1
|
Xu Q, Hu L, Miao W, Fu Z, Jin Y. Parental exposure to 3-methylcholanthrene before gestation adversely affected the endocrine system and spermatogenesis in male F1 offspring. Reprod Toxicol 2022; 110:161-171. [PMID: 35487396 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2022.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
The compound 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) is an environmental pollutant belonging to the PAHs, which reportedly have the potential to disrupt the endocrine systems of animals. In the present study, 4-week-old male and female mice were given 3-MC through their diet at a dose of 0.5mg/kg of chow for 6 weeks before pregnancy. The first filial (F1) generation offspring of exposed or unexposed parental mice were sacrificed at the age of 5 or 10 weeks (F1-5W or F1-10W), and the potential effects on the F0 and F1 offspring were evaluated. The results showed that the serum and testicular testosterone (T) levels and the genes involved in T synthesis in F0 males and male F1-5W individuals born from female mice exposed to 3-MC were significantly decreased. In addition, histological analysis suggested that exposure to 3-MC significantly disrupted testicular morphology in F0 mice and in the offspring of female mice exposed to 3-MC. Further investigation revealed that genes involved in spermatogenesis, such as Phosphoglycerate kinase 2 (Pgk2), Glial cell derived neurotrophic factor (Gdnf), Myeloblastosis oncogene (Myb), DEAD box helicase 4 (Ddx4) and KIT proto-oncogene receptor tyrosine kinase (Kit), were suppressed in these mice. However, the adverse effects of parental 3-MC exposure on the adolescent mice were mitigated when they grew to adulthood, which was verified by studies on F1-10W mice. Our results suggest that female exposure to 3-MC has the potential to disrupt the endocrine system and spermatogenesis in male offspring; nevertheless, the adverse effects might be mitigated with age.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qihao Xu
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lingyu Hu
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenyu Miao
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, Zhejiang, China
| | - Zhengwei Fu
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuanxiang Jin
- College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310032, Zhejiang, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Han F, Yin L, Jiang X, Zhang X, Zhang N, Yang J, Ouyang W, Hao X, Liu W, Huang Y, Chen H, Gao F, Li Z, Guo Q, Cao J, Liu J. Identification of SRY-box 30 as an age-related essential gatekeeper for male germ-cell meiosis and differentiation. Aging Cell 2021; 20:e13343. [PMID: 33721419 PMCID: PMC8135013 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Although important factors governing the meiosis have been reported in the embryonic ovary, meiosis in postnatal testis remains poorly understood. Herein, we first report that SRY‐box 30 (Sox30) is an age‐related and essential regulator of meiosis in the postnatal testis. Sox30‐null mice exhibited uniquely impaired testis, presenting the abnormal arrest of germ‐cell differentiation and irregular Leydig cell proliferation. In aged Sox30‐null mice, the observed testicular impairments were more severe. Furthermore, the germ‐cell arrest occurred at the stage of meiotic zygotene spermatocytes, which is strongly associated with critical regulators of meiosis (such as Cyp26b1, Stra8 and Rec8) and sex differentiation (such as Rspo1, Foxl2, Sox9, Wnt4 and Ctnnb1). Mechanistically, Sox30 can activate Stra8 and Rec8, and inhibit Cyp26b1 and Ctnnb1 by direct binding to their promoters. A different Sox30 domain required for regulating the activity of these gene promoters, providing a “fail‐safe” mechanism for Sox30 to facilitate germ‐cell differentiation. Indeed, retinoic acid levels were reduced owing to increased degradation following the elevation of Cyp26b1 in Sox30‐null testes. Re‐expression of Sox30 in Sox30‐null mice successfully restored germ‐cell meiosis, differentiation and Leydig cell proliferation. Moreover, the restoration of actual fertility appeared to improve over time. Consistently, Rec8 and Stra8 were reactivated, and Cyp26b1 and Ctnnb1 were reinhibited in the restored testes. In summary, Sox30 is necessary, sufficient and age‐associated for germ‐cell meiosis and differentiation in testes by direct regulating critical regulators. This study advances our understanding of the regulation of germ‐cell meiosis and differentiation in the postnatal testis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fei Han
- Institute of Toxicology College of Preventive Medicine Army Medical University Chongqing China
| | - Li Yin
- Institute of Toxicology College of Preventive Medicine Army Medical University Chongqing China
- College of Pharmacy and Bioengineering Chongqing University of Technology Chongqing China
| | - Xiao Jiang
- Institute of Toxicology College of Preventive Medicine Army Medical University Chongqing China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Institute of Toxicology College of Preventive Medicine Army Medical University Chongqing China
| | - Ning Zhang
- Institute of Toxicology College of Preventive Medicine Army Medical University Chongqing China
| | - Jun‐tang Yang
- Institute of Toxicology College of Preventive Medicine Army Medical University Chongqing China
- College of Life Science Henan Normal University Henan China
| | - Wei‐ming Ouyang
- Office of Biotechnology Products Center for Drug Evaluation and Research U.S. Food and Drug Administration Pittsburgh PA USA
| | - Xiang‐lin Hao
- Department of Pathology Xinqiao HospitalArmy Medical University Chongqing China
| | - Wen‐bin Liu
- Institute of Toxicology College of Preventive Medicine Army Medical University Chongqing China
| | - Yong‐sheng Huang
- Institute of Toxicology College of Preventive Medicine Army Medical University Chongqing China
| | - Hong‐qiang Chen
- Institute of Toxicology College of Preventive Medicine Army Medical University Chongqing China
| | - Fei Gao
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences University of Copenhagen Frederiksberg DK Denmark
| | - Zhong‐tai Li
- Department of Urology Daping HospitalArmy Medical University Chongqing China
| | - Qiao‐nan Guo
- Department of Pathology Xinqiao HospitalArmy Medical University Chongqing China
| | - Jia Cao
- Institute of Toxicology College of Preventive Medicine Army Medical University Chongqing China
| | - Jin‐yi Liu
- Institute of Toxicology College of Preventive Medicine Army Medical University Chongqing China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
de Lima AO, Afonso J, Edson J, Marcellin E, Palfreyman R, Porto-Neto LR, Reverter A, Fortes MRS. Network Analyses Predict Small RNAs That Might Modulate Gene Expression in the Testis and Epididymis of Bos indicus Bulls. Front Genet 2021; 12:610116. [PMID: 33995471 PMCID: PMC8120238 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.610116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis relies on complex molecular mechanisms, essential for the genesis and differentiation of the male gamete. Germ cell differentiation starts at the testicular parenchyma and finishes in the epididymis, which has three main regions: head, body, and tail. RNA-sequencing data of the testicular parenchyma (TP), head epididymis (HE), and tail epididymis (TE) from four bulls (three biopsies per bull: 12 samples) were subjected to differential expression analyses, functional enrichment analyses, and co-expression analyses. The aim was to investigate the co-expression and infer possible regulatory roles for transcripts involved in the spermatogenesis of Bos indicus bulls. Across the three pairwise comparisons, 3,826 differentially expressed (DE) transcripts were identified, of which 384 are small RNAs. Functional enrichment analysis pointed to gene ontology (GO) terms related to ion channel activity, detoxification of copper, neuroactive receptors, and spermatogenesis. Using the regulatory impact factor (RIF) algorithm, we detected 70 DE small RNAs likely to regulate the DE transcripts considering all pairwise comparisons among tissues. The pattern of small RNA co-expression suggested that these elements are involved in spermatogenesis regulation. The 3,826 DE transcripts (mRNAs and small RNAs) were further subjected to co-expression analyses using the partial correlation and information theory (PCIT) algorithm for network prediction. Significant correlations underpinned the co-expression network, which had 2,216 transcripts connected by 158,807 predicted interactions. The larger network cluster was enriched for male gamete generation and had 15 miRNAs with significant RIF. The miRNA bta-mir-2886 showed the highest number of connections (601) and was predicted to down-regulate ELOVL3, FEZF2, and HOXA13 (negative co-expression correlations and confirmed with TargetScan). In short, we suggest that bta-mir-2886 and other small RNAs might modulate gene expression in the testis and epididymis, in Bos indicus cattle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andressa O de Lima
- Department of Production and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araçatuba, Brazil
| | - Juliana Afonso
- Department of Animal Science, University of São Paulo/ESALQ, Piracicaba, Brazil
| | - Janette Edson
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Esteban Marcellin
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Robin Palfreyman
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Laercio R Porto-Neto
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Antonio Reverter
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St. Lucia, QLD, Australia
| | - Marina R S Fortes
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Xu Y, Xie J. Etomoxir regulates the differentiation of male germ cells by specifically reducing H3K27ac level. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2021; 21:5. [PMID: 33517883 PMCID: PMC7849134 DOI: 10.1186/s12861-020-00237-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Background Fatty acid oxidation plays an important role in a variety of developing and mature organ systems. However, the role of this metabolic pathway in different stages of testis development remains unknown. Here, we elucidate the mechanisms by which fatty acid oxidation regulates the maintenance and differentiation of gonocytes and spermatogonial stem cells. Results During E13.5-E15.5, male germ cells gradually enter the mitotic arrest phase, while the expression of CPT1A, a rate-limiting enzyme for fatty acid oxidation, gradually increases. Therefore, we treated pregnant mice (E13.5 to E15.5) with etomoxir, which is an inhibitor of CPT1A. Etomoxir-treated mice showed no difference in embryonic morphology; however, etomoxir-treated male gonocytes exited mitotic arrest, and cells of the gonad underwent apoptosis. In addition, etomoxir-treated mice at P7 displayed impaired homing of spermatogonia and increased cell apoptosis. We further demonstrated that inhibition of fatty acid oxidation in gonads was associated with gonocyte differentiation events and the histone modification H3K27ac. Conclusions Inhibiting fatty acid oxidation can specifically reduce the level of H3K27ac in the reproductive crest, which may be the cause of the down-regulation of male differentiation-specific gene expression, which ultimately leads to the male primordial germ cells exited from mitotic arrest. Our work uncovers metabolic reprogramming during male gonadal development, revealing that it plays an important role in the maintenance of gonocytes in a differentiated and quiescent state during foetal testis development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yushan Xu
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, China
| | - Jue Xie
- Department of Blood Transfusion, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310003, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
First Insights on the Presence of the Unfolded Protein Response in Human Spermatozoa. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20215518. [PMID: 31694346 PMCID: PMC6861958 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20215518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The unfolded protein response (UPR) is involved in protein quality control and is activated in response to several stressors. Although in testis the UPR mechanisms are well described, their presence in spermatozoa is contentious. We aimed to investigate the presence of UPR-related proteins in human sperm and the impact of oxidative stress induction in UPR activation. To identify UPR-related proteins in human sperm, a bioinformatic approach was adopted. To explore the activation of UPR, sperm were exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and motility, vitality, and the levels of UPR-related proteins were assessed. We identified 97 UPR-related proteins in human sperm and showed, for the first time, the presence of HSF1, GADD34, and phosphorylated eIF2α. Additionally, the exposure of human sperm to H2O2 resulted in a significant decrease in sperm viability and motility and an increase in the levels of HSF1, HSP90, HSP60, HSP27, and eIF2α; all proteins involved in sensing and response to unfolded proteins. This study gave us a first insight into the presence of UPR mechanisms in the male gamete. However, the belief that sperm are devoid of transcription and translation highlight the need to clarify if these pathways are activated in sperm in the same way as in somatic cells.
Collapse
|
6
|
Identification of the X-linked germ cell specific miRNAs (XmiRs) and their functions. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0211739. [PMID: 30707741 PMCID: PMC6358104 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0211739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a critical role in multiple aspects of biology. Dicer, an RNase III endonuclease, is essential for the biogenesis of miRNAs, and the germ cell-specific Dicer1 knockout mouse shows severe defects in gametogenesis. How miRNAs regulate germ cell development is still not fully understood. In this study, we identified germ cell-specific miRNAs (miR-741-3p, miR-871-3p, miR-880-3p) by analyzing published RNA-seq data of mouse. These miRNA genes are contiguously located on the X chromosome near other miRNA genes. We named them X chromosome-linked miRNAs (XmiRs). To elucidate the functions of XmiRs, we generated knockout mice of these miRNA genes using the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing system. Although no histological abnormalities were observed in testes of F0 mice in which each miRNA gene was disrupted, a deletion covering miR-871 and miR-880 or covering all XmiRs (ΔXmiRs) resulted in arrested spermatogenesis in meiosis in a few seminiferous tubules, indicating their redundant functions in spermatogenesis. Among candidate targets of XmiRs, we found increased expression of a gene encoding a WNT receptor, FZD4, in ΔXmiRs testis compared with that in wildtype testis. miR-871-3p and miR-880-3p repressed the expression of Fzd4 via the 3′-untranslated region of its mRNA. In addition, downstream genes of the WNT/β-catenin pathway were upregulated in ΔXmiRs testis. We also found that miR-871, miR-880, and Fzd4 were expressed in spermatogonia, spermatocytes and spermatids, and overexpression of miR-871 and miR-880 in germ stem cells in culture repressed their increase in number and Fzd4 expression. Previous studies indicated that the WNT/β-catenin pathway enhances and represses proliferation and differentiation of spermatogonia, respectively, and our results consistently showed that stable β-catenin enhanced GSC number. In addition, stable β-catenin partially rescued reduced GSC number by overexpression of miR-871 and miR-880. The results together suggest that miR-871 and miR-880 cooperatively regulate the WNT/β-catenin pathway during testicular germ cell development.
Collapse
|
7
|
Rossitto M, Marchive C, Pruvost A, Sellem E, Ghettas A, Badiou S, Sutra T, Poulat F, Philibert P, Boizet-Bonhoure B. Intergenerational effects on mouse sperm quality after in utero exposure to acetaminophen and ibuprofen. FASEB J 2018; 33:339-357. [PMID: 29979629 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201800488rrr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs and analgesic drugs, such as N-acetyl- p-aminophenol (APAP; acetaminophen, paracetamol), are widely used by pregnant women. Accumulating evidence has indicated that these molecules can favor genital malformations in newborn boys and reproductive disorders in adults. However, the consequences on postnatal testis development and adult reproductive health after exposure during early embryogenesis are still unknown. Using the mouse model, we show that in utero exposure to therapeutic doses of the widely used APAP-ibuprofen combination during the sex determination period leads to early differentiation and decreased proliferation of male embryonic germ cells, and early 5-methylcytosine and extracellular matrix protein deposition in 13.5 d postcoitum exposed testes. Consequently, in postnatal testes, Sertoli-cell maturation is delayed, the Leydig-cell compartment is hyperplasic, and the spermatogonia A pool is decreased. This results in a reduced production of testosterone and in epididymal sperm parameter defects. We observed a reduced sperm count (19%) in utero-exposed (F0) adult males and also a reduced sperm motility (40%) in their offspring (F1) when both parents were exposed, which leads to subfertility among the 6 mo old F1 animals. Our study suggests that the use of these drugs during the critical period of sex determination affects the germ-line development and leads to adverse effects that could be passed to the offspring.-Rossitto, M., Marchive, C., Pruvost, A., Sellem, E., Ghettas, A., Badiou, S., Sutra, T., Poulat, F., Philibert, P., Boizet-Bonhoure, B. Intergenerational effects on mouse sperm quality after in utero exposure to acetaminophen and ibuprofen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Moïra Rossitto
- Institute of Human Genetics, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Candice Marchive
- Institute of Human Genetics, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Alain Pruvost
- Service de Pharmacologie et d'Immunoanalyse (SPI), Small Molecules Analysis by Mass Spectrometry (SMArt-MS), Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Université Paris-Saclay, Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Eli Sellem
- Research and Development Department, Allice, Biology of Reproduction, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA) Domaine de Vilvert, Jouy en Josas, France
| | - Aurélie Ghettas
- Service de Pharmacologie et d'Immunoanalyse (SPI), Small Molecules Analysis by Mass Spectrometry (SMArt-MS), Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique (CEA), Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA), Université Paris-Saclay, Gif sur Yvette, France
| | - Stéphanie Badiou
- Département de Biochimie et d'Hormonologie, Hopital Lapeyronie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Montpellier; PhyMedExp, INSERM Unité 1046, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 9214, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Thibault Sutra
- Département de Biochimie et d'Hormonologie, Hopital Lapeyronie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Montpellier; PhyMedExp, INSERM Unité 1046, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 9214, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Francis Poulat
- Institute of Human Genetics, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Pascal Philibert
- Institute of Human Genetics, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.,Département de Biochimie et d'Hormonologie, Hopital Lapeyronie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire (CHU) de Montpellier; PhyMedExp, INSERM Unité 1046, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 9214, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Brigitte Boizet-Bonhoure
- Institute of Human Genetics, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Castro AJG, Baptista IE, de Moura KRS, Padilha F, Tonietto J, de Souza AZP, Soares CHL, Silva FRMB, Van Der Kraak G. Exposure to a Brazilian pulp mill effluent impacts the testis and liver in the zebrafish. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2018; 206-207:41-47. [PMID: 29499384 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2018.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
While many studies have shown that pulp mill effluents can affect ovarian physiology in fish, far fewer studies have considered the effects in males. We conducted a lab study to examine the effects of effluent from a Brazilian pulp and paper mill on hepatic and testicular morphology and various aspects of testicular physiology in the zebrafish Danio rerio. Males were exposed to lab water (control) or 4% effluent for 14 days. Effluent exposure did not affect testis size as measured by the gonadosomatic index, but contributed to morphological changes in the seminiferous tubules. The number of cysts with histopathological changes was elevated in effluent-exposed fish and the number of cysts containing spermatids was significantly reduced. The testis of effluent exposed fish had reduced levels of lactate, elevated lactate dehydrogenase activity, increased levels of reactive oxygen species and reduced levels of phosphorylated P38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (pP38 MAPK). Separate studies showed that the addition of lactate to testicular tissue incubated in vitro increased the activation of P38 MAPK. Effluent exposure also increased vacuolization, necrosis, apoptosis, hyperemia, and fat infiltration of the hepatocytes. Collectively, we provide evidence of short term effects of pulp mill effluent on testicular and hepatic physiology and biochemistry in the zebrafish.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ivana Eunice Baptista
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | | | - Fernanda Padilha
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Juliana Tonietto
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Glen Van Der Kraak
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Lin Q, Mei J, Li Z, Zhang X, Zhou L, Gui JF. Distinct and Cooperative Roles of amh and dmrt1 in Self-Renewal and Differentiation of Male Germ Cells in Zebrafish. Genetics 2017; 207:1007-1022. [PMID: 28893856 PMCID: PMC5676237 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.117.300274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2017] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a fundamental process in male reproductive biology and depends on precise balance between self-renewal and differentiation of male germ cells. However, the regulative factors for controlling the balance are poorly understood. In this study, we examined the roles of amh and dmrt1 in male germ cell development by generating their mutants with Crispr/Cas9 technology in zebrafish. Amh mutant zebrafish displayed a female-biased sex ratio, and both male and female amh mutants developed hypertrophic gonads due to uncontrolled proliferation and impaired differentiation of germ cells. A large number of proliferating spermatogonium-like cells were observed within testicular lobules of the amh-mutated testes, and they were demonstrated to be both Vasa- and PH3-positive. Moreover, the average number of Sycp3- and Vasa-positive cells in the amh mutants was significantly lower than in wild-type testes, suggesting a severely impaired differentiation of male germ cells. Conversely, all the dmrt1-mutated testes displayed severe testicular developmental defects and gradual loss of all Vasa-positive germ cells by inhibiting their self-renewal and inducing apoptosis. In addition, several germ cell and Sertoli cell marker genes were significantly downregulated, whereas a prominent increase of Insl3-positive Leydig cells was revealed by immunohistochemical analysis in the disorganized dmrt1-mutated testes. Our data suggest that amh might act as a guardian to control the balance between proliferation and differentiation of male germ cells, whereas dmrt1 might be required for the maintenance, self-renewal, and differentiation of male germ cells. Significantly, this study unravels novel functions of amh gene in fish.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiaohong Lin
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Jie Mei
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Zhi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Xuemei Zhang
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Li Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Jian-Fang Gui
- College of Fisheries, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Animal Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
- State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Liu YJ, Liu C, Chang Z, Wadas B, Brower CS, Song ZH, Xu ZL, Shang YL, Liu WX, Wang LN, Dong W, Varshavsky A, Hu RG, Li W. Degradation of the Separase-cleaved Rec8, a Meiotic Cohesin Subunit, by the N-end Rule Pathway. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:7426-38. [PMID: 26858254 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.714964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The Ate1 arginyltransferase (R-transferase) is a component of the N-end rule pathway, which recognizes proteins containing N-terminal degradation signals called N-degrons, polyubiquitylates these proteins, and thereby causes their degradation by the proteasome. Ate1 arginylates N-terminal Asp, Glu, or (oxidized) Cys. The resulting N-terminal Arg is recognized by ubiquitin ligases of the N-end rule pathway. In the yeastSaccharomyces cerevisiae, the separase-mediated cleavage of the Scc1/Rad21/Mcd1 cohesin subunit generates a C-terminal fragment that bears N-terminal Arg and is destroyed by the N-end rule pathway without a requirement for arginylation. In contrast, the separase-mediated cleavage of Rec8, the mammalian meiotic cohesin subunit, yields a fragment bearing N-terminal Glu, a substrate of the Ate1 R-transferase. Here we constructed and used a germ cell-confinedAte1(-/-)mouse strain to analyze the separase-generated C-terminal fragment of Rec8. We show that this fragment is a short-lived N-end rule substrate, that its degradation requires N-terminal arginylation, and that maleAte1(-/-)mice are nearly infertile, due to massive apoptotic death ofAte1(-/-)spermatocytes during the metaphase of meiosis I. These effects ofAte1ablation are inferred to be caused, at least in part, by the failure to destroy the C-terminal fragment of Rec8 in the absence of N-terminal arginylation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Jiao Liu
- From the State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China, the College of Marine Life, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China, and
| | - Chao Liu
- From the State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China, the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - ZeNan Chang
- the Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125
| | - Brandon Wadas
- the Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125
| | - Christopher S Brower
- the Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, the Department of Biology, Texas Woman's University, Denton, Texas 76204
| | - Zhen-Hua Song
- From the State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China, the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhi-Liang Xu
- From the State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China, the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yong-Liang Shang
- From the State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China, the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wei-Xiao Liu
- From the State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Li-Na Wang
- From the State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China, the University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wen Dong
- the College of Marine Life, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China, and
| | - Alexander Varshavsky
- the Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125,
| | - Rong-Gui Hu
- the State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Wei Li
- From the State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China,
| |
Collapse
|