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Zigo M, Netherton J, Zelenková N, Kerns K, Kraus V, Postlerová P, Baker M, Sutovsky P. Bottom-up approach to deciphering the targets of the ubiquitin-proteasome system in porcine sperm capacitation. Sci Rep 2024; 14:20159. [PMID: 39215164 PMCID: PMC11364869 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-71056-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Capacitation is an essential post-testicular maturation event endowing spermatozoa with fertilizing capacity within the female reproductive tract, significant for fertility, reproductive health, and contraception. By using a human-relevant large animal model, the domestic boar, this study focuses on furthering our understanding of the involvement of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) in sperm capacitation. The UPS is a universal, evolutionarily conserved, cellular proteome-wide degradation and recycling machinery, that has been shown to play a significant role in reproduction during the past two decades. Herein, we have used a bottom-up proteomic approach to (i) monitor the capacitation-related changes in the sperm protein levels, and (ii) identify the targets of UPS regulation during sperm capacitation. Spermatozoa were capacitated under proteasomal activity-permissive and inhibiting conditions and extracted sperm proteins were subjected to high-resolution mass spectrometry. We report that 401 individual proteins differed at least two-fold in abundance (P < 0.05) after in vitro capacitation (IVC) and 13 proteins were found significantly different (P < 0.05) between capacitated spermatozoa with proteasomal inhibition compared to the vehicle control. These proteins were associated with biological processes including sperm capacitation, sperm motility, metabolism, binding to zona pellucida, and proteasome-mediated catabolism. Changes in RAB2A, CFAP161, and TTR during IVC were phenotyped by immunocytochemistry, image-based flow cytometry, and Western blotting. We conclude that (i) the sperm proteome is subjected to extensive remodeling during sperm capacitation, and (ii) the UPS has a narrow range of distinct protein substrates during capacitation. This knowledge highlights the importance of the UPS in sperm capacitation and offers opportunities to identify novel pharmacological targets to modulate sperm fertilizing ability for the benefit of human reproductive health, assisted reproductive therapy, and contraception, as well as reproductive management in food animal agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Zigo
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211-5300, USA.
| | - Jacob Netherton
- HMRI Infertility and Reproduction Research Program, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Natálie Zelenková
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211-5300, USA
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, University of Life Sciences Prague, 16500, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Karl Kerns
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211-5300, USA
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Veronika Kraus
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, 25250, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Pavla Postlerová
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, University of Life Sciences Prague, 16500, Prague, Czech Republic
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, 25250, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Mark Baker
- HMRI Infertility and Reproduction Research Program, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter Sutovsky
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211-5300, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
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Zigo M, Kerns K, Sutovsky P. The Ubiquitin-Proteasome System Participates in Sperm Surface Subproteome Remodeling during Boar Sperm Capacitation. Biomolecules 2023; 13:996. [PMID: 37371576 DOI: 10.3390/biom13060996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Sperm capacitation is a complex process endowing biological and biochemical changes to a spermatozoon for a successful encounter with an oocyte. The present study focused on the role of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) in the remodeling of the sperm surface subproteome. The sperm surface subproteome from non-capacitated and in vitro capacitated (IVC) porcine spermatozoa, with and without proteasomal inhibition, was selectively isolated. The purified sperm surface subproteome was analyzed using high-resolution, quantitative liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) in four replicates. We identified 1680 HUGO annotated proteins, out of which we found 91 to be at least 1.5× less abundant (p < 0.05) and 141 to be at least 1.5× more abundant (p < 0.05) on the surface of IVC spermatozoa. These proteins were associated with sperm capacitation, hyperactivation, metabolism, acrosomal exocytosis, and fertilization. Abundances of 14 proteins were found to be significantly different (p < 0.05), exceeding a 1.5-fold abundance between the proteasomally inhibited (100 µM MG132) and vehicle control (0.2% ethanol) groups. The proteins NIF3L1, CSE1L, NDUFB7, PGLS, PPP4C, STK39, and TPRG1L were found to be more abundant; while BPHL, GSN, GSPT1, PFDN4, STYXL1, TIMM10, and UBXN4 were found to be less abundant in proteasomally inhibited IVC spermatozoa. Despite the UPS having a narrow range of targets, it modulated sperm metabolism and binding by regulating susceptible surface proteins. Changes in CSE1L, PFDN4, and STK39 during in vitro capacitation were confirmed using immunocytochemistry, image-based flow cytometry, and Western blotting. The results confirmed the active participation of the UPS in the extensive sperm surface proteome remodeling that occurs during boar sperm capacitation. This work will help us to identify new pharmacological mechanisms to positively or negatively modulate sperm fertilizing ability in food animals and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Zigo
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Karl Kerns
- Division of Animal Science, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Peter Sutovsky
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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Carvalho MG, Silva KM, Aristizabal VHV, Ortiz PEO, Paranzini CS, Melchert A, Amaro JL, Souza FF. Effects of Obesity and Diabetes on Sperm Cell Proteomics in Rats. J Proteome Res 2021; 20:2628-2642. [PMID: 33705140 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.0c01044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Infertility caused by male factors is potentially associated with metabolic disorders such as obesity and/or diabetes. This experimental study was conducted in a male rodent model to assess the effects of different diseases on semen quality and sperm proteomics. Ten Wistar rats were used for each treatment. Rats were fed commercial food provided controllably to the control group and the diabetic group, and a hypercaloric diet supplemented with 5% sucrose in water was provided ad libitum to the obese group for 38 weeks. Diabetes was induced with 35 mg/kg streptozotocin. After euthanasia, testicles, spermatozoa, fat, and blood (serum) samples were collected. Spermatozoa were evaluated for quality and subjected to proteomics analyses. Histology and cytology of the testis, and serum leptin, adiponectin, interleukin 8 (IL-8), blood glucose, and testosterone levels, were also assessed. Body weight, retroperitoneal and testicular fat, and the Lee index were also measured. Obesity and diabetes were induced. The diabetic group showed noticeable changes in spermatogenesis and sperm quality. The mass spectrometry proteomics data have been deposited in Mendeley Data (doi: 10.17632/rfp7kfjcsd.5). Fifteen proteins varied in abundance between groups, especially proteins related to energy production and structural function of the spermatozoa, suggesting disturbances in energy production with a subsequent alteration in sperm motility in both groups, but with a compensatory response in the obese group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos G Carvalho
- Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University "Júlio de Mesquita Filho"-UNESP, Rua Prof. Dr. Walter Maurício Correa, s/n, Rubião Junior, 18681-681 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Kelry M Silva
- Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University "Júlio de Mesquita Filho"-UNESP, Rua Prof. Dr. Walter Maurício Correa, s/n, Rubião Junior, 18681-681 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Viviana H V Aristizabal
- Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University "Júlio de Mesquita Filho"-UNESP, Rua Prof. Dr. Walter Maurício Correa, s/n, Rubião Junior, 18681-681 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pablo E O Ortiz
- Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University "Júlio de Mesquita Filho"-UNESP, Rua Prof. Dr. Walter Maurício Correa, s/n, Rubião Junior, 18681-681 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cristiane S Paranzini
- Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University "Júlio de Mesquita Filho"-UNESP, Rua Prof. Dr. Walter Maurício Correa, s/n, Rubião Junior, 18681-681 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.,Envol Biomedical, Immokalee, Florida 34143, United States
| | - Alessandra Melchert
- Department of Veterinary Clinical, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University "Júlio de Mesquita Filho"-UNESP, 18618-681 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - João L Amaro
- Department of Surgical Specialties and Anesthesiology, Urology, School of Medicine, São Paulo State University ̈Júlio de Mesquita Filho"-UNESP, 18618-687 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fabiana F Souza
- Department of Veterinary Surgery and Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo State University "Júlio de Mesquita Filho"-UNESP, Rua Prof. Dr. Walter Maurício Correa, s/n, Rubião Junior, 18681-681 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
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Ligands and Receptors Involved in the Sperm-Zona Pellucida Interactions in Mammals. Cells 2021; 10:cells10010133. [PMID: 33445482 PMCID: PMC7827414 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Sperm-zona pellucida (ZP) interaction, involving the binding of sperm surface ligands to complementary carbohydrates of ZP, is the first direct gamete contact event crucial for subsequent gamete fusion and successful fertilization in mammals. It is a complex process mediated by the coordinated engagement of multiple ZP receptors forming high-molecular-weight (HMW) protein complexes at the acrosomal region of the sperm surface. The present article aims to review the current understanding of sperm-ZP binding in the four most studied mammalian models, i.e., murine, porcine, bovine, and human, and summarizes the candidate ZP receptors with established ZP affinity, including their origins and the mechanisms of ZP binding. Further, it compares and contrasts the ZP structure and carbohydrate composition in the aforementioned model organisms. The comprehensive understanding of sperm-ZP interaction mechanisms is critical for the diagnosis of infertility and thus becomes an integral part of assisted reproductive therapies/technologies.
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Zigo M, Maňásková-Postlerová P, Zuidema D, Kerns K, Jonáková V, Tůmová L, Bubeníčková F, Sutovsky P. Porcine model for the study of sperm capacitation, fertilization and male fertility. Cell Tissue Res 2020; 380:237-262. [PMID: 32140927 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03181-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian fertilization remains a poorly understood event with the vast majority of studies done in the mouse model. The purpose of this review is to revise the current knowledge about semen deposition, sperm transport, sperm capacitation, gamete interactions and early embryonic development with a focus on the porcine model as a relevant, alternative model organism to humans. The review provides a thorough overview of post-ejaculation events inside the sow's reproductive tract including comparisons with humans and implications for human fertilization and assisted reproductive therapy (ART). Porcine methodology for sperm handling, preservation, in vitro capacitation, oocyte in vitro maturation, in vitro fertilization and intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection that are routinely used in pig research laboratories can be successfully translated into ART to treat human infertility. Last, but not least, new knowledge about mitochondrial inheritance in the pig can provide an insight into human mitochondrial diseases and new knowledge on polyspermy defense mechanisms could contribute to the development of new male contraceptives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Zigo
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.
| | - Pavla Maňásková-Postlerová
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 25250, Vestec, Czech Republic.,Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, 16521, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Dalen Zuidema
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Karl Kerns
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Věra Jonáková
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 25250, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Lucie Tůmová
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, 16521, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Filipa Bubeníčková
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, 16521, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Sutovsky
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
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Zigo M, Manaskova-Postlerova P, Jonakova V, Kerns K, Sutovsky P. Compartmentalization of the proteasome-interacting proteins during sperm capacitation. Sci Rep 2019; 9:12583. [PMID: 31467409 PMCID: PMC6715765 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49024-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Ubiquitination is a stable, reversible posttranslational modification of target proteins by covalent ligation of the small chaperone protein ubiquitin. Most commonly ubiquitination targets proteins for degradation/recycling by the 26S proteasome in a well-characterized enzymatic cascade. Studies using human and non-human mammalian spermatozoa revealed the role of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) in the regulation of fertilization, including sperm-zona pellucida (ZP) interactions as well as the early events of sperm capacitation, the remodeling of the sperm plasma membrane and acrosome, and for the acquisition of sperm fertilizing ability. The present study investigated the activity of UPS during in vitro capacitation of fresh boar spermatozoa in relation to changes in sperm proteome. Parallel and sequential treatments of ejaculated and capacitated spermatozoa under proteasome permissive/inhibiting conditions were used to isolate putative sperm proteasome-associated sperm proteins in a compartment-specific manner. A differential proteomic approach employing 1D PAGE revealed differences in accumulated proteins at the molecular weights of 60, 58, 49, and 35 kDa, and MS analysis revealed the accumulation of proteins previously reported as proteasome co-purifying proteins, as well as some novel proteins. Among others, P47/lactadherin, ACRBP, ADAM5, and SPINK2 (alias SAAI) were processed by the proteasome in a capacitation dependent manner. Furthermore, the capacitation-induced reorganization of the outer acrosomal membrane was slowed down in the presence of proteasomal inhibitors. These novel results support the proposed role of UPS in sperm capacitation and open several new lines of inquiry into sperm capacitation mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Zigo
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA. .,Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, 25250, Czech Republic.
| | - Pavla Manaskova-Postlerova
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, 25250, Czech Republic.,Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Vera Jonakova
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Vestec, 25250, Czech Republic
| | - Karl Kerns
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
| | - Peter Sutovsky
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA.,Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Women's Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, 65211, USA
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