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Pool KR, Gajanayakage RH, Connolly C, Blache D. Ancestral lineages of dietary exposure to an endocrine disrupting chemical drive distinct forms of transgenerational subfertility in an insect model. Sci Rep 2024; 14:18153. [PMID: 39103404 PMCID: PMC11300584 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-67921-x] [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: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Across the globe, many species of insects are facing population decline. This is largely driven by anthropogenic changes to the environment, including the widespread exposure of invertebrates to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which impair fertility. To test whether generations of Drosophila melanogaster born from parents exposed to a common dietary EDC, equol, could recover reproductive function, we quantified the reproductive capacity of the two subsequent generations. Using a novel suite of flow cytometry assays to assess sperm functionality in real time, we find that sperm function is compromised across three generations, even after non-exposed in individuals contribute to the breeding population. Though the sex ratio alters in response to EDC exposure, favouring the survival of female offspring, most lineages with ancestral EDC exposure exhibit persistent subfertility in both the male and female. Male offspring with ancestral EDC exposure present with reduced fertility and dysfunctional spermatozoa, whereby spermatozoa are metabolically stressed, lack DNA integrity and present with permanent epigenetic alterations. Across generations, male and female offspring demonstrate distinct patterns of reproductive characteristics, depending upon the specific lineage of EDC exposure. Our results illustrate how dietary EDCs present in agricultural plants could promote transgenerational subfertility and contribute to declining insect populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey R Pool
- UWA Institute of Agriculture and UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia.
| | - Raveena Hewa Gajanayakage
- UWA Institute of Agriculture and UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Callum Connolly
- UWA Institute of Agriculture and UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Dominique Blache
- UWA Institute of Agriculture and UWA School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia
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2
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Zhang R, Shi P, Xu S, Ming Z, Liu Z, He Y, Dai J, Matunis E, Xu J, Ma Q. Soma-germline communication drives sex maintenance in the Drosophila testis. Natl Sci Rev 2024; 11:nwae215. [PMID: 39183747 PMCID: PMC11342250 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwae215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
In adult gonads, disruption of somatic sexual identity leads to defective gametogenesis and infertility. However, the underlying mechanisms by which somatic signals regulate germline cells to achieve proper gametogenesis remain unclear. In our previous study, we introduced the chinmoSex Transformation (chinmoST ) mutant Drosophila testis phenotype as a valuable model for investigating the mechanisms underlying sex maintenance. In chinmoST testes, depletion of the Janus Kinase-Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription downstream effector Chinmo from somatic cyst stem cells (CySCs) feminizes somatic cyst cells and arrests germline differentiation. Here, we use single-cell RNA sequencing to uncover chinmoST -specific cell populations and their transcriptomic changes during sex transformation. Comparative analysis of intercellular communication networks between wild-type and chinmoST testes revealed disruptions in several soma-germline signaling pathways in chinmoST testes. Notably, the insulin signaling pathway exhibited significant enhancement in germline stem cells (GSCs). Chinmo cleavage under targets and tagmentation (CUT&Tag) assay revealed that Chinmo directly regulates two male sex determination factors, doublesex (dsx) and fruitless (fru), as well as Ecdysone-inducible gene L2 (ImpL2), a negative regulator of the insulin signaling pathway. Further genetic manipulations confirmed that the impaired gametogenesis observed in chinmoST testes was partly contributed by dysregulation of the insulin signaling pathway. In summary, our study demonstrates that somatic sex maintenance promotes normal spermatogenesis through Chinmo-mediated conserved sex determination and the insulin signaling pathway. Our work offers new insights into the complex mechanisms of somatic stem cell sex maintenance and soma-germline communication at the single-cell level. Additionally, our discoveries highlight the potential significance of stem cell sex instability as a novel mechanism contributing to testicular tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Peiyu Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Shuyang Xu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zhe Ming
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zicong Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yuanyuan He
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Junbiao Dai
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Erika Matunis
- Department of Cell Biology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Jin Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
| | - Qing Ma
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Synthetic Genomics, Key Laboratory of Quantitative Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, China
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3
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Zheng H, Gong C, Li J, Hou J, Gong X, Zhu X, Deng H, Wu H, Zhang F, Shi Q, Zhou J, Shi B, Yang X, Xi Y. CCDC157 is essential for sperm differentiation and shows oligoasthenoteratozoospermia-related mutations in men. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18215. [PMID: 38509755 PMCID: PMC10955179 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18215] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Oligoasthenoteratospermia (OAT), characterized by abnormally low sperm count, poor sperm motility, and abnormally high number of deformed spermatozoa, is an important cause of male infertility. Its genetic basis in many affected individuals remains unknown. Here, we found that CCDC157 variants are associated with OAT. In two cohorts, a 21-bp (g.30768132_30768152del21) and/or 24-bp (g.30772543_30772566del24) deletion of CCDC157 were identified in five sporadic OAT patients, and 2 cases within one pedigree. In a mouse model, loss of Ccdc157 led to male sterility with OAT-like phenotypes. Electron microscopy revealed misstructured acrosome and abnormal head-tail coupling apparatus in the sperm of Ccdc157-null mice. Comparative transcriptome analysis showed that the Ccdc157 mutation alters the expressions of genes involved in cell migration/motility and Golgi components. Abnormal Golgi apparatus and decreased expressions of genes involved in acrosome formation and lipid metabolism were detected in Ccdc157-deprived mouse germ cells. Interestingly, we attempted to treat infertile patients and Ccdc157 mutant mice with a Chinese medicine, Huangjin Zanyu, which improved the fertility in one patient and most mice that carried the heterozygous mutation in CCDC157. Healthy offspring were produced. Our study reveals CCDC157 is essential for sperm maturation and may serve as a marker for diagnosis of OAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimei Zheng
- Division of Human Reproduction and Developmental Genetics, the Women's HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Chenjia Gong
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, USTC‐SJH Joint Center for Human Reproduction and Genetics, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Life Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and DevelopmentUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina
| | - Jingping Li
- Division of Human Reproduction and Developmental Genetics, the Women's HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Jiaru Hou
- Division of Human Reproduction and Developmental Genetics, the Women's HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Institute of GeneticsZhejiang UniversityYiwuChina
- Center for Genetic Medicine, the Fourth Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineYiwuChina
| | - Xinhan Gong
- Division of Human Reproduction and Developmental Genetics, the Women's HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Institute of GeneticsZhejiang UniversityYiwuChina
- Center for Genetic Medicine, the Fourth Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineYiwuChina
| | - Xinhai Zhu
- College of Life SciencesZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Huan Deng
- Division of Human Reproduction and Developmental Genetics, the Women's HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Institute of GeneticsZhejiang UniversityYiwuChina
- Center for Genetic Medicine, the Fourth Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineYiwuChina
| | - Haoyue Wu
- Division of Human Reproduction and Developmental Genetics, the Women's HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Institute of GeneticsZhejiang UniversityYiwuChina
- Center for Genetic Medicine, the Fourth Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineYiwuChina
| | - Fengbin Zhang
- Division of Human Reproduction and Developmental Genetics, the Women's HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
| | - Qinghua Shi
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, USTC‐SJH Joint Center for Human Reproduction and Genetics, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Life Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and DevelopmentUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina
| | - Jianteng Zhou
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, USTC‐SJH Joint Center for Human Reproduction and Genetics, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Life Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and DevelopmentUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina
| | - Baolu Shi
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, the First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, USTC‐SJH Joint Center for Human Reproduction and Genetics, The CAS Key Laboratory of Innate Immunity and Chronic Diseases, School of Life Sciences, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and DevelopmentUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiChina
| | - Xiaohang Yang
- Division of Human Reproduction and Developmental Genetics, the Women's HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Institute of GeneticsZhejiang UniversityYiwuChina
- Center for Genetic Medicine, the Fourth Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineYiwuChina
| | - Yongmei Xi
- Division of Human Reproduction and Developmental Genetics, the Women's HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineHangzhouChina
- Institute of GeneticsZhejiang UniversityYiwuChina
- Center for Genetic Medicine, the Fourth Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of MedicineYiwuChina
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4
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Leggere JC, Hibbard JV, Papoulas O, Lee C, Pearson CG, Marcotte EM, Wallingford JB. Label-free proteomic comparison reveals ciliary and nonciliary phenotypes of IFT-A mutants. Mol Biol Cell 2024; 35:ar39. [PMID: 38170584 PMCID: PMC10916875 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e23-03-0084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
DIFFRAC is a powerful method for systematically comparing proteome content and organization between samples in a high-throughput manner. By subjecting control and experimental protein extracts to native chromatography and quantifying the contents of each fraction using mass spectrometry, it enables the quantitative detection of alterations to protein complexes and abundances. Here, we applied DIFFRAC to investigate the consequences of genetic loss of Ift122, a subunit of the intraflagellar transport-A (IFT-A) protein complex that plays a vital role in the formation and function of cilia and flagella, on the proteome of Tetrahymena thermophila. A single DIFFRAC experiment was sufficient to detect changes in protein behavior that mirrored known effects of IFT-A loss and revealed new biology. We uncovered several novel IFT-A-regulated proteins, which we validated through live imaging in Xenopus multiciliated cells, shedding new light on both the ciliary and non-ciliary functions of IFT-A. Our findings underscore the robustness of DIFFRAC for revealing proteomic changes in response to genetic or biochemical perturbation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janelle C. Leggere
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, TX 78712
| | - Jaime V.K. Hibbard
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, TX 78712
| | - Ophelia Papoulas
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, TX 78712
| | - Chanjae Lee
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, TX 78712
| | - Chad G. Pearson
- Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO 80045
| | - Edward M. Marcotte
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, TX 78712
| | - John B. Wallingford
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, TX 78712
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5
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Chen S, Liu S, Shi S, Yin H, Tang Y, Zhang J, Li W, Liu G, Qu K, Ding X, Wang Y, Liu J, Zhang S, Fang L, Yu Y. Cross-Species Comparative DNA Methylation Reveals Novel Insights into Complex Trait Genetics among Cattle, Sheep, and Goats. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae003. [PMID: 38266195 PMCID: PMC10834038 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae003] [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: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The cross-species characterization of evolutionary changes in the functional genome can facilitate the translation of genetic findings across species and the interpretation of the evolutionary basis underlying complex phenotypes. Yet, this has not been fully explored between cattle, sheep, goats, and other mammals. Here, we systematically characterized the evolutionary dynamics of DNA methylation and gene expression in 3 somatic tissues (i.e. brain, liver, and skeletal muscle) and sperm across 7 mammalian species, including 3 ruminant livestock species (cattle, sheep, and goats), humans, pigs, mice, and dogs, by generating and integrating 160 DNA methylation and transcriptomic data sets. We demonstrate dynamic changes of DNA hypomethylated regions and hypermethylated regions in tissue-type manner across cattle, sheep, and goats. Specifically, based on the phylo-epigenetic model of DNA methylome, we identified a total of 25,074 hypomethylated region extension events specific to cattle, which participated in rewiring tissue-specific regulatory network. Furthermore, by integrating genome-wide association studies of 50 cattle traits, we provided novel insights into the genetic and evolutionary basis of complex phenotypes in cattle. Overall, our study provides a valuable resource for exploring the evolutionary dynamics of the functional genome and highlights the importance of cross-species characterization of multiomics data sets for the evolutionary interpretation of complex phenotypes in cattle livestock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siqian Chen
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shuli Liu
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
- School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China
| | - Shaolei Shi
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Hongwei Yin
- Agriculture Genome Institute at Shenzhen, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shenzhen 518120, China
| | - Yongjie Tang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jinning Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Wenlong Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Gang Liu
- National Animal Husbandry Service, Beijing 100125, China
| | - Kaixing Qu
- Academy of Science and Technology, Chuxiong Normal University, Chuxiong 675000, China
| | - Xiangdong Ding
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yachun Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Jianfeng Liu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shengli Zhang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Lingzhao Fang
- Center for Quantitative Genetics and Genomics (QGG), Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Ying Yu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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Liu XP, Liu CY, Feng YJ, Guo XK, Zhang LS, Wang MQ, Li YY, Zeng FR, Nolan T, Mao JJ. Male vitellogenin regulates gametogenesis through a testis-enriched big protein in Chrysopa pallens. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 33:17-28. [PMID: 37707297 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
In insects, vitellogenin (Vg) is generally viewed as a female-specific protein. Its primary function is to supply nutrition to developing embryos. Here, we reported Vg from the male adults of a natural predator, Chrysopa pallens. The male Vg was depleted by RNAi. Mating with Vg-deficient male downregulated female Vg expression, suppressed ovarian development and decreased reproductive output. Whole-organism transcriptome analysis after male Vg knockdown showed no differential expression of the known spermatogenesis-related regulators and seminal fluid protein genes, but a sharp downregulation of an unknown gene, which encodes a testis-enriched big protein (Vcsoo). Separate knockdown of male Vg and Vcsoo disturbed the assembly of spermatid cytoplasmic organelles in males and suppressed the expansion of ovary germarium in mated females. These results demonstrated that C. pallens male Vg signals through the downstream Vcsoo and regulates male and female reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Ping Liu
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemy Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Chang-Yan Liu
- Institute of Food Crops, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Crop Germplasm and Genetic, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan-Jiao Feng
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemy Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xing-Kai Guo
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemy Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Sheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemy Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng-Qing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemy Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Yan Li
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemy Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan-Rong Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemy Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Tony Nolan
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jian-Jun Mao
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemy Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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7
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Huang Q, Chen X, Yu H, Ji L, Shi Y, Cheng X, Chen H, Yu J. Structure and molecular basis of spermatid elongation in the Drosophila testis. Open Biol 2023; 13:230136. [PMID: 37935354 PMCID: PMC10645079 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.230136] [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: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatid elongation is a crucial event in the late stage of spermatogenesis in the Drosophila testis, eventually leading to the formation of mature sperm after meiosis. During spermatogenesis, significant structural and morphological changes take place in a cluster of post-meiotic germ cells, which are enclosed in a microenvironment surrounded by somatic cyst cells. Microtubule-based axoneme assembly, formation of individualization complexes and mitochondria maintenance are key processes involved in the differentiation of elongated spermatids. They provide important structural foundations for accessing male fertility. How these structures are constructed and maintained are basic questions in the Drosophila testis. Although the roles of several genes in different structures during the development of elongated spermatids have been elucidated, the relationships between them have not been widely studied. In addition, the genetic basis of spermatid elongation and the regulatory mechanisms involved have not been thoroughly investigated. In the present review, we focus on current knowledge with regard to spermatid axoneme assembly, individualization complex and mitochondria maintenance. We also touch upon promising directions for future research to unravel the underlying mechanisms of spermatid elongation in the Drosophila testis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuru Huang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, People's Republic of China
| | - Xia Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University, Nantong First People's Hospital, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Yu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Ji
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Shi
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinmeng Cheng
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Chen
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, People's Republic of China
| | - Jun Yu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, People's Republic of China
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8
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Ryniawec JM, Hannaford MR, Zibrat ME, Fagerstrom CJ, Galletta BJ, Aguirre SE, Guice BA, Dean SM, Rusan NM, Rogers GC. Cep104 is a component of the centriole distal tip complex that regulates centriole growth and contributes to Drosophila spermiogenesis. Curr Biol 2023; 33:4202-4216.e9. [PMID: 37729913 PMCID: PMC10591971 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.08.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Proper centrosome number and function relies on the accurate assembly of centrioles, barrel-shaped structures that form the core duplicating elements of the organelle. The growth of centrioles is regulated in a cell cycle-dependent manner; while new daughter centrioles elongate during the S/G2/M phase, mature mother centrioles maintain their length throughout the cell cycle. Centriole length is controlled by the synchronized growth of the microtubules that ensheathe the centriole barrel. Although proteins exist that target the growing distal tips of centrioles, such as CP110 and Cep97, these proteins are generally thought to suppress centriolar microtubule growth, suggesting that distal tips may also contain unidentified counteracting factors that facilitate microtubule polymerization. Currently, a mechanistic understanding of how distal tip proteins balance microtubule growth and shrinkage to either promote daughter centriole elongation or maintain centriole length is lacking. Using a proximity-labeling screen in Drosophila cells, we identified Cep104 as a novel component of a group of evolutionarily conserved proteins that we collectively refer to as the distal tip complex (DTC). We found that Cep104 regulates centriole growth and promotes centriole elongation through its microtubule-binding TOG domain. Furthermore, analysis of Cep104 null flies revealed that Cep104 and Cep97 cooperate during spermiogenesis to align spermatids and coordinate individualization. Lastly, we mapped the complete DTC interactome and showed that Cep97 is the central scaffolding unit required to recruit DTC components to the distal tip of centrioles.
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Affiliation(s)
- John M Ryniawec
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Matthew R Hannaford
- Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Melanie E Zibrat
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Carey J Fagerstrom
- Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Brian J Galletta
- Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Sophia E Aguirre
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Bethany A Guice
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Spencer M Dean
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
| | - Nasser M Rusan
- Cell and Developmental Biology Center, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Gregory C Rogers
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA.
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9
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Yu J, Li Z, Fu Y, Sun F, Chen X, Huang Q, He L, Yu H, Ji L, Cheng X, Shi Y, Shen C, Zheng B, Sun F. Single-cell RNA-sequencing reveals the transcriptional landscape of ND-42 mediated spermatid elongation via mitochondrial derivative maintenance in Drosophila testes. Redox Biol 2023; 62:102671. [PMID: 36933391 PMCID: PMC10036812 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2023.102671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
During spermatogenesis, mitochondria extend along the whole length of spermatid tail and offer a structural platform for microtubule reorganization and synchronized spermatid individualization, that eventually helps to generate mature sperm in Drosophila. However, the regulatory mechanism of spermatid mitochondria during elongation remains largely unknown. Herein, we demonstrated that NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) 42 kDa subunit (ND-42) was essential for male fertility and spermatid elongation in Drosophila. Moreover, ND-42 depletion led to mitochondrial disorders in Drosophila testes. Based on single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq), we identified 15 distinct cell clusters, including several unanticipated transitional subpopulations or differentiative stages for testicular germ cell complexity in Drosophila testes. Enrichments of the transcriptional regulatory network in the late-stage cell populations revealed key roles of ND-42 in mitochondria and its related biological processes during spermatid elongation. Notably, we demonstrated that ND-42 depletion led to maintenance defects of the major mitochondrial derivative and the minor mitochondrial derivative by affecting mitochondrial membrane potential and mitochondrial-encoded genes. Our study proposes a novel regulatory mechanism of ND-42 for spermatid mitochondrial derivative maintenance, contributing to a better understanding of spermatid elongation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
| | - Zhiran Li
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yangbo Fu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Feiteng Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Xia Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital 2 of Nantong University and First People's Hospital of Nantong City, Nantong, Jiangsu, 226001, China
| | - Qiuru Huang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Lei He
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Hao Yu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Li Ji
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Xinmeng Cheng
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Yi Shi
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China
| | - Cong Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Reproduction and Genetics, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215002, China
| | - Bo Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Center for Reproduction and Genetics, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215002, China.
| | - Fei Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
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10
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Chen MY, Duan X, Wang Q, Ran MJ, Ai H, Zheng Y, Wang YF. Cytochrome c1-like is required for mitochondrial morphogenesis and individualization during spermatogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:286665. [PMID: 36645102 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.245277] [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: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The Drosophila testis is an excellent system for studying the process from germ stem cells to motile sperm, including the proliferation of male germ cells, meiosis of primary spermatocytes, mitochondrial morphogenesis, and spermatid individualization. We previously demonstrated that ocnus (ocn) plays an essential role in male germ cell development. Among those genes and proteins whose expression levels were changed as a result of ocn knockdown, cytochrome c1-like (cyt-c1L) was downregulated significantly. Here, we show that cyt-c1L is highly expressed in the testis of D. melanogaster. Knockdown or mutation of cyt-c1L in early germ cells of flies resulted in male sterility. Immunofluorescence staining showed that cyt-c1L knockdown testes had no defects in early spermatogenesis; however, in late stages, in contrast to many individualization complexes (ICs) composed of F-actin cones that appeared at different positions in control testes, no actin cones or ICs were observed in cyt-c1L knockdown testes. Furthermore, no mature sperm were found in the seminal vesicle of cyt-c1L knockdown testes whereas the control seminal vesicle was full of mature sperm with needle-like nuclei. cyt-c1L knockdown also caused abnormal mitochondrial morphogenesis during spermatid elongation. Excessive apoptotic signals accumulated in the base of cyt-c1L knockdown fly testes. These results suggest that cyt-c1L may play an important role in spermatogenesis by affecting the mitochondrial morphogenesis and individualization of sperm in D. melanogaster.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Yan Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, PR China
| | - Xin Duan
- School of Life Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, PR China
| | - Qian Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, PR China
| | - Mao-Jiu Ran
- School of Life Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, PR China
| | - Hui Ai
- School of Life Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, PR China
| | - Ya Zheng
- School of Life Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, PR China
| | - Yu-Feng Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, PR China
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11
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Maaroufi HO, Pauchova L, Lin YH, Wu BCH, Rouhova L, Kucerova L, Vieira LC, Renner M, Sehadova H, Hradilova M, Zurovec M. Mutation in Drosophila concentrative nucleoside transporter 1 alters spermatid maturation and mating behavior. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:945572. [PMID: 36105362 PMCID: PMC9467524 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.945572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Concentrative nucleoside transporters (Cnts) are unidirectional carriers that mediate the energy-costly influx of nucleosides driven by the transmembrane sodium gradient. Cnts are transmembrane proteins that share a common structural organization and are found in all phyla. Although there have been studies on Cnts from a biochemical perspective, no deep research has examined their role at the organismal level. Here, we investigated the role of the Drosophila melanogaster cnt1 gene, which is specifically expressed in the testes. We used the CRISPR/Cas9 system to generate a mutation in the cnt1 gene. The cnt1 mutants exhibited defects in the duration of copulation and spermatid maturation, which significantly impaired male fertility. The most striking effect of the cnt1 mutation in spermatid maturation was an abnormal structure of the sperm tail, in which the formation of major and minor mitochondrial derivatives was disrupted. Our results demonstrate the importance of cnt1 in male fertility and suggest that the observed defects in mating behavior and spermatogenesis are due to alterations in nucleoside transport and associated metabolic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houda Ouns Maaroufi
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Lucie Pauchova
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Yu-Hsien Lin
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Bulah Chia-Hsiang Wu
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Lenka Rouhova
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Lucie Kucerova
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Ligia Cota Vieira
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Marek Renner
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Hana Sehadova
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
| | - Miluse Hradilova
- Institute of Molecular Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
| | - Michal Zurovec
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Entomology, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
- Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Ceske Budejovice, Czechia
- *Correspondence: Michal Zurovec,
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12
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Pravder HD, Grabowska D, Roychoudhury K, Zhang B, Frank D, Zakrzewski P, Lenartowska M, Miller KG. PFTAIRE Kinase L63 Interactor 1A (Pif1A Protein) Is Required for Actin Cone Movement during Spermatid Individualization in Drosophila melanogaster. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23063011. [PMID: 35328431 PMCID: PMC8950383 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
A useful model for determining the mechanisms by which actin and actin binding proteins control cellular architecture is the Drosophila melanogaster process of spermatogenesis. During the final step of spermatogenesis, 64 syncytial spermatids individualized as stable actin cones move synchronously down the axonemes and remodel the membranes. To identify new genes involved in spermatid individualization, we screened a collection of Drosophila male-sterile mutants and found that, in the line Z3-5009, actin cones formed near to the spermatid nuclei but failed to move, resulting in failed spermatid individualization. However, we show by phalloidin actin staining, electron microscopy and immunocytochemical localization of several actin binding proteins that the early cones had normal structure. We sequenced the genome of the Z3-5009 line and identified mutations in the PFTAIRE kinase L63 interactor 1A (Pif1A) gene. Quantitative real-time PCR showed that Pif1A transcript abundance was decreased in the mutant, and a transgene expressing Pif1A fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP) was able to fully rescue spermatid individualization and male fertility. Pif1A-GFP localized to the front of actin cones before initiation of movement. We propose that Pif1A plays a pivotal role in directing actin cone movement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrison D. Pravder
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA; (H.D.P.); (D.G.); (K.R.); (B.Z.); (K.G.M.)
- Department of Anesthesiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Dorota Grabowska
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA; (H.D.P.); (D.G.); (K.R.); (B.Z.); (K.G.M.)
- Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kaushik Roychoudhury
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA; (H.D.P.); (D.G.); (K.R.); (B.Z.); (K.G.M.)
| | - Betty Zhang
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA; (H.D.P.); (D.G.); (K.R.); (B.Z.); (K.G.M.)
| | - Deborah Frank
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA;
| | - Przemysław Zakrzewski
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 87-100 Torun, Poland;
- School of Biochemistry, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Marta Lenartowska
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biological and Veterinary Sciences, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, 87-100 Torun, Poland;
- Correspondence:
| | - Kathryn G. Miller
- Department of Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA; (H.D.P.); (D.G.); (K.R.); (B.Z.); (K.G.M.)
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13
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Yang D, Xu J, Chen K, Liu Y, Yang X, Tang L, Luo X, Liu Z, Li M, Walters JR, Huang Y. BmPMFBP1 regulates the development of eupyrene sperm in the silkworm, Bombyx mori. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1010131. [PMID: 35312700 PMCID: PMC8970482 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1010131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Sperm deliver the male complement of DNA to the ovum, and thus play a key role in sexual reproduction. Accordingly, spermatogenesis has outstanding significance in fields as disparate as infertility treatments and pest-control, making it a broadly interesting and important focus for molecular genetics research in a wide range of species. Here we investigate spermatogenesis in the model lepidopteran insect Bombyx mori (silkworm moth), with particular focus on the gene PMFBP1 (polyamine modulated factor 1 binding protein 1). In humans and mouse, PMFBP1 is essential for spermatogenesis, and mutations of this gene are associated with acephalic spermatozoa, which cause infertility. We identified a B. mori gene labeled as “PMFBP1” in GenBank’s RefSeq database and sought to assess its role in spermatogenesis. Like in mammals, the silkworm version of this gene (BmPMFBP1) is specifically expressed in testes. We subsequently generated BmPMFBP1 mutants using a transgenic CRISPR/Cas9 system. Mutant males were sterile while the fertility of mutant females was comparable to wildtype females. In B. mori, spermatogenesis yields two types of sperm, the nucleated fertile eupyrene sperm, and anucleated unfertile apyrene sperm. Mutant males produced abnormal eupyrene sperm bundles but normal apyrene sperm bundles. For eupyrene sperm, nuclei were mislocated and disordered inside the bundles. We also found the BmPMFBP1 deficiency blocked the release of eupyrene sperm bundles from testes to ejaculatory seminalis. We found no obvious abnormalities in the production of apyrene sperm in mutant males, and double-matings with apyrene-deficient sex-lethal mutants rescued the ΔBmPMFBP1 infertility phenotype. These results indicate BmPMFBP1 functions only in eupyrene spermatogenesis, and highlight that distinct genes underlie the development of the two sperm morphs commonly found in Lepidoptera. Bioinformatic analyses suggest PMFBP1 may have evolved independently in lepidoptera and mammals, and that despite the shared name, are likely not homologous genes. The presence of nucleated and anucleated dimorphic sperm produced by a single male is a notable characteristic of lepidopteran insects. Previously we identified the gene BmSxl and BmPnldc1 are required for apyrene and eupyrene sperm development, respectively. However, there remains very little known about the molecular mechanism of eupyrene and apyrene sperm development and function. In human and mouse, the protein PMFBP1 is related to acephalic spermatozoa syndrome. Here, we generate somatic mutants in the silkworm Bombyx mori for this gene. In the silkworm, BmPMFBP1 is essential for male fertility. Loss of BmPMFBP1 function results in defective eupyrene sperm bundles in the early elongation stage of spermatogenesis. The nuclei of the eupyrene sperm bundles were displaced from sperm heads while the apyrene sperm bundles were normal. This deficiency also results in the failure of the release of eupyrene sperm bundles from testes to the ejaculatory seminalis duct. Our study proves the important function of BmPMFBP1 in the development of the eupyrene sperm in the silkworm and identifies a potential target gene for lepidopteran pest control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dehong Yang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Xu
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Chen
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yujia Liu
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Yang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Linmeng Tang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xingyu Luo
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zulian Liu
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Muwang Li
- Jiangsu University of Science and Technology, Zhenjiang, China
| | - James R. Walters
- Department of Ecology & Evolution, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas, United States of America
- * E-mail: (JRW); (YH)
| | - Yongping Huang
- Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental and Evolutionary Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Plant Sciences, Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Biotic Interactions, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- * E-mail: (JRW); (YH)
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14
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Abey NO, Ebuehi OAT, Imaga NA. Perinatal dietary protein deficiency alters ovarian genes critical to reproductive health from one generation to another in female rat models. GENE REPORTS 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2021.101225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/30/2022]
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15
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Dong M, Li H, Zhang X, Tan J. Weighted Correlation Gene Network Analysis Reveals New Potential Mechanisms and Biomarkers in Non-obstructive Azoospermia. Front Genet 2021; 12:617133. [PMID: 33868362 PMCID: PMC8044582 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.617133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) denotes a severe form of male infertility, whose etiology is still poorly understood. This is mainly due to limited knowledge on the molecular mechanisms that lead to spermatogenesis failure. In this study, we acquired microarray data from GEO DataSets and identified differentially expressed genes using the limma package in R. We identified 1,261 differentially expressed genes between non-obstructive and obstructive azoospermia. Analysis of their possible biological functions and related signaling pathways using the cluster profiler package revealed an enrichment of genes involved in germ cell development, cilium organization, and oocyte meiosis. Immune infiltration analysis indicated that macrophages were the most significant immune component of NOA, cooperating with mast cells and natural killer cells. The weighted gene coexpression network analysis algorithm generated three related functional modules, which correlated closely with clinical parameters derived from histopathological subtypes of NOA. The resulting data enabled the construction of a protein–protein interaction network of these three modules, with CDK1, CDC20, CCNB1, CCNB2, and MAD2L1 identified as hub genes. This study provides the basis for further investigation of the molecular mechanism underlying NOA, as well as indications about potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets of NOA. Finally, using tissues containing different tissue types for differential expression analysis can reflect the expression differences in different tissues to a certain extent. But this difference in expression is only related and not causal. The specific causality needs to be verified later.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Dong
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Diseases and Fertility Remodeling of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China.,School of Life Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Hao Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xue Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jichun Tan
- Center of Reproductive Medicine, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Dysfunction Diseases and Fertility Remodeling of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
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16
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Liu L, Li F, Wen Z, Li T, Lv M, Zhao X, Zhang W, Liu J, Wang L, Ma X. Preliminary investigation of the function of hsa_circ_0049356 in nonobstructive azoospermia patients. Andrologia 2020; 52:e13814. [PMID: 32894622 DOI: 10.1111/and.13814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA), which is considered the most severe form of male infertility, has placed a heavy burden on families and society. As vital regulators of transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels, Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are closely related to all the pathophysiological processes involved in infertility in males, especially spermatogenesis. Our study explored the expression levels of circ_0049356 in both the whole blood and seminal plasma samples of idiopathic NOA patients via quantitative real-time PCR. Furthermore, the relative expression of its host gene (CARM1) was also determined using the same methods. In addition, as circRNAs have been demonstrated to regulate gene expression as miRNAs sponge, we predicted a total of five miRNAs and 101 mRNAs as putative downstream targets and constructed a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network. Based on the predictions, Gene Ontology and KEGG pathway analyses were performed for further bioinformatics analysis to explore the potential function and investigate the circ_0049356-miRNA-mRNA interactions. Our results show target mRNAs that have been predicted to regulate guanyl-nucleotide exchange factor activity to mediate the GTP/GDP exchange, and downstream targets possibly involved in the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, which play a significant role in cytoskeleton rearrangement of germ cells during spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lin Liu
- The Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Embryo of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | | | - Zhen Wen
- Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Tao Li
- Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Meng Lv
- Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaodong Zhao
- The Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Embryo of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- The Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Embryo of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jing Liu
- The Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Embryo of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Liyan Wang
- The Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Embryo of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaoling Ma
- The Reproductive Medicine Center, The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Embryo of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, China
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