fujian Province University, Fuzhou, China
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Kent K, Nozawa K, Sutton C, Daniel F, Ikawa M, Garcia TX, Matzuk MM. CUB domains are not required for OVCH2 function in sperm maturation in the mouse epididymis. Andrology 2024; 12:682-697. [PMID: 37551853 PMCID: PMC10850435 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ovochymase 2 (Ovch2) is an epididymis-specific gene that is required for male fertility. While a multitude of reproductive tract-specific genes required for male fertility have been identified, OVCH2 is thus far the first protein required for male fertility that contains Complement C1r/C1s, Uegf, Bmp1 (CUB) domains located in tandem in the C-terminus of the protein. Identifying the functional significance of this unique domain has implications in better understanding fertility and infertility and as a potential contraceptive target. OBJECTIVE The goals of these studies were to understand the influence and requirement of OVCH2 CUB domains in the localization and functional requirement of OVCH2 in sperm maturation and function. MATERIALS AND METHODS To this end, we performed in vivo localization analysis of OVCH2 and reproductive phenotype analysis of mice containing C-terminal FLAG tag on OVCH2, with either the entire protein intact, or CUB2 or both CUB1 and CUB2 genetically ablated. All mice were generated through the CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing approach. RESULTS We found that OVCH2 is specifically expressed in the proximal caput epididymidis, and the absence of CUB2 did not affect this localization pattern. Although the absence of both CUB domains significantly reduced sperm motility and progressive motility, this effect was not manifested in a reduction in fertility over a 6-month period mating trial, which showed no significant differences between control and CUB deletant mice. Further, the absence of one or both CUB domains did not affect reproductive organ structure or sperm morphology. CONCLUSIONS Our studies demonstrate that the CUB domains are not required for fertility in male mice, at least under the normal animal housing conditions our mice were tested in, and suggest that the enzymatic activity of the OVCH2 protease, in the absence of its CUB domains, is sufficient for normal sperm processing in the epididymis. Although our findings do not preclude the possibility that OVCH2 CUB domains are required under a yet-identified stress condition, our findings demonstrate that the most likely region for deleterious mutations in men with idiopathic infertility and the most vulnerable site for inhibition of OVCH2 protein function is in its protease domain, and not its CUB domains. Our findings have implications in the genetic screening of infertile men and the development of a novel non-hormonal male contraceptive by honing in on the more critical region of a functionally required protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Kent
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kaori Nozawa
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Courtney Sutton
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Frey Daniel
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Thomas X. Garcia
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
- Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, TX 77030, USA
| | - Martin M. Matzuk
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Li C, Shen C, Xiong W, Ge H, Shen Y, Chi J, Zhang H, Tang L, Lu S, Wang J, Fei J, Wang Z. Spem2, a novel testis-enriched gene, is required for spermiogenesis and fertilization in mice. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:108. [PMID: 38421455 PMCID: PMC10904452 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05147-w] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
Spermiogenesis is considered to be crucial for the production of haploid spermatozoa with normal morphology, structure and function, but the mechanisms underlying this process remain largely unclear. Here, we demonstrate that SPEM family member 2 (Spem2), as a novel testis-enriched gene, is essential for spermiogenesis and male fertility. Spem2 is predominantly expressed in the haploid male germ cells and is highly conserved across mammals. Mice deficient for Spem2 develop male infertility associated with spermiogenesis impairment. Specifically, the insufficient sperm individualization, failure of excess cytoplasm shedding, and defects in acrosome formation are evident in Spem2-null sperm. Sperm counts and motility are also significantly reduced compared to controls. In vivo fertilization assays have shown that Spem2-null sperm are unable to fertilize oocytes, possibly due to their impaired ability to migrate from the uterus into the oviduct. However, the infertility of Spem2-/- males cannot be rescued by in vitro fertilization, suggesting that defective sperm-egg interaction may also be a contributing factor. Furthermore, SPEM2 is detected to interact with ZPBP, PRSS21, PRSS54, PRSS55, ADAM2 and ADAM3 and is also required for their processing and maturation in epididymal sperm. Our findings establish SPEM2 as an essential regulator of spermiogenesis and fertilization in mice, possibly in mammals including humans. Understanding the molecular role of SPEM2 could provide new insights into future therapeutic treatment of human male infertility and development of non-hormonal male contraceptives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaojie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Chunling Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Wenfeng Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Haoyang Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yan Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Jun Chi
- Shanghai Engineering and Technology Research Center for Model Animals, Shanghai Model Organisms Center, Inc, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Hongxin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Lingyun Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Shunyuan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Jinjin Wang
- Shanghai Engineering and Technology Research Center for Model Animals, Shanghai Model Organisms Center, Inc, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Jian Fei
- Shanghai Engineering and Technology Research Center for Model Animals, Shanghai Model Organisms Center, Inc, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Zhugang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China.
- Shanghai Engineering and Technology Research Center for Model Animals, Shanghai Model Organisms Center, Inc, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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Bu Y, Wang P, Li S, Li L, Zhang S, Wei H. Semen Protein CRISP3 Promotes Reproductive Performance of Boars through Immunomodulation. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2264. [PMID: 38396941 PMCID: PMC10889302 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042264] [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: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Semen proteins play an important role in male reproductive performance and sperm fertilization ability and can be used as potential biomarkers to evaluate male fertility. The role of cysteine-rich secretory protein 3 (CRISP3) in male reproduction remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the role of CRISP3 in the reproductive performance of boars. Our results showed that the CRISP3 protein content was significantly and positively correlated with boar fertility, sow delivery rate, and litter size. CRISP3 is highly expressed in the bulbourethral gland of adult boars and is enriched in the seminal plasma. It is localized in the post-acrosomal region of the sperm head and migrates to the anterior end of the tail after capacitation. The CRISP3 recombinant protein did not affect sperm motility and cleavage rate, but it significantly downregulated the mRNA expression of inflammatory factors IL-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 and the protein expression of IL-α and IL-6 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells, indicating that CRISP3 has an immunomodulatory function. In conclusion, our study suggests that semen CRISP3 protein levels positively correlate with reproductive performance, which may be achieved by regulating immune responses in the female reproductive tract.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Shouquan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangdong 510642, China; (Y.B.)
| | - Hengxi Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangdong 510642, China; (Y.B.)
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7
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Raut S, Khambata K, Singh D, Balasinor NH. Dopamine receptor D2 regulates genes involved in germ cell movement and sperm motility in rat testes†. Biol Reprod 2024; 110:377-390. [PMID: 37956402 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad153] [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: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The function of dopamine receptor D2 (D2R) is well associated with sperm motility; however, the physiological role of D2R present on testicular cells remains elusive. The aim of the present study is to delineate the function of testicular D2R. Serum dopamine levels were found to decrease with age, whereas testicular D2R expression increased. In rat testicular sections, D2R immunolabeling was observed in interstitial cells, spermatogonia, spermatocytes and mature elongated spermatids, whereas tyrosine hydroxylase immunolabeling was selectively detected in Leydig cells. In vitro seminiferous tubule culture following bromocriptine (D2R agonist) treatment resulted in decreased cAMP levels. Microarray identified 1077 differentially expressed genes (511 up-regulated, 566 down-regulated). The majority of differentially expressed genes were present in post-meiotic cells including early and late spermatids, and sperm. Gene ontology elucidated processes related to extra-cellular matrix to be enriched and was supported by differential expression of various collagens and laminins, thereby indicating a role of dopamine in extra-cellular matrix integrity and transport of spermatids across the seminiferous epithelium. Gene ontology and enrichment map also highlighted cell/sperm motility to be significantly enriched. Therefore, genes involved in sperm motility functions were further validated by RT-qPCR. Seven genes (Akap4, Ccnyl1, Iqcf1, Klc3, Prss55, Tbc1d21, Tl18) were significantly up-regulated, whereas four genes (Dnah1, Dnah5, Clxn, Fsip2) were significantly down-regulated by bromocriptine treatment. The bromocriptine-stimulated reduction in seminiferous tubule cyclic AMP and associated changes in spermatid gene expression suggests that dopamine regulates both spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis within the seminiferous epithelium, and spermatozoa motility following spermiation, as essential processes for fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanketa Raut
- Department of Neuroendocrinology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, India
| | - Kushaan Khambata
- Department of Gamete Immunobiology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, India
| | - Dipty Singh
- Department of Neuroendocrinology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, India
| | - Nafisa H Balasinor
- Department of Neuroendocrinology, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR)-National Institute for Research in Reproductive and Child Health, Mumbai, India
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Meng F, Hao H, Guo Z, Liu W, Zhang S, Tang W, Ma W, Shang X. Silica nanoparticles induces sperm granuloma formation and blood-epididymal barrier disruption via the p38 MAPK pathway in mice. Food Chem Toxicol 2023; 182:114113. [PMID: 37890760 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.114113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Previous researches have demonstrated that the silica nanoparticles (SiNPs), which are widely used in all aspects of life, are hazardous to the male reproductive system. However, the cellular and molecular mechanism underlying SiNPs toxicity to the epididymis remain unclear. In this present study, a total of 60 male mice were separated into 4 groups and then treated to SiNPs for 7 consecutive days at a dose of 0, 2.5, 10, and 20 mg/kg body weight. The results showed that SiNPs could alter the histological structure of epididymis and induce sperm granuloma formation, leading to decreased sperm quality and quantity. In addition, the ultrastructure and permeability of blood-epididymal barrier (BEB) were impaired after exposure to SiNPs, and a significant downregulation of integral membrane proteins at the BEB was detected. SiNPs were also found to raise the percentage of macrophages in the epithelium and interstitium of the epididymis, followed by increased expression of pro-inflammatory molecules including TNF α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Meanwhile, SiNPs induced oxidative stress in epididymis, as shown by the markedly elevated generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and upregulated activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD). Further study showed that SiNPs activated the p38 MAPK signaling pathway, which accelerated clathrin-mediated endocytosis of integral membrane proteins and perturb vesicular trafficking. Taken together, exposure to SiNPs could induce sperm granuloma formation and impair the integrity of BEB in mice through activating the p38 MAPK pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangyu Meng
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, PR China
| | - Huiyu Hao
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, PR China
| | - Zhiyi Guo
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, PR China; Tangshan Key Laboratory for Nucleic Acid Genetic Information, PR China
| | - Wenpeng Liu
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, PR China
| | - Shumin Zhang
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, PR China
| | - Wenxuan Tang
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, PR China
| | - Wendong Ma
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, PR China
| | - Xuan Shang
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, PR China; Tangshan Key Laboratory for Nucleic Acid Genetic Information, PR China.
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9
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Gou Q, Zhao Q, Dong M, Liang L, You H. Diagnostic potential of energy metabolism-related genes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1296547. [PMID: 38089628 PMCID: PMC10711684 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1296547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is associated with changes in cardiac metabolism that affect energy supply in the heart. However, there is limited research on energy metabolism-related genes (EMRGs) in HFpEF. Methods The HFpEF mouse dataset (GSE180065, containing heart tissues from 10 HFpEF and five control samples) was sourced from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Gene expression profiles in HFpEF and control groups were compared to identify differentially expressed EMRGs (DE-EMRGs), and the diagnostic biomarkers with diagnostic value were screened using machine learning algorithms. Meanwhile, we constructed a biomarker-based nomogram model for its predictive power, and functionality of diagnostic biomarkers were conducted using single-gene gene set enrichment analysis, drug prediction, and regulatory network analysis. Additionally, consensus clustering analysis based on the expression of diagnostic biomarkers was utilized to identify differential HFpEF-related genes (HFpEF-RGs). Immune microenvironment analysis in HFpEF and subtypes were performed for analyzing correlations between immune cells and diagnostic biomarkers as well as HFpEF-RGs. Finally, qRT-PCR analysis on the HFpEF mouse model was used to validate the expression levels of diagnostic biomarkers. Results We selected 5 biomarkers (Chrna2, Gnb3, Gng7, Ddit4l, and Prss55) that showed excellent diagnostic performance. The nomogram model we constructed demonstrated high predictive power. Single-gene gene set enrichment analysis revealed enrichment in aerobic respiration and energy derivation. Further, various miRNAs and TFs were predicted by Gng7, such as Gng7-mmu-miR-6921-5p, ETS1-Gng7. A lot of potential therapeutic targets were predicted as well. Consensus clustering identified two distinct subtypes of HFpEF. Functional enrichment analysis highlighted the involvement of DEGs-cluster in protein amino acid modification and so on. Additionally, we identified five HFpEF-RGs (Kcnt1, Acot1, Kcnc4, Scn3a, and Gpam). Immune analysis revealed correlations between Macrophage M2, T cell CD4+ Th1 and diagnostic biomarkers, as well as an association between Macrophage and HFpEF-RGs. We further validated the expression trends of the selected biomarkers through experimental validation. Conclusion Our study identified 5 diagnostic biomarkers and provided insights into the prediction and treatment of HFpEF through drug predictions and network analysis. These findings contribute to a better understanding of HFpEF and may guide future research and therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiling Gou
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Qianqian Zhao
- Department of Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation, Xi’an International Medical Center Hospital-Rehabilitation Hospital, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Mengya Dong
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lei Liang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hongjun You
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial People’s Hospital, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
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10
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Castille J, Thépot D, Fouchécourt S, Dalbies-Tran R, Passet B, Daniel-Carlier N, Vilotte JL, Monget P. The paralogs' enigma of germ-cell specific genes dispensable for fertility: the case of 19 oogenesin genes†. Biol Reprod 2023; 109:408-414. [PMID: 37561421 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene knockout experiments have shown that many genes are dispensable for a given biological function. In this review, we make an assessment of male and female germ cell-specific genes dispensable for the function of reproduction in mice, the inactivation of which does not affect fertility. In particular, we describe the deletion of a 1 Mb block containing nineteen paralogous genes of the oogenesin/Pramel family specifically expressed in female and/or male germ cells, which has no consequences in both sexes. We discuss this notion of dispensability and the experiments that need to be carried out to definitively conclude that a gene is dispensable for a function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Castille
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | | | | | - Bruno Passet
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Jean-Luc Vilotte
- Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, GABI, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Philippe Monget
- PRC INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
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11
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Sutton C, Nozawa K, Kent K, Saltzman A, Leng M, Nagarajan S, Malovannaya A, Ikawa M, Garcia TX, Matzuk MM. Molecular dissection and testing of PRSS37 function through LC-MS/MS and the generation of a PRSS37 humanized mouse model. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11374. [PMID: 37452050 PMCID: PMC10349139 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-37700-1] [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: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The quest for a non-hormonal male contraceptive pill for men still exists. Serine protease 37 (PRSS37) is a sperm-specific protein that when ablated in mice renders them sterile. In this study we sought to examine the molecular sequelae of PRSS37 loss to better understand its molecular function, and to determine whether human PRSS37 could rescue the sterility phenotype of knockout (KO) mice, allowing for a more appropriate model for drug molecule testing. To this end, we used CRISPR-EZ to create mice lacking the entire coding region of Prss37, used pronuclear injection to create transgenic mice expressing human PRSS37, intercrossed these lines to generate humanized mice, and performed LC-MS/MS of KO and control tissues to identify proteomic perturbances that could attribute a molecular function to PRSS37. We found that our newly generated Prss37 KO mouse line is sterile, our human transgene rescues the sterility phenotype of KO mice, and our proteomics data not only yields novel insight into the proteome as it evolves along the male reproductive tract, but also demonstrates the proteins significantly influenced by PRSS37 loss. In summary, we report vast biological insight including insight into PRSS37 function and the generation of a novel tool for contraceptive evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney Sutton
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kaori Nozawa
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Katarzyna Kent
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alexander Saltzman
- Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Core, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mei Leng
- Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Core, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sureshbabu Nagarajan
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Anna Malovannaya
- Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Core, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-Ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Thomas X Garcia
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Martin M Matzuk
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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12
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Li Y, Chen Y, Wu W, Li N, Hua J. MMPs, ADAMs and ADAMTSs are associated with mammalian sperm fate. Theriogenology 2023; 200:147-154. [PMID: 36842259 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Metalloproteinases include matrix metalloproteinases and disintegrin metalloproteinases. They are important members of the ECM degradation and reconstruction process and are associated with tissue development and disease. The ECM is a three-dimensional network of large molecules consisting of a variety of proteins. It is a physical scaffold for organs, and all types of cells can be found within the ECM. The testicle, where sperm are produced, is an organ that is constantly in dynamic flux. Metalloproteinases can regulate testicular tissue development and the maturation of sperm by affecting the ECM. Metalloproteinase disorders can lead to cryptorchidism, azoospermia, poor semen quality and other diseases. As a member of the metalloproteinase family, ADAMTS plays an important role in testicular slippage to the scrotum. ADAM is involved in the fertilization process, and excessive MMP can damage the BTB. In the testis, metalloproteinase stability represents the stability of the extracellular microenvironment in which germ cells are located and is associated with reproductive function. Metalloproteinases have a definite relationship with male reproduction, but the underlying mechanism is still unclear. This paper summarizes the literature on various metalloproteinases in testicular tissue physiology and pathology to elucidate their role in reproductive function and male reproductive mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunxiang Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine/Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A&F University, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuguang Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine/Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A&F University, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Wenping Wu
- College of Veterinary Medicine/Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A&F University, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Na Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine/Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A&F University, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Jinlian Hua
- College of Veterinary Medicine/Shaanxi Centre of Stem Cells Engineering & Technology, Northwest Agriculture & Forestry University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China; Key Laboratory of Livestock Biology, Northwest A&F University, 712100, Yangling, Shaanxi, China.
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13
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Xiong W, Ge H, Shen C, Li C, Zhang X, Tang L, Shen Y, Lu S, Zhang H, Wang Z. PRSS37 deficiency leads to impaired energy metabolism in testis and sperm revealed by DIA-based quantitative proteomic analysis. Reprod Sci 2023; 30:145-168. [PMID: 35471551 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-022-00918-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Our previous studies have reported that a putative trypsin-like serine protease, PRSS37, is exclusively expressed in testicular germ cells during late spermatogenesis and essential for sperm migration from the uterus into the oviduct and sperm-egg recognition via mediating the interaction between PDILT and ADAM3. In the present study, the global proteome profiles of wild-type (wt) and Prss37-/- mice in testis and sperm were compared employing data independent acquisition (DIA) technology. Overall, 2506 and 459 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified in Prss37-null testis and sperm, respectively, when compared to control groups. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that most of DEPs were related to energy metabolism. Of note, the DEPs associated with pathways for the catabolism such as glucose via glycolysis, fatty acids via β-oxidation, and amino acids via oxidative deamination were significantly down-regulated. Meanwhile, the DEPs involved in the tricarboxylic acid cycle (TCA cycle) and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) were remarkably decreased. The DIA data were further confirmed by a markedly reduction of intermediate metabolites (citrate and fumarate) in TCA cycle and terminal metabolite (ATP) in OXPHOS system after disruption of PRSS37. These outcomes not only provide a more comprehensive understanding of the male fertility of energy metabolism modulated by PRSS37 but also furnish a dynamic proteomic resource for further reproductive biology studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenfeng Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Haoyang Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Chunling Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China.
| | - Chaojie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Xiaohong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Lingyun Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yan Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Shunyuan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Hongxin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Zhugang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital Affiliated To Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200025, China.
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14
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Chen R, Ma T, Du S, Luo J, Zhang H, Xu X, Cao Z, Yuan Z, Sun H, Liu M, Xiong B, Shi Q, Liu JY. Impaired fertility in 4930590J08Rik mutant male mice is associated with defective sperm energy metabolism. FASEB J 2022; 36:e22634. [PMID: 36331537 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202200805rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Testis-specifically expressed genes are important for male reproduction according to their unique expression patterns. However, the functions of most of these genes in reproduction are unclear. Here, we showed that mouse 4930590J08Rik was a testis-specifically expressed gene. 4930590J08Rik knockout mice exhibited a delay in the first wave of spermatogenesis and a reduction of cauda epididymal sperm. Furthermore, knockout spermatozoa exhibited defective acrosome reactions and decreased progressive motility, which led to impaired in vivo fertilization. Transcriptome analysis of testes revealed that most of the differentially expressed genes in knockout testes were associated with metabolic processes. 4930590J08Rik knockout sperm exhibited oxidative phosphorylation deficiency and were highly dependent on increased anaerobic glycolysis to compensate for ATP demands. Taken together, the 4930590J08Rik-disrupted mouse partially mimics the phenotypes of human asthenospermia and oligozoospermia, which provides a new model for further understanding the pathogenesis of idiopathic male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Chen
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, China
| | - Tingbin Ma
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Shiyue Du
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, China
| | - Junyu Luo
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, China
| | - Huan Zhang
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Xuan Xu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhijian Cao
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, China
| | - Zhangqi Yuan
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, China
| | - Hao Sun
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, China
| | - Mugen Liu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, China
| | - Bo Xiong
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Wuhan, China
| | - Qinghua Shi
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, the CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Disease, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Jing Yu Liu
- Institute of Neuroscience, State Key Laboratory of Neuroscience, Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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15
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Holmlund H, Yamauchi Y, Durango G, Fujii W, Ward MA. Two acquired mouse Y chromosome-linked genes, Prssly and Teyorf1, are dispensable for male fertility‡. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:752-764. [PMID: 35485405 PMCID: PMC9476217 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac084] [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: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Prssly (Protease, serine-like, Chr Y) and Teyorf1 (Testis expressed, chromosome Y open reading frame 1) are two acquired single-copy genes located on the distal tip of the non-pairing short arm of the mouse Y chromosome adjacent to telomeric sequence. Both genes lack X chromosome-linked homologues and are expressed in testicular germ cells. We first performed analysis of Prssly and Teyorf1 genomic sequences and demonstrated that previously reported Prssly sequence is erroneous and the true Prssly sequence is longer and encodes a larger protein than previously estimated. We also confirmed that both genes encode pseudogenes that are not expressed in testes. Next, using CRISPR/Cas9 genome targeting, we generated Prssly and Teyorf1 knockout (KO) mice and characterized their phenotype. To create Prssly KO mice, we targeted the conserved exon 5 encoding a trypsin domain typical for serine proteases. The targeting was successful and resulted in a frame shift mutation that introduced a premature stop codon, with the Prssly KO males retaining only residual transcript expression in testes. The Teyorf1 targeting removed the entire open reading frame of the gene, which resulted in no transcript expression in KO males. Both Prssly KO and Teyorf1 KO males were fertile and had normal testis size and normal sperm number, motility, and morphology. Our findings show that Prssly and Teyorf1 transcripts with potential to encode proteins are dispensable for male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayden Holmlund
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Yasuhiro Yamauchi
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Gerald Durango
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Wataru Fujii
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Monika A Ward
- Institute for Biogenesis Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI, USA
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16
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Investigation of Sperm and Seminal Plasma Candidate MicroRNAs of Bulls with Differing Fertility and In Silico Prediction of miRNA-mRNA Interaction Network of Reproductive Function. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12182360. [PMID: 36139221 PMCID: PMC9495167 DOI: 10.3390/ani12182360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The objective of this study was to identify differentially expressed (DE) sperm and seminal plasma microRNAs (miRNAs) in high- and low-fertile Holstein bulls (four bulls per group), integrate miRNAs to their target genes, and categorize target genes based on predicted biological processes. Out of 84 bovine-specific, prioritized miRNAs analyzed by RT-PCR, 30 were differentially expressed in high-fertile sperm and seminal plasma compared to low-fertile sperm and seminal plasma, respectively (p ≤ 0.05, fold regulation ≥5 magnitudes). Interestingly, expression levels of DE-miRNAs in sperm and seminal plasma followed a similar pattern. Highly scored integrated genes of DE-miRNAs predicted various biological and molecular functions, cellular process, and pathways. Further in silico analysis revealed categorized genes may have a plausible association with pathways regulating sperm structure and function, fertilization, and embryo and placental development. In conclusion, highly DE-miRNAs in bovine sperm and seminal plasma could be used as a tool for predicting reproductive functions. Since the identified miRNA-mRNA interactions were mostly based on predictions from public databases, the causal regulations of miRNA-mRNA and the underlying mechanisms require further functional characterization in future studies. Abstract Recent advances in high-throughput in silico techniques portray experimental data as exemplified biological networks and help us understand the role of individual proteins, interactions, and their biological functions. The objective of this study was to identify differentially expressed (DE) sperm and seminal plasma microRNAs (miRNAs) in high- and low-fertile Holstein bulls (four bulls per group), integrate miRNAs to their target genes, and categorize the target genes based on biological process predictions. Out of 84 bovine-specific, prioritized miRNAs analyzed by RT-PCR, 30 were differentially expressed in high-fertile sperm and seminal plasma compared to low-fertile sperm and seminal plasma, respectively (p ≤ 0.05, fold regulation ≥ 5 magnitudes). The expression levels of DE-miRNAs in sperm and seminal plasma followed a similar pattern. Highly scored integrated genes of DE-miRNAs predicted various biological and molecular functions, cellular process, and pathways. Further, analysis of the categorized genes showed association with pathways regulating sperm structure and function, fertilization, and embryo and placental development. In conclusion, highly DE-miRNAs in bovine sperm and seminal plasma could be used as a tool for predicting reproductive functions. Since the identified miRNA-mRNA interactions were mostly based on predictions from public databases, the causal regulations of miRNA-mRNA and the underlying mechanisms require further functional characterization in future studies.
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17
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Whole-Genome Profile of Greek Patients with Teratozοοspermia: Identification of Candidate Variants and Genes. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13091606. [PMID: 36140773 PMCID: PMC9498395 DOI: 10.3390/genes13091606] [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: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Male infertility is a global health problem that affects a large number of couples worldwide. It can be categorized into specific subtypes, including teratozoospermia. The present study aimed to identify new variants associated with teratozoospermia in the Greek population and to explore the role of genes on which these were identified. For this reason, whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on normozoospermic and teratozoospermic individuals, and after selecting only variants found in teratozoospermic men, these were further prioritized using a wide range of tools, functional and predictive algorithms, etc. An average of 600,000 variants were identified, and of them, 61 were characterized as high impact and 153 as moderate impact. Many of these are mapped in genes previously associated with male infertility, yet others are related for the first time to teratozoospermia. Furthermore, pathway enrichment analysis and Gene ontology (GO) analyses revealed the important role of the extracellular matrix in teratozoospermia. Therefore, the present study confirms the contribution of genes studied in the past to male infertility and sheds light on new molecular mechanisms by providing a list of variants and candidate genes associated with teratozoospermia in the Greek population.
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18
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Shen C, Xiong W, Li C, Ge H, Shen Y, Tang L, Zhang H, Lu S, Fei J, Wang Z. Testis-specific serine protease PRSS54 regulates acrosomal granule localization and sperm head morphogenesis in mice. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:1139-1154. [PMID: 35863763 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Serine proteases (PRSS) constitute nearly one-third of all proteases, and many of them have been identified to be testis-specific and play significant roles during sperm development and male reproduction. PRSS54 is one of the testis-specific PRSS in mouse and human but its physiological function remains largely unclear. In the present study, we demonstrate in detail that PRSS54 exists not only in testis but also in mature sperm, exhibiting a change in protein size from 50 kDa in testis to 42 kDa in sperm. Loss of PRSS54 in mice results in male subfertility, acrosome deformation, defective sperm-zona penetration, and phenotypes of male subfertility and acrosome deformation can be rescued by Prss54 transgene. Ultrastructure analyses by transmission electronic microscopy further reveal various morphological abnormalities of Prss54-/- spermatids during spermiogenesis, including unfused vacuoles in acrosome, detachment and eccentrical localization of the acrosomal granules, and asymmetrical elongation of the nucleus. Subcellular localization of PRSS54 display that it appears in the acrosomal granule at the early phase of acrosome biogenesis, then extends along the inner acrosomal membrane, and ultimately presents in the acrosome region of the mature sperm. PRSS54 interacts with acrosomal proteins ZPBP1, ZPBP2, ACRBP and ZP3R, and loss of PRSS54 affects the distribution of these proteins in testis and sperm, although their protein levels are largely unaffected. Moreover, Prss54-/- sperm are more sensitive to acrosome reaction inducers. These data indicate that PRSS54 is an acrosomal protein and plays an important role in regulating acrosome biogenesis, sperm function and male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunling Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Wenfeng Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.,School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Chaojie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.,School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China
| | - Haoyang Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yan Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Lingyun Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Hongxin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Shunyuan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Jian Fei
- Shanghai Engineering and Technology Research Center for Model Animals, Shanghai Model Organisms Center, Inc., Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Zhugang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China.,School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200240, China.,Shanghai Engineering and Technology Research Center for Model Animals, Shanghai Model Organisms Center, Inc., Shanghai, 201203, China
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19
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Wang N, Yang M, He D, Li X, Zhang X, Han B, Liu C, Hai C, Li G, Zhao Y. TMT-based quantitative N-glycoproteomic analysis reveals glycoprotein protection can improve the quality of frozen bovine sperm. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 218:168-180. [PMID: 35870621 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.07.106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Cryopreservation of bovine semen plays a vital role in accelerating genetic improvement and elite breeding, but it has a detrimental effect on sperm quality, resulting in the decline of the reproductive efficiency. The glycosylation modification of protein has irreplaceable roles in spermatozoa. Herein, the effect of cryopreservation on glycoproteins of bovine spermatozoa has been studied for the first time using a tandem mass tag (TMT)-labeled quantitative glycoproteome. A total of 2598 proteins and 492 glycoproteins were identified, including 83 different expression proteins (DEPs) and 44 different expression glycosylated proteins (DEGPs) between fresh and frozen spermatozoa. Thirty-three DEPs are glycoproteins, which demonstrates that glycoproteins of bovine sperm were seriously affected by cryopreservation. Moreover, the effects include glycoprotein expression, glycosylation modification, and substructure localization for proteins such as glycoproteins TEX101, ACRBP, and IZOMU4. The biologic functions of the 115 changed proteins are mainly involved in sperm capacitation, migration in female genitalia, and sperm-egg interaction. Mostly key regulators were identified to be glycoproteins, which confirms that glycosylated proteins played important roles in bovine sperm. This comprehensive study of sperm glycoproteins helps to unravel the cryoinjury mechanisms, thus implying that glycoprotein protection should be an effective way to improve the quality of frozen sperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, 24 Zhaojun Road, Yuquan District, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Ming Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, 24 Zhaojun Road, Yuquan District, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Dingbo He
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, 24 Zhaojun Road, Yuquan District, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Xin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, 24 Zhaojun Road, Yuquan District, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Xueli Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, 24 Zhaojun Road, Yuquan District, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Biying Han
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, 24 Zhaojun Road, Yuquan District, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Chunli Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, 24 Zhaojun Road, Yuquan District, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Chao Hai
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, 24 Zhaojun Road, Yuquan District, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Guangpeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, 24 Zhaojun Road, Yuquan District, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Yuefang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock, School of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, 24 Zhaojun Road, Yuquan District, Hohhot 010020, China.
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20
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Hughes JF, Skaletsky H, Nicholls PK, Drake A, Pyntikova T, Cho TJ, Bellott DW, Page DC. A gene deriving from the ancestral sex chromosomes was lost from the X and retained on the Y chromosome in eutherian mammals. BMC Biol 2022; 20:133. [PMID: 35676717 PMCID: PMC9178871 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01338-8] [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: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The mammalian X and Y chromosomes originated from a pair of ordinary autosomes. Over the past ~180 million years, the X and Y have become highly differentiated and now only recombine with each other within a short pseudoautosomal region. While the X chromosome broadly preserved its gene content, the Y chromosome lost ~92% of the genes it once shared with the X chromosome. PRSSLY is a Y-linked gene identified in only a few mammalian species that was thought to be acquired, not ancestral. However, PRSSLY’s presence in widely divergent species—bull and mouse—led us to further investigate its evolutionary history. Results We discovered that PRSSLY is broadly conserved across eutherians and has ancient origins. PRSSLY homologs are found in syntenic regions on the X chromosome in marsupials and on autosomes in more distant animals, including lizards, indicating that PRSSLY was present on the ancestral autosomes but was lost from the X and retained on the Y in eutherian mammals. We found that across eutheria, PRSSLY’s expression is testis-specific, and, in mouse, it is most robustly expressed in post-meiotic germ cells. The closest paralog to PRSSLY is the autosomal gene PRSS55, which is expressed exclusively in testes, involved in sperm differentiation and migration, and essential for male fertility in mice. Outside of eutheria, in species where PRSSLY orthologs are not Y-linked, we find expression in a broader range of somatic tissues, suggesting that PRSSLY has adopted a germ-cell-specific function in eutherians. Finally, we generated Prssly mutant mice and found that they are fully fertile but produce offspring with a modest female-biased sex ratio compared to controls. Conclusions PRSSLY appears to be the first example of a gene that derives from the mammalian ancestral sex chromosomes that was lost from the X and retained on the Y. Although the function of PRSSLY remains to be determined, it may influence the sex ratio by promoting the survival or propagation of Y-bearing sperm. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-022-01338-8.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Helen Skaletsky
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Peter K Nicholls
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.,Present Address: Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bradford, BD71DP, Bradford, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - David C Page
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.,Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
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21
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PRSS55 is a novel potential causative gene for human male infertility. Reprod Biomed Online 2022; 45:553-562. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2022.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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22
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Sun F, Wang X, Zhang P, Chen Z, Guo Z, Shang X. Reproductive toxicity investigation of silica nanoparticles in male pubertal mice. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:36640-36654. [PMID: 35064498 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-18215-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs), one of the most produced nanoparticles (NPs) in the world, are used in all aspects of life. The increased application of SiNPs, especially in medicine, has raised considerable concern regarding their toxicological impact. Previous studies have shown that SiNPs can pass through the reproductive barrier and cause reproductive organ dysfunction by destroying Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, and germ cells. However, little is known about the mechanism of SiNPs-induced reproductive toxicity. In the present study, 5-week-old male mice were intraperitoneally administered SiNPs per day for 1 week at a dose of 0.2 mg per mouse. The results showed that SiNPs could cause damage to the structure of the testis and the epididymis and change the reproductive organ coefficients, leading to decreases of 56.1% and 55.3% in the rates of sperm concentration and motility and an increase of 168.8% in the rate of sperm abnormality. Moreover, the serum testosterone level obviously decreased from 18.77 to 5.23 µg/ml after exposure, and the transcription statuses of some key genes involved in the synthesis and transport of testosterone in the testis were also affected. Additional experiments showed that SiNPs exposure during puberty induced oxidative stress and an inflammatory response, as shown by the changed activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), increased contents of malondialdehyde (MDA), and excess expression of proinflammatory factors, including TNF-α and IL-1β. Furthermore, the administration of SiNPs caused DNA damage and cell apoptosis, which were presented by the increased apoptotic cells in the sections of testis and epididymis and activation of the TNF-α/TNFR I-mediated pro-apoptotic pathway. In conclusion, these results indicate that SiNPs exposure during puberty significantly damaged the structure and function of the testis and epididymis by inducing oxidative stress and cell apoptosis. This study provides novel insight into SiNPs-induced reproductive toxicity during puberty, which warrants a more careful assessment of SiNPs before their application in juvenile supplies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanli Sun
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei, 063210, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuying Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei, 063210, People's Republic of China
- Hebei Key Laboratory for Chronic Diseases, Tangshan, People's Republic of China
| | - Pinzheng Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei, 063210, People's Republic of China
- Hebei Key Laboratory for Chronic Diseases, Tangshan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ziyun Chen
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei, 063210, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiyi Guo
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei, 063210, People's Republic of China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei, 063210, People's Republic of China
- Hebei Key Laboratory for Chronic Diseases, Tangshan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuan Shang
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei, 063210, People's Republic of China.
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23
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Zhang J, Zhou X, Wan D, Yu L, Chen X, Yan T, Wu Z, Zheng M, Zhu F, Zhu H. TMPRSS12 Functions in Meiosis and Spermiogenesis and Is Required for Male Fertility in Mice. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:757042. [PMID: 35547804 PMCID: PMC9081376 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.757042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Serine proteases are involved in many physiological activities as initiators of proteolytic cascades, and some members have been reported to play roles in male reproduction. Transmembrane serine protease 12 (TMPRSS12) has been shown to regulate sperm motility and uterotubal junction migration in mice, but its role in the testis remains unknown. In this study, we verified that TMPRSS12 was expressed in the spermatocytes and spermatids of testis and the acrosome of sperm. Mice deficient in Tmprss12 exhibited male sterility. In meiosis, TMPRSS12 was demonstrated to regulate synapsis and double-strand break repair; spermatocytes of Tmprss12−/− mice underwent impaired meiosis and subsequent apoptosis, resulting in reduced sperm counts. During spermiogenesis, TMPRSS12 was found to function in the development of mitochondria; abnormal mitochondrial structure in Tmprss12−/− sperm led to reduced availability of ATP, impacting sperm motility. The differential protein expression profiles of testes in Tmprss12−/− and wild-type mice and further molecule identification revealed potential targets of TMPRSS12 related to meiosis and mitochondrial function. Besides, TMPRSS12 was also found to be involved in a series of sperm functions, including capacitation, acrosome reaction and sperm-egg interaction. These data imply that TMPRSS12 plays a role in multiple aspects of male reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Prenatal Diagnosis, Women’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinli Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Danyang Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Li Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Tong Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhu Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Meimei Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Reproductive Medicine Center of No. 960 Hospital of PLA, Jinan, China
| | - Feng Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Department of Pathology, The First People’s Hospital of Changzhou, Changzhou, China
| | - Hui Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Hui Zhu,
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24
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CEP128 is involved in spermatogenesis in humans and mice. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1395. [PMID: 35296684 PMCID: PMC8927350 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-29109-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Centrosomal proteins are necessary components of the centrosome, a conserved eukaryotic organelle essential to the reproductive process. However, few centrosomal proteins have been genetically linked to fertility. Herein we identify a homozygous missense variant of CEP128 (c.665 G > A [p.R222Q]) in two infertile males. Remarkably, male homozygous knock-in mice harboring the orthologous CEP128R222Q variant show anomalies in sperm morphology, count, and motility. Moreover, Cep128 knock-out mice manifest male infertility associated with disrupted sperm quality. We observe defective sperm flagella in both homozygous Cep128 KO and KI mice; the cilia development in other organs is normal—suggesting that CEP128 variants predominantly affected the ciliogenesis in the testes. Mechanistically, CEP128 is involved in male reproduction via regulating the expression of genes and/or the phosphorylation of TGF-β/BMP-signalling members during spermatogenesis. Altogether, our findings unveil a crucial role for CEP128 in male fertility and provide important insights into the functions of centrosomal proteins in reproductive biology. CEP128 is a centrosomal protein important for the organization of centriolar microtubules. Here, the authors show that a CEP128 variant observed in human male siblings causes reduced sperm counts and morphologically abnormal sperm when modeled in mice, suggesting a role for CEP128 in male fertility.
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25
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Xu X, Wang Y, Chen J, Du X, Yao L, Xu J, Zhang Y, Huang Y, Wang Y. Mutation of Serine protease 1 Induces Male Sterility in Bombyx mori. Front Physiol 2022; 13:828859. [PMID: 35222089 PMCID: PMC8867212 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.828859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Serine proteases are important in reproduction, embryonic development, cell differentiation, apoptosis, and immunity. The genes encoding some serine proteases are essential for male fertility in both humans and rodents and are functionally conserved among metazoan. For example, the Serine protease 1 (Ser1) gene determines male reproductive success in the model lepidopteran insect Bombyx mori. In this study, we explored the function of BmSer1 through transgenic CRISPR/Cas9 technology-mediated mutations in silkworm. We found that the mutation of BmSer1 gene resulted in male sterility but had no effect on female fertility. Male mutants produce normal eupyrene sperm bundles, but the sperm bundles do not dissociate into single sperm. Male sterility caused by the BmSer1 gene mutation was inherited stably through female individuals. Therefore, the serine protease encoded by BmSer1 is essential for male reproductive success in lepidopterans and is a potential target gene for biological reproductive regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Xu
- Institute of Sericulture and Tea, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yaohui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jine Chen
- Institute of Sericulture and Tea, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xin Du
- Institute of Sericulture and Tea, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lusong Yao
- Institute of Sericulture and Tea, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jun Xu
- Institute of Sericulture and Tea, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongping Huang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Yongping Huang,
| | - Yongqiang Wang
- Institute of Sericulture and Tea, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- Yongqiang Wang,
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26
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Guo Z, Wang X, Zhang P, Sun F, Chen Z, Ma W, Meng F, Hao H, Shang X. Silica nanoparticles cause spermatogenesis dysfunction in mice via inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 231:113210. [PMID: 35051769 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The widespread use of silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) has increased the risk of human exposure, which raised concerns about their adverse effects on human health, especially the reproductive system. Previous studies have shown that SiNPs could cause damage to reproductive organs, but the specific mechanism is still unclear. In this study, to investigate the underlying mechanism of male reproductive toxicity induced by SiNPs, 40 male mice at the age of 8 weeks were divided into two groups and then intraperitoneally injected with vehicle control or 10 mg/kg SiNPs per day for one week. The results showed that SiNPs could damage testicular structure, perturb spermatogenesis and reduce serum testosterone levels, leading to a decrease in sperm quality and quantity. In addition, the ROS level in the testis of exposed mice was significantly increased, followed by imbalance of the oxidative redox status. Further study revealed that exposure to SiNPs led to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, as shown by downregulation of the expression of positive cell cycle regulators and the activation of TNF-α/TNFR Ⅰ-mediated apoptotic pathway. The results demonstrated that SiNPs could cause testicles injure via inducing oxidative stress and DNA damage which led to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, and thereby resulting in spermatogenic dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyi Guo
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, People's Republic of China; School of Basic Medical Sciences, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, People's Republic of China; Hebei Key Laboratory for Chronic Diseases, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuying Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, People's Republic of China; Hebei Key Laboratory for Chronic Diseases, People's Republic of China
| | - Pinzheng Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, People's Republic of China; Hebei Key Laboratory for Chronic Diseases, People's Republic of China
| | - Fanli Sun
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, People's Republic of China
| | - Ziyun Chen
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, People's Republic of China
| | - Wendong Ma
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, People's Republic of China
| | - Fangyu Meng
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, People's Republic of China
| | - Huiyu Hao
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, People's Republic of China
| | - Xuan Shang
- School of Public Health, North China University of Science and Technology, Tangshan, Hebei 063210, People's Republic of China.
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27
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Kiyozumi D, Ikawa M. Proteolysis in Reproduction: Lessons From Gene-Modified Organism Studies. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:876370. [PMID: 35600599 PMCID: PMC9114714 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.876370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The physiological roles of proteolysis are not limited to degrading unnecessary proteins. Proteolysis plays pivotal roles in various biological processes through cleaving peptide bonds to activate and inactivate proteins including enzymes, transcription factors, and receptors. As a wide range of cellular processes is regulated by proteolysis, abnormalities or dysregulation of such proteolytic processes therefore often cause diseases. Recent genetic studies have clarified the inclusion of proteases and protease inhibitors in various reproductive processes such as development of gonads, generation and activation of gametes, and physical interaction between gametes in various species including yeast, animals, and plants. Such studies not only clarify proteolysis-related factors but the biological processes regulated by proteolysis for successful reproduction. Here the physiological roles of proteases and proteolysis in reproduction will be reviewed based on findings using gene-modified organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiji Kiyozumi
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
- PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Japan
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
- The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Japan
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28
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Holcomb RJ, Oura S, Nozawa K, Kent K, Yu Z, Robertson MJ, Coarfa C, Matzuk MM, Ikawa M, Garcia TX. The testis-specific serine proteases PRSS44, PRSS46, and PRSS54 are dispensable for male mouse fertility†. Biol Reprod 2021; 102:84-91. [PMID: 31403672 PMCID: PMC7013879 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioz158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 07/06/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
High-throughput transcriptomics and proteomics approaches have recently identified a large number of germ cell-specific genes with many that remain to be studied through functional genetics approaches. Serine proteases (PRSS) constitute nearly one-third of all proteases, and, in our bioinformatics screens, we identified many that are testis specific. In this study, we chose to focus on Prss44, Prss46, and Prss54, which we confirmed as testis specific in mouse and human. Based on the analysis of developmental expression in the mouse, expression of all four genes is restricted to the late stage of spermatogenesis concomitant with a potential functional role in spermiogenesis, spermiation, or sperm function. To best understand the male reproductive requirement and functional roles of these serine proteases, each gene was individually ablated by CRISPR/Cas9-mediated ES cell or zygote approach. Homozygous deletion mutants for each gene were obtained and analyzed for phenotypic changes. Analyses of testis weights, testis and epididymis histology, sperm morphology, and fertility revealed no significant differences in Prss44, Prss46, and Prss54 knockout mice in comparison to controls. Our results thereby demonstrate that these genes are not required for normal fertility in mice, although do not preclude the possibility that these genes may function in a redundant manner. Elucidating the individual functional requirement or lack thereof of these novel genes is necessary to build a better understanding of the factors underlying spermatogenesis and sperm maturation, which has implications in understanding the etiology of male infertility and the development of male contraceptives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Holcomb
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, TX, USA.,Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Seiya Oura
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kaori Nozawa
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Katarzyna Kent
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, TX, USA.,Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Zhifeng Yu
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Matthew J Robertson
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Advanced Technology Cores, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Cristian Coarfa
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Martin M Matzuk
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Thomas X Garcia
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Houston-Clear Lake, Houston, TX, USA.,Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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29
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Xiong W, Shen C, Li C, Zhang X, Ge H, Tang L, Shen Y, Lu S, Zhang H, Han M, Zhang A, Wang J, Wu Y, Fei J, Wang Z. Dissecting the PRSS37 interactome and potential mechanisms leading to ADAM3 loss in PRSS37-null sperm. J Cell Sci 2021; 134:268338. [PMID: 34028541 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.258426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 3 (ADAM3) is a sperm membrane protein critical for sperm migration from the uterus into the oviduct and sperm-egg binding in mice. Disruption of PRSS37 results in male infertility concurrent with the absence of mature ADAM3 from cauda epididymal sperm. However, how PRSS37 modulates ADAM3 maturation remains largely unclear. Here, we determine the PRSS37 interactome by GFP immunoprecipitation coupled with mass spectrometry in PRSS37-EGFP knock-in mice. Three molecular chaperones (CLGN, CALR3 and PDILT) and three ADAM proteins (ADAM2, ADAM6B and ADAM4) were identified to be interacting with PRSS37. Coincidently, five of them (except ADAM4) have been reported to interact with ADAM3 precursor and regulate its maturation. We further demonstrated that PRSS37 also interacts directly with ADAM3 precursor and its deficiency impedes the association between PDILT and ADAM3. This could contribute to improper translocation of ADAM3 to the germ cell surface, leading to ADAM3 loss in PRSS37-null mature sperm. The understanding of the maturation mechanisms of pivotal sperm plasma membrane proteins will pave the way toward novel strategies for contraception and the treatment of unexplained male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenfeng Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Chunling Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Chaojie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Xiaohong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Haoyang Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Lingyun Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yan Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Shunyuan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Hongxin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Mi Han
- Reproductive Medical Center, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Aijun Zhang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Jinjin Wang
- Shanghai Engineering and Technology Research Center for Model Animals, Shanghai Model Organisms Center, Inc., Shanghai 201318, China
| | - Youbing Wu
- Shanghai Engineering and Technology Research Center for Model Animals, Shanghai Model Organisms Center, Inc., Shanghai 201318, China
| | - Jian Fei
- Shanghai Engineering and Technology Research Center for Model Animals, Shanghai Model Organisms Center, Inc., Shanghai 201318, China
| | - Zhugang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Rui-Jin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200025, China.,Shanghai Engineering and Technology Research Center for Model Animals, Shanghai Model Organisms Center, Inc., Shanghai 201318, China
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30
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Scovell JM, Bournat JC, Szafran AT, Solis M, Moore J, Rivera A, Chen CH, Zhang J, Wilken N, Seth A, Jorgez CJ. PRSS50 is a testis protease responsible for proper sperm tail formation and function. Development 2021; 148:240271. [PMID: 33913480 DOI: 10.1242/dev.197558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella (MMAF) are a major cause of asthenoteratozoospermia. We have identified protease serine 50 (PRSS50) as having a crucial role in sperm development, because Prss50-null mice presented with impaired fertility and sperm tail abnormalities. PRSS50 could also be involved in centrosome function because these mice showed a threefold increase in acephalic sperm (head-tail junction defect), sperm with multiple heads (spermatid division defect) and sperm with multiple tails, including novel two conjoined sperm (complete or partial parts of several flagellum on the same plasma membrane). Our data support that, in the testis, as in tumorigenesis, PRSS50 activates NFκB target genes, such as the centromere protein leucine-rich repeats and WD repeat domain-containing protein 1 (LRWD1), which is required for heterochromatin maintenance. Prss50-null testes have increased IκκB, and reduced LRWD1 and histone expression. Low levels of de-repressed histone markers, such as H3K9me3, in the Prss50-null mouse testis may cause increases in post-meiosis proteins, such as AKAP4, affecting sperm formation. We provide important insights into the complex mechanisms of sperm development, the importance of testis proteases in fertility and a novel mechanism for MMAF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason M Scovell
- Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Glickman Urological and Kidney Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA
| | - Juan C Bournat
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Adam T Szafran
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Minerva Solis
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Joshua Moore
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Armando Rivera
- Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ching H Chen
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jason Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Nathan Wilken
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Abhishek Seth
- Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Carolina J Jorgez
- Scott Department of Urology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Center for Reproductive Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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31
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Zhu F, Li W, Zhou X, Chen X, Zheng M, Cui Y, Liu X, Guo X, Zhu H. PRSS55 plays an important role in the structural differentiation and energy metabolism of sperm and is required for male fertility in mice. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:2040-2051. [PMID: 33417308 PMCID: PMC7882947 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Orderly and stage‐specifically expressed proteins are essential for spermatogenesis, and proteases play a key role in protein activation and function. The present study aimed to investigate serine protease 55 (PRSS55), which was reported to play a role in sperm‐uterotubal junction (UTJ) migration and sperm‐zona pellucida (ZP) binding. We found that PRSS55 was specifically expressed in testicular spermatids and epididymal spermatozoa. By constructing knockout mice targeting all transcripts of Prss55, we demonstrated that deletion of Prss55 resulted in a serious decline of male fertility, with significantly increased sperm malformation and decreased sperm motility. In Prss55−/− mice, increased structural abnormality, including deficient “9 + 2” microtubules, damaged peripheral dense fibre, and defective mitochondrial cristae, were found in sperm. In addition, sperm showed decreased expression of electron transfer chain molecules and lower ATP contents. These could be the potential causes of the astheno/teratozoospermia phenotype of the Prss55−/− mice, and provided new evidence for the previously reported impaired sperm‐UTJ migration. Moreover, preliminary studies allowed us to speculate that PRSS55 might function by activating type II muscle myosin in the testis, which is involved in many processes requiring motivation and cytoskeleton translocation. Thus, PRSS55 is essential for the structural differentiation and energy metabolism of sperm, and might be a potential pathogenic factor in astheno/teratozoospermia. Our results provide an additional explanation for the male sterility of Prss55−/− mice, and further reveal the role of PRSS55.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Pathology, The First People's Hospital of Changzhou, Changzhou, China
| | - Wen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinli Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xu Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Meimei Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yiqiang Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaofei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xuejiang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hui Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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32
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Gahlay GK, Rajput N. The enigmatic sperm proteins in mammalian fertilization: an overview†. Biol Reprod 2020; 103:1171-1185. [PMID: 32761117 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian fertilization involves a physical interaction between a sperm and an egg followed by molecular interactions amongst their various cell surface molecules. These interactions are initially mediated on the egg's outermost matrix, zona pellucida (ZP), and then its plasma membrane. To better understand this process, it is pertinent to find the corresponding molecules on sperm that interact with ZP or the egg's plasma membrane. Although currently, we have some knowledge about the binding partners for egg's plasma membrane on sperm, yet the ones involved in an interaction with ZP have remained remarkably elusive. This review provides comprehensive knowledge about the various sperm proteins participating in mammalian fertilization and discusses the possible reasons for not being able to identify the strong sperm surface candidate (s) for ZP adhesion. It also hypothesizes the existence of a multi-protein complex(s), members of which participate in oviduct transport, cumulus penetration, zona adhesion, and adhesion/fusion with the egg's plasma membrane; with some protein(s) having multiple roles during this process. Identification of these proteins is crucial as it improves our understanding of the process and allows us to successfully treat infertility, develop contraceptives, and improve artificial reproductive technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gagandeep Kaur Gahlay
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 143005, India
| | - Neha Rajput
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 143005, India
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33
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Saint-Dizier M, Mahé C, Reynaud K, Tsikis G, Mermillod P, Druart X. Sperm interactions with the female reproductive tract: A key for successful fertilization in mammals. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 516:110956. [PMID: 32712384 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Sperm migration through the female genital tract is not a quiet journey. Uterine contractions quickly operate a drastic selection, leading to a very restrictive number of sperm reaching the top of uterine horns and finally, provided the presence of key molecules on sperm, the oviduct, where fertilization takes place. During hours and sometimes days before fertilization, subpopulations of spermatozoa interact with dynamic and region-specific maternal components, including soluble proteins, extracellular vesicles and epithelial cells lining the lumen of the female tract. Interactions with uterine and oviductal cells play important roles for sperm survival as they modulate the maternal immune response and allow a transient storage before ovulation. The body of work reported here highlights the importance of sperm interactions with proteins originated from both the uterine and oviductal fluids, as well as hormonal signals around the time of ovulation for sperm acquisition of fertilizing competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Saint-Dizier
- INRAE, UMR PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France; University of Tours, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, 37000, Tours, France.
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34
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Masutani M, Sakurai S, Shimizu T, Ohto U. Crystal structure of TEX101, a glycoprotein essential for male fertility, reveals the presence of tandemly arranged Ly6/uPAR domains. FEBS Lett 2020; 594:3020-3031. [PMID: 32608065 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Testis-expressed gene 101 (TEX101) is a glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol-anchored glycoprotein essential for sperm fertility and spermatogenesis. TEX101 interacts with lymphocyte antigen 6 complex, locus K (Ly6k) as well as a disintegrin and metallopeptidase domain 3 (ADAM3). Although these proteins are considered essential for fertility, the associated mechanisms remain uncharacterized. Herein, we determined the crystal structure of human and mouse TEX101, revealing that TEX101 contains two tandem Ly6/uPAR (LU) domains. Detailed structural analyses revealed characteristic surfaces of TEX101 that may be involved in the interactions with other proteins or membranes. These results provide the structural basis for the role of TEX101 in fertilization and could contribute to developing diagnostic methods and treatments for infertility or developing male contraceptives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mamiko Masutani
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Japan
| | - Shunya Sakurai
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Shimizu
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Japan
| | - Umeharu Ohto
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Japan
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35
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Discovery of potent thrombin inhibitors from a protease-focused DNA-encoded chemical library. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:16782-16789. [PMID: 32641511 PMCID: PMC7382296 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2005447117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
To rapidly identify small-molecule lead compounds to target healthcare-associated proteases, we constructed a unique 9.8-million-membered protease-focused DNA-encoded chemical library. Affinity selection of this library with a healthcare-relevant protease (i.e., thrombin, a key protein necessary for blood coagulation) revealed potent inhibitors in the first screening attempt. Our results emphasize the utility of a structurally focused DNA-encoded chemical library approach to rapidly uncover hits for healthcare targets (e.g., proteases) where no drug exists (e.g., male contraception) and for emerging diseases (e.g., coronavirus disease 2019). DNA-encoded chemical libraries are collections of compounds individually coupled to unique DNA tags serving as amplifiable identification barcodes. By bridging split-and-pool combinatorial synthesis with the ligation of unique encoding DNA oligomers, million- to billion-member libraries can be synthesized for use in hundreds of healthcare target screens. Although structural diversity and desirable molecular property ranges generally guide DNA-encoded chemical library design, recent reports have highlighted the utility of focused DNA-encoded chemical libraries that are structurally biased for a class of protein targets. Herein, a protease-focused DNA-encoded chemical library was designed that utilizes chemotypes known to engage conserved catalytic protease residues. The three-cycle library features functional moieties such as guanidine, which interacts strongly with aspartate of the protease catalytic triad, as well as mild electrophiles such as sulfonamide, urea, and carbamate. We developed a DNA-compatible method for guanidinylation of amines and reduction of nitriles. Employing these optimized reactions, we constructed a 9.8-million-membered DNA-encoded chemical library. Affinity selection of the library with thrombin, a common protease, revealed a number of enriched features which ultimately led to the discovery of a 1 nM inhibitor of thrombin. Thus, structurally focused DNA-encoded chemical libraries have tremendous potential to find clinically useful high-affinity hits for the rapid discovery of drugs for targets (e.g., proteases) with essential functions in infectious diseases (e.g., severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) and relevant healthcare conditions (e.g., male contraception).
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36
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Larasati T, Noda T, Fujihara Y, Shimada K, Tobita T, Yu Z, Matzuk MM, Ikawa M. Tmprss12 is required for sperm motility and uterotubal junction migration in mice†. Biol Reprod 2020; 103:254-263. [PMID: 32529245 PMCID: PMC7401031 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatozoa are produced in the testis but gain their fertilizing ability during epididymal migration. This necessary step in sperm maturation includes posttranslational modification of sperm membrane proteins that includes protein processing by proteases. However, the molecular mechanism underpinning this epididymal sperm maturation remains unknown. In this study, we focused on transmembrane serine protease 12 (Tmprss12). Based on multi-tissue expression analysis by PCR, Tmprss12 was specifically expressed in the testis, and its expression started on day 10 postpartum, corresponding to the stage of zygotene spermatocytes. TMPRSS12 was detected in the acrosomal region of spermatozoa by immunostaining. To reveal the physiological function of TMPRSS12, we generated two knockout (KO) mouse lines using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Both indel and large deletion lines were male sterile showing that TMPRSS12 is essential for male fertility. Although KO males exhibited normal spermatogenesis and sperm morphology, ejaculated spermatozoa failed to migrate from the uterus to the oviduct. Further analysis revealed that a disintegrin and metalloprotease 3 (ADAM3), an essential protein on the sperm membrane surface that is required for sperm migration, was disrupted in KO spermatozoa. Moreover, we found that KO spermatozoa showed reduced sperm motility via computer-assisted sperm analysis, resulting in a low fertilization rate in vitro. Taken together, these data indicate that TMPRSS12 has dual functions in regulating sperm motility and ADAM3-related sperm migration to the oviduct. Because Tmprss12 is conserved among mammals, including humans, our results may explain some genetic cases of idiopathic male infertility, and TMPRSS12 and its downstream cascade may be novel targets for contraception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamara Larasati
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Taichi Noda
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Fujihara
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Keisuke Shimada
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Tobita
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Zhifeng Yu
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Martin M Matzuk
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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37
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Kobayashi K, Endo T, Matsumura T, Lu Y, Yu Z, Matzuk MM, Ikawa M. Prss55 but not Prss51 is required for male fertility in mice†. Biol Reprod 2020; 103:223-234. [PMID: 32301961 PMCID: PMC7401375 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian spermatozoa are produced in the testis through spermatogenesis and matured in the epididymis to acquire fertilizing ability. Spermatozoa are ejaculated and migrate from the uterus to the oviducts to fuse with oocytes. Although over 2000 genes are expressed abundantly in mouse testes, the genes responsible for male fertility are not yet fully clarified. Here, we focused on two testis-enriched serine protease genes, Serine protease (Prss) 51 and Prss55, which overlap their gene loci partially in both mice and humans. To characterize their functions in male fertility, we first generated Prss51 and Prss55 double knockout (DKO) mice by CRISPR/Cas9 system and found that the DKO mice were sterile. DKO spermatozoa exhibit impaired migration from the uterus to the oviduct and impaired ability to bind the zona pellucida (ZP) of oocytes. Moreover, a sperm membrane protein, ADAM3 (a disintegrin and metalloprotease 3), which plays a role in sperm migration through uterotubal junction (UTJ) and sperm-ZP binding, disappeared in the DKO spermatozoa from the epididymis. We next generated single knockout (KO) mice lacking Prss51 and found that Prss51 KO mice are fertile. We also generated single KO mice lacking Prss55 and found that Prss55 KO mice phenocopy the DKO mice, demonstrating impaired sperm migration and sperm-ZP binding and a severe defect in fertility. We conclude that Prss55, but not Prss51, is required for male fertility in mice, by stabilizing ADAM3 protein for efficient sperm-UTJ migration and sperm-ZP binding. Our findings have implications for understanding additional genetic causes of the idiopathic male infertility and for the development of male or female contraceptives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiyonori Kobayashi
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Endo
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takafumi Matsumura
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yonggang Lu
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Zhifeng Yu
- Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Martin M Matzuk
- Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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38
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A framework for high-resolution phenotyping of candidate male infertility mutants: from human to mouse. Hum Genet 2020; 140:155-182. [PMID: 32248361 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-020-02159-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Male infertility is a heterogeneous condition of largely unknown etiology that affects at least 7% of men worldwide. Classical genetic approaches and emerging next-generation sequencing studies support genetic variants as a frequent cause of male infertility. Meanwhile, the barriers to transmission of this disease mean that most individual genetic cases will be rare, but because of the large percentage of the genome required for spermatogenesis, the number of distinct causal mutations is potentially large. Identifying bona fide causes of male infertility thus requires advanced filtering techniques to select for high-probability candidates, including the ability to test causality in animal models. The mouse remains the gold standard for defining the genotype-phenotype connection in male fertility. Here, we present a best practice guide consisting of (a) major points to consider when interpreting next-generation sequencing data performed on infertile men, and, (b) a systematic strategy to categorize infertility types and how they relate to human male infertility. Phenotyping infertility in mice can involve investigating the function of multiple cell types across the testis and epididymis, as well as sperm function. These findings will feed into the diagnosis and treatment of male infertility as well as male health broadly.
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Zhang H, Li Y, Cui K, Chen X, Shang C, Min W, Jin P, Jiang Z, Shi D, Liu Q, Wang F. Male fertility in Mus musculus requires the activity of TRYX5 in sperm migration into the oviduct. J Cell Physiol 2020; 235:6058-6072. [PMID: 32020604 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.29534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Nowadays, abnormal loss of serine proteases appears very frequently in male patients with unexplained sterility. In fact, many testis-specific serine proteases, the largest family among the four protease families implicated in murine spermatogenesis, are indispensable for reproduction. In the present study, we demonstrate that the previously uncharacterized testis-specific serine protease TRYX5 (1700074P13Rik) is required for male fertility in mice. Tryx5-/- male mice are sterile, yet they have normal spermatogenesis and normal sperm parameters. In vivo fertilization experiments showed that the fertilization rate of Tryx5-/- sperm was almost zero. Sperm counting and analysis of paraffin sections of oviducts revealed that Tryx5-/- sperm were unable to migrate into the oviduct, which is likely the cause of the observed infertility of the Tryx5-/- male mice. Importantly, we also found that there was almost no mature ADAM3 present in Tryx5-/- sperm and almost no ADAM3 precursor in Tryx5-/- elongated spermatids of S13-16 stage, even though testes of Tryx5-/- and wild type mice had the same amount of the total precursor ADAM3. Collectively, our results demonstrate that Tryx5 is essential for male fertility in mice and suggest that TRYX5 functions in the stability or localization of ADAM3 precursor in elongated spermatids S13-16 stage, thereby regulating the ability of sperm to migrate from the uterus into the ampulla of the oviduct, the site of fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haihang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Yushan Li
- College of Public Health, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Kuiqing Cui
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Xiu Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, HeZe University, HeZe, Shandong, China
| | - Cuiling Shang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Third Affifiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Wanping Min
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing, China
| | - Peng Jin
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing, China
| | - Zhaodi Jiang
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing, China
| | - Deshun Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Qingyou Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangxi University, Nanning, Guangxi, China
| | - Fengchao Wang
- National Institute of Biological Sciences (NIBS), Beijing, China
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40
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Li C, Shen C, Shang X, Tang L, Xiong W, Ge H, Zhang H, Lu S, Shen Y, Wang J, Fei J, Wang Z. Two novel testis-specific long noncoding RNAs produced by <i>1700121C10Rik</i> are dispensable for male fertility in mice. J Reprod Dev 2019; 66:57-65. [PMID: 31801914 PMCID: PMC7040208 DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2019-104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Testis-specific genes are prone to affect spermatogenesis or sperm fertility, and thus may play pivotal roles in male reproduction. However, whether a gene really affects male reproduction
in vivo needs to be confirmed using a gene knock-out (KO) model, a ‘gold standard’ method. Increasing studies have found that some of the evolutionarily conserved
testis-enriched genes are not essential for male fertility. In this study, we report that 1700121C10Rik, a previously uncharacterized gene, is specifically expressed in the
testis and produces two long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in mouse: Transcript 1 and Transcript 2. qRT-PCR, northern blotting, and in situ hybridization revealed that expression
of both the lncRNAs commenced at the onset of sexual maturity and was predominant in round and elongating spermatids during spermiogenesis. Moreover, we found different subcellular
localization of Transcript 1 and Transcript 2 that was predominant in the cytoplasm and nucleus, respectively. 1700121C10Rik-KO mouse model disrupting Transcript 1 and
Transcript 2 expression was generated by CRISPR/Cas9 to determine their role in male reproduction. Results showed that 1700121C10Rik-KO male mice were fully fertile with
approximately standard testis size, testicular histology, sperm production, sperm morphology, sperm motility, and induction of acrosome reaction. Thus, we conclude that both the
testis-specific 1700121C10Rik-produced lncRNAs are dispensable for male fertility in mice under standard laboratory conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaojie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Chunling Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Xuan Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Lingyun Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Wenfeng Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Haoyang Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Hongxin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Shunyuan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yan Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Jinjin Wang
- Shanghai Research Center for Model Organisms, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jian Fei
- Shanghai Research Center for Model Organisms, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Zhugang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental Medicine, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.,Shanghai Research Center for Model Organisms, Shanghai 201203, China
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Xiong W, Wang Z, Shen C. An update of the regulatory factors of sperm migration from the uterus into the oviduct by genetically manipulated mice. Mol Reprod Dev 2019; 86:935-955. [PMID: 31131960 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wenfeng Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental MedicineShanghai Rui‐Jin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China
- School of Life Sciences and BiochemistryShanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai China
| | - Zhugang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental MedicineShanghai Rui‐Jin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China
| | - Chunling Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental MedicineShanghai Rui‐Jin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China
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Jeong J, Lee B, Kim J, Kim J, Hong SH, Kim D, Choi S, Cho BN, Cho C. Expressional and functional analyses of epididymal SPINKs in mice. Gene Expr Patterns 2019; 31:18-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gep.2018.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 11/05/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Swegen A, Smith ND, Gibb Z, Curry BJ, Aitken RJ. The serine protease testisin is present on the surface of capacitated stallion spermatozoa and interacts with key zona pellucida binding proteins. Andrology 2018; 7:199-212. [PMID: 30549223 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Revised: 10/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Serine proteases are emerging as important players in the spermatozoon's acquisition of functional competence. This study aimed to characterize the serine protease testisin (PRSS21) in stallion spermatozoa, examining its surface expression, possible origins in the testis and epididymis, and changes in response to capacitation and acrosome reaction, as well as its capacity to form high molecular weight complexes and interact with other proteins. MATERIALS AND METHODS The role of serine proteases in spontaneous capacitation and acrosome reaction of stallion spermatozoa was established using the serine protease inhibitor, AEBSF. Testisin localization, before and after exposure of stallion spermatozoa to capacitating conditions and calcium ionophore, was examined using live cell immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Immunohistochemistry of testicular and epididymal tissues was used to further dissect the origins of sperm testisin. Testisin's participation in high molecular weight protein complexes and identification of its interacting partner proteins were investigated using Blue Native PAGE, co-immunoprecipitation, and mass spectrometry, with interrogation of protein-protein interaction databases and gene ontology analysis of partner proteins used to further explore the potential roles of the testisin-containing complex in sperm function. RESULTS Testisin surface expression increased significantly in capacitated spermatozoa (p < 0.001), increased further following acrosome reaction (p < 0.01), and was localized to the equatorial region of the sperm head. Testisin was also detected in luminal fluid within the caput and corpus regions of the epididymis, epididymal spermatozoa, and epididymal epithelial cells. Testisin formed several multiprotein complexes; co-immunoprecipitation revealed interactions of testisin with a multitude of zona pellucida-binding proteins, including ZPBP, ZAN, acrosin, several heat-shock proteins, and components of the TCP1 complex. CONCLUSION Testisin appears to form part of the zona pellucida-binding complex in stallion spermatozoa and may be involved in the proteolytic cascade that prepares the sperm surface for interaction with the oocyte.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Swegen
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - N D Smith
- Analytical and Biomolecular Research Facility, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Z Gibb
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - B J Curry
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - R J Aitken
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
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