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Sakurai N, Fujihara Y, Kobayashi K, Ikawa M. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated disruption of lipocalins, Ly6g5b, and Ly6g5c causes male subfertility in mice. Andrology 2024; 12:981-990. [PMID: 36428102 PMCID: PMC10506895 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spermatozoa become mature and competent for fertilization during transit from the caput epididymis to the cauda epididymis. However, detailed molecular mechanisms of epididymal sperm maturation are still unclear. Here, we focused on multiple epididymis-enriched genes: lipocalin family genes (Lcn5, Lcn6, Lcn8, Lcn9, and Lcn10) and Ly6 family genes (Ly6g5b and Ly6g5c). These genes are evolutionarily conserved in mammals and form clusters on chromosomes 2 and 17 in the mouse, respectively. OBJECTIVE To clarify whether these genes are required for epididymal sperm maturation and acquisition of fertilizing ability, we generated knockout (KO) mice using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and analyzed their phenotype. MATERIALS AND METHODS We generated four lines of KO mice: Lcn9 single KO, the lipocalin family quadruple KO (Lcn5, Lcn6, Lcn8, and Lcn10), quintuple KO (Lcn5, Lcn6, Lcn8, Lcn10, and Lcn9), and double KO of Ly6 family genes (Ly6g5b and Ly6g5c). RESULTS Although the Lcn9 single KO did not affect male fertility, the quadruple KO and quintuple KO male mice were subfertile and mostly infertile, respectively, with a reduced amount of ADAM3, an essential protein for sperm binding to the zona pellucida. Further analysis revealed that the quintuple KO spermatozoa lack the CMTM2A/B that are required for ADAM3 maturation. Intriguingly, Ly6g5b and Ly6g5c double KO male mice also showed subfertility with reduced sperm ADAM3. CONCLUSION These results suggest epididymal secretory proteins are involved in ADAM3 maturation and acquisition of sperm fertilizing ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nobuyuki Sakurai
- Department of Bioscience and Genetics, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, 6-1 Kishibeshinmachi, Suita, Osaka 564-8565, Japan
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Fujihara
- Department of Bioscience and Genetics, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, 6-1 Kishibeshinmachi, Suita, Osaka 564-8565, Japan
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kiyonori Kobayashi
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
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2
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Liu MM, Feng XL, Qi C, Zhang SE, Zhang GL. The significance of single-cell transcriptome analysis in epididymis research. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1357370. [PMID: 38577504 PMCID: PMC10991796 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1357370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
As a crucial component of the male reproductive system, the epididymis plays multiple roles, including sperm storage and secretion of nutritive fluids for sperm development and maturation. The acquisition of fertilization capacity by sperm occurs during their transport through the epididymis. Compared with the testis, little has been realized about the importance of the epididymis. However, with the development of molecular biology and single-cell sequencing technology, the importance of the epididymis for male fertility should be reconsidered. Recent studies have revealed that different regions of the epididymis exhibit distinct functions and cell type compositions, which are likely determined by variations in gene expression patterns. In this research, we primarily focused on elucidating the cellular composition and region-specific gene expression patterns within different segments of the epididymis and provided detailed insights into epididymal function in male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Meng Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
| | - Xin-Lei Feng
- Animal Products Quality and Safety Center of Shandong Province, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Chao Qi
- Provincial Animal Husbandry Station of Shandong Province, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Shu-Er Zhang
- Provincial Animal Husbandry Station of Shandong Province, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Guo-Liang Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, Shandong, China
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3
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Davoudi P, Do DN, Colombo S, Rathgeber B, Sargolzaei M, Plastow G, Wang Z, Hu G, Valipour S, Miar Y. Genome-wide association studies for economically important traits in mink using copy number variation. Sci Rep 2024; 14:24. [PMID: 38167844 PMCID: PMC10762091 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50497-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Copy number variations (CNVs) are structural variants consisting of duplications and deletions of DNA segments, which are known to play important roles in the genetics of complex traits in livestock species. However, CNV-based genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have remained unexplored in American mink. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to investigate the association between CNVs and complex traits in American mink. A CNV-based GWAS was performed with the ParseCNV2 software program using deregressed estimated breeding values of 27 traits as pseudophenotypes, categorized into traits of growth and feed efficiency, reproduction, pelt quality, and Aleutian disease tests. The study identified a total of 10,137 CNVs (6968 duplications and 3169 deletions) using the Affymetrix Mink 70K single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) array in 2986 American mink. The association analyses identified 250 CNV regions (CNVRs) associated with at least one of the studied traits. These CNVRs overlapped with a total of 320 potential candidate genes, and among them, several genes have been known to be related to the traits such as ARID1B, APPL1, TOX, and GPC5 (growth and feed efficiency traits); GRM1, RNASE10, WNT3, WNT3A, and WNT9B (reproduction traits); MYO10, and LIMS1 (pelt quality traits); and IFNGR2, APEX1, UBE3A, and STX11 (Aleutian disease tests). Overall, the results of the study provide potential candidate genes that may regulate economically important traits and therefore may be used as genetic markers in mink genomic breeding programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pourya Davoudi
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, Canada
| | - Duy Ngoc Do
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, Canada
| | - Stefanie Colombo
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, Canada
| | - Bruce Rathgeber
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, Canada
| | - Mehdi Sargolzaei
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
- Select Sires Inc., Plain City, OH, USA
| | - Graham Plastow
- Livestock Gentec, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Zhiquan Wang
- Livestock Gentec, Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Guoyu Hu
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, Canada
| | - Shafagh Valipour
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, Canada
| | - Younes Miar
- Department of Animal Science and Aquaculture, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS, Canada.
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4
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Kiyozumi D. Lumicrine signaling: Extracellular regulation of sperm maturation in the male reproductive tract lumen. Genes Cells 2023; 28:757-763. [PMID: 37696504 DOI: 10.1111/gtc.13066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
The behaviors of cells, tissues, and organs are controlled by the extracellular environment in addition to their autonomous regulatory system. Dysfunction of extracellular regulatory mechanisms affects not only the development and survival of organisms but also successful reproduction. In this review article, a novel extracellular regulatory mechanism regulating the mammalian male reproductive ability will be briefly summarized. In terrestrial vertebrates, spermatozoa generated in the testis are transported through the lumen of the male reproductive tract and become functionally mature during the transport. Recent studies with gene-modified animals are unveiling the luminal extracellular environment of the reproductive tract to function not only as the pathway of sperm transport and the site of sperm maturation but also as the channel for cellular communication to regulate sperm maturation. Of special interest is the molecular mechanism of lumicrine signaling, a transluminal secreted signal transduction in the male reproductive tract lumen as a master regulator of sperm maturation and male reproductive ability. The general significance of such transluminal signaling in the context of cell biology will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiji Kiyozumi
- Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan
- PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Tokyo, Japan
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5
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Kiyozumi D, Ikawa M. Adhesion G protein-coupled receptor G2 is dispensable for lumicrine signaling regulating epididymal initial segment differentiation and gene expression†. Biol Reprod 2023; 109:474-481. [PMID: 37531264 PMCID: PMC10577274 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioad087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Revised: 07/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian epididymis is the organ for functional sperm maturation. In rodents, the initial segment, the most proximal region of the epididymis, plays a critical role in sperm maturation. The luminal epithelial differentiation and the following gene expression of the initial segment are regulated by the lumicrine signaling, a testis-epididymis transluminal secreted signaling. Adhesion G protein-coupled receptor G2 (ADGRG2) is expressed in the efferent duct and the initial segment epididymis. In the preceding study, Adgrg2 ablation decreased the expression of several genes expressed in the initial segment. Such downregulated genes include those known to be regulated by lumicrine signaling, suggesting the involvement of ADGRG2 in lumicrine signaling. The present study examined whether ADGRG2 is associated with the lumicrine signaling regulating epididymal initial segment differentiation and gene expression. Adgrg2-null mice were generated by CRISPR/CAS9-mediated genome editing. The postnatal differentiation of the Adgrg2-null male epididymal initial segment was histologically comparable with that of control wild-type animals. The RNA-seq of Adgrg2-null mice was performed together with those of efferent duct-ligated and W/Wv mice in both of which lumicrine signaling is defective. The comparative transcriptome analyses clarified that the expressions of genes expressed in the initial segment and regulated by lumicrine signaling were decreased by Adgrg2 nullification. However, the extent of such downregulations observed in Adgrg2-null epididymis was not so prominent compared with those of lumicrine signaling deficient Nell2-/-, efferent duct-ligated, or W/Wv mice. Collectively, these findings indicate that ADGRG2 is dispensable for the lumicrine regulation of epididymal initial segment differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiji Kiyozumi
- Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Aichi
, Japan
- PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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6
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Yang D, Yuan L, Chen S, Zhang Y, Ma X, Xing Y, Song J. Morphological and histochemical identification of telocytes in adult yak epididymis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5295. [PMID: 37002252 PMCID: PMC10066225 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32220-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Telocytes (TCs) are a newly discovered type of mesenchymal cell that are closely related to the tissue's internal environment. The study aimed to investigate the morphological identification of TCs in the epididymis of adult yak and their role in the local microenvironment. In this study, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy, immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and western blotting were used to analyze the cell morphology of TCs. The results showed that there are two types of TCs in the epididymal stroma of yak by TEM; one type is distributed around the capillaries with full cell bodies, longer TPs, and a large number of secretory vesicles; the other is distributed outside the basement membrane with irregularly long, striped, large nuclei and short telopodes (TPs). In addition, these TCs formed complex TC cell networks through TPs with epididymal interstitial capillaries and basal fibroblasts. TCs often appear near the capillaries and basement membrane by special staining. The surface markers of TCs (CD34, vimentin, and CD117) were positively expressed in the epididymal stroma and epithelium by immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence co-expression of vimentin + CD34 and CD117 + CD34 was observed on the surface of TCs. The trends in the mRNA and protein expression of TCs surface markers revealed expression was highest in the caput epididymis. In summary, this is first report of TCs in the epididymis of yak, and two phenotypes of TCs were observed. The existence and distribution characteristics of TCs in the epididymis of plateau yaks provide important clues for further study of the adaptation to reproductive function in the plateau.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dapeng Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Reproductive Physiology and Reproductive Regulation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Ligang Yuan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China.
- Key Laboratory of Animal Reproductive Physiology and Reproductive Regulation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, 730070, China.
| | - Shaoyu Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Reproductive Physiology and Reproductive Regulation of Gansu Province, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Xiaojie Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Yindi Xing
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
| | - Juanjuan Song
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, 730070, China
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7
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Yu M, Zhang X, Yan J, Guo J, Zhang F, Zhu K, Liu S, Sun Y, Shen W, Wang J. Transcriptional Specificity Analysis of Testis and Epididymis Tissues in Donkey. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13122339. [PMID: 36553607 PMCID: PMC9777602 DOI: 10.3390/genes13122339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Donkeys, with high economic value for meat, skin and milk production, are important livestock. However, the current insights into reproduction of donkeys are far from enough. To obtain a deeper understanding, the differential expression analysis and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) of transcriptomic data of testicular and epididymis tissues in donkeys were performed. In the result, there were 4313 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the two tissues, including 2047 enriched in testicular tissue and 2266 in epididymis tissue. WGCNA identified 1081 hub genes associated with testis development and 6110 genes with epididymal development. Next, the tissue-specific genes were identified with the above two methods, and the gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that the epididymal-specific genes were associated with gonad development. On the other hand, the testis-specific genes were involved in the formation of sperm flagella, meiosis period, ciliary assembly, ciliary movement, etc. In addition, we found that eca-Mir-711 and eca-Mir-143 likely participated in regulating the development of epididymal tissue. Meanwhile, eca-Mir-429, eca-Mir-761, eca-Mir-200a, eca-Mir-191 and eca-Mir-200b potentially played an important role in regulating the development of testicular tissue. In short, these results will contribute to functional studies of the male reproductive trait in donkeys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mubin Yu
- College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Jiamao Yan
- College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Jianhua Guo
- Jiaozhou Agricultural and Rural Bureau, Jiaozhou 266300, China
| | - Fali Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Kexin Zhu
- College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Shuqin Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Yujiang Sun
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
| | - Wei Shen
- Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction and Germplasm Enhancement in Universities of Shandong, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
- Correspondence: (W.S.); (J.W.)
| | - Junjie Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, China
- Correspondence: (W.S.); (J.W.)
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8
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Lang D, Wang X, Liu C, Geng W, Irwin DM, Chen S, Li C, Yu L, Xiao H. Birth-and-death evolution of ribonuclease 9 genes in Cetartiodactyla. SCIENCE CHINA LIFE SCIENCES 2022; 66:1170-1182. [PMID: 36443512 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-022-2195-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
RNase9 plays a reproductive function and has been recognized as an important member of the ribonuclease (RNase) A superfamily, a gene family that is widely used as a model for molecular evolutionary studies. Here, we identified 178 RNase9 genes from 95 Cetartiodactyla species that represent all four lineages and 21 families of this clade. Unexpectedly, RNase9 experienced an evolutionary scenario of "birth and death" in Ruminantia, and expression analyses showed that duplicated RNase9A and RNase9B genes are expressed in reproductive tissues (epididymis, vas deferens or prostate). This expression pattern combined with the estimate that these genes duplicated during the middle Eocene, a time when Ruminantia become a successful lineage, suggests that the RNase9 gene duplication might have been advantageous for promoting sperm motility and male fertility as an adaptation to climate seasonality changes of this period. In contrast, all RNase9 genes were lost in the Cetacean lineage, which might be associated with their high levels of prostatic lesions and lower reproductive rates as adaptations to a fully aquatic environment and a balance to the demands of ocean resources. This study reveals a complex and intriguing evolutionary history and functional divergence for RNase9 in Cetartiodactyla, providing new insights into the evolution of the RNaseA superfamily and molecular mechanisms for organismal adaptations to the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Datian Lang
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
- Biodiversity Research Center of Wumeng Mountain, Department of Agronomy and Life Science, Zhaotong University, Zhaotong, 657000, China
| | - Xiaoping Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Chunbing Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Weihang Geng
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - David M Irwin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Shanyuan Chen
- School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Chunqing Li
- School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Li Yu
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China.
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resources in Yunnan, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China.
| | - Heng Xiao
- School of Life Sciences, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650500, China.
- School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China.
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9
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Abstract
The ribonuclease A (RNase A) family is one of the best-characterized vertebrate-specific proteins. In humans, eight catalytically active RNases (numbered 1–8) have been identified and have unique tissue distributions. Apart from the digestion of dietary RNA, a broad range of biological actions, including the regulation of intra- or extra-cellular RNA metabolism as well as antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal activities, neurotoxicity, promotion of cell proliferation, anti-apoptosis, and immunomodulatory abilities, have been recently reported for the members of this family. Based on multiple biological roles, RNases are found to participate in the pathogenic processes of many diseases, such as infection, immune dysfunction, neurodegeneration, cancer, and cardiovascular disorders. This review summarizes the available data on the human RNase A family and illustrates the significant roles of the eight canonical RNases in health and disease, for stimulating further basic research and development of ideas on the potential solutions for disease diagnosis and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Desen Sun
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315020, China,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
| | - Chenjie Han
- Institute of Environmental Medicine and Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China,Undergraduate Program in Public Health, School of Public Health, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Jinghao Sheng
- Institute of Environmental Medicine and Affiliated Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China,Corresponding author
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10
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Kiyozumi D. The molecular mechanisms of mammalian sperm maturation regulated by NELL2-ROS1 lumicrine signaling. J Biochem 2022; 172:341-346. [PMID: 36071564 DOI: 10.1093/jb/mvac071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In terrestrial vertebrates, spermatozoa generated in the testis are transported through the reproductive tract toward outside the body. In addition to as the pathway of sperm transport, the male reproductive tract also functions as the site of post-testicular sperm maturation and the epididymis, which constitutes the majority of male reproductive tract, plays central roles in such a sperm maturation. Recent studies with gene-modified animals have been unveiling not only the molecular mechanisms of sperm maturation in the epididymis but the regulatory system by which the epididymis acquires and executes sperm maturing functions. In this review, the mechanisms of mammalian sperm maturation will be summarized, based on recent findings including the lumicrine regulation of sperm maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiji Kiyozumi
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Japan.,Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Japan
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11
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α/β-Hydrolase D16B Truncation Results in Premature Sperm Capacitation in Cattle. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23147777. [PMID: 35887122 PMCID: PMC9316559 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2022] [Revised: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently it was shown that a specific form of male infertility in Holstein cattle was caused by a nonsense variant in the α/β-hydrolase domain-containing 16B (ABHD16B) gene resulting in a protein truncation at amino acid position 218 (p.218Q*) and loss of function. Lipidomics showed that the absence of ABHD16B influenced the content of phosphatidylcholine (PC), ceramide (Cer), diacylglycerol (DAG), and sphingomyelin (SM) in variant carrier sperm membranes. However, the exact cause of infertility in affected sires has remained unclear until now. To elucidate the cause of infertility, we analyzed (i) standard sperm parameters (i.e., total sperm number, morphological intact sperm, total sperm motility), (ii) in vitro fertilizability and effects on early embryonic development, and (iii) sperm survival rates (i.e., capacitation time). The affected spermatozoa showed no changes in the usual sperm parameters and were also capable of fertilization in vitro. Furthermore, the absence of ABHD16B did not affect early embryonic development. Based on these results, it was concluded that the affected spermatozoa appeared to be fertilizable per se. Consequently, the actual cause of the inability to fertilize could only be due to a time- and/or place-dependent process after artificial insemination and before fertilization. A process fundamental to the ability to fertilize after insemination is capacitation. Capacitation is a biochemical maturation process that spermatozoa undergo in the female genital tract and is inevitable for the successful fertilization of the oocyte. It is known that the presence and concentration of certain sperm membrane lipids are essential for the correct course of capacitation. However, precisely these lipids are absent in the membrane of spermatozoa affected by the ABHD16B truncation. Since all other causes of fertilization inability were excluded in the previous experiments, consequently, the only remaining hypothesis was that the loss of function of ABHD16B leads to a capacitation disruption. We were able to show that heterozygous and homozygous affected spermatozoa exhibit premature capacitation and therefore decay before fertilization. This effect of the loss of function of ABHD16B has not been described before and our studies now revealed why sires harboring the variant in the ABHD16B gene are infertile.
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12
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Karuthadurai T, Das DN, Kumaresan A, Sinha MK, Kamaraj E, Nag P, Ebenezer Samuel King JP, Datta TK, Manimaran A, Jeyakumar S, Ramesha K. Sperm Transcripts Associated With Odorant Binding and Olfactory Transduction Pathways Are Altered in Breeding Bulls Producing Poor-Quality Semen. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:799386. [PMID: 35274020 PMCID: PMC8902071 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.799386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatozoa carries a reservoir of mRNAs regulating sperm functions and fertilizing potential. Although it is well recognized that a considerable proportion of high genetic merit breeding bulls produce poor-quality semen, the transcriptomic alterations in spermatozoa from such bulls are not understood. In the present study, comparative high-throughput transcriptomic profiling of spermatozoa from good and poor-quality semen-producing bulls was carried out to identify the transcripts associated with semen quality. Using next-generation sequencing (NGS), we identified 11,632 transcripts in Holstein Friesian bull spermatozoa; after total hit normalization, a total of 544 transcripts were detected, of which 185 transcripts were common to both good and poor-quality semen, while 181 sperm transcripts were unique to good quality semen, and 178 transcripts were unique to poor-quality semen. Among the co-expressed transcripts, 31 were upregulated, while 108 were downregulated, and 46 were neutrally expressed in poor-quality semen. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the dysregulated transcripts were predominantly involved in molecular function, such as olfactory receptor activity and odor binding, and in biological process, such as detection of chemical stimulus involved in sensory perception, sensory perception of smell, signal transduction, and signal synaptic transmission. Since a majority of the dysregulated transcripts were involved in the olfactory pathway (85% of enriched dysregulated genes were involved in this pathway), the expression of selected five transcripts associated with this pathway (OR2T11, OR10S1, ORIL3, OR5M11, and PRRX1) were validated using real-time qPCR, and it was found that their transcriptional abundance followed the same trend as observed in NGS; the sperm transcriptional abundance of OR2T11 and OR10S1 differed significantly (p < 0.05) between good and poor-quality semen. It is concluded that poor-quality semen showed altered expression of transcripts associated with olfactory receptors and pathways indicating the relationship between olfactory pathway and semen quality in bulls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thirumalaisamy Karuthadurai
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Dayal Nitai Das
- Dairy Production Section, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Arumugam Kumaresan
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
- *Correspondence: Arumugam Kumaresan ;
| | - Manish Kumar Sinha
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Elango Kamaraj
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Pradeep Nag
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - John Peter Ebenezer Samuel King
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Tirtha Kumar Datta
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Ayyasamy Manimaran
- Dairy Production Section, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Sakthivel Jeyakumar
- Dairy Production Section, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Kerekoppa Ramesha
- Dairy Production Section, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
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13
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Heinen T, Xie C, Keshavarz M, Stappert D, Künzel S, Tautz D. Evolution of a New Testis-Specific Functional Promoter Within the Highly Conserved Map2k7 Gene of the Mouse. Front Genet 2022; 12:812139. [PMID: 35069705 PMCID: PMC8766832 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.812139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Map2k7 (synonym Mkk7) is a conserved regulatory kinase gene and a central component of the JNK signaling cascade with key functions during cellular differentiation. It shows complex transcription patterns, and different transcript isoforms are known in the mouse (Mus musculus). We have previously identified a newly evolved testis-specific transcript for the Map2k7 gene in the subspecies M. m. domesticus. Here, we identify the new promoter that drives this transcript and find that it codes for an open reading frame (ORF) of 50 amino acids. The new promoter was gained in the stem lineage of closely related mouse species but was secondarily lost in the subspecies M. m. musculus and M. m. castaneus. A single mutation can be correlated with its transcriptional activity in M. m. domesticus, and cell culture assays demonstrate the capability of this mutation to drive expression. A mouse knockout line in which the promoter region of the new transcript is deleted reveals a functional contribution of the newly evolved promoter to sperm motility and the spermatid transcriptome. Our data show that a new functional transcript (and possibly protein) can evolve within an otherwise highly conserved gene, supporting the notion of regulatory changes contributing to the emergence of evolutionary novelties.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Chen Xie
- Max-Plank Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany
| | - Maryam Keshavarz
- Max-Plank Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany.,Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen e. V. (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Dominik Stappert
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen e. V. (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Sven Künzel
- Max-Plank Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany
| | - Diethard Tautz
- Max-Plank Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany
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14
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Cheuquemán C, Maldonado R. Non-coding RNAs and chromatin: key epigenetic factors from spermatogenesis to transgenerational inheritance. Biol Res 2021; 54:41. [PMID: 34930477 PMCID: PMC8686607 DOI: 10.1186/s40659-021-00364-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular fate and gene expression patterns are modulated by different epigenetic factors including non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) and chromatin organization. Both factors are dynamic throughout male germ cell differentiation on the seminiferous tubule, despite the transcriptional inactivation in the last stages of spermatogenesis. Sperm maturation during the caput-to-cauda transit on the epididymis involves changes in chromatin organization and the soma-to-germ line transference of ncRNAs that are essential to obtain a functional sperm for fertilization and embryo development. Here, the male environment (diseases, drugs, mental stress) is crucial to modulate these epigenetic factors throughout sperm maturation, affecting the corresponding offspring. Paternal transgenerational inheritance has been directly related to sperm epigenetic changes, most of them associated with variations in the ncRNA content and chromatin marks. Our aim is to give an overview about how epigenetics, focused on ncRNAs and chromatin, is pivotal to understand spermatogenesis and sperm maturation, and how the male environment impacts the sperm epigenome modulating the offspring gene expression pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Cheuquemán
- Núcleo de Ciencias Biológicas, Dirección de Núcleos Transversales, Facultad de estudios Interdisciplinarios, Universidad Mayor, Temuco, Chile
| | - Rodrigo Maldonado
- Institute of Anatomy, Histology and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.
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15
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Garnett ER, Raines RT. Emerging biological functions of ribonuclease 1 and angiogenin. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2021; 57:244-260. [PMID: 34886717 DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2021.2004577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic-type ribonucleases (ptRNases) are a large family of vertebrate-specific secretory endoribonucleases. These enzymes catalyze the degradation of many RNA substrates and thereby mediate a variety of biological functions. Though the homology of ptRNases has informed biochemical characterization and evolutionary analyses, the understanding of their biological roles is incomplete. Here, we review the functions of two ptRNases: RNase 1 and angiogenin. RNase 1, which is an abundant ptRNase with high catalytic activity, has newly discovered roles in inflammation and blood coagulation. Angiogenin, which promotes neovascularization, is now known to play roles in the progression of cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, as well as in the cellular stress response. Ongoing work is illuminating the biology of these and other ptRNases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily R Garnett
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ronald T Raines
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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16
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Wu C, Wang C, Zhai B, Zhao Y, Zhao Z, Yuan Z, Fu X, Zhang M. Study on the region-specific expression of epididymis mRNA in the rams. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0245933. [PMID: 33493206 PMCID: PMC7833257 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The epididymis is divided into three regions including the caput, corpus and cauda. Gene expression profiles in different regions indicate the different functions of epididymis which are crucial for sperm maturation. In this study, three one-year-old rams was used as the experimental animal. Transcriptome sequencing technology was used to sequence mRNA in the caput, corpus and cauda of the epididymis. Based on the spatiotemporal-specific expression pattern in the epididymis, the mRNA expression profiles of the three parts of the epididymis were analysed. Region-specifically expressed genes were analysed by GO and KEGG analyses to screen the key genes involved in sheep sperm maturation. We obtained 129, 54 and 99 specifically expressed genes in the caput, corpus and cauda, respectively. And twenty specific expressed genes related to sperm maturation were used to construct functional networks. The heatmap showed that 6 genes of LCN protein family were highly expressed in the head of epididymis of sheep. We infer that sperm maturation is gradual in the epididymis and that there are significant differences in epididymal gene expression patterns between different species. This provides a data resource for analysing the regulatory mechanism of epididymis genes related to sperm maturation in rams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuiling Wu
- College of Animal Science, Xinjiang Agricultural University, Urumqi, China
- Branch of Animal Husbandry, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Gongzhuling, China
- Key Laboratory of Genetics Breeding and Reproduction of Xinjiang Wool Sheep & Cashmere-Goat, Institute of Animal Science, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Sciences, Urumqi, China
| | - Chunxin Wang
- Branch of Animal Husbandry, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Gongzhuling, China
| | - Bo Zhai
- Branch of Animal Husbandry, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Gongzhuling, China
| | - Yunhui Zhao
- Branch of Animal Husbandry, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Gongzhuling, China
| | - Zhuo Zhao
- Branch of Animal Husbandry, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Gongzhuling, China
| | - Zhiyu Yuan
- Branch of Animal Husbandry, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Gongzhuling, China
| | - Xuefeng Fu
- Key Laboratory of Genetics Breeding and Reproduction of Xinjiang Wool Sheep & Cashmere-Goat, Institute of Animal Science, Xinjiang Academy of Animal Sciences, Urumqi, China
- * E-mail: (XF); (MZ)
| | - Mingxin Zhang
- Branch of Animal Husbandry, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Gongzhuling, China
- * E-mail: (XF); (MZ)
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17
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Gahlay GK, Rajput N. The enigmatic sperm proteins in mammalian fertilization: an overview†. Biol Reprod 2020; 103:1171-1185. [PMID: 32761117 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian fertilization involves a physical interaction between a sperm and an egg followed by molecular interactions amongst their various cell surface molecules. These interactions are initially mediated on the egg's outermost matrix, zona pellucida (ZP), and then its plasma membrane. To better understand this process, it is pertinent to find the corresponding molecules on sperm that interact with ZP or the egg's plasma membrane. Although currently, we have some knowledge about the binding partners for egg's plasma membrane on sperm, yet the ones involved in an interaction with ZP have remained remarkably elusive. This review provides comprehensive knowledge about the various sperm proteins participating in mammalian fertilization and discusses the possible reasons for not being able to identify the strong sperm surface candidate (s) for ZP adhesion. It also hypothesizes the existence of a multi-protein complex(s), members of which participate in oviduct transport, cumulus penetration, zona adhesion, and adhesion/fusion with the egg's plasma membrane; with some protein(s) having multiple roles during this process. Identification of these proteins is crucial as it improves our understanding of the process and allows us to successfully treat infertility, develop contraceptives, and improve artificial reproductive technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gagandeep Kaur Gahlay
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 143005, India
| | - Neha Rajput
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar 143005, India
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18
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Curci L, Brukman NG, Weigel Muñoz M, Rojo D, Carvajal G, Sulzyk V, Gonzalez SN, Rubinstein M, Da Ros VG, Cuasnicú PS. Functional redundancy and compensation: Deletion of multiple murine Crisp genes reveals their essential role for male fertility. FASEB J 2020; 34:15718-15733. [PMID: 33037689 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202001406r] [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: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian Cysteine-RIch Secretory Protein (CRISP) family includes four members present in sperm and reported to regulate Ca2+ channels and fertilization. Based on our previous observations using single knockouts models and suggesting the existence of functional compensation among CRISP proteins, we investigated their relevance for male fertility by generating multiple Crisp gene mutants by CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Whereas targeting of Crisp1 and Crisp3 yielded subfertile males with early embryo developmental defects, the same deletion in zygotes from fertile Crisp2-/- .Crisp4-/- mice led to the generation of both triple and quadruple knockout mice exhibiting a complete or severe disruption of male fertility due to a combination of sperm transport, fertilization, and embryo developmental defects linked to intracellular Ca2+ dysregulation. These observations reveal that CRISP proteins are essential for male fertility and organize in functional modules that contribute distinctly to fertility success, bringing insights into the mechanisms underlying functional redundancy/compensation in protein families and emphasizing the importance of generating multiple and not just single knockout which might be masking the true functional relevance of family genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Curci
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - N G Brukman
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M Weigel Muñoz
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - D Rojo
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - G Carvajal
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - V Sulzyk
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - S N Gonzalez
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M Rubinstein
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - V G Da Ros
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - P S Cuasnicú
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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19
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Saint-Dizier M, Mahé C, Reynaud K, Tsikis G, Mermillod P, Druart X. Sperm interactions with the female reproductive tract: A key for successful fertilization in mammals. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 516:110956. [PMID: 32712384 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Sperm migration through the female genital tract is not a quiet journey. Uterine contractions quickly operate a drastic selection, leading to a very restrictive number of sperm reaching the top of uterine horns and finally, provided the presence of key molecules on sperm, the oviduct, where fertilization takes place. During hours and sometimes days before fertilization, subpopulations of spermatozoa interact with dynamic and region-specific maternal components, including soluble proteins, extracellular vesicles and epithelial cells lining the lumen of the female tract. Interactions with uterine and oviductal cells play important roles for sperm survival as they modulate the maternal immune response and allow a transient storage before ovulation. The body of work reported here highlights the importance of sperm interactions with proteins originated from both the uterine and oviductal fluids, as well as hormonal signals around the time of ovulation for sperm acquisition of fertilizing competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Saint-Dizier
- INRAE, UMR PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France; University of Tours, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, 37000, Tours, France.
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20
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Martinez CA, Alvarez-Rodriguez M, Wright D, Rodriguez-Martinez H. Does the Pre-Ovulatory Pig Oviduct Rule Sperm Capacitation In Vivo Mediating Transcriptomics of Catsper Channels? Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21051840. [PMID: 32155986 PMCID: PMC7084628 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 03/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatozoa need to conduct a series of biochemical changes termed capacitation in order to fertilize. In vivo, capacitation is sequentially achieved during sperm transport and interaction with the female genital tract, by mechanisms yet undisclosed in detail. However, when boar spermatozoa are stored in the tubal reservoir pre-ovulation, most appear to be in a non-capacitated state. This study aimed at deciphering the transcriptomics of capacitation-related genes in the pig pre-ovulatory oviduct, following the entry of semen or of sperm-free seminal plasma (SP). Ex-vivo samples of the utero-tubal junction (UTJ) and isthmus were examined with a microarray chip (GeneChip® Porcine Gene 1.0 ST Array, Thermo Fisher Scientific) followed by bioinformatics for enriched analysis of functional categories (GO terms) and restrictive statistics. The results confirmed that entry of semen or of relative amounts of sperm-free SP modifies gene expression of these segments, pre-ovulation. It further shows that enriched genes are differentially associated with pathways relating to sperm motility, acrosome reaction, single fertilization, and the regulation of signal transduction GO terms. In particular, the pre-ovulation oviduct stimulates the Catsper channels for sperm Ca2+ influx, with AKAPs, CATSPERs, and CABYR genes being positive regulators while PKIs and CRISP1 genes appear to be inhibitors of the process. We postulate that the stimulation of PKIs and CRISP1 genes in the pre-ovulation sperm reservoir/adjacent isthmus, mediated by SP, act to prevent premature massive capacitation prior to ovulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina A. Martinez
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV), BKH/Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-58185 Linköping, Sweden; (M.A.-R.); (H.R.-M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +34-678077708
| | - Manuel Alvarez-Rodriguez
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV), BKH/Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-58185 Linköping, Sweden; (M.A.-R.); (H.R.-M.)
| | - Dominic Wright
- Department of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering; Linköping University, SE-58183 Linköping, Sweden;
| | - Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV), BKH/Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-58185 Linköping, Sweden; (M.A.-R.); (H.R.-M.)
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21
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Xu B, Turner SD, Hinton BT. Alteration of transporter activities in the epididymides of infertile initial segment-specific Pten knockout mice. Biol Reprod 2019; 99:536-545. [PMID: 29590317 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
A fully functional initial segment, the most proximal region of the epididymis, is important for male fertility. Our previous study generated a mouse model to investigate the importance of initial segment function in male fertility. In that model, phosphatase and tensin homolog (Pten) was conditionally removed from the initial segment epithelium, which resulted in epithelial de-differentiation. When spermatozoa progressed through the de-differentiated epithelial duct, they developed angled flagella, suggesting compromised sperm maturation, which eventually resulted in male infertility. To understand the molecular mechanisms, by which PTEN regulates epididymal sperm maturation, we compared the transcriptome profile of the initial segment between controls and initial segment-specific Pten knockouts and revealed that water, ion, and organic solute transporter activities were one of the top molecular and cellular functions altered following loss of Pten. Alteration in protein levels and localization of several transporters following loss of Pten were also observed by immunofluorescence analysis. Epithelial cells of the initial segment from knockouts were more permeable to fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (4000 Da) compared to controls. Interestingly, conditional deletion of Pten from other organs also resulted in changes in transporter activity, suggesting a common role of PTEN in regulation of transporter activity. Taken together, our data support the hypothesis that loss of Pten from the initial segment epithelium results in changes in the transporting and permeability characteristics of the epithelium, which in turn altered the luminal fluid microenvironment that is so important for sperm maturation and male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingfang Xu
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Stephen D Turner
- Bioinformatics Core, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Barry T Hinton
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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22
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Okabe M. Sperm-egg interaction and fertilization: past, present, and future. Biol Reprod 2019; 99:134-146. [PMID: 29462236 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Fifty years have passed since the findings of capacitation and acrosome reaction. These discoveries and the extensive effort of researchers led to the success of in vitro fertilization, which has become a top choice for patients at infertility clinics today. The effort to understand the mechanism of fertilization is ongoing, but the small number of eggs and similarly small quantity of spermatozoa continue to hinder biochemical experiments. The emergence of transgenic animals and gene disruption techniques has had a significant effect on fertilization research. Factors considered important in the early years were shown not to be essential and were replaced by newly found proteins. However, there is much about sperm-egg interaction which remains to be learned before we can outline the mechanism of fertilization. In fact, our understanding of sperm-egg interaction is entering a new stage. Progress in transgenic spermatozoa helped us to observe the behavior of spermatozoa in vivo and/or at the moment of sperm-egg fusion. These advancements are discussed together with the paradigm-shifting research in related fields to help us picture the direction which fertilization research may take in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaru Okabe
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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23
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Xiong W, Wang Z, Shen C. An update of the regulatory factors of sperm migration from the uterus into the oviduct by genetically manipulated mice. Mol Reprod Dev 2019; 86:935-955. [PMID: 31131960 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2019] [Accepted: 05/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Wenfeng Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental MedicineShanghai Rui‐Jin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China
- School of Life Sciences and BiochemistryShanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai China
| | - Zhugang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental MedicineShanghai Rui‐Jin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China
| | - Chunling Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Research Center for Experimental MedicineShanghai Rui‐Jin Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai China
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24
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Noda T, Sakurai N, Nozawa K, Kobayashi S, Devlin DJ, Matzuk MM, Ikawa M. Nine genes abundantly expressed in the epididymis are not essential for male fecundity in mice. Andrology 2019; 7:644-653. [PMID: 30927342 PMCID: PMC6688925 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Background Spermatozoa become competent for fertilization during transit through the epididymis. As spermatozoa from the proximal caudal epididymis can fertilize eggs, proteins from the caput and corpus epididymis are required for sperm maturation. Objectives Microarray analysis identified that more than 17,000 genes are expressed in the epididymis; however, few of these genes demonstrate expression restricted to the epididymis. To analyze epididymis‐enriched gene function in vivo, we generated knockout (KO) mutations in nine genes that are abundantly expressed in the caput and corpus region of the epididymis. Materials and methods KO mice were generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The histology of the epididymis was observed with hematoxylin and eosin staining. KO males were caged with wild‐type females for 3–6 months to check fertility. Results We generated individual mutant mouse lines having indel mutations in Pate1, Pate2, or Pate3. We also deleted the coding regions of Clpsl2, Epp13, and Rnase13, independently. Finally, the 150 kb region encoding Gm1110, Glb1l2, and Glb1l3 was deleted to generate a triple KO mouse line. Histology of the epididymis and sperm morphology of all KO lines were comparable to control males. The females mated with these KO males delivered pups at comparable numbers as control males. Discussion and conclusion We revealed that nine genes abundantly expressed in the caput and corpus epididymis are dispensable for sperm function and male fecundity. CRISPR/Cas9‐mediated KO mice generation accelerates the screening of epididymis‐enriched genes for potential functions in reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Noda
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - N Sakurai
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - K Nozawa
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - S Kobayashi
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - D J Devlin
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Interdepartmental Program in Translational Biology & Molecular Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - M M Matzuk
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Chemical Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - M Ikawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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25
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Voronina VA, Harris FM, Schmahl J, Galligan C, Oristian D, Zamfirova R, Gong G, Bai Y, Fury W, Rajamani S, Walls JR, Poueymirou WT, Esau L, Gale NW, Auerbach W, Murphy AJ, Macdonald LE. Deletion of Adam6 in Mus musculus leads to male subfertility and deficits in sperm ascent into the oviduct. Biol Reprod 2018; 100:686-696. [DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Faith M Harris
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, New York, USA
| | | | - Caryn Galligan
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, New York, USA
| | | | | | - Guochun Gong
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, New York, USA
| | - Yu Bai
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, New York, USA
| | - Wen Fury
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, New York, USA
| | | | | | | | - Lakeisha Esau
- Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Tarrytown, New York, USA
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26
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Alhama J, Fuentes-Almagro CA, Abril N, Michán C. Alterations in oxidative responses and post-translational modification caused by p,p´-DDE in Mus spretus testes reveal Cys oxidation status in proteins related to cell-redox homeostasis and male fertility. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 636:656-669. [PMID: 29723838 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.04.305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2018] [Revised: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The major derivate of DDT, 1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl) ethylene (p,p´-DDE), is a persistent pollutant previously associated with oxidative stress. Additionally, p,p´-DDE has been linked to several metabolic alterations related to sexual function in rodents. In this study, we analysed the effects of a non-lethal p,p´-DDE dose to Mus spretus mice in testes, focusing on oxidative damage to biomolecules, defence mechanisms against oxidative stress and post-translational protein modifications. No increase in lipid or DNA oxidation was observed, although antioxidative enzymatic defences and redox status of glutathione were altered in several ways. Global protein carbonylation and phosphorylation were significantly reduced in testes from p,p´-DDE-exposed mice; however, the total redox state of Cys thiols did not exhibit a defined pattern. We analysed the reversible redox state of specific Cys residues in detail with differential isotopic labelling and a shotgun labelling-based MS/MS proteomic approach for identification and quantification of altered peptides. Our results show that Cys residues are significantly affected by p,p´-DDE in several proteins related to oxidative stress and/or male fertility, particularly those participating in fertilization, sperm capacitation and blood coagulation. These molecular changes could explain the sexual abnormalities previously described in p,p´-DDE exposed organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Alhama
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Agroalimentario CeiA3, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edificio Severo Ochoa, E-14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Carlos A Fuentes-Almagro
- Servicio Central de Apoyo a la Investigación (SCAI), Unidad de Proteómica, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edificio Ramón y Cajal, E-14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Nieves Abril
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Agroalimentario CeiA3, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edificio Severo Ochoa, E-14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Carmen Michán
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Campus de Excelencia Internacional Agroalimentario CeiA3, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales, Edificio Severo Ochoa, E-14071 Córdoba, Spain.
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27
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Serine protease PRSS55 is crucial for male mouse fertility via affecting sperm migration and sperm-egg binding. Cell Mol Life Sci 2018; 75:4371-4384. [PMID: 30032357 PMCID: PMC6208766 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-018-2878-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Revised: 06/08/2018] [Accepted: 07/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Testis-specific PRSS55 is a highly conserved chymotrypsin-like serine protease among mammalian species. So far, the physiological function of PRSS55 remains unknown. Here, we show that PRSS55 is a GPI-anchored membrane protein, specifically expressed in adult mouse testis and mainly observed in the luminal side of seminiferous tubules and sperm acrosome. Mice deficient for Prss55 develop male infertile with normal reproduction-related parameters observed. Interestingly, in vivo fertilization rate of Prss55−/− males is dramatically decreased, possibly due to incapable migration of Prss55−/− sperm from uterus into oviduct. However, in vitro fertilization rate has no difference between two genotypes although Prss55−/− sperm presents defective recognition/binding to zona-intact or zona-free oocytes. Further study reveals that mature ADAM3 is almost undetectable in Prss55−/− sperm, while precursor ADAM3 remains unchanged in the testis. However, it is shown that ADAM3 has no interaction with PRSS55 by immunoprecipitation with anti-PRSS55 antibody. The expression levels of several proteins known to be related to the observed phenotypes remain comparable between wt and Prss55−/− mice. Moreover, we found that Prss55 deficiency has no effect on PRSS37 or vice versa albeit two mutant males share almost the same phenotypes. Microarray analysis reveals a total of 72 differentially expressed genes in Prss55−/− testis, most of which are associated with cellular membrane and organelle organization, protein transport and complex assembly, and response to stimulus and signaling. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that PRSS55 plays vital roles in regulating male fertility of mice, including in vivo sperm migration and in vitro sperm–egg interaction, possibly by affecting the maturation of ADAM3 in sperm and the expression of multiple genes in testis.
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28
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Câmara DR, Kastelic JP, Thundathil JC. Role of the Na +/K +-ATPase ion pump in male reproduction and embryo development. Reprod Fertil Dev 2018; 29:1457-1467. [PMID: 27456939 DOI: 10.1071/rd16091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 06/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Na+/K+-ATPase was one of the first ion pumps studied because of its importance in maintaining osmotic and ionic balances between intracellular and extracellular environments, through the exchange of three Na+ ions out and two K+ ions into a cell. This enzyme, which comprises two main subunits (α and β), with or without an auxiliary polypeptide (γ), can have specific biochemical properties depending on the expression of associated isoforms (α1β1 and/or α2β1) in the cell. In addition to the importance of Na+/K+-ATPase in ensuring the function of many tissues (e.g. brain, heart and kidney), in the reproductive tract this protein is essential for embryo development because of its roles in blastocoel formation and embryo hatching. In the context of male reproduction, the discovery of a very specific subunit (α4), apparently restricted to male germ cells, only expressed after puberty and able to influence sperm function (e.g. motility and capacitation), opened a remarkable field for further investigations regarding sperm biology. Therefore, the present review focuses on the importance of Na+/K+-ATPase on male reproduction and embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- D R Câmara
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Fazenda São Luiz, s/n, Zona Rural do Município de Viçosa, Viçosa-AL, CEP: 57700-000, Brazil
| | - J P Kastelic
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr., NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - J C Thundathil
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Dr., NW, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
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29
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Cheng JM, Tang JX, Li J, Wang YQ, Wang XX, Zhang Y, Chen SR, Liu YX. Role of WNT signaling in epididymal sperm maturation. J Assist Reprod Genet 2018; 35:229-236. [PMID: 29152689 PMCID: PMC5845038 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-017-1066-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Spermatozoa maturation, a process required for spermatozoa to acquire progressive motility and the ability to fertilize ova, primarily occurs in the caput and corpus of the epididymis. Despite considerable efforts, the factor(s) promoting epididymal sperm maturation remains unclear. Recently, WNT signaling has been implicated in epididymal sperm maturation. METHODS To further investigate WNT signaling function in epididymal sperm maturation, we generated Wntless conditional knockout mice (Wls cKO), Wls flox/flox ; Lcn5-Cre. RESULTS In these mice, WNTLESS (WLS), a conserved membrane protein required for all WNT protein secretion, was specifically disrupted in the principal cells of the caput epididymidis. Immunoblot analysis showed that WLS was significantly reduced in the caput epididymidis of Wls cKO mice. In the caput epididymidis of Wls cKO mice, WNT 10A and WNT 2b, which are typically secreted by the principal cells of the caput epididymis, were not secreted. Interestingly, sperm motility analysis showed that the WLS deficiency in the caput epididymidis had no effect on sperm motility. Moreover, fertility tests showed that Wls cKO male mice had normal fertility. CONCLUSION These results indicate that the disruption of WLS in principal cells of the caput epididymidis inhibits WNT protein secretion but has no effect on sperm motility and male fertility, suggesting that WNT signaling in the caput epididymidis may be dispensable for epididymal sperm maturation in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Mei Cheng
- The State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ji-Xin Tang
- The State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jian Li
- The State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yu-Qian Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiu-Xia Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Su-Ren Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yi-Xun Liu
- The State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
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30
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Gervasi MG, Visconti PE. Chang's meaning of capacitation: A molecular perspective. Mol Reprod Dev 2018; 83:860-874. [PMID: 27256723 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2015] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Dr. Min Chue Chang's contributions to the field of reproductive biology set the stage for the development of the contraceptive pill and in vitro fertilization. Throughout his publications, Dr. Chang was also able to transmit his view of the fertilization process in ways that organized research for newer generations of reproductive biologists. Particularly relevant for the achievement of in vitro fertilization in mammals was the discovery that the sperm required a period of residence in the female tract to become fertilization-competent; Dr. Chang and Dr. Austin, in Australia, independently reported this process, now known as sperm capacitation. This review discusses Dr. Chang's views on capacitation, and puts them in the context of recent advances in the understanding of the molecular basis of this process. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 83: 860-874, 2016 © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Gracia Gervasi
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, ISB, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts
| | - Pablo E Visconti
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, ISB, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts.
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31
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Gervasi MG, Visconti PE. Molecular changes and signaling events occurring in spermatozoa during epididymal maturation. Andrology 2017; 5:204-218. [PMID: 28297559 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Revised: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 11/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
After leaving the testis, spermatozoa have not yet acquired the ability to move progressively and are unable to fertilize oocytes. To become fertilization competent, they must go through an epididymal maturation process in the male, and capacitation in the female tract. Epididymal maturation can be defined as those changes occurring to spermatozoa in the epididymis that render the spermatozoa the ability to capacitate in the female tract. As part of this process, sperm cells undergo a series of biochemical and physiological changes that require incorporation of new molecules derived from the epididymal epithelium, as well as post-translational modifications of endogenous proteins synthesized during spermiogenesis in the testis. This review will focus on epididymal maturation events, with emphasis in recent advances in the understanding of the molecular basis of this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- M G Gervasi
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - P E Visconti
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
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32
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Xu J, Yao G, Ru Y, Xie S. Expression of tamoxifen-inducible CRE recombinase in Lcn5-CreER T2 transgenic mouse caput epididymis. Mol Reprod Dev 2017; 84:257-264. [PMID: 28029195 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2016] [Accepted: 12/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The epididymis, which connects the testis to vas deferens, plays a crucial role regulating sperm maturation and fertilization. Here, a tamoxifen-inducible CreERT2 recombinase transgenic mouse was generated to study the function of genes in the caput epididymis using the Cre/LoxP system, which is driven by the 1.8-kb Lcn5 promoter (Lcn5-CreERT2 ). Both CRE recombinase and ERT2 mRNA were specifically expressed in the caput epididymis, beginning at postnatal Day 30 and increasing thereafter. Crossing these Lcn5-CreERT2 transgenic mice with Rosa26; mT/mG reporter mice, which express membrane-bound GFP (mGFP) only after CRE is active at its genetic locus, resulted in the presence of GFP only in the middle/distal caput epididymis after tamoxifen induction. Efficiency of the CRE recombinase production in the caput epididymis was dose- and time-dependent. These tamoxifen-inducible caput epididymis-specific CRE recombinase transgenic mice thus provides a simple approach to modulate epididymal principal cells in vivo, allowing for the genetic investigation of caput epididymis-specific gene functions during sperm maturation. 84: 257-264, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, P. R. China
| | - Guangxin Yao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Yanfei Ru
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, P. R. China.,Shanghai Institute of Planned Parenthood Research, Shanghai, P. R. China
| | - Shengsong Xie
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding, and Reproduction of the Ministry of Education and Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding of the Ministry of Agriculture, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, P. R. China.,The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, P. R. China
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33
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Abstract
β-defensin peptides are a large family of antimicrobial peptides. Although they kill microbes in vitro and interact with immune cells, the precise role of these genes in vivo remains uncertain. Despite their inducible presence at mucosal surfaces, their main site of expression is the epididymis. Recent evidence suggests that a major function of these peptides is in sperm maturation. In addition to previous work suggesting this, work at the MRC Human Genetics Unit, Edinburgh, has shown that homozygous deletion of a cluster of nine β-defensin genes in the mouse results in profound male sterility. The spermatozoa derived from the mutants had reduced motility and increased fragility. Epididymal spermatozoa isolated from the cauda region of the homozygous mutants demonstrated precocious capacitation and increased spontaneous acrosome reactions compared with those from wild-types. Despite this, these mutant spermatozoa had reduced ability to bind to the zona pellucida of oocytes. Ultrastructural examination revealed a disintegration of the microtubule structure of mutant-derived spermatozoa isolated from the epididymal cauda region, but not from the caput. Consistent with premature acrosome reaction and hyperactivation, spermatozoa from mutant animals had significantly increased intracellular calcium content. This work demonstrates that in vivo β-defensins are essential for successful sperm maturation, and that their disruption alters intracellular calcium levels, which most likely leads to premature activation and spontaneous acrosome reactions that result in hyperactivation and loss of microtubule structure of the axoneme. Determining which of the nine genes are responsible for the phenotype and the relevance to human sperm function is important for future work on male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia R Dorin
- Formerly at MRC Human Genetics Unit, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, now at MRC Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh, Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, Scotland, United Kingdom
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34
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Abstract
Capacitation and the acrosome reaction are key phenomena in mammalian fertilization. These phenomena were found more than 60 years ago. However, fundamental questions regarding the nature of capacitation and the timing of the acrosome reaction remain unsolved. Factors were postulated over time, but as their roles were not verified by gene-disruption experiments, widely accepted notions concerning the mechanism of fertilization are facing modifications. Today, although in vitro fertilization systems remain our central research tool, the importance of in vivo observations must be revisited. Here, primarily focusing on our own research, I summarize how in vivo observations using gene-manipulated animals have elucidated new concepts in the mechanisms of fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaru Okabe
- Center for Genetic Analysis for Biological Responses, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 3-1, Suita, Osaka 565 0871, Japan
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35
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Goo SM, Cho S. The expansion and functional diversification of the mammalian ribonuclease a superfamily epitomizes the efficiency of multigene families at generating biological novelty. Genome Biol Evol 2014; 5:2124-40. [PMID: 24162010 PMCID: PMC3845642 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evt161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The ribonuclease (RNase) A superfamily is a vertebrate-specific gene family. Because of a massive expansion that occurred during the early mammalian evolution, extant mammals in general have much more RNase genes than nonmammalian vertebrates. Mammalian RNases have been associated with diverse physiological functions including digestion, cytotoxicity, angiogenesis, male reproduction, and host defense. However, it is still uncertain when their expansion occurred and how a wide array of functions arose during their evolution. To answer these questions, we generate a compendium of all RNase genes identified in 20 complete mammalian genomes including the platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus. Using this, we delineate 13 ancient RNase gene lineages that arose before the divergence between the monotreme and the other mammals (∼220 Ma). These 13 ancient gene lineages are differentially retained in the 20 mammals, and the rate of protein sequence evolution is highly variable among them, which suggest that they have undergone extensive functional diversification. In addition, we identify 22 episodes of recent expansion of RNase genes, many of which have signatures of adaptive functional differentiation. Exemplifying this, bursts of gene duplication occurred for the RNase1, RNase4, and RNase5 genes of the little brown bat (Myotis lucifugus), which might have contributed to the species’ effective defense against heavier pathogen loads caused by its communal roosting behavior. Our study illustrates how host-defense systems can generate new functions efficiently by employing a multigene family, which is crucial for a host organism to adapt to its ever-changing pathogen environment.
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36
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Abstract
Despite numerous studies on mammalian fertilization, the mechanisms of
fertilization—including the timing of acrosome reaction—remain largely unknown; more
accurately described, the classical theory built upon years of layered experimental data
is being challenged by recent conflicting evidence provided by gene-manipulated animals.
Although in vitro fertilization remains our central research tool, the
classical theory’s decline reminds us of the importance of in vivo
observations. Here, I describe the essential roles of gene-manipulated animals in
elucidating the mechanism of fertilization and the pitfalls of in vitro
fertilization studies trapping many researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaru Okabe
- Center for Genetic Analysis for Biological Responses, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 3-1, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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37
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Chiu PCN, Lam KKW, Wong RCW, Yeung WSB. The identity of zona pellucida receptor on spermatozoa: an unresolved issue in developmental biology. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2014; 30:86-95. [PMID: 24747367 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2014.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2014] [Revised: 04/04/2014] [Accepted: 04/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian oocytes are surrounded by an acellular zona pellucida (ZP). Fertilization begins when a capacitated spermatozoon binds to the ZP. Defective sperm-ZP interaction is a cause of male infertility and reduced fertilization rates in clinical assisted reproduction treatment. Despite the importance of spermatozoa-ZP binding, the mechanisms and regulation of the interaction are unclear partly due to the failure in the identification of ZP receptor on spermatozoa. Most of the previous studies assumed that the sperm ZP receptor is a single molecular species, and a number of potential candidates had been suggested. Yet none of them can be considered as the sole sperm ZP receptor. Accumulated evidence suggested that the sperm ZP receptor is a dynamic multi-molecular structure requiring coordinated action of different proteins that are assembled into a functional complex during post-testicular maturation and capacitation. The complex components may include carbohydrate-binding, protein-binding and acrosomal matrix proteins which work as a suite to mediate spermatozoa-ZP interaction. This article aims to review the latest insights in the identification of the sperm ZP receptor. Continued investigation of the area will provide considerable understanding of the regulation of fertilization that will be useful for practical application in human contraception and reproductive medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip C N Chiu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China; Centre of Reproduction, Development and Growth, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Kevin K W Lam
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - Rachel C W Wong
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China
| | - William S B Yeung
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China; Centre of Reproduction, Development and Growth, LKS Faculty of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong, China.
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38
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Westmuckett AD, Nguyen EB, Herlea-Pana OM, Alvau A, Salicioni AM, Moore KL. Impaired sperm maturation in RNASE9 knockout mice. Biol Reprod 2014; 90:120. [PMID: 24719258 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.113.116863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Ribonuclease, RNase A family, 9 (RNASE9) is a ribonuclease A superfamily member that is expressed only in the epididymis. It is a small, secreted polypeptide, it lacks ribonuclease activity, and its function(s) is unknown. However, epididymis-specific expression suggests a role in sperm maturation. We generated Rnase9(-/-) mice to study RNASE9 function in vivo. We confirm that RNASE9 expression is restricted to the epididymis. Within the epididymis, RNASE9 is first detected in midcaput, persists through the distal caput and corpus, and wanes in the cauda. Rnase9(-/-) mice are born at the expected Mendelian ratio, have normal postnatal growth and development, and have no outwardly apparent phenotype. Spermatogenesis is normal, and Rnase9-null sperm are morphologically normal. Rnase9(-/-) males have normal fertility in unrestricted mating trials, and fertilization rates in in vitro fertilization assays are indistinguishable from wild-type mice. Visual observations coupled with analyses of sperm velocities shortly after swim out from the corpus shows that motility of Rnase9-null sperm is significantly impaired. However, no differences between wild-type and Rnase9-null sperm are detected by computer-assisted sperm analysis 10-90 min after sperm isolation from the corpus or cauda. Assessment of capacitation-dependent signaling pathways in Rnase9-null sperm showed that, while levels of tyrosine phosphorylation of sperm proteins were normal, there was decreased phosphorylation of protein kinase A substrates upon capacitation compared to wild-type mice. In conclusion, RNASE9 is dispensable for fertility, but the absence of RNASE9 during epididymal transit results in impaired sperm maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Westmuckett
- Cardiovascular Biology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| | - Edward B Nguyen
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| | - Oana M Herlea-Pana
- Cardiovascular Biology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
| | - Antonio Alvau
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts
| | - Ana M Salicioni
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts
| | - Kevin L Moore
- Cardiovascular Biology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
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Fujihara Y, Okabe M, Ikawa M. GPI-anchored protein complex, LY6K/TEX101, is required for sperm migration into the oviduct and male fertility in mice. Biol Reprod 2014; 90:60. [PMID: 24501175 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.113.112888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
A disintegrin and metallopeptidase domain 3 (ADAM3) is a sperm membrane protein reported to be critical for both sperm migration from the uterus into the oviduct in vivo and sperm binding to the zona pellucida in vitro. In order for ADAM3 to be expressed on the sperm surface, the interaction with testis-expressed gene 101 (TEX101), a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored protein, is essential. Without TEX101, ADAM3 is degraded during sperm transition through the epididymis. However, it is also known that TEX101 has to be shed and to disappear from testicular germ cells (TGCs) by the GPI-anchored protein-releasing activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) for the correct localization of ADAM3 on the mature sperm surface to take place. Here, we found that in a mouse line with a disruption for another testis-specific GPI-anchored protein, lymphocyte antigen 6 complex, locus K (LY6K), the male mice became infertile and demonstrated a phenotype similar to that found in Adam3(-/-), Tex101(-/-), and Ace(-/-) mice. LY6K interacted with TEX101 and ADAM3 in the TGCs but disappeared from mature spermatozoa. Differing from more than 10 previously known gene knockout mouse lines that showed male infertility by impaired sperm migration into the oviduct, spermatozoa from Ly6K(-/-) mice had no aberrance in ADAM3. Thus, LY6K is a newly identified factor involved in sperm fertilizing ability. The lack of effect on ADAM3 in Ly6K(-/-) mice is indicative of an as yet undefined pathway in the mouse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitaka Fujihara
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
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Dacheux JL, Dacheux F. New insights into epididymal function in relation to sperm maturation. Reproduction 2014; 147:R27-42. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-13-0420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 195] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Testicular spermatozoa acquire fertility only after 1 or 2 weeks of transit through the epididymis. At the end of this several meters long epididymal tubule, the male gamete is able to move, capacitate, migrate through the female tract, bind to the egg membrane and fuse to the oocyte to result in a viable embryo. All these sperm properties are acquired after sequential modifications occurring either at the level of the spermatozoon or in the epididymal surroundings. Over the last few decades, significant increases in the understanding of the composition of the male gamete and its surroundings have resulted from the use of new techniques such as genome sequencing, proteomics combined with high-sensitivity mass spectrometry, and gene-knockout approaches. This review reports and discusses the most relevant new results obtained in different species regarding the various cellular processes occurring at the sperm level, in particular, those related to the development of motility and egg binding during epididymal transit.
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Abstract
Fertilization is the process by which eggs and spermatozoa interact, achieve mutual recognition, and fuse to create a zygote, which then develops to form a new individual, thus allowing for the continuity of a species. Despite numerous studies on mammalian fertilization, the molecular mechanisms underpinning the fertilization event remain largely unknown. However, as I summarize here, recent work using both gene-manipulated animals and in vitro studies has begun to elucidate essential sperm and egg molecules and to establish predictive models of successful fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaru Okabe
- Center for Genetic Analysis for Biological Responses Research Institute for Microbial Diseases Osaka University, Yamadaoka 3-1, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaru OKABE
- Center for Genetic Analysis for Biological Responses, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Yamadaoka 3-1, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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Zhou YS, Webb S, Lettice L, Tardif S, Kilanowski F, Tyrrell C, MacPherson H, Semple F, Tennant P, Baker T, Hart A, Devenney P, Perry P, Davey T, Barran P, Barratt CL, Dorin JR. Partial deletion of chromosome 8 β-defensin cluster confers sperm dysfunction and infertility in male mice. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003826. [PMID: 24204287 PMCID: PMC3812073 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2013] [Accepted: 08/09/2013] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
β-defensin peptides are a family of antimicrobial peptides present at mucosal surfaces, with the main site of expression under normal conditions in the male reproductive tract. Although they kill microbes in vitro and interact with immune cells, the precise role of these genes in vivo remains uncertain. We show here that homozygous deletion of a cluster of nine β-defensin genes (DefbΔ9) in the mouse results in male sterility. The sperm derived from the mutants have reduced motility and increased fragility. Epididymal sperm isolated from the cauda should require capacitation to induce the acrosome reaction but sperm from the mutants demonstrate precocious capacitation and increased spontaneous acrosome reaction compared to wild-types but have reduced ability to bind the zona pellucida of oocytes. Ultrastructural examination reveals a defect in microtubule structure of the axoneme with increased disintegration in mutant derived sperm present in the epididymis cauda region, but not in caput region or testes. Consistent with premature acrosome reaction, sperm from mutant animals have significantly increased intracellular calcium content. Thus we demonstrate in vivo that β-defensins are essential for successful sperm maturation, and their disruption leads to alteration in intracellular calcium, inappropriate spontaneous acrosome reaction and profound male infertility. β-defensins are small molecules, considered primarily to be antimicrobials and important in the first defence response to invading organisms. They are predominantly produced at surfaces in contact with the outside environment and these include skin, airway and reproductive tract. We show here that when we delete from the mouse a subset of nine β-defensin genes, surprisingly the main consequence is that the male mice are completely infertile. When normal sperm leave the male and enter the female reproductive tract they are triggered to undergo a reaction that alters the membrane properties of the sperm and allows fertilisation. We show here that sperm isolated from the male mice, that no longer make these β-defensins, are prematurely ready to fertilise an egg. It is far too early for this to happen and as a consequence the sperm are severely reduced in their ability to move and have a major defect in the structure of their tail. We provide evidence that the reason this has happened is due to a dysregulation of calcium transport. This work is important for understanding defensin gene function in a living organism and may enable the design of novel contraceptives with additional antibiotic ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu S. Zhou
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Sheila Webb
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Lettice
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Steve Tardif
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Medical School, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona Kilanowski
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Christine Tyrrell
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Heather MacPherson
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Fiona Semple
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Tennant
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Tina Baker
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Alan Hart
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Devenney
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Perry
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Tracey Davey
- EM Research Services, Newcastle Medical School, Newcastle University, Newcastle, England, United Kingdom
| | - Perdita Barran
- School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | - Chris L. Barratt
- Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Medical School, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital, Dundee, Scotland, United Kingdom
| | - Julia R. Dorin
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Xu B, Yang L, Hinton BT. The Role of fibroblast growth factor receptor substrate 2 (FRS2) in the regulation of two activity levels of the components of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway in the mouse epididymis. Biol Reprod 2013; 89:48. [PMID: 23782834 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.112.107185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The components of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway are involved in the regulation of epididymal cellular processes. Interestingly, our previous studies showed that there are two different activity levels of the ERK pathway components in the epididymal epithelium: a basal level in most regions and a higher level in the differentiated initial segment (IS). In this study we analyzed the role of fibroblast growth factor receptor substrate 2 (FRS2) in the regulation of these two levels. Two mouse models were generated. In the first model, Frs2 was deleted from epithelial cells of most epididymal regions except for the IS from the embryonic period onward. Loss of Frs2 dampened the basal activity level of the ERK pathway components, which resulted in an increase in apoptosis along the epididymal duct. This was observed during the period when FRS2 expression level was highest in wild-type epididymides. In the second model, Frs2 was deleted from the proximal epididymal epithelium from Postnatal Day 17 onward. Most of the epididymides in this model exhibited normal morphology. Loss of Frs2 in these epididymides did not affect the high activity level of the ERK pathway components in the IS. However, a subgroup of epididymides in the second model showed increased apoptosis which resulted in an abnormally shaped proximal region or development of granulomas. Therefore, data from these two models showed that FRS2 played different roles in the regulation of two activity levels of the ERK pathway components in the epididymis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingfang Xu
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia 22908, USA
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Pujianto DA, Loanda E, Sari P, Midoen YH, Soeharso P. Sperm-associated antigen 11A is expressed exclusively in the principal cells of the mouse caput epididymis in an androgen-dependent manner. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2013; 11:59. [PMID: 23815807 PMCID: PMC3710511 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-11-59] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2012] [Accepted: 06/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epididymal sperm maturation occurs via interactions between sperm and proteins secreted by the epididymal epithelium. Although this is an important process, the genes that encode the involved proteins remain largely uncharacterized. Previous studies have demonstrated that the genes involved in sperm maturation are regulated by androgen. Spag11a is an epididymal gene that is influenced by androgen. However, little is known about the putative role of this gene in the sperm maturation process. The objective of this study was to characterize Spag11a in the mouse epididymis. METHODS In silico analyses were performed to predict signal peptides and functional domains. Spag11a expression was measured by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Western blots and immunocytochemistry were performed to determine protein expression. RESULTS SPAG11A is a member of the beta defensin protein family and constitutes a secretory protein. Spag11a was expressed exclusively in the epididymis. Moreover, it exhibited region-specific expression in the caput, which is typical for genes that are involved in creating a suitable microenvironment for sperm maturation. Mouse Spag11a was regulated by androgen. A significant decrease of Spag11a expression was observed at third day following a gonadectomy (P < 0.001). Interestingly, testosterone replacement therapy was able to maintain the expression almost at the normal level, indicating a dependency on androgen. Besides androgen, testicular factors influenced Spag11a expression in a different way. This was revealed by efferent duct ligation in which Spag11a was transiently up-regulated at the third day following the ligation before returning to the normal level at day 5. Spag11a regional expression was also observed at protein level detected by western immunoblotting which revealed a clear band in the caput but not in other regions. The prediction that SPAG11A is a secretory protein was confirmed by immunocytochemical analyses indicating cell-specific expression mainly in the caput principal cells and detection of the protein in epididymal luminal fluid and spermatozoa. CONCLUSIONS Based on the characteristics of Spag11a, it is likely that this gene has a specific role in epididymal sperm maturation. Further studies using functional assays are necessary to confirm this finding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dwi A Pujianto
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jl. Salemba Raya 6, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
| | - Evelyn Loanda
- Master Program for Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jl. Salemba Raya 6, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Atma Jaya Catholic University, Jl. Pluit Raya 2, Jakarta 14440, Indonesia
| | - Puji Sari
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jl. Salemba Raya 6, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
| | - Yurnadi H Midoen
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jl. Salemba Raya 6, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
| | - Purnomo Soeharso
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jl. Salemba Raya 6, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
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Avella MA, Xiong B, Dean J. The molecular basis of gamete recognition in mice and humans. Mol Hum Reprod 2013; 19:279-89. [PMID: 23335731 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gat004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Successful fertilization heralds the onset of development and requires both gamete recognition and a definitive block to polyspermy. Sperm initially bind and penetrate the extracellular zona pellucida (ZP) that surrounds ovulated eggs, but are unable to bind the zona surrounding preimplantation embryos. The ZP of humans is composed of four (ZP1-4) and that of mouse three (ZP1-3) glycoproteins. Models for gamete recognition developed in mice had proposed that sperm bind to ZP3 glycans. However, phenotypes observed in genetically engineered mice are not consistent with this widely accepted model. More recently, taking advantage of the observation that human sperm do not bind to mouse eggs, human ZP2 was defined as the zona ligand in transgenic mouse models using gain-of-function assays. The sperm-binding site is an N-terminal domain of ZP2 that is cleaved by ovastacin, a metalloendoprotease released from egg cortical granules following fertilization. Proteolysis of this docking site provides a definitive block to polyspermy as sperm bind to uncleaved, but not cleaved ZP2 even after fertilization and cortical granule exocytosis. While progress has been made in defining the ZP ligand, less headway has been made in identifying the cognate sperm receptor. Although a number of sperm receptor candidates have been documented to interact with specific proteins in the ZP in vitro, continued fertility after genetic ablation of the cognate gene indicates that none are essential for gamete recognition. These on-going investigations inform reproductive medicine and suggest new therapies to improve fertility and/or provide contraception, thus expanding reproductive choices for human couples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo A Avella
- Laboratory of Cellular and Developmental Biology, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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