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Henkel R. Leukocytospermia and/or Bacteriospermia: Impact on Male Infertility. J Clin Med 2024; 13:2841. [PMID: 38792382 PMCID: PMC11122306 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13102841] [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: 04/05/2024] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Infertility is a globally underestimated public health concern affecting almost 190 million people, i.e., about 17.5% of people during their lifetime, while the prevalence of male factor infertility is about 7%. Among numerous other causes, the prevalence of male genital tract infections reportedly ranges between 10% and 35%. Leukocytospermia is found in 30% of infertile men and up to 20% in fertile men. Bacterial infections cause an inflammatory response attracting leukocytes, which produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) and release cytokines, both of which can cause damage to sperm, rendering them dysfunctional. Although leukocytospermia and bacteriospermia are both clinical conditions that can negatively affect male fertility, there is still debate about their impact on assisted reproduction outcomes and management. According to World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, leukocytes should be determined by means of the Endtz test or with monoclonal antibodies against CD15, CD68 or CD22. The cut-off value proposed by the WHO is 1 × 106 peroxidase-positive cells/mL. For bacteria, Gram staining and semen culture are regarded as the "gold standard", while modern techniques such as PCR and next-generation sequencing (NGS) are allowing clinicians to detect a wider range of pathogens. Whereas the WHO manual does not specify a specific value as a cut-off for bacterial contamination, several studies consider semen samples with more than 103 colony-forming units (cfu)/mL as bacteriospermic. The pathogenic mechanisms leading to sperm dysfunction include direct interaction of bacteria with the male germ cells, bacterial release of spermatotoxic substances, induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines and ROS, all of which lead to oxidative stress. Clinically, bacterial infections, including "silent" infections, are treatable, with antibiotics being the treatment of choice. Yet, non-steroidal antiphlogistics or antioxidants should also be considered to alleviate inflammatory lesions and improve semen quality. In an assisted reproduction set up, sperm separation techniques significantly reduce the bacterial load in the semen. Nonetheless, contamination of the semen sample with skin commensals should be prevented by applying relevant hygiene techniques. In patients where leukocytospermia is detected, the causes (e.g. infection, inflammation, varicocele, smoking, etc.) of the leukocyte infiltration have to be identified and addressed with antibiotics, anti-inflammatories or antioxidants in cases where high oxidative stress levels are detected. However, no specific strategy is available for the management of leukocytospermia. Therefore, the relationship between bacteriospermia and leukocytospermia as well as their specific impact on functional sperm parameters and reproductive outcome variables such as fertilization or clinical pregnancy must be further investigated. The aim of this narrative review is to provide an update on the current knowledge on leukocytospermia and bacteriospermia and their impact on male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Henkel
- LogixX Pharma Ltd., Merlin House, Brunel Road, Theale, Reading RG7 4AB, UK;
- Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction, Imperial College London, London W12 0HS, UK
- Department of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Bellville 7535, South Africa
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Alanazi AFR, Parkinson GN, Haider S. Structural Motifs at the Telomeres and Their Role in Regulatory Pathways. Biochemistry 2024; 63:827-842. [PMID: 38481135 PMCID: PMC10993422 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.4c00023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Telomeres are specialized structures, found at the ends of linear chromosomes in eukaryotic cells, that play a crucial role in maintaining the stability and integrity of genomes. They are composed of repetitive DNA sequences, ssDNA overhangs, and several associated proteins. The length of telomeres is linked to cellular aging in humans, and deficiencies in their maintenance are associated with various diseases. Key structural motifs at the telomeres serve to protect vulnerable chromosomal ends. Telomeric DNA also has the ability to form diverse complex DNA higher-order structures, including T-loops, D-loops, R-loops, G-loops, G-quadruplexes, and i-motifs, in the complementary C-rich strand. While many essential proteins at telomeres have been identified, the intricacies of their interactions and structural details are still not fully understood. This Perspective highlights recent advancements in comprehending the structures associated with human telomeres. It emphasizes the significance of telomeres, explores various telomeric structural motifs, and delves into the structural biology surrounding telomeres and telomerase. Furthermore, telomeric loops, their topologies, and the associated proteins that contribute to the safeguarding of telomeres are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abeer F R Alanazi
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom
| | - Gary N Parkinson
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom
| | - Shozeb Haider
- UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London WC1N 1AX, United Kingdom
- UCL Centre for Advanced Research Computing, University College London, London WC1H 9RN, United Kingdom
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3
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Tire B, Talibova G, Ozturk S. The crosstalk between telomeres and DNA repair mechanisms: an overview to mammalian somatic cells, germ cells, and preimplantation embryos. J Assist Reprod Genet 2024; 41:277-291. [PMID: 38165506 PMCID: PMC10894803 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-023-03008-2] [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: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are located at the ends of linear chromosomes and play a critical role in maintaining genomic stability by preventing premature activation of DNA repair mechanisms. Because of exposure to various genotoxic agents, telomeres can undergo shortening and genetic changes. In mammalian cells, the basic DNA repair mechanisms, including base excision repair, nucleotide excision repair, double-strand break repair, and mismatch repair, function in repairing potential damages in telomeres. If these damages are not repaired correctly in time, the unfavorable results such as apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and cancerous transition may occur. During lifespan, mammalian somatic cells, male and female germ cells, and preimplantation embryos experience a number of telomeric damages. Herein, we comprehensively reviewed the crosstalk between telomeres and the DNA repair mechanisms in the somatic cells, germ cells, and embryos. Infertility development resulting from possible defects in this crosstalk is also discussed in the light of existing studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Betul Tire
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Campus, 07070, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Gunel Talibova
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Campus, 07070, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Saffet Ozturk
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Campus, 07070, Antalya, Turkey.
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Dhillon VS, Shahid M, Deo P, Fenech M. Reduced SIRT1 and SIRT3 and Lower Antioxidant Capacity of Seminal Plasma Is Associated with Shorter Sperm Telomere Length in Oligospermic Men. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:718. [PMID: 38255792 PMCID: PMC10815409 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020718] [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: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Infertility affects millions of couples worldwide and has a profound impact not only on their families, but also on communities. Telomere attrition has been associated with infertility, DNA damage and fragmentation. Oxidative stress has been shown to affect sperm DNA integrity and telomere length. Sirtuins such as SIRT1 and SIRT3 are involved in aging and oxidative stress response. The aim of the present study is to determine the role of SIRT1 and SIRT3 in regulating oxidative stress, telomere shortening, and their association with oligospermia. Therefore, we assessed the protein levels of SIRT1 and SIRT3, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA) and catalase activity (CAT) in the seminal plasma of 272 patients with oligospermia and 251 fertile men. We also measured sperm telomere length (STL) and leukocyte telomere length (LTL) using a standard real-time quantitative PCR assay. Sperm chromatin and protamine deficiency were also measured as per standard methods. Our results for oligospermic patients demonstrate significant reductions in semen parameters, shorter STL and LTL, lower levels of SOD, TAC, CAT, SIRT1 and SIRT3 levels, and also significant protamine deficiency and higher levels of MDA and DNA fragmentation. We conclude that a shorter TL in sperms and leukocytes is associated with increased oxidative stress that also accounts for high levels of DNA fragmentation in sperms. Our results support the hypothesis that various sperm parameters in the state of oligospermia are associated with or caused by reduced levels of SIRT1 and SIRT3 proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varinderpal S. Dhillon
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5000, Australia; (P.D.); (M.F.)
| | - Mohammad Shahid
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Permal Deo
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5000, Australia; (P.D.); (M.F.)
| | - Michael Fenech
- Health and Biomedical Innovation, UniSA Clinical and Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide 5000, Australia; (P.D.); (M.F.)
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Randell Z, Dehghanbanadaki H, Fendereski K, Jimbo M, Aston K, Hotaling J. Sperm telomere length in male-factor infertility and reproduction. Fertil Steril 2024; 121:12-25. [PMID: 37949346 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.11.001] [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: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
The underlying reasons for male-factor infertility are often unknown. 30% of all men have unexplained semen analysis abnormalities. Moreover, 15%-40% of infertile men have normal semen analyses. There have been increasing efforts to identify causes and associations that may explain idiopathic male-factor infertility. Telomeres have become an area of considerable interest in the field because of the essential roles they have in cellular division and genome integrity. Research to date most consistently supports that men with infertility have shorter sperm telomere length (STL); however, associations between shorter STL and meaningful reproductive health outcomes are less consistent. There is a major need for additional studies to better identify the role of STL in male reproductive health and use the information to improve the counseling and treatment of couples with idiopathic male-factor infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zane Randell
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah.
| | - Hojat Dehghanbanadaki
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Kiarad Fendereski
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Masaya Jimbo
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Kenneth Aston
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - James Hotaling
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah
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Berteli TS, Wang F, Navarro PA, Kohlrausch FB, Keefe DL. A pilot study of LINE-1 copy number and telomere length with aging in human sperm. J Assist Reprod Genet 2023; 40:1845-1854. [PMID: 37382785 PMCID: PMC10371944 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-023-02857-1] [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: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Unlike other cells in the body, in sperm, telomere length (TL) increases with age. TL can regulate nearby genes, and the subtelomeric region is rich in retrotransposons. We hypothesized that age-related telomere lengthening in sperm might suppress Long Interspersed Element 1 (LINE-1/L1), the only competent retrotransposon in humans. METHODS We measured L1 copy number (L1-CN) and sperm telomere length (STL) from young and older men to evaluate the relationship between age, TL and L1-CN. We also evaluated L1-CN and TL in individual sperm to determine whether these variables influence sperm morphology. STL was assayed by Multiplex quantitative polymerase chain reaction method (mmqPCR) and L1-CN by Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). RESULTS We found that STL increased, and L1-CN decreased significantly with paternal age. STL in normal single sperm was significantly higher than in abnormal sperm. L1-CN did not differ between normal and abnormal sperm. Furthermore, morphologically normal sperm have longer telomeres than abnormal sperm. CONCLUSIONS Elongation of telomeres in the male germline could repress retrotransposition, which tends to increase with cellular aging. More studies in larger cohorts across a wide age span are needed to confirm our conclusions and explore their biological and clinical significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thalita S Berteli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Langone Medical Center, New York University, 462, 1st Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
- Human Reproduction Division, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil.
| | - Fang Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Langone Medical Center, New York University, 462, 1st Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Paula A Navarro
- Human Reproduction Division, Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Fabiana B Kohlrausch
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Langone Medical Center, New York University, 462, 1st Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
- Human Genetics Laboratory, Fluminense Federal University, Niteroi, RJ, Brazil
| | - David L Keefe
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Langone Medical Center, New York University, 462, 1st Avenue, New York, NY, 10016, USA
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Kaltsas A, Moustakli E, Zikopoulos A, Georgiou I, Dimitriadis F, Symeonidis EN, Markou E, Michaelidis TM, Tien DMB, Giannakis I, Ioannidou EM, Papatsoris A, Tsounapi P, Takenaka A, Sofikitis N, Zachariou A. Impact of Advanced Paternal Age on Fertility and Risks of Genetic Disorders in Offspring. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:486. [PMID: 36833413 PMCID: PMC9957550 DOI: 10.3390/genes14020486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The average age of fathers at first pregnancy has risen significantly over the last decade owing to various variables, including a longer life expectancy, more access to contraception, later marriage, and other factors. As has been proven in several studies, women over 35 years of age have an increased risk of infertility, pregnancy problems, spontaneous abortion, congenital malformations, and postnatal issues. There are varying opinions on whether a father's age affects the quality of his sperm or his ability to father a child. First, there is no single accepted definition of old age in a father. Second, much research has reported contradictory findings in the literature, particularly concerning the most frequently examined criteria. Increasing evidence suggests that the father's age contributes to his offspring's higher vulnerability to inheritable diseases. Our comprehensive literature evaluation shows a direct correlation between paternal age and decreased sperm quality and testicular function. Genetic abnormalities, such as DNA mutations and chromosomal aneuploidies, and epigenetic modifications, such as the silencing of essential genes, have all been linked to the father's advancing years. Paternal age has been shown to affect reproductive and fertility outcomes, such as the success rate of in vitro fertilisation (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), and premature birth rate. Several diseases, including autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, and paediatric leukaemia, have been linked to the father's advanced years. Therefore, informing infertile couples of the alarming correlations between older fathers and a rise in their offspring's diseases is crucial, so that they can be effectively guided through their reproductive years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aris Kaltsas
- Laboratory of Spermatology, Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Efthalia Moustakli
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics in Clinical Practice, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Athanasios Zikopoulos
- Laboratory of Spermatology, Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Ioannis Georgiou
- Laboratory of Medical Genetics in Clinical Practice, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Fotios Dimitriadis
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evangelos N. Symeonidis
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Eleftheria Markou
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital of Ioannina, 45500 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Theologos M. Michaelidis
- Department of Biological Applications and Technologies, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
- Biomedical Research Institute, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, 45500 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Dung Mai Ba Tien
- Department of Andrology, Binh Dan Hospital, Ho chi Minh City 70000, Vietnam
| | - Ioannis Giannakis
- Laboratory of Spermatology, Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| | | | - Athanasios Papatsoris
- 2nd Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Sismanoglio Hospital, National and Kapodistrian Univesity of Athens, 15126 Athens, Greece
| | - Panagiota Tsounapi
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan
| | - Atsushi Takenaka
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tottori University, Yonago 683-8503, Japan
| | - Nikolaos Sofikitis
- Laboratory of Spermatology, Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Athanasios Zachariou
- Laboratory of Spermatology, Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
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Bae JS, Lee JW, Joung JG, Cho HW, Ju HY, Yoo KH, Koo HH, Sung KW. Clinical significance of germline telomere length and associated genetic factors in patients with neuroblastoma. Sci Rep 2022; 12:12954. [PMID: 35902621 PMCID: PMC9334347 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17246-4] [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: 02/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies investigating the relationship between germline telomere length and the clinical characteristics of tumors are very limited. This study evaluated the relationship between germline telomere length and the clinical characteristics of neuroblastoma. In addition, a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed to investigate the genetic factors associated with germline telomere length. The germline telomere length of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 186 patients with neuroblastoma was measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The association between germline telomere length and clinical characteristics, including long-term survival, was investigated. For the GWAS, genotyping was performed with a high-density bead chip (Illumina, San Diego, CA, USA). After strict quality-control checks of the samples, an association analysis was conducted. The result showed that longer germline telomeres were significantly associated with longer event-free survival (P = 0.032). To identify significantly assocated genetic markers for germline telomere length, genome wide association analysis was performed. As a result, several single nucleotide polymorphisms located in HIVEP3, LRRTM4, ADGRV1, RAB30, and CHRNA4 genes were discovered. During gene-based analysis (VEGAS2 tool), the CNTN4 gene had the most significant association with germline telomere length (P = 1.0E−06). During gene ontology analysis, susceptible genes associated with germline telomere length were mainly distributed in neurite morphogenesis and neuron development. A longer germline telomere length is associated with favorable prognostic factors at diagnosis and eventually better event-free survival in patients with neuroblastoma. In addition, the GWAS demonstrated that genetic markers and genes related to germline telomere length are associated with neurite morphogenesis and neuron development. Further research with larger cohorts of patients and functional investigations are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joon Seol Bae
- Research Institute for Future Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Ji Won Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-710, Republic of Korea
| | - Je-Gun Joung
- Department of Biomedical Science, Cha Bundang Medical Center, Cha University, Seongnam, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Won Cho
- Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-710, Republic of Korea
| | - Hee Young Ju
- Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-710, Republic of Korea
| | - Keon Hee Yoo
- Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-710, Republic of Korea
| | - Hong Hoe Koo
- Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-710, Republic of Korea
| | - Ki Woong Sung
- Department of Pediatrics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, 81 Irwon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-710, Republic of Korea.
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Telomere Length in Pig Sperm Is Related to In Vitro Embryo Development Outcomes. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12020204. [PMID: 35049825 PMCID: PMC8773156 DOI: 10.3390/ani12020204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Understanding how gamete chromatin influences fertilization is highly important not only to improve animal production, but also to develop new biomarkers helping in the selection of those animals with higher fertility potential. In this regard, sperm telomere length has been pointed out as a putative biomarker in human infertility, but no studies have been conducted into its influence in pig fertility. Here, we determined that sperm telomere length is independent from the conventional sperm quality parameters and, through the production of in vitro embryos, we showed that it is indicative of the percentage of morulae and blastocysts, thus becoming useful to be used as biomarker in this species. Abstract Telomere length has attracted much interest as a topic of study in human reproduction; furthermore, the link between sperm telomere length and fertility outcomes has been investigated in other species. This biomarker, however, has not been much explored in other animals, such as pigs, and whether it is related to sperm quality and fertility outcomes remains unknown. The present work aimed to determine the absolute value of telomere length in pig sperm, as well as its relationship to sperm quality parameters and embryo development. Telomere length was determined through quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (qFISH) in 23 pig sperm samples and data were correlated to quality parameters (motility, morphology, and viability) and in vitro fertilization outcomes. We found that the mean telomere length in pig sperm was 22.1 ± 3.6 kb, which is longer than that previously described in humans. Whilst telomere length was not observed to be correlated to sperm quality variables (p > 0.05), a significant correlation between telomere length and the percentage of morulae 6 days after in vitro fertilization was observed (rs = 0.559; 95% C.I. = (−0.007 to 0.854); p = 0.047). Interestingly, this correlation was not found when percentages of early blastocysts/blastocysts (rs = 0.410; 95% C.I. = (−0.200 to 0.791); p = 0.164) and of hatching/hatched blastocysts (rs = 0.356; 95% C.I. = (− 0.260 to 0.766); p = 0.233) were considered. Through the separation of the samples into two groups by the median value, statistically significant differences between samples with shorter telomeres than the median and samples with longer telomeres than the median were found regarding development to morula (11.5 ± 3.6 vs. 21.8 ± 6.9, respectively) and to early blastocyst/blastocysts (7.6 ± 1.4 vs. 17.9 ± 12.2, respectively) (p < 0.05). In the light of these results, sperm telomere length may be a useful biomarker for embryo development in pigs, as sperm with longer telomeres lead to higher rates of morulae and blastocysts.
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Amirzadegan M, Sadeghi N, Tavalaee M, Nasr-Esfahani MH. Analysis of leukocyte and sperm telomere length in oligozoospermic men. Andrologia 2021; 53:e14204. [PMID: 34369610 DOI: 10.1111/and.14204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere length is considered one of the most relevant biological markers of genomic stability since it protects DNA from impairment and also ensures chromosome alignment during DNA replication. The negative impact of telomere shortening on sperm quality has been suggested as an important indicator of male infertility. Therefore, we aimed to assess leucocyte and sperm telomere length (LTL&STL), as well as sperm parameters, DNA damage and protamine deficiency in men with oligozoospermia as compared to fertile men. Our results demonstrated a significant reduction in sperm parameters (concentration, motility, morphology), LTL & STL and a significant increase in sperm DNA damage and protamine deficiency in oligozoospermic men compared with fertile individuals. These outcomes revealed that low sperm concentration in men is possibly a sign of impaired meiotic and/or meiotic division during the spermatogenesis process. It is not only associated with proper chromatin packaging but also with telomere length as a key player in the process of mitosis and meiosis, assisting in chromosomal alignment, pairing, synapsis and crossing over during spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoumeh Amirzadegan
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Niloofar Sadeghi
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Marziyeh Tavalaee
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Nasr-Esfahani
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran.,Isfahan Fertility and Infertility Center, Isfahan, Iran
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Berby B, Bichara C, Rives-Feraille A, Jumeau F, Pizio PD, Sétif V, Sibert L, Dumont L, Rondanino C, Rives N. Oxidative Stress Is Associated with Telomere Interaction Impairment and Chromatin Condensation Defects in Spermatozoa of Infertile Males. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021; 10:antiox10040593. [PMID: 33921485 PMCID: PMC8069055 DOI: 10.3390/antiox10040593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Telomere length can be influenced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated by lifestyle factors or environmental exposure. We sought to determine whether oxidative stress has an impact on sperm nuclear alterations, especially on chromatin organization and telomere interactions in the spermatozoa of infertile males. We performed an observational and prospective study including fifty-two males, allocated in the "case group" (30 infertile males presenting conventional semen parameter alterations) and the "control group" (22 males with normal conventional semen parameters). ROS detection was determined on spermatozoa using CellROX© probes. Sperm nuclear damage was assessed using quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (Q-FISH) for relative telomere length and telomere number, aniline blue staining for chromatin condensation, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling for DNA fragmentation, and FISH for aneuploidy and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine immunostaining for oxidative DNA damages. Infertile males had significantly increased levels of cytoplasmic ROS and chromatin condensation defects as well as a higher mean number of telomere signals per spermatozoon in comparison with controls. In addition, the mean number of sperm telomere signals were positively correlated with the percentage of spermatozoa with chromatin condensation defect. In infertile males with conventional semen parameter alterations, oxidative stress is associated with telomere interaction impairment and chromatin condensation defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benoit Berby
- Biology of Reproduction—CECOS Laboratory, Rouen University Hospital, Normandie University, UNIROUEN, EA 4308 “Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality”, F 76000 Rouen, France; (B.B.); (C.B.); (A.R.-F.); (F.J.); (P.D.P.); (V.S.)
| | - Cynthia Bichara
- Biology of Reproduction—CECOS Laboratory, Rouen University Hospital, Normandie University, UNIROUEN, EA 4308 “Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality”, F 76000 Rouen, France; (B.B.); (C.B.); (A.R.-F.); (F.J.); (P.D.P.); (V.S.)
| | - Aurélie Rives-Feraille
- Biology of Reproduction—CECOS Laboratory, Rouen University Hospital, Normandie University, UNIROUEN, EA 4308 “Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality”, F 76000 Rouen, France; (B.B.); (C.B.); (A.R.-F.); (F.J.); (P.D.P.); (V.S.)
| | - Fanny Jumeau
- Biology of Reproduction—CECOS Laboratory, Rouen University Hospital, Normandie University, UNIROUEN, EA 4308 “Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality”, F 76000 Rouen, France; (B.B.); (C.B.); (A.R.-F.); (F.J.); (P.D.P.); (V.S.)
| | - Pierre Di Pizio
- Biology of Reproduction—CECOS Laboratory, Rouen University Hospital, Normandie University, UNIROUEN, EA 4308 “Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality”, F 76000 Rouen, France; (B.B.); (C.B.); (A.R.-F.); (F.J.); (P.D.P.); (V.S.)
| | - Véronique Sétif
- Biology of Reproduction—CECOS Laboratory, Rouen University Hospital, Normandie University, UNIROUEN, EA 4308 “Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality”, F 76000 Rouen, France; (B.B.); (C.B.); (A.R.-F.); (F.J.); (P.D.P.); (V.S.)
| | - Louis Sibert
- Department of Urology—Andrology, Rouen University Hospital, Normandie University, UNIROUEN, EA 4308 “Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality”, F 76000 Rouen, France;
| | - Ludovic Dumont
- Normandie University, UNIROUEN, EA 4308 “Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality”, F 76000 Rouen, France; (L.D.); (C.R.)
| | - Chistine Rondanino
- Normandie University, UNIROUEN, EA 4308 “Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality”, F 76000 Rouen, France; (L.D.); (C.R.)
| | - Nathalie Rives
- Biology of Reproduction—CECOS Laboratory, Rouen University Hospital, Normandie University, UNIROUEN, EA 4308 “Gametogenesis and Gamete Quality”, F 76000 Rouen, France; (B.B.); (C.B.); (A.R.-F.); (F.J.); (P.D.P.); (V.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-2-3288-8225
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12
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Zhou L, Li L, Hao G, Li B, Yang S, Wang N, Liang J, Sun H, Ma S, Yan L, Zhao C, Wei Y, Niu Y, Zhang R. Sperm mtDNA copy number, telomere length, and seminal spermatogenic cells in relation to ambient air pollution: Results of a cross-sectional study in Jing-Jin-Ji region of China. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2021; 406:124308. [PMID: 33257117 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Evidences on the association of air pollutants and semen quality were limited and mechanism-based biomarkers were sparse. We enrolled 423 men at a fertility clinic in Shijiazhuang, China to evaluate associations between air pollutants and semen quality parameters including the conventional ones, sperm mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNAcn), sperm telomere length (STL) and seminal spermatogenic cells. PM2.5, PM10, CO, SO2, NO2 and O3 exposure during lag0-90, lag0-9, lag10-14 and lag70-90 days were evaluated with ordinary Kringing model. The exposure-response correlations were analyzed with multiple linear regression models. CO, PM2.5 and PM10 were adversely associated with conventional semen parameters including sperm count, motility and morphology. Besides, CO was positively associated with seminal primary spermatocyte (lag70-90, 0.49; 0.14, 0.85) and mtDNAcn (lag0-90, 0.37; 0.12, 0.62, lag10-14, 0.31; 0.12, 0.49), negatively associated with STL (lag0-9, -0.30; -0.57, -0.03). PM2.5 was positively associated with mtDNAcn (0.50; 0.24, 0.75 and 0.38; 0.02, 0.75 for lag0-90 and lag70-90) while negatively associated with STL (lag70-90, -0.49; -0.96, -0.01). PM10 and NO2 were positively associated with mtDNAcn. Our findings indicate CO and PM might impair semen quality testicularly and post-testicularly while seminal spermatogenic cell, STL and mtDNAcn change indicate necessity for more attention on these mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixiao Zhou
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China; School of Public Health and Management, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Lipeng Li
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China; Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Guimin Hao
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Binghua Li
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Sujuan Yang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Ning Wang
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Jiaming Liang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Hongyue Sun
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Shitao Ma
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Lina Yan
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Chunfang Zhao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Schoolof Basic Medical Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Yanjing Wei
- Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, School of Basic Medical Science, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Yujie Niu
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China
| | - Rong Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China; Hebei Key Laboratory of Environment and Human Health, Shijiazhuang 050017, PR China.
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13
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Ageing, cellular senescence and the impact of diet: an overview. Porto Biomed J 2021; 6:e120. [PMID: 33884316 PMCID: PMC8055488 DOI: 10.1097/j.pbj.0000000000000120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Ageing is a risk factor for chronic diseases including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and metabolic syndrome. Among others, senescence mechanisms have become a target of huge research on the topic of the ageing process. Cellular senescence is a state of an irreversible growth arrest that occurs in response to various forms of cellular stress and is characterized by a pro-inflammatory secretory phenotype. Multiple studies showed that cellular senescence occurs in both physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Senescent cells accumulate with ageing and can contribute to age-related decline in tissue function. Obesity is a metabolic condition that can accelerate the ageing process by promoting a premature induction of the senescent state of the cells. In contrast, caloric restriction without malnutrition is currently the most effective non-genetic intervention to delay ageing, and its potential in decreasing the cellular senescent burden is suggested. Here, it will be highlighted the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in cellular senescence and discussed some of the research that is being done about how environmental conditions such as diet can affect the accumulation of senescent cells.
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14
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Iannuzzi A, Della Valle G, Russo M, Longobardi V, Albero G, De Canditiis C, Kosior MA, Pistucci R, Gasparrini B. Evaluation of bovine sperm telomere length and association with semen quality. Theriogenology 2020; 158:227-232. [PMID: 32980685 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.09.019] [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: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The study aimed to evaluate if the sperm telomere length can be considered as a new biomarker for sperm quality in bulls. Sperm Telomere Length was evaluated by Monochrome Multiplex Quantitative PCR in group A (n = 8) and group B (n = 8) bulls, classified according to standard semen analysis. Also, this parameter was measured before and after Percoll gradient separation within bulls that produced semen of satisfactory quality. Sperm telomere length, measured as T/S ratio (average ratio of telomere repeats copy number to a single copy gene), was higher in group A than in group B bulls (0.77 ± 0.03 vs 0.43 ± 0.06; P < 0.01). Sperm telomere length was positively correlated with motility, viability and membrane integrity, and it was negatively correlated with sperm anomalies. Furthermore, Percoll gradient selected sperms with higher T/S ratio than unselected sperms (1.19 ± 0.02 vs 0.67 ± 0.03). These results suggest that sperm telomere length can be used as a new marker of bovine semen quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Iannuzzi
- National Research Council (CNR), ISPAAM, Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Genomics, Via Argine, 1085, 80147, Naples, Italy
| | - Giovanni Della Valle
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University of Naples, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137, Naples, Italy
| | - Marco Russo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University of Naples, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137, Naples, Italy.
| | - Valentina Longobardi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University of Naples, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137, Naples, Italy; Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania Luigi Vanvitelli, Via De Crecchio 7, 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Albero
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University of Naples, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137, Naples, Italy
| | - Carolina De Canditiis
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University of Naples, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137, Naples, Italy
| | - Michal Andrzej Kosior
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University of Naples, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137, Naples, Italy
| | - Ramona Pistucci
- National Research Council (CNR), ISPAAM, Laboratory of Animal Cytogenetics and Genomics, Via Argine, 1085, 80147, Naples, Italy
| | - Bianca Gasparrini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University of Naples, Via F. Delpino 1, 80137, Naples, Italy
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15
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Hua R, Wei H, Liu C, Zhang Y, Liu S, Guo Y, Cui Y, Zhang X, Guo X, Li W, Liu M. FBXO47 regulates telomere-inner nuclear envelope integration by stabilizing TRF2 during meiosis. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 47:11755-11770. [PMID: 31724724 PMCID: PMC7145685 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
During meiosis, telomere attachment to the inner nuclear envelope is required for proper pairing of homologous chromosomes and recombination. Here, we identified F-box protein 47 (FBXO47) as a regulator of the telomeric shelterin complex that is specifically expressed during meiotic prophase I. Knockout of Fbxo47 in mice leads to infertility in males. We found that the Fbxo47 deficient spermatocytes are unable to form a complete synaptonemal complex. FBXO47 interacts with TRF1/2, and the disruption of Fbxo47 destabilizes TRF2, leading to unstable telomere attachment and slow traversing through the bouquet stage. Our findings uncover a novel mechanism of FBXO47 in telomeric shelterin subunit stabilization during meiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Hua
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, P.R. China
| | - Huafang Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P.R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R. China
| | - Chao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P.R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R. China
| | - Yue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, P.R. China
| | - Siyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, P.R. China
| | - Yueshuai Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, P.R. China
| | - Yiqiang Cui
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, P.R. China
| | - Xin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, P.R. China
| | - Xuejiang Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, P.R. China
| | - Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, P.R. China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R. China
| | - Mingxi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Global Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 211166, P.R. China
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16
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Chromosome Dynamics Regulating Genomic Dispersion and Alteration of Nucleolus Organizer Regions (NORs). Cells 2020; 9:cells9040971. [PMID: 32326514 PMCID: PMC7227013 DOI: 10.3390/cells9040971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) demonstrate differences in genomic dispersion and transcriptional activity among all organisms. I postulate that such differences stem from distinct genomic structures and their interactions from chromosome observations using fluorescence in situ hybridization and silver nitrate staining methods. Examples in primates and Australian bulldog ants indicate that chromosomal features indeed play a significant role in determining the properties of NORs. In primates, rDNA arrays that are located on the short arm of acrocentrics frequently form reciprocal associations ("affinity"), but they lack such associations ("non-affinity") with other repeat arrays-a binary molecular effect. These "rules" of affinity vs. non-affinity are extrapolated from the chromosomal configurations of meiotic prophase. In bulldog ants, genomic dispersions of rDNA loci expand much more widely following an increase in the number of acrocentric chromosomes formed by centric fission. Affinity appears to be a significantly greater force: associations likely form among rDNA and heterochromatin arrays of acrocentrics-thus, more acrocentrics bring about more rDNA loci. The specific interactions among NOR-related genome structures remain unclear and require further investigation. Here, I propose that there are limited and non-limited genomic dispersion systems that result from genomic affinity rules, inducing specific chromosomal configurations that are related to NORs.
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17
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Rocca MS, Foresta C, Ferlin A. Telomere length: lights and shadows on their role in human reproduction. Biol Reprod 2020; 100:305-317. [PMID: 30277496 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are repeated DNA sequences whose main function is to preserve genome stability, protecting chromosomes ends from shortening caused by progressive loss during each cell replication or DNA damage. Telomere length regulation is normally achieved by telomerase enzyme, whose activity is progressively shut off during embryonic differentiation in somatic tissues, whereas it is maintained in germ cells, activated lymphocytes, and certain types of stem cell populations. The maintenance of telomerase activity for a longer time is necessary for germ cells to delay telomere erosion, thus avoiding chromosome segregation defects that could contribute to aneuploid or unbalanced gametes. Over the last few years, telomere biology has become an important topic in the field of human reproduction, encouraging several studies to focus on the relation between telomere length and spermatogenesis and male fertility, embryo development and quality during assisted reproductive treatment, and female pathologies as polycystic ovary, premature ovarian insufficiency, and endometriosis. This review analyzes whether telomere length in germ cells is related to reproduction fitness, whether telomere length is related to pathologies associated with male and female fertility, and whether measurement of telomere length could represent a biomarker of germ cell and embryo quality. Telomere length could be considered a molecular marker of spermatogenesis and sperm quality and is somewhat related to male fertility potential. Fewer evidence, although promising, is available for oocytes, female (in)fertility, and embryo quality. The increasing evidence for a role of telomeres and telomere length in human reproduction, indeed, has expanded the historical view of considering them just a marker of aging. Telomere length might have in the future a prognostic potential in couple infertility, especially useful to select best germ cells with the greatest potential of fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Santa Rocca
- Department of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Carlo Foresta
- Department of Medicine, Unit of Andrology and Reproductive Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Alberto Ferlin
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Unit of Endocrinology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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18
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Nersisyan L, Nikoghosyan M, Arakelyan A. WGS-based telomere length analysis in Dutch family trios implicates stronger maternal inheritance and a role for RRM1 gene. Sci Rep 2019; 9:18758. [PMID: 31822713 PMCID: PMC6904582 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-55109-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere length (TL) regulation is an important factor in ageing, reproduction and cancer development. Genetic, hereditary and environmental factors regulating TL are currently widely investigated, however, their relative contribution to TL variability is still understudied. We have used whole genome sequencing data of 250 family trios from the Genome of the Netherlands project to perform computational measurement of TL and a series of regression and genome-wide association analyses to reveal TL inheritance patterns and associated genetic factors. Our results confirm that TL is a largely heritable trait, primarily with mother's, and, to a lesser extent, with father's TL having the strongest influence on the offspring. In this cohort, mother's, but not father's age at conception was positively linked to offspring TL. Age-related TL attrition of 40 bp/year had relatively small influence on TL variability. Finally, we have identified TL-associated variations in ribonuclease reductase catalytic subunit M1 (RRM1 gene), which is known to regulate telomere maintenance in yeast. We also highlight the importance of multivariate approach and the limitations of existing tools for the analysis of TL as a polygenic heritable quantitative trait.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lilit Nersisyan
- Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Molecular Biology NAS RA, 7 Hasratyan str., 0014, Yerevan, Armenia.
| | - Maria Nikoghosyan
- Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Molecular Biology NAS RA, 7 Hasratyan str., 0014, Yerevan, Armenia
- Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Russian-Armenian University, 123 Hovsep Emin St, 0051, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Arsen Arakelyan
- Bioinformatics Group, Institute of Molecular Biology NAS RA, 7 Hasratyan str., 0014, Yerevan, Armenia
- Institute of Biomedicine and Pharmacy, Russian-Armenian University, 123 Hovsep Emin St, 0051, Yerevan, Armenia
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19
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Yang L, Liu X, Song L, Su G, Di A, Bai C, Wei Z, Li G. Inhibiting repressive epigenetic modification promotes telomere rejuvenation in somatic cell reprogramming. FASEB J 2019; 33:13982-13997. [PMID: 31645134 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201901486rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The efficiency of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) reprogramming is extremely low in terms of production of cloned animals. Here, we found that telomere rejuvenation is a critical event for SCNT reprogramming. Through small-molecule screening, we identified that melatonin significantly improved the in vitro and in vivo developmental competence of SCNT-derived embryos. Through use of embryonic biopsy, single-cell RNA sequencing, and quantitative FISH experiments, we revealed that melatonin not only attenuated the zygotic genome activation defect but also facilitated telomere elongation in the SCNT embryos. Further investigation indicated that melatonin inhibited heterochromatic epigenetic modification related to gene silencing including DNA methylation and histone H3 lysine 9 trimethylation. In addition, melatonin could increase the level of activation markers such as acetylated histone H3. This is the first study to characterize melatonin-treatment and telomere rejuvenation in SCNT-mediated reprogramming. Moreover, combinational use of melatonin-treated donor embryos and pseudopregnant recipients achieved synergistic enhancement of the production of cloned animals.-Yang, L., Liu, X., Song, L., Su, G., Di, A., Bai, C., Wei, Z., Li, G. Inhibiting repressive epigenetic modification promotes telomere rejuvenation in somatic cell reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock (R2BGL), Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Xuefei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock (RBGL), Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Lishuang Song
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock (RBGL), Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.,College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Guanghua Su
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock (RBGL), Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.,College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Anqi Di
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock (RBGL), Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.,College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Chunling Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock (RBGL), Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.,College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Zhuying Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock (RBGL), Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.,College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
| | - Guangpeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Regulation and Breeding of Grassland Livestock (RBGL), Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China.,College of Life Sciences, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, China
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20
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Palmer N, Talib SZA, Kaldis P. Diverse roles for CDK-associated activity during spermatogenesis. FEBS Lett 2019; 593:2925-2949. [PMID: 31566717 PMCID: PMC6900092 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2019] [Revised: 09/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The primary function of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) in complex with their activating cyclin partners is to promote mitotic division in somatic cells. This canonical cell cycle-associated activity is also crucial for fertility as it allows the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells within the reproductive organs to generate meiotically competent cells. Intriguingly, several CDKs exhibit meiosis-specific functions and are essential for the completion of the two reductional meiotic divisions required to generate haploid gametes. These meiosis-specific functions are mediated by both known CDK/cyclin complexes and meiosis-specific CDK-regulators and are important for a variety of processes during meiotic prophase. The majority of meiotic defects observed upon deletion of these proteins occur during the extended prophase I of the first meiotic division. Importantly a lack of redundancy is seen within the meiotic arrest phenotypes described for many of these proteins, suggesting intricate layers of cell cycle control are required for normal meiotic progression. Using the process of male germ cell development (spermatogenesis) as a reference, this review seeks to highlight the diverse roles of selected CDKs their activators, and their regulators during gametogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan Palmer
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore, Singapore
| | - S Zakiah A Talib
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore
| | - Philipp Kaldis
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Clinical Sciences, Clinical Research Centre (CRC), Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
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21
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Dodig S, Čepelak I, Pavić I. Hallmarks of senescence and aging. Biochem Med (Zagreb) 2019; 29:030501. [PMID: 31379458 PMCID: PMC6610675 DOI: 10.11613/bm.2019.030501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 172] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The complex process of biological aging, as an intrinsic feature of living beings, is the result of genetic and, to a greater extent, environmental factors and time. For many of the changes taking place in the body during aging, three factors are important: inflammation, immune aging and senescence (cellular aging, biological aging). Senescence is an irreversible form of long-term cell-cycle arrest, caused by excessive intracellular or extracellular stress or damage. The purpose of this cell-cycles arrest is to limit the proliferation of damaged cells, to eliminate accumulated harmful factors and to disable potential malignant cell transformation. As the biological age does not have to be in accordance with the chronological age, it is important to find specific hallmarks and biomarkers that could objectively determine the rate of age of a person. These biomarkers might be a valuable measure of physiological, i.e. biological age. Biomarkers should meet several criteria. For example, they have to predict the rate of aging, monitor a basic process that underlies the aging process, be able to be tested repeatedly without harming the person. In addition, biomarkers have to be indicators of biological processes, pathogenic processes or pharmacological responses to therapeutic intervention. It is considered that the telomere length is the weak biomarker (with poor predictive accuracy), and there is currently no reliable biomarker that meets all the necessary criteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Slavica Dodig
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Hematology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivana Čepelak
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Hematology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ivan Pavić
- Department of Pulmonology, Allergology and Immunology, Children’s Hospital Zagreb; School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
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22
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Fice HE, Robaire B. Telomere Dynamics Throughout Spermatogenesis. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10070525. [PMID: 31336906 PMCID: PMC6678359 DOI: 10.3390/genes10070525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomeres are repeat regions of DNA that cap either end of each chromosome, thereby providing stability and protection from the degradation of gene-rich regions. Each cell replication causes the loss of telomeric repeats due to incomplete DNA replication, though it is well-established that progressive telomere shortening is evaded in male germ cells by the maintenance of active telomerase. However, germ cell telomeres are still susceptible to disruption or insult by oxidative stress, toxicant exposure, and aging. Our aim was to examine the relative telomere length (rTL) in an outbred Sprague Dawley (SD) and an inbred Brown Norway (BN) rat model for paternal aging. No significant differences were found when comparing pachytene spermatocytes (PS), round spermatids (RS), and sperm obtained from the caput and cauda of the epididymis of young and aged SD rats; this is likely due to the high variance observed among individuals. A significant age-dependent decrease in rTL was observed from 115.6 (±6.5) to 93.3 (±6.3) in caput sperm and from 142.4 (±14.6) to 105.3 (±2.5) in cauda sperm from BN rats. Additionally, an increase in rTL during epididymal maturation was observed in both strains, most strikingly from 115.6 (±6.5) to 142 (±14.6) in young BN rats. These results confirm the decrease in rTL in rodents, but only when an inbred strain is used, and represent the first demonstration that rTL changes as sperm transit through the epididymis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather E Fice
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada
| | - Bernard Robaire
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3G 1Y6, Canada.
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada.
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23
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Subedi P, Nembrini S, An Q, Zhu Y, Peng H, Yeh F, Cole SA, Rhoades DA, Lee ET, Zhao J. Telomere length and cancer mortality in American Indians: the Strong Heart Study. GeroScience 2019; 41:351-361. [PMID: 31230193 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-019-00080-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/13/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate whether leukocyte telomere length (LTL) predicts the risk for cancer mortality among American Indians participating in the Strong Heart Study (1989-1991). Participants (aged 45-74 years) were followed annually until December 2015 to collect information on morbidity/mortality. LTL was measured by qPCR using genomic DNA isolated from peripheral blood. The association between LTL and risk for cancer mortality was examined using a multivariable Cox proportional hazard model, adjusting for age, gender, education, study site, smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, systolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, obesity, and low- and high-density lipoprotein. Of 1945 participants (mean age 56.10 ± 8.17 at baseline, 57% women) followed for an average 20.5 years, 220 died of cancer. Results showed that longer LTL at baseline significantly predicts an increased risk of cancer death among females (HR 1.57, 95% CI 1.08-2.30), but not males (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.49-1.12) (p for interaction 0.009). Specifically, compared with the women with the longest LTL (fourth quartile), those in the third, second, and first quartiles showed 53%, 41%, and 44% reduced risk for cancer death, respectively. The findings highlight the importance of sex-specific analysis in future telomere research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja Subedi
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Stefano Nembrini
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Qiang An
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Iowa Health Care, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Drive, 01066 JPP, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Yun Zhu
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Hao Peng
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.,Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Fawn Yeh
- College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 801 N.E. 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Shelley A Cole
- Texas Biomedical Research Institute, San Antonio, TX, 78245, USA
| | - Dorothy A Rhoades
- Stephenson Cancer Center, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 655 Research Parkway, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Elisa T Lee
- College of Public Health, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 801 N.E. 13th Street, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Jinying Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions, College of Medicine, University of Florida, 2004 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
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24
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Hofstatter PG, Lahr DJG. All Eukaryotes Are Sexual, unless Proven Otherwise: Many So-Called Asexuals Present Meiotic Machinery and Might Be Able to Have Sex. Bioessays 2019; 41:e1800246. [PMID: 31087693 DOI: 10.1002/bies.201800246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Here a wide distribution of meiotic machinery is shown, indicating the occurrence of sexual processes in all major eukaryotic groups, without exceptions, including the putative "asexuals." Meiotic machinery has evolved from archaeal DNA repair machinery by means of ancestral gene duplications. Sex is very conserved and widespread in eukaryotes, even though its evolutionary importance is still a matter of debate. The main processes in sex are plasmogamy, followed by karyogamy and meiosis. Meiosis is fundamentally a chromosomal process, which implies recombination and ploidy reduction. Several eukaryotic lineages are proposed to be asexual because their sexual processes are never observed, but presumed asexuality correlates with lack of study. The authors stress the complete lack of meiotic proteins in nucleomorphs and their almost complete loss in the fungus Malassezia. Inversely, complete sets of meiotic proteins are present in fungal groups Glomeromycotina, Trichophyton, and Cryptococcus. Endosymbiont Perkinsela and endoparasitic Microsporidia also present meiotic proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo G Hofstatter
- Departamento de ZoologiaRua do Matão, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, travessa 14, 101CEP., 05508-090, Sâo Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daniel J G Lahr
- Departamento de ZoologiaRua do Matão, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, travessa 14, 101CEP., 05508-090, Sâo Paulo, Brazil
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25
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Prodanova Hadzhinesheva V, Valcheva Chakarova I, Metodieva Delimitreva S, Dyankova Markova M, Pantaleeva Nikolova V, Sergeeva Mourdjeva M, Istiliyanov Rashev P, Stefanova Zhivkova R. Centriolar satellites associate with condensed chromatin in early mouse oocytes and undergo redistribution during transition to dictyate. BIOTECHNOL BIOTEC EQ 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/13102818.2018.1541761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Maya Dyankova Markova
- 1Department of Biology, Medical Faculty, Medical University of Sofia, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | | | - Milena Sergeeva Mourdjeva
- 2Department of Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Pavel Istiliyanov Rashev
- 3Department of Immunobiology of Reproduction, Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
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26
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Zeng X, Li K, Yuan R, Gao H, Luo J, Liu F, Wu Y, Wu G, Yan X. Nuclear Envelope-Associated Chromosome Dynamics during Meiotic Prophase I. Front Cell Dev Biol 2018; 5:121. [PMID: 29376050 PMCID: PMC5767173 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2017.00121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromosome dynamics during meiotic prophase I are associated with a series of major events such as chromosomal reorganization and condensation, pairing/synapsis and recombination of the homologs, and chromosome movements at the nuclear envelope (NE). The NE is the barrier separating the nucleus from the cytoplasm and thus plays a central role in NE-associated chromosomal movements during meiosis. Previous studies have shown in various species that NE-linked chromosome dynamics are actually driven by the cytoskeleton. The linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton (LINC) complexes are important constituents of the NE that facilitate in the transfer of cytoskeletal forces across the NE to individual chromosomes. The LINCs consist of the inner and outer NE proteins Sad1/UNC-84 (SUN), and Klarsicht/Anc-1/Syne (KASH) domain proteins. Meiosis-specific adaptations of the LINC components and unique modifications of the NE are required during chromosomal movements. Nonetheless, the actual role of the NE in chromosomic dynamic movements in plants remains elusive. This review summarizes the findings of recent studies on meiosis-specific constituents and modifications of the NE and corresponding nucleoplasmic/cytoplasmic adaptors being involved in NE-associated movement of meiotic chromosomes, as well as describes the potential molecular network of transferring cytoplasm-derived forces into meiotic chromosomes in model organisms. It helps to gain a better understanding of the NE-associated meiotic chromosomal movements in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinhua Zeng
- Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China
| | - Keqi Li
- Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China
| | - Rong Yuan
- Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongfei Gao
- Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China
| | - Junling Luo
- Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China
| | - Fang Liu
- Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuhua Wu
- Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China
| | - Gang Wu
- Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaohong Yan
- Oil Crops Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Key Laboratory of Biology and Genetic Improvement of Oil Crops, Ministry of Agriculture, Wuhan, China
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27
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Booth DG, Earnshaw WC. Ki-67 and the Chromosome Periphery Compartment in Mitosis. Trends Cell Biol 2017; 27:906-916. [PMID: 28838621 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2017.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2017] [Revised: 08/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The chromosome periphery is a complex network of proteins and RNA molecules (many derived from nucleoli) that covers the outer surface of chromosomes and whose function remains mysterious. Although it was first described over 130 years ago, technological advances and the recent discovery that Ki-67 acts as an organiser of this region have allowed the chromosome periphery to be dissected in previously unattainable detail, leading to a revival of interest in this obscure chromosomal compartment. Here, we review the most recent advances into the composition, structure and function of the chromosome periphery, discuss possible roles of Ki-67 during mitosis and consider why this structure is likely to remain the focus of ongoing attention in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel G Booth
- Centre For Neuroregeneration, Chancellor's Building, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4SB, UK.
| | - William C Earnshaw
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Biology, King's Buildings, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3BF, UK.
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28
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Zhao F, Yang Q, Shi S, Luo X, Sun Y. Semen preparation methods and sperm telomere length: density gradient centrifugation versus the swim up procedure. Sci Rep 2016; 6:39051. [PMID: 27958357 PMCID: PMC5153621 DOI: 10.1038/srep39051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2016] [Accepted: 11/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have shown that both density gradient centrifugation (DGC) and swim up (SU) procedures can select spermatozoa with longer telomeres for assisted reproduction techniques (ART). However, it is unknown which approach is more effective. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of these two methods on sperm telomere length (STL). A total of 150 normozoospermic subjects were recruited. STL, DNA fragmentation index (DFI), reactive oxygen species (ROS) content and progressive motility of semen samples were detected before and after the procedures of DGC and SU. When compared to raw semen, the average length of sperm telomeres was significantly longer after the two sperm preparation methods. However, no significant difference was found between the DGC and SU procedures. We also found that semen prepared by the two methods had lower DNA fragmentation, ROS content and sperm progressive motility. However, no significant difference was found in those parameters between the two procedures. This is the first study that compares the effects of the DGC and SU procedures on STL, and the results show that both methods can recover a sperm population with longer STL and better DNA integrity for ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feifei Zhao
- Reproductive Medical Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China
| | - Qingling Yang
- Reproductive Medical Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China
| | - Senlin Shi
- Reproductive Medical Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China
| | - Xiaoyan Luo
- Reproductive Medical Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China
| | - Yingpu Sun
- Reproductive Medical Center, First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, China
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29
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Rocca M, Speltra E, Menegazzo M, Garolla A, Foresta C, Ferlin A. Sperm telomere length as a parameter of sperm quality in normozoospermic men. Hum Reprod 2016; 31:1158-63. [DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dew061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2015] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
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30
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Essential role of the Cdk2 activator RingoA in meiotic telomere tethering to the nuclear envelope. Nat Commun 2016; 7:11084. [PMID: 27025256 PMCID: PMC4820962 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms11084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 02/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) play key roles in cell cycle regulation. Genetic analysis in mice has revealed an essential role for Cdk2 in meiosis, which renders Cdk2 knockout (KO) mice sterile. Here we show that mice deficient in RingoA, an atypical activator of Cdk1 and Cdk2 that has no amino acid sequence homology to cyclins, are sterile and display meiotic defects virtually identical to those observed in Cdk2 KO mice including non-homologous chromosome pairing, unrepaired double-strand breaks, undetectable sex-body and pachytene arrest. Interestingly, RingoA is required for Cdk2 targeting to telomeres and RingoA KO spermatocytes display severely affected telomere tethering as well as impaired distribution of Sun1, a protein essential for the attachment of telomeres to the nuclear envelope. Our results identify RingoA as an important activator of Cdk2 at meiotic telomeres, and provide genetic evidence for a physiological function of mammalian Cdk2 that is not dependent on cyclins. CDKs play central roles in cell cycle regulation and are normally activated by cyclins. Here the authors show that RingoA induces a cyclin-independent function of CDK2 at meiotic telomeres, which regulates their tethering to the nuclear envelope and proper synapsis of homologous chromosomes.
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31
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Zhang Y, Wu Y, Mao P, Li F, Han X, Zhang Y, Jiang S, Chen Y, Huang J, Liu D, Zhao Y, Ma W, Songyang Z. Cold-inducible RNA-binding protein CIRP/hnRNP A18 regulates telomerase activity in a temperature-dependent manner. Nucleic Acids Res 2015; 44:761-75. [PMID: 26673712 PMCID: PMC4737163 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv1465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The telomerase is responsible for adding telomeric repeats to chromosomal ends and consists of the reverse transcriptase TERT and the RNA subunit TERC. The expression and activity of the telomerase are tightly regulated, and aberrant activation of the telomerase has been observed in >85% of human cancers. To better understand telomerase regulation, we performed immunoprecipitations coupled with mass spectrometry (IP-MS) and identified cold inducible RNA-binding protein (CIRP or hnRNP A18) as a telomerase-interacting factor. We have found that CIRP is necessary to maintain telomerase activities at both 32°C and 37°C. Furthermore, inhibition of CIRP by CRISPR-Cas9 or siRNA knockdown led to reduced telomerase activities and shortened telomere length, suggesting an important role of CIRP in telomere maintenance. We also provide evidence here that CIRP associates with the active telomerase complex through direct binding of TERC and regulates Cajal body localization of the telomerase. In addition, CIRP regulates the level of TERT mRNAs. At the lower temperature, TERT mRNA is upregulated in a CIRP-dependent manner to compensate for reduced telomerase activities. Taken together, these findings highlight the dual roles that CIRP plays in regulating TERT and TERC, and reveal a new class of telomerase modulators in response to hypothermia conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youwei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Institute of Healthy Aging Research, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yangxiu Wu
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Pingsu Mao
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Feng Li
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xin Han
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Verna and Marrs Mclean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Shuai Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yuxi Chen
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Junjiu Huang
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Verna and Marrs Mclean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Wenbin Ma
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Institute of Healthy Aging Research, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhou Songyang
- Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Institute of Healthy Aging Research, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510006, China Verna and Marrs Mclean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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32
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Shibuya H, Hernández-Hernández A, Morimoto A, Negishi L, Höög C, Watanabe Y. MAJIN Links Telomeric DNA to the Nuclear Membrane by Exchanging Telomere Cap. Cell 2015; 163:1252-1266. [PMID: 26548954 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Revised: 09/16/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In meiosis, telomeres attach to the inner nuclear membrane (INM) and drive the chromosome movement required for homolog pairing and recombination. Here, we address the question of how telomeres are structurally adapted for the meiotic task. We identify a multi-subunit meiotic telomere-complex, TERB1/2-MAJIN, which takes over telomeric DNA from the shelterin complex in mouse germ cells. TERB1/2-MAJIN initially assembles on the INM sequestered by its putative transmembrane subunit MAJIN. In early meiosis, telomere attachment is achieved by the formation of a chimeric complex of TERB1/2-MAJIN and shelterin. The chimeric complex matures during prophase into DNA-bound TERB1/2-MAJIN by releasing shelterin, forming a direct link between telomeric DNA and the INM. These hierarchical processes, termed "telomere cap exchange," are regulated by CDK-dependent phosphorylation and the DNA-binding activity of MAJIN. Further, we uncover a positive feedback between telomere attachment and chromosome movement, revealing a comprehensive regulatory network underlying meiosis-specific telomere function in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Shibuya
- Laboratory of Chromosome Dynamics, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1Yayoi, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | | | - Akihiro Morimoto
- Laboratory of Chromosome Dynamics, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1Yayoi, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | - Lumi Negishi
- Laboratory of Protein Expression and Production, Center for Structural Biology of Challenging Proteins, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1 Yayoi, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan
| | - Christer Höög
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm 171 77, Sweden
| | - Yoshinori Watanabe
- Laboratory of Chromosome Dynamics, Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Tokyo, 1-1-1Yayoi, Tokyo 113-0032, Japan.
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33
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Sharma R, Agarwal A, Rohra VK, Assidi M, Abu-Elmagd M, Turki RF. Effects of increased paternal age on sperm quality, reproductive outcome and associated epigenetic risks to offspring. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2015; 13:35. [PMID: 25928123 PMCID: PMC4455614 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-015-0028-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 218] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, there has been a significant increase in average paternal age when the first child is conceived, either due to increased life expectancy, widespread use of contraception, late marriages and other factors. While the effect of maternal ageing on fertilization and reproduction is well known and several studies have shown that women over 35 years have a higher risk of infertility, pregnancy complications, spontaneous abortion, congenital anomalies, and perinatal complications. The effect of paternal age on semen quality and reproductive function is controversial for several reasons. First, there is no universal definition for advanced paternal ageing. Secondly, the literature is full of studies with conflicting results, especially for the most common parameters tested. Advancing paternal age also has been associated with increased risk of genetic disease. Our exhaustive literature review has demonstrated negative effects on sperm quality and testicular functions with increasing paternal age. Epigenetics changes, DNA mutations along with chromosomal aneuploidies have been associated with increasing paternal age. In addition to increased risk of male infertility, paternal age has also been demonstrated to impact reproductive and fertility outcomes including a decrease in IVF/ICSI success rate and increasing rate of preterm birth. Increasing paternal age has shown to increase the incidence of different types of disorders like autism, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders, and childhood leukemia in the progeny. It is thereby essential to educate the infertile couples on the disturbing links between increased paternal age and rising disorders in their offspring, to better counsel them during their reproductive years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakesh Sharma
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Ashok Agarwal
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Vikram K Rohra
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
| | - Mourad Assidi
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- KACST Technology Innovation Center in Personalized Medicine at King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Muhammad Abu-Elmagd
- Center of Excellence in Genomic Medicine Research, King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- KACST Technology Innovation Center in Personalized Medicine at King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Rola F Turki
- KACST Technology Innovation Center in Personalized Medicine at King AbdulAziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
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Diversity in TAF proteomics: consequences for cellular differentiation and migration. Int J Mol Sci 2014; 15:16680-97. [PMID: 25244017 PMCID: PMC4200853 DOI: 10.3390/ijms150916680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Revised: 08/25/2014] [Accepted: 08/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Development is a highly controlled process of cell proliferation and differentiation driven by mechanisms of dynamic gene regulation. Specific DNA binding factors for establishing cell- and tissue-specific transcriptional programs have been characterised in different cell and animal models. However, much less is known about the role of “core transcription machinery” during cell differentiation, given that general transcription factors and their spatiotemporally patterned activity govern different aspects of cell function. In this review, we focus on the role of TATA-box associated factor 4 (TAF4) and its functional isoforms generated by alternative splicing in controlling lineage-specific differentiation of normal mesenchymal stem cells and cancer stem cells. In the light of our recent findings, induction, control and maintenance of cell differentiation status implies diversification of the transcription initiation apparatus orchestrated by alternative splicing.
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Wang N, Rizvydeen S, Vahedi M, Vargas Gonzalez DM, Allred AL, Perry DW, Mirabito PM, Kirk KE. Novel telomere-anchored PCR approach for studying sexual stage telomeres in Aspergillus nidulans. PLoS One 2014; 9:e99491. [PMID: 24927411 PMCID: PMC4057176 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0099491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2014] [Accepted: 05/15/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Telomere length varies between germline and somatic cells of the same organism, leading to the hypothesis that telomeres are lengthened during meiosis. However, little is known about the meiotic telomere length in many organisms. In the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, the telomere lengths in hyphae and asexual spores are invariant. No study using existing techniques has determined the telomere length of the sexual ascospores due to the relatively low abundance of pure meiotic cells in A. nidulans and the small quantity of DNA present. To address this, we developed a simple and sensitive PCR strategy to measure the telomere length of A. nidulans meiotic cells. This novel technique, termed “telomere-anchored PCR,” measures the length of the telomere on chromosome II-L using a small fraction of the DNA required for the traditional terminal restriction fragment (TRF) Southern analysis. Using this approach, we determined that the A. nidulans ascospore telomere length is virtually identical to telomeres of other cell types from this organism, approximately 110 bp, indicating that a surprisingly strict telomere length regulation exists in the major cell types of A. nidulans. When the hyphal telomeres were measured in a telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) knockout strain, small decreases in length were readily detected. Thus, this technique can detect telomeres in relatively rare cell types and is particularly sensitive in measuring exceptionally short telomeres. This rapid and inexpensive telomere-anchored PCR method potentially can be utilized in other filamentous fungi and types of organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nengding Wang
- Biology Department, Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Saajidha Rizvydeen
- Biology Department, Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Mithaq Vahedi
- Biology Department, Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, Illinois, United States of America
| | | | - Amanda L. Allred
- Biology Department, Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Dustin W. Perry
- Biology Department, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Peter M. Mirabito
- Biology Department, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Karen E. Kirk
- Biology Department, Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Winters T, McNicoll F, Jessberger R. Meiotic cohesin STAG3 is required for chromosome axis formation and sister chromatid cohesion. EMBO J 2014; 33:1256-70. [PMID: 24797474 PMCID: PMC4198028 DOI: 10.1002/embj.201387330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2013] [Revised: 04/08/2014] [Accepted: 04/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The cohesin complex is essential for mitosis and meiosis. The specific meiotic roles of individual cohesin proteins are incompletely understood. We report in vivo functions of the only meiosis-specific STAG component of cohesin, STAG3. Newly generated STAG3-deficient mice of both sexes are sterile with meiotic arrest. In these mice, meiotic chromosome architecture is severely disrupted as no bona fide axial elements (AE) form and homologous chromosomes do not synapse. Axial element protein SYCP3 forms dot-like structures, many partially overlapping with centromeres. Asynapsis marker HORMAD1 is diffusely distributed throughout the chromatin, and SYCP1, which normally marks synapsed axes, is largely absent. Centromeric and telomeric sister chromatid cohesion are impaired. Centromere and telomere clustering occurs in the absence of STAG3, and telomere structure is not severely affected. Other cohesin proteins are present, localize throughout the STAG3-devoid chromatin, and form complexes with cohesin SMC1β. No other deficiency in a single meiosis-specific cohesin causes a phenotype as drastic as STAG3 deficiency. STAG3 emerges as the key STAG cohesin involved in major functions of meiotic cohesin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan Winters
- Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Institute of Physiological Chemistry Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Francois McNicoll
- Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Institute of Physiological Chemistry Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Rolf Jessberger
- Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Institute of Physiological Chemistry Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
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Daniel K, Tränkner D, Wojtasz L, Shibuya H, Watanabe Y, Alsheimer M, Tóth A. Mouse CCDC79 (TERB1) is a meiosis-specific telomere associated protein. BMC Cell Biol 2014; 15:17. [PMID: 24885367 PMCID: PMC4038382 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2121-15-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2013] [Accepted: 05/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Telomeres have crucial meiosis-specific roles in the orderly reduction of chromosome numbers and in ensuring the integrity of the genome during meiosis. One such role is the attachment of telomeres to trans-nuclear envelope protein complexes that connect telomeres to motor proteins in the cytoplasm. These trans-nuclear envelope connections between telomeres and cytoplasmic motor proteins permit the active movement of telomeres and chromosomes during the first meiotic prophase. Movements of chromosomes/telomeres facilitate the meiotic recombination process, and allow high fidelity pairing of homologous chromosomes. Pairing of homologous chromosomes is a prerequisite for their correct segregation during the first meiotic division. Although inner-nuclear envelope proteins, such as SUN1 and potentially SUN2, are known to bind and recruit meiotic telomeres, these proteins are not meiosis-specific, therefore cannot solely account for telomere-nuclear envelope attachment and/or for other meiosis-specific characteristics of telomeres in mammals. Results We identify CCDC79, alternatively named TERB1, as a meiosis-specific protein that localizes to telomeres from leptotene to diplotene stages of the first meiotic prophase. CCDC79 and SUN1 associate with telomeres almost concurrently at the onset of prophase, indicating a possible role for CCDC79 in telomere-nuclear envelope interactions and/or telomere movements. Consistent with this scenario, CCDC79 is missing from most telomeres that fail to connect to SUN1 protein in spermatocytes lacking the meiosis-specific cohesin SMC1B. SMC1B-deficient spermatocytes display both reduced efficiency in telomere-nuclear envelope attachment and reduced stability of telomeres specifically during meiotic prophase. Importantly, CCDC79 associates with telomeres in SUN1-deficient spermatocytes, which strongly indicates that localization of CCDC79 to telomeres does not require telomere-nuclear envelope attachment. Conclusion CCDC79 is a meiosis-specific telomere associated protein. Based on our findings we propose that CCDC79 plays a role in meiosis-specific telomere functions. In particular, we favour the possibility that CCDC79 is involved in telomere-nuclear envelope attachment and/or the stabilization of meiotic telomeres. These conclusions are consistent with the findings of an independently initiated study that analysed CCDC79/TERB1 functions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Attila Tóth
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry, Technische Universität Dresden, Fiedlerstr, 42, Dresden 01307, Germany.
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Mania A, Mantzouratou A, Delhanty JD, Baio G, Serhal P, Sengupta SB. Telomere length in human blastocysts. Reprod Biomed Online 2014; 28:624-37. [DOI: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2013.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2013] [Revised: 12/10/2013] [Accepted: 12/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Martinerie L, Manterola M, Chung SSW, Panigrahi SK, Weisbach M, Vasileva A, Geng Y, Sicinski P, Wolgemuth DJ. Mammalian E-type cyclins control chromosome pairing, telomere stability and CDK2 localization in male meiosis. PLoS Genet 2014; 10:e1004165. [PMID: 24586195 PMCID: PMC3937215 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2013] [Accepted: 12/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss of function of cyclin E1 or E2, important regulators of the mitotic cell cycle, yields viable mice, but E2-deficient males display reduced fertility. To elucidate the role of E-type cyclins during spermatogenesis, we characterized their expression patterns and produced additional deletions of Ccne1 and Ccne2 alleles in the germline, revealing unexpected meiotic functions. While Ccne2 mRNA and protein are abundantly expressed in spermatocytes, Ccne1 mRNA is present but its protein is detected only at low levels. However, abundant levels of cyclin E1 protein are detected in spermatocytes deficient in cyclin E2 protein. Additional depletion of E-type cyclins in the germline resulted in increasingly enhanced spermatogenic abnormalities and corresponding decreased fertility and loss of germ cells by apoptosis. Profound meiotic defects were observed in spermatocytes, including abnormal pairing and synapsis of homologous chromosomes, heterologous chromosome associations, unrepaired double-strand DNA breaks, disruptions in telomeric structure and defects in cyclin-dependent-kinase 2 localization. These results highlight a new role for E-type cyclins as important regulators of male meiosis. Understanding the control of meiosis is fundamental to deciphering the origin of male infertility. Although the mechanisms controlling meiosis are poorly understood, key regulators of mitosis, such as cyclins, appear to be critical. In this regard, male mice deficient for cyclin E2 exhibit subfertility and defects in spermatogenesis; however, neither the stages of germ cell differentiation affected nor the responsible mechanisms are known. We investigated how E-type cyclins control male meiosis by examining their expression in spermatogenesis and the consequences that multiple deletions of Ccne1 and Ccne2 alleles produce. Loss of Ccne2 expression increases cyclin E1 levels as a compensatory effect, but there are still meiotic defects and subfertility. Further, loss of one Ccne1 allele in the absence of cyclin E2 results in infertility as does loss of the remaining Ccne1 allele, but with even more severe meiotic abnormalities. We further found that cyclin E1 is involved in sex chromosome synapsis while E2 is involved with homologous pairing and chromosome and telomere integrity. These processes and structures were severely disrupted in absence of both cyclin E1 and E2, uncovering new roles for the E-type cyclins in regulating male meiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laetitia Martinerie
- Departments of Genetics & Development, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Marcia Manterola
- Departments of Genetics & Development, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Sanny S W Chung
- Departments of Genetics & Development, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Sunil K Panigrahi
- Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Melissa Weisbach
- Departments of Genetics & Development, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Ana Vasileva
- Departments of Genetics & Development, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America ; Center for Radiological Research, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Yan Geng
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School and Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Peter Sicinski
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School and Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Debra J Wolgemuth
- Departments of Genetics & Development, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America ; Obstetrics & Gynecology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America ; Institute of Human Nutrition, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York, United States of America
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Zamariola L, Tiang CL, De Storme N, Pawlowski W, Geelen D. Chromosome segregation in plant meiosis. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2014; 5:279. [PMID: 24987397 PMCID: PMC4060054 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2014.00279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Faithful chromosome segregation in meiosis is essential for ploidy stability over sexual life cycles. In plants, defective chromosome segregation caused by gene mutations or other factors leads to the formation of unbalanced or unreduced gametes creating aneuploid or polyploid progeny, respectively. Accurate segregation requires the coordinated execution of conserved processes occurring throughout the two meiotic cell divisions. Synapsis and recombination ensure the establishment of chiasmata that hold homologous chromosomes together allowing their correct segregation in the first meiotic division, which is also tightly regulated by cell-cycle dependent release of cohesin and monopolar attachment of sister kinetochores to microtubules. In meiosis II, bi-orientation of sister kinetochores and proper spindle orientation correctly segregate chromosomes in four haploid cells. Checkpoint mechanisms acting at kinetochores control the accuracy of kinetochore-microtubule attachment, thus ensuring the completion of segregation. Here we review the current knowledge on the processes taking place during chromosome segregation in plant meiosis, focusing on the characterization of the molecular factors involved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Zamariola
- Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of GhentGhent, Belgium
| | - Choon Lin Tiang
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Nico De Storme
- Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of GhentGhent, Belgium
| | - Wojtek Pawlowski
- Department of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Danny Geelen
- Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of GhentGhent, Belgium
- *Correspondence: Danny Geelen, Department of Plant Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, University of Ghent, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Ghent, Belgium e-mail:
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Ferlin A, Rampazzo E, Rocca MS, Keppel S, Frigo AC, De Rossi A, Foresta C. In young men sperm telomere length is related to sperm number and parental age. Hum Reprod 2013; 28:3370-6. [DOI: 10.1093/humrep/det392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
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Giraud-Panis MJ, Pisano S, Benarroch-Popivker D, Pei B, Le Du MH, Gilson E. One identity or more for telomeres? Front Oncol 2013; 3:48. [PMID: 23509004 PMCID: PMC3598436 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2013.00048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2012] [Accepted: 02/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A major issue in telomere research is to understand how the integrity of chromosome ends is controlled. The fact that different types of nucleoprotein complexes have been described at the telomeres of different organisms raises the question of whether they have in common a structural identity that explains their role in chromosome protection. We will review here how telomeric nucleoprotein complexes are structured, comparing different organisms and trying to link these structures to telomere biology. It emerges that telomeres are formed by a complex and specific network of interactions between DNA, RNA, and proteins. The fact that these interactions and associated activities are reinforcing each other might help to guarantee the robustness of telomeric functions across the cell cycle and in the event of cellular perturbations. We will also discuss the recent notion that telomeres have evolved specific systems to overcome the DNA topological stress generated during their replication and transcription. This will lead to revisit the way we envisage the functioning of telomeric complexes since the regulation of topology is central to DNA stability, replication, recombination, and transcription as well as to chromosome higher-order organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Josèphe Giraud-Panis
- Faculté de Médecine de Nice, Université de Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging Nice, UMR 7284 CNRS, U1081 INSERM Nice, France
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43
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San Martin JAB, de Jesus Andrade CGT, Mastroberti AA, de Araújo Mariath JE, Vanzela ALL. Asymmetric cytokinesis guide the development of pseudomonads in Rhynchospora pubera (Cyperaceae). Cell Biol Int 2013; 37:203-12. [PMID: 23348893 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.10028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2012] [Accepted: 12/06/2012] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The late stages of microsporogenesis in the family Cyperaceae are marked by the formation of an asymmetrical tetrad, degeneration of three of the four nuclei resulting from meiosis and the formation of pseudomonads. In order to understand the cytological changes involved in the development of pseudomonads, a combination of 11 different techniques (conventional staining, cytochemistry procedures, immunofluorescence, FISH and transmission electron microscopy: TEM) were used to study the later stages of microsporogenesis in Rhynchospora pubera. The results demonstrated the occurrence of two cytoplasmic domains in the pseudomonads, one functional and the other degenerative, which are physically and asymmetrically separated by cell plate with an endomembrane system rich in polysaccharides. Other changes associated with endomembrane behaviour were observed, such as a large number of lipid droplets, vacuoles containing electron-dense material and concentric layers of endoplasmic reticulum. Concomitant with the isolation of degenerative nuclei, the tapetal cells also showed evidence of degeneration, indicating that both tissues under programmed cell death (PCD), as indicated by immunofluorescence and TEM procedures. The results are significant because they associate cellular polarisation and asymmetry with different cytoplasmic domains, and hence open new possibilities for studying cellular compartmentalisation and PCD.
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Abstract
PURPOSE Telomeres are multifunctional nucleoprotein domains with hexanucleotide tandem repeat (5' TTAGGG 3') sequences, which cap the chromosome ends. However, the role of telomere and its length in sperm with regard to fertility remains unknown. METHODS In this pilot study, we analyzed 32 idiopathic infertile men and 25 controls for sperm telomere length by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Q-PCR), and correlated it with sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. RESULTS The relative sperm mean telomere length (T/S) of infertile men was found to be significantly lower (p < 0.005) when compared to controls (0.674 ± 0.028 vs. 0.699 ± 0.030). None of the sperm parameters such as sperm count, forward motility, morphology, ROS, and DFI were found to correlate with the sperm telomere length. CONCLUSION Shorter telomeres in sperm may be one of the causative factors responsible for male infertility, but further detailed studies are needed to confirm these findings.
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Reig-Viader R, Brieno-Enriquez MA, Khouriauli L, Toran N, Cabero L, Giulotto E, Garcia-Caldes M, Ruiz-Herrera A. Telomeric repeat-containing RNA and telomerase in human fetal oocytes. Hum Reprod 2012; 28:414-22. [DOI: 10.1093/humrep/des363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
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Thilagavathi J, Venkatesh S, Dada R. Telomere length in reproduction. Andrologia 2012; 45:289-304. [DOI: 10.1111/and.12008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- J. Thilagavathi
- Laboratory for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics; Department of Anatomy; All India Institute of Medical Sciences; New Delhi; India
| | - S. Venkatesh
- Laboratory for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics; Department of Anatomy; All India Institute of Medical Sciences; New Delhi; India
| | - R. Dada
- Laboratory for Molecular Reproduction and Genetics; Department of Anatomy; All India Institute of Medical Sciences; New Delhi; India
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Lake CM, Hawley RS. The molecular control of meiotic chromosomal behavior: events in early meiotic prophase in Drosophila oocytes. Annu Rev Physiol 2012; 74:425-51. [PMID: 22335798 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-020911-153342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
We review the critical events in early meiotic prophase in Drosophila melanogaster oocytes. We focus on four aspects of this process: the formation of the synaptonemal complex (SC) and its role in maintaining homologous chromosome pairings, the critical roles of the meiosis-specific process of centromere clustering in the formation of a full-length SC, the mechanisms by which preprogrammed double-strand breaks initiate meiotic recombination, and the checkpoints that govern the progression and coordination of these processes. Central to this discussion are the roles that somatic pairing events play in establishing the necessary conditions for proper SC formation, the roles of centromere pairing in synapsis initiation, and the mechanisms by which oocytes detect failures in SC formation and/or recombination. Finally, we correlate what is known in Drosophila oocytes with our understanding of these processes in other systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathleen M Lake
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri 64110, USA.
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Seo HJ, Lee SK, Baik HW, Cheon YP, Chun TH, Choi IH, Lee KH. Expressional Profiling of Telomerase and Telomere-Associated Molecules in the Rat Testis and Seminal Vesicle during Postnatal Developmental Period. JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2011. [DOI: 10.5187/jast.2011.53.3.195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Yang H, Lu P, Wang Y, Ma H. The transcriptome landscape of Arabidopsis male meiocytes from high-throughput sequencing: the complexity and evolution of the meiotic process. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2011; 65:503-16. [PMID: 21208307 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-313x.2010.04439.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Meiosis is essential for eukaryotic sexual reproduction, with two consecutive rounds of nuclear divisions, allowing production of haploid gametes. Information regarding the meiotic transcriptome should provide valuable clues about global expression patterns and detailed gene activities. Here we used RNA sequencing to explore the transcriptome of a single plant cell type, the Arabidopsis male meiocyte, detecting the expression of approximately 20 000 genes. Transcription of introns of >400 genes was observed, suggesting previously unannotated exons. More than 800 genes may be preferentially expressed in meiocytes, including known meiotic genes. Of the 3378 Pfam gene families in the Arabidopsis genome, 3265 matched meiocyte-expressed genes, and 18 gene families were over-represented in male meiocytes, including transcription factor and other regulatory gene families. Expression was detected for many genes thought to encode meiosis-related proteins, including MutS homologs (MSHs), kinesins and ATPases. We identified more than 1000 orthologous gene clusters that are also expressed in meiotic cells of mouse and fission yeast, including 503 single-copy genes across the three organisms, with a greater number of gene clusters shared between Arabidopsis and mouse than either share with yeast. Interestingly, approximately 5% transposable element genes were apparently transcribed in male meiocytes, with a positive correlation to the transcription of neighboring genes. In summary, our RNA-Seq transcriptome data provide an overview of gene expression in male meiocytes and invaluable information for future functional studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxing Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Institute of Plant Biology, Center for Evolutionary Biology, School of Sciences, Fudan University, 220 Handan Road, Shanghai 200433, China
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Abstract
Sister chromatids are held together from the time of their formation in S phase until they segregate in anaphase by the cohesin complex. In meiosis of most organisms, the mitotic Mcd1/Scc1/Rad21 subunit of the cohesin complex is largely replaced by its paralog named Rec8. This article reviews the specialized functions of Rec8 that are crucial for diverse aspects of chromosome dynamics in meiosis, and presents some speculations relating to meiotic chromosome organization.
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