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Silva JV, Freitas MJ, Santiago J, Jones S, Guimarães S, Vijayaraghavan S, Publicover S, Colombo G, Howl J, Fardilha M. Disruption of protein phosphatase 1 complexes with the use of bioportides as a novel approach to target sperm motility. Fertil Steril 2020; 115:348-362. [PMID: 32977940 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2020.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 08/07/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To design protein phosphatase 1 (PP1)-disrupting peptides covalently coupled to inert cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) as sychnologically organized bioportide constructs as a strategy to modulate sperm motility. DESIGN Experimental study. SETTING Academic research laboratory. PATIENT(S)/ANIMAL(S) Normozoospermic men providing samples for routine analysis and Holstein Frisian bulls. INTERVENTION(S) None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Effect of the bioportides on the activity and interactions of PP1γ2-a PP1 isoform expressed exclusively in testicular germ cells and sperm-and on sperm vitality and motility. RESULT(S) PP1-disrupting peptides were designed based on the sequences from: 1) a sperm-specific PP1 interactor (A kinase anchor protein 4); and 2) a PP1 inhibitor (protein phosphatase inhibitor 2). Those sequences were covalently coupled to inert CPPs as bioportide constructs, which were successfully delivered to the flagellum of sperm cells to induce a marked impact on PP1γ2 activity and sperm motility. Molecular modeling studies further facilitated the identification of an optimized PP1-binding sequence and enabled the development of a modified stop-sperm bioportide with reduced size and increased potency of action. In addition, a bioportide mimetic of the unique 22-amino acid C-terminus of PP1γ2 accumulated within spermatozoa to significantly reduce sperm motility and further define the PP1γ2-specific interactome. CONCLUSION(S) These investigations demonstrate the utility of CPPs to deliver peptide sequences that target unique protein-protein interactions in spermatozoa to achieve a significant impact upon spermatozoa motility, a key prognostic indicator of male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Vieira Silva
- Laboratory of Signal Transduction, Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde - i3S, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal; Laboratory of Cell Biology, Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria João Freitas
- Laboratory of Signal Transduction, Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; present address: Laboratory of Protein Phosphorylation and Proteomics, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Joana Santiago
- Laboratory of Signal Transduction, Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Sarah Jones
- Research Institute in Healthcare Science, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
| | - Sofia Guimarães
- Laboratory of Signal Transduction, Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal; present address: Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Steven Publicover
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Giorgio Colombo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Chimiche "Giulio Natta," Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milano, Italy
| | - John Howl
- Research Institute in Healthcare Science, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom
| | - Margarida Fardilha
- Laboratory of Signal Transduction, Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal.
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Mańkowska A, Brym P, Paukszto Ł, Jastrzębski JP, Fraser L. Gene Polymorphisms in Boar Spermatozoa and Their Associations with Post-Thaw Semen Quality. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21051902. [PMID: 32164368 PMCID: PMC7084667 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051902] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic markers have been used to assess the freezability of semen. With the advancement in molecular genetic techniques, it is possible to assess the relationships between sperm functions and gene polymorphisms. In this study, variant calling analysis of RNA-Seq datasets was used to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in boar spermatozoa and to explore the associations between SNPs and post-thaw semen quality. Assessment of post-thaw sperm quality characteristics showed that 21 boars were considered as having good semen freezability (GSF), while 19 boars were classified as having poor semen freezability (PSF). Variant calling demonstrated that most of the polymorphisms (67%) detected in boar spermatozoa were at the 3’-untranslated regions (3’-UTRs). Analysis of SNP abundance in various functional gene categories showed that gene ontology (GO) terms were related to response to stress, motility, metabolism, reproduction, and embryo development. Genomic DNA was isolated from sperm samples of 40 boars. Forty SNPs were selected and genotyped, and several SNPs were significantly associated with motility and membrane integrity of frozen-thawed (FT) spermatozoa. Polymorphism in SCLT1 gene was associated with significantly higher motility and plasma membrane integrity of FT spermatozoa from boars of the GSF group compared with those of the PSF group. Likewise, polymorphisms in MAP3K20, MS4A2, and ROBO1 genes were significantly associated with reduced cryo-induced lipid peroxidation and DNA damage of FT spermatozoa from boars of the GSF group. Candidate genes with significant SNP associations, including APPL1, PLBD1, FBXO16, EML5, RAB3C, OXSR1,PRICKLE1, and MAP3K20 genes, represent potential markers for post-thaw semen quality, and they might be relevant for future improvement in the selection procedure of boars for cryopreservation. The findings of this study provide evidence indicating that polymorphisms in genes expressed in spermatozoa could be considered as factors associated with post-thaw semen quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Mańkowska
- Department of Animal Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland;
| | - Paweł Brym
- Department of Animal Genetics, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland;
| | - Łukasz Paukszto
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland; (Ł.P.); (J.P.J.)
| | - Jan P. Jastrzębski
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland; (Ł.P.); (J.P.J.)
| | - Leyland Fraser
- Department of Animal Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland;
- Correspondence:
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