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Liu CY, Chen CC, Chiang LH, Yang BH, Chang TC, Tsao CW. Hirsutella sinensis intensifies testicular function and spermatogenesis in male mice with high-fat diet-induced obesity. J Chin Med Assoc 2024; 87:765-773. [PMID: 38946025 DOI: 10.1097/jcma.0000000000001128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hirsutella sinensis (HS) is a mycelium isolated from the fruiting body of the medicinal mushroom Cordyceps sinensis . This study explored whether HS treatment affects reproductive dysfunction in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced mouse model and regulates various mechanisms, focusing on oxidative stress, apoptosis, inflammation, and autophagy. METHODS Twenty-four C57BL/6J (B6) mice were randomly divided into a standard chow diet (NCD)- or HFD-fed group for 24 weeks. During the final 8 weeks, half of the HFD-fed mice were orally administered HS (HFD + HS). Biochemical markers, including glucose, insulin, triglycerides, and total cholesterol, were assessed, and hormones, including testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH), were analyzed. Liver and testicular histology, as well as sperm quality markers such as sperm motility, sperm count, and percentage of sperm with normal morphology, were observed. The activities of the testicular antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and the products of lipid peroxidation, such as malondialdehyde (MDA), were measured. The protein expression levels of apoptosis-, autophagy- and inflammation-related markers were measured. RESULTS The HFD-fed mice had abnormal sex hormone levels, poor sperm quality, and a destroyed testicular structure, with increased oxidative stress and apoptosis in the testis. HS supplementation in HFD-fed mice attenuated testicular apoptosis by suppressing the Bax/Bcl-xl ratio and cleaved caspase 3 protein expression. The HS-treated mice exhibited improved reproductive function, possibly due to reduced oxidative stress and apoptosis, suggesting that HS has a protective effect against HFD-induced testicular damage. CONCLUSION Male mice supplemented with HS exhibited attenuated poor semen quality and reduced testosterone levels brought about by HFD-induced obesity by reducing oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin-Yu Liu
- Department of Nutritional Science, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chin-Chu Chen
- Biotech Research Institute, Grape King Bio Ltd., Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Nutraceutical Biotechnology, Shih Chien University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Bioscience Technology, Chung Yuan Christian University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Lynn-Huey Chiang
- Biotech Research Institute, Grape King Bio Ltd., Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Bi-Hua Yang
- Biotech Research Institute, Grape King Bio Ltd., Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Ting-Chia Chang
- Department of Nutritional Science, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chih-Wei Tsao
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC
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Diep DTV, Collado J, Hugenroth M, Fausten RM, Percifull L, Wälte M, Schuberth C, Schmidt O, Fernández-Busnadiego R, Bohnert M. A metabolically controlled contact site between vacuoles and lipid droplets in yeast. Dev Cell 2024; 59:740-758.e10. [PMID: 38367622 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.01.016] [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: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
The lipid droplet (LD) organization proteins Ldo16 and Ldo45 affect multiple aspects of LD biology in yeast. They are linked to the LD biogenesis machinery seipin, and their loss causes defects in LD positioning, protein targeting, and breakdown. However, their molecular roles remained enigmatic. Here, we report that Ldo16/45 form a tether complex with Vac8 to create vacuole lipid droplet (vCLIP) contact sites, which can form in the absence of seipin. The phosphatidylinositol transfer protein (PITP) Pdr16 is a further vCLIP-resident recruited specifically by Ldo45. While only an LD subpopulation is engaged in vCLIPs at glucose-replete conditions, nutrient deprivation results in vCLIP expansion, and vCLIP defects impair lipophagy upon prolonged starvation. In summary, Ldo16/45 are multifunctional proteins that control the formation of a metabolically regulated contact site. Our studies suggest a link between LD biogenesis and breakdown and contribute to a deeper understanding of how lipid homeostasis is maintained during metabolic challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duy Trong Vien Diep
- Institute of Cell Dynamics and Imaging, University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Strasse 56, 48149 Münster, Germany; Cells in Motion Interfaculty Centre (CiM), University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Javier Collado
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37099 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marie Hugenroth
- Institute of Cell Dynamics and Imaging, University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Strasse 56, 48149 Münster, Germany; Cells in Motion Interfaculty Centre (CiM), University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Rebecca Martina Fausten
- Institute of Cell Dynamics and Imaging, University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Strasse 56, 48149 Münster, Germany; Cells in Motion Interfaculty Centre (CiM), University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Louis Percifull
- Institute of Cell Dynamics and Imaging, University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Strasse 56, 48149 Münster, Germany; Cells in Motion Interfaculty Centre (CiM), University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Mike Wälte
- Institute of Cell Dynamics and Imaging, University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Strasse 56, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Christian Schuberth
- Institute of Cell Dynamics and Imaging, University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Strasse 56, 48149 Münster, Germany; Cells in Motion Interfaculty Centre (CiM), University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Oliver Schmidt
- Institute of Cell Biology, Biocenter Innsbruck, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Rubén Fernández-Busnadiego
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37099 Göttingen, Germany; Cluster of Excellence "Multiscale Imaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells" (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Faculty of Physics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen 37077, Germany
| | - Maria Bohnert
- Institute of Cell Dynamics and Imaging, University of Münster, Von-Esmarch-Strasse 56, 48149 Münster, Germany; Cells in Motion Interfaculty Centre (CiM), University of Münster, Münster, Germany.
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3
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Hu Y, Shen M, Wang C, Huang Q, Li R, Dorj G, Gombojav E, Du J, Ren L. A meta-analysis-based adverse outcome pathway for the male reproductive toxicity induced by microplastics and nanoplastics in mammals. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133375. [PMID: 38160553 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.133375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
The male reproductive toxicity of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) has attracted great attention, but the latent mechanisms remain fragmented. This review performed the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) analysis and meta-analysis in 39 relevant studies, with the AOP analysis to reveal the cause-and-effect relationships of MPs/NPs-induced male reproductive toxicity and the meta-analysis to quantify the toxic effects. In the AOP framework, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) is the molecular initiating event (MIE), which triggered several key events (KEs) at different levels. At the cellular level, the KEs included oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, sperm DNA damage, endoplasmic reticulum stress, apoptosis and autophagy of testicular cells, repressed expression of steroidogenic enzymes and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein, disrupted hypothalamic-pituitary-testicular (HPT) axis, and gut microbiota alteration. These KEs further induced the reduction of testosterone, impaired blood-testis barrier (BTB), testicular inflammation, and impaired spermatogenesis at tissue/organ levels. Ultimately, decreased sperm quality or quantity was noted and proved by meta-analysis, which demonstrated that MPs/NPs led to a decrease of 5.99 million/mL in sperm concentration, 14.62% in sperm motility, and 23.56% in sperm viability, while causing an increase of 10.65% in sperm abnormality rate. Overall, this is the first AOP for MPs/NPs-mediated male reproductive toxicity in mammals. The innovative integration of meta-analysis into the AOP analysis increases the rigorism of the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinchu Hu
- School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Meidi Shen
- School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Chongkun Wang
- School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Qifang Huang
- School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Ruiqiong Li
- School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Gantuya Dorj
- School of Public Health, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar 14210, Mongolia
| | - Enkhjargal Gombojav
- School of Public Health, Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences, Ulaanbaatar 14210, Mongolia
| | - Jiwei Du
- Nursing Department, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen 518040, China
| | - Lihua Ren
- School of Nursing, Peking University, Beijing 100191, China.
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4
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Kotani T, Yasuda Y, Nakatogawa H. Molecular Mechanism of Autophagy, Cytoplasmic Zoning by Lipid Membranes. J Biochem 2024; 175:155-165. [PMID: 37983716 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvad099] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Autophagy is a highly conserved intracellular degradation mechanism. The most distinctive feature of autophagy is the formation of double-membrane structures called autophagosomes, which compartmentalize portions of the cytoplasm. The outer membrane of the autophagosome fuses with the vacuolar/lysosomal membrane, leading to the degradation of the contents of the autophagosome. Approximately 30 years have passed since the identification of autophagy-related (ATG) genes and Atg proteins essential for autophagosome formation, and the primary functions of these Atg proteins have been elucidated. These achievements have significantly advanced our understanding of the mechanism of autophagosome formation. This article summarizes our current knowledge on how the autophagosome precursor is generated, and how the membrane expands and seals to complete the autophagosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuya Kotani
- Cell Biology Center, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, S2-14 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8501, Japan
| | - Yuri Yasuda
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, S2-14 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8501, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Nakatogawa
- Cell Biology Center, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, S2-14 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8501, Japan
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, S2-14 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8501, Japan
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5
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Samare-Najaf M, Neisy A, Samareh A, Moghadam D, Jamali N, Zarei R, Zal F. The constructive and destructive impact of autophagy on both genders' reproducibility, a comprehensive review. Autophagy 2023; 19:3033-3061. [PMID: 37505071 PMCID: PMC10621263 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2023.2238577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Reproduction is characterized by a series of massive renovations at molecular, cellular, and tissue levels. Recent studies have strongly tended to reveal the involvement of basic molecular pathways such as autophagy, a highly conserved eukaryotic cellular recycling, during reproductive processes. This review comprehensively describes the current knowledge, updated to September 2022, of autophagy contribution during reproductive processes in males including spermatogenesis, sperm motility and viability, and male sex hormones and females including germ cells and oocytes viability, ovulation, implantation, fertilization, and female sex hormones. Furthermore, the consequences of disruption in autophagic flux on the reproductive disorders including oligospermia, azoospermia, asthenozoospermia, teratozoospermia, globozoospermia, premature ovarian insufficiency, polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, and other disorders related to infertility are discussed as well.Abbreviations: AKT/protein kinase B: AKT serine/threonine kinase; AMPK: AMP-activated protein kinase; ATG: autophagy related; E2: estrogen; EDs: endocrine disruptors; ER: endoplasmic reticulum; FSH: follicle stimulating hormone; FOX: forkhead box; GCs: granulosa cells; HIF: hypoxia inducible factor; IVF: in vitro fertilization; IVM: in vitro maturation; LCs: Leydig cells; LDs: lipid droplets; LH: luteinizing hormone; LRWD1: leucine rich repeats and WD repeat domain containing 1; MAP1LC3: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3; MAPK: mitogen-activated protein kinase; MTOR: mechanistic target of rapamycin kinase; NFKB/NF-kB: nuclear factor kappa B; P4: progesterone; PCOS: polycystic ovarian syndrome; PDLIM1: PDZ and LIM domain 1; PI3K: phosphoinositide 3-kinase; PtdIns3P: phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate; PtdIns3K: class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase; POI: premature ovarian insufficiency; ROS: reactive oxygen species; SCs: Sertoli cells; SQSTM1/p62: sequestosome 1; TSGA10: testis specific 10; TST: testosterone; VCP: vasolin containing protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Samare-Najaf
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Blood Transfusion Research Center, High Institute for Research and Education in Transfusion Medicine, Kerman Regional Blood Transfusion Center, Kerman, Iran
| | - Asma Neisy
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Ali Samareh
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Delaram Moghadam
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Navid Jamali
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Sirjan School of Medical Sciences, Sirjan, Iran
| | - Reza Zarei
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Zal
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Infertility Research Centre, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
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Hitomi K, Kotani T, Noda NN, Kimura Y, Nakatogawa H. The Atg1 complex, Atg9, and Vac8 recruit PI3K complex I to the pre-autophagosomal structure. J Cell Biol 2023; 222:e202210017. [PMID: 37436710 PMCID: PMC10337603 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202210017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
In macroautophagy, cellular components are sequestered within autophagosomes and transported to lysosomes/vacuoles for degradation. Although phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex I (PI3KCI) plays a pivotal role in the regulation of autophagosome biogenesis, little is known about how this complex localizes to the pre-autophagosomal structure (PAS). In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, PI3KCI is composed of PI3K Vps34 and conserved subunits Vps15, Vps30, Atg14, and Atg38. In this study, we discover that PI3KCI interacts with the vacuolar membrane anchor Vac8, the PAS scaffold Atg1 complex, and the pre-autophagosomal vesicle component Atg9 via the Atg14 C-terminal region, the Atg38 C-terminal region, and the Vps30 BARA domain, respectively. While the Atg14-Vac8 interaction is constitutive, the Atg38-Atg1 complex interaction and the Vps30-Atg9 interaction are enhanced upon macroautophagy induction depending on Atg1 kinase activity. These interactions cooperate to target PI3KCI to the PAS. These findings provide a molecular basis for PAS targeting of PI3KCI during autophagosome biogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanae Hitomi
- Cell Biology Center, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Kotani
- Cell Biology Center, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Nobuo N. Noda
- Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
| | - Yayoi Kimura
- Advanced Medical Research Center, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Nakatogawa
- Cell Biology Center, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan
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Liu S, Chen M, Wang Y, Lei Y, Huang T, Zhang Y, Lam SM, Li H, Qi S, Geng J, Lu K. The ER calcium channel Csg2 integrates sphingolipid metabolism with autophagy. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3725. [PMID: 37349354 PMCID: PMC10287731 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39482-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Sphingolipids are ubiquitous components of membranes and function as bioactive lipid signaling molecules. Here, through genetic screening and lipidomics analyses, we find that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) calcium channel Csg2 integrates sphingolipid metabolism with autophagy by regulating ER calcium homeostasis in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Csg2 functions as a calcium release channel and maintains calcium homeostasis in the ER, which enables normal functioning of the essential sphingolipid synthase Aur1. Under starvation conditions, deletion of Csg2 causes increases in calcium levels in the ER and then disturbs Aur1 stability, leading to accumulation of the bioactive sphingolipid phytosphingosine, which specifically and completely blocks autophagy and induces loss of starvation resistance in cells. Our findings indicate that calcium homeostasis in the ER mediated by the channel Csg2 translates sphingolipid metabolism into autophagy regulation, further supporting the role of the ER as a signaling hub for calcium homeostasis, sphingolipid metabolism and autophagy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyan Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Mutian Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Med-X Center for Manufacturing, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, City of Future Medicine, Chengdu, 641400, China
| | - Yichang Wang
- Department of Urology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yuqing Lei
- Department of Pathology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Ting Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yabin Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Sin Man Lam
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- LipidALL Technologies Company Limited, Changzhou, 213022, China
| | - Huihui Li
- Department of Pathology, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Shiqian Qi
- Department of Urology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Jia Geng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Med-X Center for Manufacturing, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
- Tianfu Jincheng Laboratory, City of Future Medicine, Chengdu, 641400, China.
| | - Kefeng Lu
- Department of Neurosurgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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Kirat D, Alahwany AM, Arisha AH, Abdelkhalek A, Miyasho T. Role of Macroautophagy in Mammalian Male Reproductive Physiology. Cells 2023; 12:cells12091322. [PMID: 37174722 PMCID: PMC10177121 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Physiologically, autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved and self-degradative process in cells. Autophagy carries out normal physiological roles throughout mammalian life. Accumulating evidence shows autophagy as a mechanism for cellular growth, development, differentiation, survival, and homeostasis. In male reproductive systems, normal spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis need a balance between degradation and energy supply to preserve cellular metabolic homeostasis. The main process of autophagy includes the formation and maturation of the phagophore, autophagosome, and autolysosome. Autophagy is controlled by a group of autophagy-related genes that form the core machinery of autophagy. Three types of autophagy mechanisms have been discovered in mammalian cells: macroautophagy, microautophagy, and chaperone-mediated autophagy. Autophagy is classified as non-selective or selective. Non-selective macroautophagy randomly engulfs the cytoplasmic components in autophagosomes that are degraded by lysosomal enzymes. While selective macroautophagy precisely identifies and degrades a specific element, current findings have shown the novel functional roles of autophagy in male reproduction. It has been recognized that dysfunction in the autophagy process can be associated with male infertility. Overall, this review provides an overview of the cellular and molecular basics of autophagy and summarizes the latest findings on the key role of autophagy in mammalian male reproductive physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doaa Kirat
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Mohamed Alahwany
- Department of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Cairo, Badr City 11829, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Hamed Arisha
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
- Department of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Cairo, Badr City 11829, Egypt
| | - Adel Abdelkhalek
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Cairo, Badr City 11829, Egypt
| | - Taku Miyasho
- Laboratory of Animal Biological Responses, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido 069-8501, Japan
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Wen Y, Wang X, Zheng R, Dai S, Li J, Yang Y, Shen Y. Sequencing of the ZMYND15 gene in a cohort of infertile Chinese men reveals novel mutations in patients with teratozoospermia. J Med Genet 2023; 60:380-390. [PMID: 35973810 DOI: 10.1136/jmg-2022-108727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The information of ZMYND15 in human reproduction is very limited, resulting in the unclear link between ZMYND15 variants and male infertility. METHODS Whole exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing to identify the potential pathogenic variation of ZMYND15 in infertile men, Papanicolaou staining and electron microscopy to investigate the spermatozoa morphology, western blotting and immunofluorescence staining to confirm the pathogenicity of the identified variants, and proteomic analysis and coimmunoprecipitation to clarify the potential molecular mechanism. RESULTS A total of 31 ZMYND15 variants were identified in 227 infertile patients. Three deleterious biallelic variants, including a novel compound heterozygous variant of c.1105delG (p.A369Qfs*15) and c.1853T>C (p.F618S), a new homozygous splicing mutation of c.1297+5G>A and a reported homozygous nonsense mutation of c.1209T>A (p.Y403*), were detected in three affected individuals with oligoasthenoteratozoospermia, showing a biallelic pathogenic mutation frequency of 1.3% (3/227). No biallelic pathogenic mutation was found in 692 fertile men. Morphology analysis showed abnormalities in sperm morphology in the patients harbouring ZMYND15 mutations. Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining confirmed the nearly absent ZMYND15 expression in the sperm of the patients. Mechanistically, ZMYND15 might regulate spermatogenesis by interacting with key molecules involved in sperm development, such as DPY19L2, AKAP4 and FSIP2, and might also mediate the expression of the autophagy-associated protein SPATA33 to maintain sperm individualisation and unnecessary cytoplasm removal. CONCLUSION Our findings broaden the variant and phenotype spectrum of ZMYND15 in male infertility, and reveal the potential signalling pathway of ZMYND15 regulating spermatogenesis, finally confirming the essential role of ZMYND15 in human fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Wen
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Joint Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (SCU-CUHK), Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Joint Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (SCU-CUHK), Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Rui Zheng
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Joint Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (SCU-CUHK), Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Siyu Dai
- Medical Genetics Department/Prenatal Diagnostic Center, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jinhui Li
- Department of Neonatology, Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yihong Yang
- Reproduction Medical Center of West China Second University Hospital, Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ying Shen
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Joint Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (SCU-CUHK), Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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10
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RpS3 Is Required for Spermatogenesis of Drosophila melanogaster. Cells 2023; 12:cells12040573. [PMID: 36831240 PMCID: PMC9954509 DOI: 10.3390/cells12040573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Ribosomal proteins (RPs) constitute the ribosome, thus participating in the protein biosynthesis process. Emerging studies have suggested that many RPs exhibit different expression levels across various tissues and function in a context-dependent manner for animal development. Drosophila melanogaster RpS3 encodes the ribosomal protein S3, one component of the 40S subunit of ribosomes. We found that RpS3 is highly expressed in the reproductive organs of adult flies and its depletion in male germline cells led to severe defects in sperm production and male fertility. Immunofluorescence staining showed that RpS3 knockdown had little effect on early germ cell differentiation, but strongly disrupted the spermatid elongation and individualization processes. Furthermore, we observed abnormal morphology and activity of mitochondrial derivatives in the elongating spermatids of RpS3-knockdown testes, which could cause the failure of axoneme elongation. We also found that RpS3 RNAi inhibited the formation of the individualization complex that takes charge of disassociating the spermatid bundle. In addition, excessive apoptotic cells were detected in the RpS3-knockdown testes, possibly to clean the defective spermatids. Together, our data demonstrated that RpS3 plays an important role in regulating spermatid elongation and individualization processes and, therefore, is required for normal Drosophila spermatogenesis.
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11
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Capitanio C, Bieber A, Wilfling F. How Membrane Contact Sites Shape the Phagophore. CONTACT (THOUSAND OAKS (VENTURA COUNTY, CALIF.)) 2023; 6:25152564231162495. [PMID: 37366413 PMCID: PMC10243513 DOI: 10.1177/25152564231162495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
During macroautophagy, phagophores establish multiple membrane contact sites (MCSs) with other organelles that are pivotal for proper phagophore assembly and growth. In S. cerevisiae, phagophore contacts have been observed with the vacuole, the ER, and lipid droplets. In situ imaging studies have greatly advanced our understanding of the structure and function of these sites. Here, we discuss how in situ structural methods like cryo-CLEM can give unprecedented insights into MCSs, and how they help to elucidate the structural arrangements of MCSs within cells. We further summarize the current knowledge of the contact sites in autophagy, focusing on autophagosome biogenesis in the model organism S. cerevisiae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Capitanio
- Department of Molecular Machines and
Signaling, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP)
Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Anna Bieber
- Department of Molecular Machines and
Signaling, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP)
Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Florian Wilfling
- Mechanisms of Cellular Quality Control, Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Frankfurt a. M., Germany
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12
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Zwilling E, Reggiori F. Membrane Contact Sites in Autophagy. Cells 2022; 11:cells11233813. [PMID: 36497073 PMCID: PMC9735501 DOI: 10.3390/cells11233813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotes utilize different communication strategies to coordinate processes between different cellular compartments either indirectly, through vesicular transport, or directly, via membrane contact sites (MCSs). MCSs have been implicated in lipid metabolism, calcium signaling and the regulation of organelle biogenesis in various cell types. Several studies have shown that MCSs play a crucial role in the regulation of macroautophagy, an intracellular catabolic transport route that is characterized by the delivery of cargoes (proteins, protein complexes or aggregates, organelles and pathogens) to yeast and plant vacuoles or mammalian lysosomes, for their degradation and recycling into basic metabolites. Macroautophagy is characterized by the de novo formation of double-membrane vesicles called autophagosomes, and their biogenesis requires an enormous amount of lipids. MCSs appear to have a central role in this supply, as well as in the organization of the autophagy-related (ATG) machinery. In this review, we will summarize the evidence for the participation of specific MCSs in autophagosome formation, with a focus on the budding yeast and mammalian systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Zwilling
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Allé 4, 8000C Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Fulvio Reggiori
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Ole Worms Allé 4, 8000C Aarhus, Denmark
- Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies (AIAS), Aarhus University, Høegh-Guldbergs Gade 6B, 8000C Aarhus, Denmark
- Correspondence:
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13
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Role of autophagy in male and female fertility. CURRENT OPINION IN PHYSIOLOGY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cophys.2022.100611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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14
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Wu Y, Li H, Zhao X, Baki G, Ma C, Yao Y, Li J, Yao Y, Wang L. Differential expression of circRNAs of testes with high and low sperm motility in Yili geese. Front Genet 2022; 13:970097. [PMID: 36226183 PMCID: PMC9548634 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.970097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore the potential biological function of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the sperm motility traits of Xinjiang Yili geese, and to provide a reference for analyzing the mechanism of regulation of Yili geese sperm motility. The 10 selected Xinjiang Yili Geese with high or low sperm motility (five for each group) were 3 years old, in good health, and were kept in the same feeding conditions. Yili geese were slaughtered for the collection of testicular tissue and high-throughput sequencing technology was used to screen differentially expressed circRNAs for bioinformatics analysis. Combined with the previously screened miRNAs related to the sperm motility of Yili geese, the circRNAs miRNAs regulatory network was constructed. The results showed that a total of 26,311 circRNAs were obtained from testicular tissues with high and low sperm motility, and 173 DECs were screened between the two groups (p < 0.05, |log2Foldchange|>0), of which 82 were up-regulated and 91 were down-regulated. Functional analysis of the source genes of these DECs showed that the source genes were mainly involved in biological processes. KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the source genes of DECs were mainly enriched in autophagy-animal, ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis, progesterone-mediated oocyte maturation, regulation of the actin cytoskeleton and other pathways. Furthermore, the visual regulatory network of differential circRNA-miRNA-mRNA was constructed, including 20 circRNAs, 18 miRNAs and 177 mRNAs, and nine core regulatory circRNAs were screened, including novell_circ_0045314, novel_circ_0019994 and novel_circ_0020422, etc., targeting ppy-mir-16, hsa-mir-221–3p, gga-mir-499–5p, etc. The results suggest that circRNAs may interact with miRNAs to further regulate mRNA to regulate sperm motility in Yili geese, so as to provide a reference for analyzing the molecular mechanism of sperm motility regulation.
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Abstract
Palmitoylation is a special kind of lipid modification that targets proteins to membranes. This protocol introduces the acyl-biotin exchange (ABE) assay to determine the palmitoylation of protein cysteines in yeast. Palmitoylation is exchanged by biotinylated compounds so that the palmitoyl proteins can be affinity-purified for downstream assay by western blot. This protocol is easy to perform and can be applied to other biological sources with slight modifications. This protocol is limited to the detection of cysteine-based palmitoylation. For complete details on the use and execution of this profile, please refer to Lei et al. (2021).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Lei
- Department of Pathology, West China Second University Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jiangli Zhu
- Department of Urology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and National Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Huihui Li
- Department of Pathology, West China Second University Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Eryan Kong
- Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, China
| | - Kefeng Lu
- Department of Pathology, West China Second University Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China
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16
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Molecular regulation of autophagosome formation. Biochem Soc Trans 2022; 50:55-69. [PMID: 35076688 PMCID: PMC9022990 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Macroautophagy, hereafter autophagy, is a degradative process conserved among eukaryotes, which is essential to maintain cellular homeostasis. Defects in autophagy lead to numerous human diseases, including various types of cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. The hallmark of autophagy is the de novo formation of autophagosomes, which are double-membrane vesicles that sequester and deliver cytoplasmic materials to lysosomes/vacuoles for degradation. The mechanism of autophagosome biogenesis entered a molecular era with the identification of autophagy-related (ATG) proteins. Although there are many unanswered questions and aspects that have raised some controversies, enormous advances have been done in our understanding of the process of autophagy in recent years. In this review, we describe the current knowledge about the molecular regulation of autophagosome formation, with a particular focus on budding yeast and mammalian cells.
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Spatial control of avidity regulates initiation and progression of selective autophagy. Nat Commun 2021; 12:7194. [PMID: 34893607 PMCID: PMC8664900 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27420-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Autophagosomes form at the endoplasmic reticulum in mammals, and between the vacuole and the endoplasmic reticulum in yeast. However, the roles of these sites and the mechanisms regulating autophagosome formation are incompletely understood. Vac8 is required for autophagy and recruits the Atg1 kinase complex to the vacuole. Here we show that Vac8 acts as a central hub to nucleate the phagophore assembly site at the vacuolar membrane during selective autophagy. Vac8 directly recruits the cargo complex via the Atg11 scaffold. In addition, Vac8 recruits the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex independently of autophagy. Cargo-dependent clustering and Vac8-dependent sequestering of these early autophagy factors, along with local Atg1 activation, promote phagophore assembly site assembly at the vacuole. Importantly, ectopic Vac8 redirects autophagosome formation to the nuclear membrane, indicating that the vacuolar membrane is not specifically required. We propose that multiple avidity-driven interactions drive the initiation and progression of selective autophagy. The molecular principles governing the initiation of autophagosome formation are not clearly understood. Here we show that the vacuolar protein Vac8 coordinates this process by promoting an avidity-driven assembly of several autophagy factors.
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Lei Y, Zhang X, Xu Q, Liu S, Li C, Jiang H, Lin H, Kong E, Liu J, Qi S, Li H, Xu W, Lu K. A conserved Vac8/ARMC3-PtdIns3K-CI cascade regulates autophagy initiation and functions in spermiogenesis by promoting ribophagy. Autophagy 2021; 17:4512-4514. [PMID: 34705610 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2021.1988813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Macroautophagy/autophagy is special because the double-layer lipid-formed autophagosome is formed by de novo generation. Phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate (PtdIns3P) produced by class III phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase complex I (PtdIns3K-CI) is an essential source lipid for the formation of autophagosomes. However, how autophagy is initiated is unknown. In other words, the mechanism by which PtdIns3K-CI is recruited to the phagophore assembly site (PAS) to initiate autophagosome formation is unclear. We recently uncovered the pivotal role of yeast Vac8 in autophagy initiation through the recruitment of PtdIns3K-CI to the PAS. N-terminal palmitoylation of Vac8 anchors it to the vacuole membrane, and the middle ARM domains bind PtdIns3K-CI, leading to the generation of PtdIns3P at the PAS and subsequent autophagosome formation. We found that mouse ARMC3 is the homolog of yeast Vac8 and that its autophagic roles are conserved. Interestingly, spermatids from mice with Armc3 deletion showed blocked ribophagy, low energy levels of mitochondria and motionless flagella, which caused male infertility. These findings revealed a germ tissue-specific autophagic function of ARMC3 in complex eukaryotic species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Lei
- Department of Pathology, West China Second University Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xueguang Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Joint Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (Scu-cuhk), Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qingjia Xu
- Department of Neurology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shiyan Liu
- Department of Neurology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Chunxia Li
- Department of Neurology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Department of Urology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.,Department of Reproductive Medicine Center, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Haocheng Lin
- Department of Urology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.,Department of Reproductive Medicine Center, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Eryan Kong
- Institute of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China
| | - Jiaming Liu
- Department of Urology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shiqian Qi
- Department of Urology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Huihui Li
- Department of Pathology, West China Second University Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wenming Xu
- Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology, Joint Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine (Scu-cuhk), Key Laboratory of Obstetric, Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Kefeng Lu
- Department of Pathology, West China Second University Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.,Department of Neurology, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Nidhi S, Preciado J, Tie L. Knox homologs shoot meristemless (STM) and KNAT6 are epistatic to CLAVATA3 (CLV3) during shoot meristem development in Arabidopsis thaliana. Mol Biol Rep 2021; 48:6291-6302. [PMID: 34417947 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-021-06622-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Arabidopsis, the genes SHOOT MERISTEMLESS (STM) and CLAVATA3 (CLV3) antagonistically regulate shoot meristem development. STM is essential for both development and maintenance of the meristem, as stm mutants fail to develop a shoot meristem. CLV3, on the other hand, negatively regulates meristem proliferation, and clv3 mutants possess an enlarged shoot meristem. Genetic interaction studies revealed that stm and clv3 dominantly suppress each other's phenotypes. STM works in conjunction with its closely related homologue KNOTTED1-LIKE HOMEOBOX GENE 6 (KNAT6) to promote meristem development and organ separation, as stm knat6 double mutants fail to form shoot meristem and produce a fused cotyledon. RESULTS In this study, we show that clv3 fails to promote shoot meristem formation in stm-1 background if we also remove KNAT6. stm-1 knat6 clv3 triple mutants result in shoot meristem termination and produce fused cotyledons similar to stm knat6 double mutant. Notably, the stm-1 knat6 and stm-1 knat6 clv3 alleles lack tissue in the presumed region of SAM that is a novel phenotype reported in Arabidopsis mutants. stm-1 knat6 clv3 also showed reduced inflorescence size as compared to clv3 single or stm clv3 double mutants. CONCLUSION In contrast to previously published data, these data suggest that STM and KNAT6 are redundantly required for the vegetative SAM, but insufficient for the inflorescence meristem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharma Nidhi
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford, CA, USA. .,Carnegie Institute of Science, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Jesus Preciado
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Liu Tie
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA. .,Carnegie Institute of Science, Stanford, CA, USA.
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