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Kijima T, Kurokawa D, Sasakura Y, Ogasawara M, Aratake S, Yoshida K, Yoshida M. CatSper mediates not only chemotactic behavior but also the motility of ascidian sperm. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1136537. [PMID: 38020915 PMCID: PMC10652287 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1136537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Sperm motility, including chemotactic behavior, is regulated by changes in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration, and the sperm-specific Ca2+ channel CatSper has been shown to play an important role in the regulation of intracellular Ca2+. In particular, in mammals, CatSper is the only functional Ca2+ channel in the sperm, and mice deficient in the genes comprising the pore region of the Ca2+ channel are infertile due to the inhibition of sperm hyperactivation. CatSper is also thought to be involved in sea urchin chemotaxis. In contrast, in ascidian Ciona intestinalis, SAAF, a sperm attractant, interacts with Ca2+/ATPase, a Ca2+ pump. Although the existence of CatSper genes has been reported, it is not clear whether CatSper is a functional Ca2+ channel in sperm. Results: We showed that CatSper is present in the sperm flagella of C. intestinalis as in mammalian species, although a small level of gene expression was found in other tissues. The spermatozoa of CatSper3 KO animals were significantly less motile, and some motile sperms did not show any chemotactic behavior. These results suggest that CatSper plays an important role in ascidians and mammals, and is involved in spermatogenesis and basic motility mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taiga Kijima
- Misaki Marine Biological Station, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Miura, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kurokawa
- Misaki Marine Biological Station, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Miura, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yasunori Sasakura
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Shimoda, Japan
| | - Michio Ogasawara
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Science, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Satoe Aratake
- Misaki Marine Biological Station, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Miura, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kaoru Yoshida
- Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Toin University of Yokohama, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Manabu Yoshida
- Misaki Marine Biological Station, School of Science, The University of Tokyo, Miura, Kanagawa, Japan
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Nand KN, Jordan TB, Yuan X, Basore DA, Zagorevski D, Clarke C, Werner G, Hwang JY, Wang H, Chung JJ, McKenna A, Jarvis MD, Singh G, Bystroff C. Bacterial production of recombinant contraceptive vaccine antigen from CatSper displayed on a human papilloma virus-like particle. Vaccine 2023; 41:6791-6801. [PMID: 37833124 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.09.044] [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: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
CatSper is a voltage dependent calcium ion channel present in the principal piece of sperm tail. It plays a crucial role in sperm hyperactivated motility and so in fertilization. Extracellular loops of mouse sperm CatSper were used to develop a vaccine to achieve protection from pregnancy. These loops were inserted at one of the three hypervariable regions of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) capsid protein (L1). Recombinant vaccines were expressed in E.coli as inclusion body (IB), purified, refolded and assembled into virus-like particles (VLP) in vitro, and adsorbed on alum. Four vaccine candidates were tested in Balb/C mice. All the constructs proved immunogenic, one showed contraceptive efficacy. This recombinant contraceptive vaccine is a non-hormonal intervention and is expected to give long-acting protection from undesired pregnancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- K N Nand
- Dept of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY, United States
| | - T B Jordan
- Dept of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY, United States
| | - X Yuan
- Dept of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY, United States
| | - D A Basore
- Dept of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY, United States; Department of Health and Natural Science, Mercy University, Dobbs Ferry, NY, United States
| | - D Zagorevski
- Dept of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY, United States
| | - C Clarke
- Dept of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY, United States
| | - G Werner
- Dept of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY, United States
| | - J Y Hwang
- Dept of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - H Wang
- Dept of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - J-J Chung
- Dept of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States; Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - A McKenna
- Bioresearch Core, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
| | - M D Jarvis
- Bioresearch Core, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
| | - G Singh
- Bioresearch Core, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, United States
| | - C Bystroff
- Dept of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy NY, United States.
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Benko F, Fialková V, Žiarovská J, Ďuračka M, Lukáč N, Tvrdá E. In Vitro versus Cryo-Induced Capacitation of Bovine Spermatozoa, Part 2: Changes in the Expression Patterns of Selected Transmembrane Channels and Protein Kinase A. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314646. [PMID: 36498971 PMCID: PMC9739406 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the molecular similarities and differences among physiological capacitation and cryocapacitation have not been studied in detail, this study was designed to assess the gene and protein expression levels of the Cation channel of sperm (CatSper) 1 and 2, sodium bicarbonate (Na+/HCO3−) cotransporter (NBC) and protein kinase A (PKA) in un-capacitated (control), in vitro capacitated (CAP) and cryopreserved (CRYO) bovine spermatozoa. All samples were subjected to motility evaluation using the computer assisted sperm analysis and chlortetracycline (CTC) assay for the assessment of the capacitation patterns. Furthermore, quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) and Western blots were used to monitor the expression patterns of the selected capacitation markers. The results showed a significant reduction in the gene and protein expression levels of CatSper1 and 2 in the CRYO group when compared to the CAP group (p < 0.0001). In the case of NBC, the results were not significantly different or were inconclusive. While a non-significant down-regulation of PKA was found in the CRYO group, a significant reduction in the expression of the PKA protein was found in frozen-thawed spermatozoa in comparison to the CAP group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, we may hypothesize that while in vitro capacitated and cryopreserved spermatozoa exhibit CTC-patterns consistent with capacitation events, the molecular machinery underlying CTC-positivity may be different.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip Benko
- Institute of Applied Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Veronika Fialková
- AgroBioTech Research Centre, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Jana Žiarovská
- Institute of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Michal Ďuračka
- AgroBioTech Research Centre, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Norbert Lukáč
- Institute of Applied Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Eva Tvrdá
- Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +421-37-641-4918
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Rahban R, Nef S. CatSper: The complex main gate of calcium entry in mammalian spermatozoa. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 518:110951. [PMID: 32712386 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Calcium ions (Ca2+) are involved in nearly every aspect of cellular life. They are one of the most abundant elements in mammals and play a vital role in physiological and biochemical processes acting mainly as intracellular messengers. In spermatozoa, several key functions are regulated by cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentration such as sperm capacitation, chemotaxis, hyperactive motility, and acrosome reaction. The sperm-specific ion channel CatSper is the principal calcium channel in sperm mediating the calcium influx into the sperm flagellum and acting as an essential modulator of downstream mechanisms involved in fertilization. This review aims to provide insights into the structure, localization, and function of the mammalian CatSper channel, primarily human and mice. The activation of CatSper by progesterone and prostaglandins, as well as the ligand-independent regulation of the channel by a change in the membrane voltage and intracellular pH are going to be addressed. Finally, major questions, challenges, and perspectives are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Rahban
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), Switzerland; Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1206, Geneva, Switzerland.
| | - Serge Nef
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), Switzerland; Department of Genetic Medicine and Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Rue Michel-Servet 1, 1206, Geneva, Switzerland.
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Vyklicka L, Lishko PV. Dissecting the signaling pathways involved in the function of sperm flagellum. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2020; 63:154-161. [PMID: 32097833 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2020.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian flagellum is a specific type of motile cilium required for sperm motility and male fertility. Effective flagellar movement is dependent on axonemal function, which in turn relies on proper ion homeostasis within the flagellar compartment. This ion homeostasis is maintained by the concerted function of ion channels and transporters that initiate signal transduction pathways resulting in motility changes. Advances in electrophysiology and super-resolution microscopy have helped to identify and characterize new regulatory modalities of the mammalian flagellum. Here, we discuss what is currently known about the regulation of flagellar ion channels and transporters that maintain sodium, potassium, calcium, and proton homeostasis. Identification of new regulatory elements and their specific roles in sperm motility is imperative for improving diagnostics of male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Vyklicka
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Polina V Lishko
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
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Trebichalská Z, Holubcová Z. Perfect date-the review of current research into molecular bases of mammalian fertilization. J Assist Reprod Genet 2020; 37:243-256. [PMID: 31909446 PMCID: PMC7056734 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-019-01679-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 12/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Fertilization is a multistep process during which two terminally differentiated haploid cells, an egg and a sperm, combine to produce a totipotent diploid zygote. In the early 1950s, it became possible to fertilize mammalian eggs in vitro and study the sequence of cellular and molecular events leading to embryo development. Despite all the achievements of assisted reproduction in the last four decades, remarkably little is known about the molecular aspects of human conception. Current fertility research in animal models is casting more light on the complexity of the process all our lives start with. This review article provides an update on the investigation of mammalian fertilization and highlights the practical implications of scientific discoveries in the context of human reproduction and reproductive medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuzana Trebichalská
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Holubcová
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, Brno, Czech Republic. .,Reprofit International, Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Brno, Czech Republic.
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Lissabet JFB, Herrera Belén L, Lee-Estevez M, Risopatrón J, Valdebenito I, Figueroa E, Farías JG. The CatSper channel is present and plays a key role in sperm motility of the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2019; 241:110634. [PMID: 31841710 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2019.110634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Among all the Ca2+ channels, CatSper channels have been one of the most studied in sperm of different species due to their demonstrated role in the fertilization process. In fish sperm, the calcium channel plays a key role in sperm activation. However, the functionality of the CatSper channels has not been studied in any of the fish species. For the first time, we studied the relationship of the CatSper channel with sperm motility in a fish, using Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) as the model. The results of our study showed that the CatSper channel in Salmo salar has chemical-physical characteristics similar to those reported for mammalian CatSper channels. In this work, it was shown that Salmo salar CatSper 3 protein has a molecular weight of approximately 55-kDa similar to Homo sapiens CatSper 3. In silico analyses suggest that this channel forms a heterotetramer sensitive to the specific inhibitor HC-056456, with a binding site in the center of the pore of the CatSper channel, hindering or preventing the influx of Ca2+ ions. The in vitro assay of the sperm motility inhibition of Salmo salar with the inhibitor HC-056456 showed that sperm treated with this inhibitor significantly reduced the total and progressive motility (p < .0001), demonstrating the importance of this ionic channel for this cell. The complementation of the in silico and in vitro analyses of the present work demonstrates that the CatSper channel plays a key role in the regulation of sperm motility in Atlantic salmon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Félix Beltrán Lissabet
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar 01145 Box 54D, Temuco, Chile; Center of Biotechnology of Reproduction (CEBIOR), Bioresources Research Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Montevideo 0870, Temuco, Chile
| | - Lisandra Herrera Belén
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar 01145 Box 54D, Temuco, Chile
| | - Manuel Lee-Estevez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar 01145 Box 54D, Temuco, Chile; Center of Biotechnology of Reproduction (CEBIOR), Bioresources Research Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Montevideo 0870, Temuco, Chile
| | - Jennie Risopatrón
- Center of Biotechnology of Reproduction (CEBIOR), Bioresources Research Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Montevideo 0870, Temuco, Chile
| | - Iván Valdebenito
- School of Aquaculture, Catholic University of Temuco, Av. Rudecindo Ortega, 02950 Temuco, Chile
| | - Elías Figueroa
- School of Aquaculture, Catholic University of Temuco, Av. Rudecindo Ortega, 02950 Temuco, Chile; Laboratorio de Biotecnología, Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Universidad de Chile, El Líbano 5524, Macul, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jorge G Farías
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar 01145 Box 54D, Temuco, Chile; Center of Biotechnology of Reproduction (CEBIOR), Bioresources Research Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Montevideo 0870, Temuco, Chile.
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Dual Sensing of Physiologic pH and Calcium by EFCAB9 Regulates Sperm Motility. Cell 2019; 177:1480-1494.e19. [PMID: 31056283 PMCID: PMC8808721 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2019.03.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Varying pH of luminal fluid along the female reproductive tract is a physiological cue that modulates sperm motility. CatSper is a sperm-specific, pH-sensitive calcium channel essential for hyperactivated motility and male fertility. Multi-subunit CatSper channel complexes organize linear Ca2+ signaling nanodomains along the sperm tail. Here, we identify EF-hand calcium-binding domain-containing protein 9 (EFCAB9) as a bifunctional, cytoplasmic machine modulating the channel activity and the domain organization of CatSper. Knockout mice studies demonstrate that EFCAB9, in complex with the CatSper subunit, CATSPERζ, is essential for pH-dependent and Ca2+-sensitive activation of the CatSper channel. In the absence of EFCAB9, sperm motility and fertility is compromised, and the linear arrangement of the Ca2+ signaling domains is disrupted. EFCAB9 interacts directly with CATSPERζ in a Ca2+-dependent manner and dissociates at elevated pH. These observations suggest that EFCAB9 is a long-sought, intracellular, pH-dependent Ca2+ sensor that triggers changes in sperm motility.
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