1
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Kaneda Y, Miyata H, Xu Z, Shimada K, Kamoshita M, Nakagawa T, Emori C, Ikawa M. FBXO24 deletion causes abnormal accumulation of membraneless electron-dense granules in sperm flagella and male infertility. eLife 2024; 13:RP92794. [PMID: 39163107 PMCID: PMC11335345 DOI: 10.7554/elife.92794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules are membraneless electron-dense structures rich in RNAs and proteins, and involved in various cellular processes. Two RNP granules in male germ cells, intermitochondrial cement and the chromatoid body (CB), are associated with PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) and are required for transposon silencing and spermatogenesis. Other RNP granules in male germ cells, the reticulated body and CB remnants, are also essential for spermiogenesis. In this study, we disrupted FBXO24, a testis-enriched F-box protein, in mice and found numerous membraneless electron-dense granules accumulated in sperm flagella. Fbxo24 knockout (KO) mice exhibited malformed flagellar structures, impaired sperm motility, and male infertility, likely due to the accumulation of abnormal granules. The amount and localization of known RNP granule-related proteins were not disrupted in Fbxo24 KO mice, suggesting that the accumulated granules were distinct from known RNP granules. Further studies revealed that RNAs and two importins, IPO5 and KPNB1, abnormally accumulated in Fbxo24 KO spermatozoa and that FBXO24 could ubiquitinate IPO5. In addition, IPO5 and KPNB1 were recruited to stress granules, RNP complexes, when cells were treated with oxidative stress or a proteasome inhibitor. These results suggest that FBXO24 is involved in the degradation of IPO5, disruption of which may lead to the accumulation of abnormal RNP granules in sperm flagella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Kaneda
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka UniversityOsakaJapan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka UniversityOsakaJapan
| | - Haruhiko Miyata
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka UniversityOsakaJapan
| | - Zoulan Xu
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka UniversityOsakaJapan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka UniversityOsakaJapan
| | - Keisuke Shimada
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka UniversityOsakaJapan
| | - Maki Kamoshita
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka UniversityOsakaJapan
| | - Tatsuya Nakagawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka UniversityOsakaJapan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka UniversityOsakaJapan
| | - Chihiro Emori
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka UniversityOsakaJapan
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka UniversityOsakaJapan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka UniversityOsakaJapan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), Osaka UniversityOsakaJapan
- The Institute of Medical Science, The University of TokyoTokyoJapan
- Center for Advanced Modalities and DDS (CAMaD), Osaka UniversityOsakaJapan
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2
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Wang H, Kobayashi H, Shimada K, Oura S, Oyama Y, Kitakaze H, Noda T, Yabuta N, Miyata H, Ikawa M. MYCBPAP is a central apparatus protein required for centrosome-nuclear envelope docking and sperm tail biogenesis in mice. J Cell Sci 2024; 137:jcs261962. [PMID: 39092789 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.261962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The structure of the sperm flagellar axoneme is highly conserved across species and serves the essential function of generating motility to facilitate the meeting of spermatozoa with the egg. During spermiogenesis, the axoneme elongates from the centrosome, and subsequently the centrosome docks onto the nuclear envelope to continue tail biogenesis. Mycbpap is expressed predominantly in mouse and human testes and conserved in Chlamydomonas as FAP147. A previous cryo-electron microscopy analysis has revealed the localization of FAP147 to the central apparatus of the axoneme. Here, we generated Mycbpap-knockout mice and demonstrated the essential role of Mycbpap in male fertility. Deletion of Mycbpap led to disrupted centrosome-nuclear envelope docking and abnormal flagellar biogenesis. Furthermore, we generated transgenic mice with tagged MYCBPAP, which restored the fertility of Mycbpap-knockout males. Interactome analyses of MYCBPAP using Mycbpap transgenic mice unveiled binding partners of MYCBPAP including central apparatus proteins, such as CFAP65 and CFAP70, which constitute the C2a projection, and centrosome-associated proteins, such as CCP110. These findings provide insights into a MYCBPAP-dependent regulation of the centrosome-nuclear envelope docking and sperm tail biogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoting Wang
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hiroko Kobayashi
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Keisuke Shimada
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Seiya Oura
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yuki Oyama
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Kitakaze
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Taichi Noda
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
- Priority Organization for Innovation and Excellence, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan
| | - Norikazu Yabuta
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Miyata
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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3
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Chen Y, Hasegawa A, Wakimoto Y, Shibahara H. Update on the research on the antigens of anti-sperm antibodies over the last decade. J Reprod Immunol 2024; 164:104292. [PMID: 38964133 DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2024.104292] [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: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
This review summarizes the advancements over a decade of research on antigens of anti-sperm antibodies (ASAs), which are key to male immune infertility. Despite the progress in assisted reproductive technologies, understanding the roles and mechanisms of ASAs and their antigens remains vital for immune infertility management. We conducted a comprehensive literature search on PubMed from January 2013 to December 2023 using the following keywords: "anti-sperm antibody," "sperm antigen," and "immune infertility." In this review, we focus on the discoveries in sperm antigen identification and characterization through proteomics, gene disruption technology, and immunoinformatics, along with the development of fertility biomarkers. Here, we discuss the clinical applications of improved ASA detection methods and the progress in the development of immunocontraceptive vaccines. The intersection of advanced diagnostic techniques and vaccine development represents a promising frontier in reproductive health. The findings also highlight the need for standardized ASA detection methods and a comprehensive molecular-level approach to understanding ASA-related infertility. These insights underscore the significance of ongoing reproductive immunology research in enhancing clinical fertility outcomes and contraceptive vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuekun Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Hyogo Medical University, 1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan.
| | - Akiko Hasegawa
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Hyogo Medical University, 1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan.
| | - Yu Wakimoto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Hyogo Medical University, 1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan.
| | - Hiroaki Shibahara
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Hyogo Medical University, 1-1 Mukogawa-cho, Nishinomiya, Hyogo 663-8501, Japan.
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4
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Liu L, Lu X, Fan Z, Deng J, Zhang S, Zhang L, Zha X. TPCA-1 compound, inhibiting testis-specific serine/threonine protein kinase 3 for potential male sterile in Bombyx mori. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024. [PMID: 39073281 DOI: 10.1002/ps.8347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Protein kinases are a type of transferase enzyme that catalyze the phosphorylation of protein substrates, including receptor proteins. Testis-specific serine/threonine kinases (TSSKs) are a highly conserved group of protein kinases found in various organisms. They play an essential role in male reproduction by influencing sperm development and function. RESULTS In this study, we report on the characterization of BmTSSK3, a TSSK from the silkworm, Bombyx mori. We found that BmTSSK3 is specifically expressed in the testis and localized to the sperm flagella, particularly in the sperm tail cyst. Furthermore, we developed BmTSSK3 inhibitors through molecular docking and binding assays. Small molecules 5-(4-Fluorophenyl)-2-ureidothiophene-3-carboxamide (TPCA-1) and Imidurea were identified to bind to BmTSSK3. Using site-specific mutation technology, we identified amino acid residues R134 and S184 as crucial binding sites for small molecules. RNA interference assay and Western blot analysis showed that knockdown of BmTSSK3 significantly decreased histone 3 phosphorylation. To confirm the inhibitory effect of these small molecules, we treated silkworm testes with TPCA-1 and observed a strong inhibitory effect. CONCLUSION TPCA-1 is an inhibitor of BmTSSK3, which raises its potential as a future candidate for male sterility of the silkworm. Thus, this study may offer a novel strategy for sterile silkworms as well as insects. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianlian Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiuping Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zeling Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jing Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Surui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lulu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xingfu Zha
- State Key Laboratory of Resource Insects, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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5
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González LN, Giaccagli MM, Herzfeld JD, Cuasnicú PS, Da Ros VG, Cohen DJ. A side-by-side comparison of different capacitation media in developing mouse sperm fertilizing ability. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14287. [PMID: 38907001 PMCID: PMC11192932 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65134-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
To acquire the ability to fertilize the egg, mammalian spermatozoa must undergo a series of changes occurring within the highly synchronized and specialized environment of the female reproductive tract, collectively known as capacitation. In an attempt to replicate this process in vitro, various culture media for mouse sperm were formulated over the past decades, sharing a similar overall composition but differing mainly in ion concentrations and metabolic substrates. The widespread use of the different media to study the mechanisms of capacitation might hinder a comprehensive understanding of this process, as the medium could become a confounding variable in the analysis. In this context, the present side-by-side study compares the influence of four commonly used culture media (FD, HTF and two TYH versions) on mouse sperm capacitation. We evaluated the induction of protein kinase A phosphorylation pathway, motility, hyperactivation and acrosome reaction. Additionally, in vitro fertilization and embryo development were also assessed. By analyzing these outcomes in two mouse colonies with different reproductive performance, our study provides critical insights to improve the global understanding of sperm function. The results obtained highlight the importance of considering variations in medium composition, and their potential implications for the future interpretation of results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas N González
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Fundación IBYME, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María M Giaccagli
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Fundación IBYME, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jael D Herzfeld
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Fundación IBYME, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Patricia S Cuasnicú
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Fundación IBYME, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Vanina G Da Ros
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Fundación IBYME, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Débora J Cohen
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Fundación IBYME, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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6
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Goto S, Takahashi T, Sato T, Toyama F, Takayama-Watanabe E, Watanabe A. A CatSper-Uninvolved Mechanism to Induce Forward Sperm Motility in the Internal Fertilization. Zoolog Sci 2024; 41:302-313. [PMID: 38809869 DOI: 10.2108/zs230046] [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: 06/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
Sperm-specific cation channel (CatSper), sperm-specific Na + /H + exchanger (sNHE), and soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC) are necessary in the signaling pathways to control sperm motility in many animals, whereas some animals have lost some or all of them. In the present study, we examined CatSper-uninvolved signaling for vigorous undulation of the undulating membrane that is attached to the sperm tail and gives thrust for forward motility in the internally fertilizing newt Cynops pyrrhogaster. Reverse-transcription PCR failed to detect sNHE in the newt sperm. However, the pH of sperm cytoplasm was raised under a high extracellular pH equivalent to that of egg jelly, where sperm motility is initiated by sperm motility-initiating substance (SMIS). Carbonic anhydrase XII/ XVI and SLC4A4/8 were suggested to be present in the sperm, and transported bicarbonates raised the intracellular pH. In egg jelly extract that contained SMIS, the anion transporter inhibitor DIDS weakened the undulation of the undulating membrane, while bicarbonates enhanced it. The cyclic AMP concentration was found to increase in sperm cytoplasm in the egg-jelly extract. An inhibitor of sAC (KH7) weakened the undulation of the undulating membrane, and dibutyryl cyclic AMP blocked the inhibitory effect. Inhibitor of transmembrane AC (DDA) limitedly affected the undulation. The undulation was weakened by an inhibitor of protein kinase A (H89), and by an inhibitor of transient receptor potential (TRP) channels (RN1747). Our results support the conclusions that the high pH of the egg jelly triggers a signaling pathway through sAC, PKA, and TRP channels, and coacts with SMIS to induce forward sperm motility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayuri Goto
- Faculty of Science, Biological Division, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-8560, Japan
| | - Tomoe Takahashi
- Faculty of Science, Biological Division, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-8560, Japan
| | - Tae Sato
- Faculty of Science, Biological Division, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-8560, Japan
| | - Fubito Toyama
- Graduate School of Engineering, Utsunomiya University, Utsunomiya, Tochigi 321-8505, Japan
| | | | - Akihiko Watanabe
- Faculty of Science, Biological Division, Yamagata University, Yamagata 990-8560, Japan,
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7
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Xiong M, Cheng P, Liu B, Zhao Y, Gao T, Li Z. The GgcxK325Q Mutation Does Not Affect the Calcium Homeostasis of the Epididymis and Male Fertility in Mice. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:5052-5065. [PMID: 38920975 PMCID: PMC11201940 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46060303] [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: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
A low-calcium microenvironment is imperative for spermatozoa maturation within the epididymis. Our previous work has shown that γ-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX), the carboxylation enzyme of the matrix Gla protein (MGP), plays an essential role in epididymal calcium homeostasis and sperm maturation in rats and that the GGCX SNP mutation rs699664 was associated with asthenozoospermia (AZS) in humans. Here, we investigated the expression patterns of GGCX and MGP in the mouse epididymis and generated GgcxK325Q knock-in (KI) mice. We also tested the effects of this mutation on epididymal calcium homeostasis, sperm function, and male fertility in GgcxK325Q-/- mice. The results showed that both GGCX and MGP were enriched in all regions of the mouse epididymis, especially in the initial segment of the epididymis. Double immunofluorescence staining revealed that GGCX colocalized with MGP in the epithelial cells of the initial segment and caput regions as well as in the lumen of the corpus and cauda regions of the mouse epididymis. However, the GgcxK325Q-/- mice were fertile with normal epididymal morphology, sperm functions, and epididymal calcium concentration. Overall, our findings revealed that the GgcxK325Q mutation does not exert any discernible effect on male fertility in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxiang Xiong
- College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi’an 710069, China;
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an 710038, China; (P.C.); (B.L.); (Y.Z.); (T.G.)
| | - Pang Cheng
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an 710038, China; (P.C.); (B.L.); (Y.Z.); (T.G.)
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an 710038, China; (P.C.); (B.L.); (Y.Z.); (T.G.)
| | - Yanqiu Zhao
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an 710038, China; (P.C.); (B.L.); (Y.Z.); (T.G.)
| | - Ting Gao
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an 710038, China; (P.C.); (B.L.); (Y.Z.); (T.G.)
| | - Zhen Li
- Department of Human Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Air Force Medical University, Xi’an 710038, China; (P.C.); (B.L.); (Y.Z.); (T.G.)
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8
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Balestrini PA, Sulzyk V, Jabloñski M, Schiavi-Ehrenhaus LJ, González SN, Ferreira JJ, Gómez-Elías MD, Pomata P, Luque GM, Krapf D, Cuasnicu PS, Santi CM, Buffone MG. Membrane potential hyperpolarization: a critical factor in acrosomal exocytosis and fertilization in sperm within the female reproductive tract. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1386980. [PMID: 38803392 PMCID: PMC11128623 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1386980] [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: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Hyperpolarization of the membrane potential (Em), a phenomenon regulated by SLO3 channels, stands as a central feature in sperm capacitation-a crucial process conferring upon sperm the ability to fertilize the oocyte. In vitro studies demonstrated that Em hyperpolarization plays a pivotal role in facilitating the mechanisms necessary for the development of hyperactivated motility (HA) and acrosomal exocytosis (AE) occurrence. Nevertheless, the physiological significance of sperm Em within the female reproductive tract remains unexplored. As an approach to this question, we studied sperm migration and AE incidence within the oviduct in the absence of Em hyperpolarization using a novel mouse model established by crossbreeding of SLO3 knock-out (KO) mice with EGFP/DsRed2 mice. Sperm from this model displays impaired HA and AE in vitro. Interestingly, examination of the female reproductive tract shows that SLO3 KO sperm can reach the ampulla, mirroring the quantity of sperm observed in wild-type (WT) counterparts, supporting that the HA needed to reach the fertilization site is not affected. However, a noteworthy distinction emerges-unlike WT sperm, the majority of SLO3 KO sperm arrive at the ampulla with their acrosomes still intact. Of the few SLO3 KO sperm that do manage to reach the oocytes within this location, fertilization does not occur, as indicated by the absence of sperm pronuclei in the MII-oocytes recovered post-mating. In vitro, SLO3 KO sperm fail to penetrate the ZP and fuse with the oocytes. Collectively, these results underscore the vital role of Em hyperpolarization in AE and fertilization within their physiological context, while also revealing that Em is not a prerequisite for the development of the HA motility, essential for sperm migration through the female tract to the ampulla.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula A. Balestrini
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tícnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Valeria Sulzyk
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tícnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Martina Jabloñski
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tícnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Liza J. Schiavi-Ehrenhaus
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tícnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Soledad N. González
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tícnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Juan J. Ferreira
- Department of OB/GYN, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | - Matías D. Gómez-Elías
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tícnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pablo Pomata
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tícnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Guillermina M. Luque
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tícnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Dario Krapf
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas–Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Patricia S. Cuasnicu
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tícnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Celia M. Santi
- Department of OB/GYN, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | - Mariano G. Buffone
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tícnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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9
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Kaneda Y, Miyata H, Xu Z, Shimada K, Kamoshita M, Nakagawa T, Emori C, Ikawa M. FBXO24 deletion causes abnormal accumulation of membraneless electron-dense granules in sperm flagella and male infertility. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.11.10.566635. [PMID: 37986737 PMCID: PMC10659433 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.10.566635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules are membraneless electron-dense structures rich in RNAs and proteins, and involved in various cellular processes. Two RNP granules in male germ cells, intermitochondrial cement and the chromatoid body (CB), are associated with PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) and are required for transposon silencing and spermatogenesis. Other RNP granules in male germ cells, the reticulated body and CB remnants, are also essential for spermiogenesis. In this study, we disrupted FBXO24, a testis-enriched F-box protein, in mice and found numerous membraneless electron-dense granules accumulated in sperm flagella. Fbxo24 knockout (KO) mice exhibited malformed flagellar structures, impaired sperm motility, and male infertility, likely due to the accumulation of abnormal granules. The amount and localization of known RNP granule-related proteins were not disrupted in Fbxo24 KO mice, suggesting that the accumulated granules were distinct from known RNP granules. Further studies revealed that RNAs and two importins, IPO5 and KPNB1, abnormally accumulated in Fbxo24 KO spermatozoa and that FBXO24 could ubiquitinate IPO5. In addition, IPO5 and KPNB1 were recruited to stress granules, RNP complexes, when cells were treated with oxidative stress or a proteasome inhibitor. These results suggest that FBXO24 is involved in the degradation of IPO5, disruption of which may lead to the accumulation of abnormal RNP granules in sperm flagella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Kaneda
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 5650871 JAPAN
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 5650871 JAPAN
| | - Haruhiko Miyata
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 5650871 JAPAN
| | - Zoulan Xu
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 5650871 JAPAN
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 5650871 JAPAN
| | - Keisuke Shimada
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 5650871 JAPAN
| | - Maki Kamoshita
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 5650871 JAPAN
| | - Tatsuya Nakagawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 5650871 JAPAN
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 5650871 JAPAN
| | - Chihiro Emori
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 5650871 JAPAN
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 5650871 JAPAN
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 5650871 JAPAN
- The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 1088639 JAPAN
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), Osaka University, 2-8 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 5650871 JAPAN
- Center for Advanced Modalities and DDS (CAMaD), Osaka University, 2-8 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 5650871 JAPAN
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10
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Fujihara Y, Miyata H, Abbasi F, Larasati T, Nozawa K, Yu Z, Ikawa M, Matzuk MM. Tex46 knockout male mice are sterile secondary to sperm head malformations and failure to penetrate through the zona pellucida. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae108. [PMID: 38516277 PMCID: PMC10957234 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Each year, infertility affects 15% of couples worldwide, with 50% of cases attributed to men. It is assumed that sperm head shape is important for sperm-zona pellucida (ZP) penetration but research has yet to elucidate why. We generated testis expressed 46 (Tex46) knockout mice to investigate the essential roles of TEX46 in mammalian reproduction. We used RT-PCR to demonstrate that Tex46 was expressed exclusively in the male reproductive tract in mice and humans. We created Tex46-/- mice using the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system and analyzed their fertility. Tex46 null spermatozoa underwent further evaluation using computer-assisted sperm analysis, light microscopy, and ultrastructural microscopy. We used immunoblot analysis to elucidate relationships between TEX46 and other acrosome biogenesis-related proteins. Mouse and human TEX46 are testis-enriched and encode a transmembrane protein which is conserved from amphibians to mammals. Loss of the mouse TEX46 protein causes male sterility primarily due to abnormal sperm head formation and secondary effects on sperm motility. Tex46 null spermatozoa morphologically lack the typical hooked sperm head appearance and fail to penetrate through the ZP. Electron microscopy of the testicular germ cells reveals malformation of the acrosomal cap, with misshapen sperm head tips and the appearance of a gap between the acrosome head and the nucleus. TEX46 is essential for sperm head formation, sperm penetration through the ZP, and male fertility in mice, and is a putative contraceptive target in men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitaka Fujihara
- Department of Advanced Medical Technologies, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka 564-8565, Japan
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Haruhiko Miyata
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Ferheen Abbasi
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Tamara Larasati
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kaori Nozawa
- Department of Advanced Medical Technologies, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka 564-8565, Japan
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Zhifeng Yu
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Martin M Matzuk
- Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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11
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Shimada K, Lu Y, Ikawa M. Disruption of testis-enriched cytochrome c oxidase subunit COX6B2 but not COX8C leads to subfertility. Exp Anim 2024; 73:1-10. [PMID: 37423748 PMCID: PMC10877148 DOI: 10.1538/expanim.23-0055] [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: 04/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian sperm flagellum contains the midpiece characterized by a mitochondrial sheath that packs tightly around the axoneme and outer dense fibers. Mitochondria are known as the "powerhouse" of the cell, and produce ATP through the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). However, the contribution of the TCA cycle and OXPHOS to sperm motility and male fertility is less clear. Cytochrome c oxidase (COX) is an oligomeric complex localized within the mitochondrial inner membrane, and the terminal enzyme of the mitochondrial electron transport chain in eukaryotes. Both COX6B2 and COX8C are testis-enriched COX subunits whose functions in vivo are poorly studied. Here, we generated Cox6b2 and Cox8c knockout (KO) mice using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. We examined their fertility and sperm mitochondrial function to determine the significance of testis-enriched COX subunits in male fertility. The mating test revealed that disrupting COX6B2 induces male subfertility, while disrupting COX8C does not affect male fertility. Cox6b2 KO spermatozoa showed low sperm motility, but mitochondrial function was normal according to oxygen consumption rates. Therefore, low sperm motility seems to cause subfertility in Cox6b2 KO male mice. These results also indicate that testis-enriched COX, COX6B2 and COX8C, are not essential for OXPHOS in mouse spermatozoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keisuke Shimada
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yonggang Lu
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Laboratory of Reproductive Systems Biology, Center for Experimental Medicine and Systems Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
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12
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Lv Z, Sun L, Xie X, Yao X, Tian S, Wang C, Wang F, Liu J. TMEM225 Is Essential for Sperm Maturation and Male Fertility by Modifying Protein Distribution of Sperm in Mice. Mol Cell Proteomics 2024; 23:100720. [PMID: 38246484 PMCID: PMC10875271 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcpro.2024.100720] [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: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Nonobstructive azoospermia is the leading cause of male infertility. Abnormal levels of transmembrane protein 225 (TMEM225), a testis-specific protein, have been found in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia, suggesting that TMEM225 plays an essential role in male fertility. Here, we generated a Tmem225 KO mouse model to explore the function and mechanism of TMEM225 in male reproduction. Male Tmem225 KO mice were infertile. Surprisingly, Tmem225 deletion did not affect spermatogenesis, but TMEM225-null sperm exhibited abnormalities during epididymal maturation, resulting in reduced sperm motility and an abnormal hairpin-loop configuration. Furthermore, proteomics analyses of cauda sperm revealed that signaling pathways related to mitochondrial function, the glycolytic pathway, and sperm flagellar morphology were abnormal in Tmem225 KO sperm, and spermatozoa lacking TMEM225 exhibited high reactive oxygen species levels, reduced motility, and flagellar folding, leading to typical asthenospermia. These findings suggest that testicular TMEM225 may control the sperm maturation process by regulating the expression of proteins related to mitochondrial function, glycolysis, and sperm flagellar morphology in epididymal spermatozoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Longjie Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaomei Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohong Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuang Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Chaofan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Fengchao Wang
- Transgenic Animal Center, National Institute of Biological Sciences, Beijing, China; Tsinghua Institute of Multidisciplinary Biomedical Research, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
| | - Jiali Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
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13
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Clark AC, Edison R, Esvelt K, Kamau S, Dutoit L, Champer J, Champer SE, Messer PW, Alexander A, Gemmell NJ. A framework for identifying fertility gene targets for mammalian pest control. Mol Ecol Resour 2024; 24:e13901. [PMID: 38009398 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
Fertility-targeted gene drives have been proposed as an ethical genetic approach for managing wild populations of vertebrate pests for public health and conservation benefit. This manuscript introduces a framework to identify and evaluate target gene suitability based on biological gene function, gene expression and results from mouse knockout models. This framework identified 16 genes essential for male fertility and 12 genes important for female fertility that may be feasible targets for mammalian gene drives and other non-drive genetic pest control technology. Further, a comparative genomics analysis demonstrates the conservation of the identified genes across several globally significant invasive mammals. In addition to providing important considerations for identifying candidate genes, our framework and the genes identified in this study may have utility in developing additional pest control tools such as wildlife contraceptives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna C Clark
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Rey Edison
- Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kevin Esvelt
- Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sebastian Kamau
- Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ludovic Dutoit
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Jackson Champer
- Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Samuel E Champer
- Department of Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Philipp W Messer
- Department of Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Alana Alexander
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Neil J Gemmell
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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14
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Endo T, Kobayashi K, Matsumura T, Emori C, Ozawa M, Kawamoto S, Okuzaki D, Shimada K, Miyata H, Shimada K, Kodani M, Ishikawa-Yamauchi Y, Motooka D, Hara E, Ikawa M. Multiple ageing effects on testicular/epididymal germ cells lead to decreased male fertility in mice. Commun Biol 2024; 7:16. [PMID: 38177279 PMCID: PMC10766604 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05685-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
In mammals, females undergo reproductive cessation with age, whereas male fertility gradually declines but persists almost throughout life. However, the detailed effects of ageing on germ cells during and after spermatogenesis, in the testis and epididymis, respectively, remain unclear. Here we comprehensively examined the in vivo male fertility and the overall organization of the testis and epididymis with age, focusing on spermatogenesis, and sperm function and fertility, in mice. We first found that in vivo male fertility decreased with age, which is independent of mating behaviors and testosterone levels. Second, overall sperm production in aged testes was decreased; about 20% of seminiferous tubules showed abnormalities such as germ cell depletion, sperm release failure, and perturbed germ cell associations, and the remaining 80% of tubules contained lower number of germ cells because of decreased proliferation of spermatogonia. Further, the spermatozoa in aged epididymides exhibited decreased total cell numbers, abnormal morphology/structure, decreased motility, and DNA damage, resulting in low fertilizing and developmental rates. We conclude that these multiple ageing effects on germ cells lead to decreased in vivo male fertility. Our present findings are useful to better understand the basic mechanism behind the ageing effect on male fertility in mammals including humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsutomu Endo
- Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
- Department of Experimental Animal Model for Human Disease, Center for Experimental Animals, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
- Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Kiyonori Kobayashi
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takafumi Matsumura
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Chihiro Emori
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Manabu Ozawa
- The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shimpei Kawamoto
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Daisuke Okuzaki
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Keisuke Shimada
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Miyata
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kentaro Shimada
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mayo Kodani
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yu Ishikawa-Yamauchi
- The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Daisuke Motooka
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Eiji Hara
- Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
- The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
- Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.
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15
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Mariani NAP, Silva JV, Fardilha M, Silva EJR. Advances in non-hormonal male contraception targeting sperm motility. Hum Reprod Update 2023; 29:545-569. [PMID: 37141450 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmad008] [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: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The high rates of unintended pregnancy and the ever-growing world population impose health, economic, social, and environmental threats to countries. Expanding contraceptive options, including male methods, are urgently needed to tackle these global challenges. Male contraception is limited to condoms and vasectomy, which are unsuitable for many couples. Thus, novel male contraceptive methods may reduce unintended pregnancies, meet the contraceptive needs of couples, and foster gender equality in carrying the contraceptive burden. In this regard, the spermatozoon emerges as a source of druggable targets for on-demand, non-hormonal male contraception based on disrupting sperm motility or fertilization. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE A better understanding of the molecules governing sperm motility can lead to innovative approaches toward safe and effective male contraceptives. This review discusses cutting-edge knowledge on sperm-specific targets for male contraception, focusing on those with crucial roles in sperm motility. We also highlight challenges and opportunities in male contraceptive drug development targeting spermatozoa. SEARCH METHODS We conducted a literature search in the PubMed database using the following keywords: 'spermatozoa', 'sperm motility', 'male contraception', and 'drug targets' in combination with other related terms to the field. Publications until January 2023 written in English were considered. OUTCOMES Efforts for developing non-hormonal strategies for male contraception resulted in the identification of candidates specifically expressed or enriched in spermatozoa, including enzymes (PP1γ2, GAPDHS, and sAC), ion channels (CatSper and KSper), transmembrane transporters (sNHE, SLC26A8, and ATP1A4), and surface proteins (EPPIN). These targets are usually located in the sperm flagellum. Their indispensable roles in sperm motility and male fertility were confirmed by genetic or immunological approaches using animal models and gene mutations associated with male infertility due to sperm defects in humans. Their druggability was demonstrated by the identification of drug-like small organic ligands displaying spermiostatic activity in preclinical trials. WIDER IMPLICATIONS A wide range of sperm-associated proteins has arisen as key regulators of sperm motility, providing compelling druggable candidates for male contraception. Nevertheless, no pharmacological agent has reached clinical developmental stages. One reason is the slow progress in translating the preclinical and drug discovery findings into a drug-like candidate adequate for clinical development. Thus, intense collaboration among academia, private sectors, governments, and regulatory agencies will be crucial to combine expertise for the development of male contraceptives targeting sperm function by (i) improving target structural characterization and the design of highly selective ligands, (ii) conducting long-term preclinical safety, efficacy, and reversibility evaluation, and (iii) establishing rigorous guidelines and endpoints for clinical trials and regulatory evaluation, thus allowing their testing in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noemia A P Mariani
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Joana V Silva
- Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
- QOPNA & LAQV, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
- Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine (UMIB), Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Margarida Fardilha
- Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Erick J R Silva
- Department of Biophysics and Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, São Paulo State University, Botucatu, Brazil
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16
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Wei YS, Chen YL, Li WY, Yang YY, Lin SJ, Wu CH, Yang JI, Wang TE, Yu J, Tsai PS. Antioxidant Nanoparticles Restore Cisplatin-Induced Male Fertility Defects by Promoting MDC1-53bp1-Associated Non-Homologous DNA Repair Mechanism and Sperm Intracellular Calcium Influx. Int J Nanomedicine 2023; 18:4313-4327. [PMID: 37576465 PMCID: PMC10416785 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s408623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Cisplatin, a commonly used anticancer compound, exhibits severe off-target organ toxicity. Due to its wide application in cancer treatment, the reduction of its damage to normal tissue is an imminent clinical need. Cisplatin-induced testicular oxidative stress and damage lead to male sub- or infertility. Despite earlier studies showing that the natural polyphenol extracts honokiol serve as the free radical scavenger that reduces the accumulation of intracellular free radicals, whether honokiol exhibits direct effects on the testis and sperm is unclear. Thus, the aim of the current study is to investigate the direct effects of honokiol on testicular recovery and sperm physiology. Methods We encapsulated this polyphenol antioxidation compound into liposome-based nanoparticles (nHNK) and gave intraperitoneally to mice at a dosage of 5 mg/kg body mass every other day for consecutive 6 weeks. Results We showed that nHNK promotes MDC1-53bp1-associated non-homologous DNA double-strand break repair signaling pathway that minimizes cisplatin-induced DNA damage. This positive effect restores spermatogenesis and allows the restructuring of the multi-spermatogenic layers in the testis. By reducing mitochondrial oxidative damage, nHNK also protects sperm mitochondrial structure and maintains both testicular and sperm ATP production. By a yet-to-identify mechanism, nHNK restores sperm calcium influx at the sperm midpiece and tail, which is essential for sperm hypermotility and their interaction with the oocyte. Discussion Taken together, the nanoparticulated antioxidant counteracts cisplatin-induced male fertility defects and benefits patients undertaking cisplatin-based chemotherapy. These data may allow the reintroduction of cisplatin for systemic applications in patients at clinics with reduced testicular toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Syuan Wei
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Liang Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Yun Li
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Yi Yang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Sung-Jan Lin
- Research Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Medicine and College of Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10051, Taiwan
- Department of Dermatology, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei, 10002, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Ho Wu
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Clinical Science, School of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Jiue-In Yang
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Tse-En Wang
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
| | - Jiashing Yu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Shiue Tsai
- Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
- Research Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617, Taiwan
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17
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Fujihara Y, Kobayashi K, Abbasi F, Endo T, Yu Z, Ikawa M, Matzuk MM. PDCL2 is essential for sperm acrosome formation and male fertility in mice. Andrology 2023; 11:789-798. [PMID: 36278277 PMCID: PMC10123174 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Each year, infertility affects 15% of couples worldwide, with 50% of cases attributed to men. Globozoospermia is an uncommon cause of male factor infertility, characterized by defects in sperm acrosome formation, leading to round-headed spermatozoa. OBJECTIVE We generated Pdcl2 knockout mice to investigate the essential roles of PDCL2 in mammalian reproduction. MATERIALS AND METHODS We used reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to demonstrate that PDCL2 was expressed exclusively in the male reproductive tract in mice and humans. We created Pdcl2 knockout mice using the CRISPR-Cas9 system and analyzed their fertility. Pdcl2 null spermatozoa underwent further evaluation using computer-assisted sperm analysis, light microscopy, and ultrastructural microscopy. We used immunoblot analysis and immunofluorescence to elucidate relationships between PDCL2 and other acrosomal proteins. RESULTS The PDC family is highly conserved in eukaryotes. Mouse and human PDCL2 are testis enriched and localized to the testicular endoplasmic reticulum. Loss of the protein causes sterility because of abnormal acrosome biogenesis during spermiogenesis and immotility. Furthermore, Pdcl2 null spermatozoa have rounded heads, similar to globozoospermia in humans. Observation of the knockout testis shows a lack of acrosomal cap formation, aberrant localization of mitochondria in the sperm head, and misshapen nuclei. CONCLUSION PDCL2 is essential for sperm acrosome development and male fertility in mice and is a putative contraceptive target in men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitaka Fujihara
- Department of Bioscience and Genetics, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka 564-8565, Japan
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Kiyonori Kobayashi
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Ferheen Abbasi
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817
| | - Tsutomu Endo
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Center for Experimental Animals, Research Facility Cluster, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8510, Japan
| | - Zhifeng Yu
- Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
| | - Martin M. Matzuk
- Center for Drug Discovery and Department of Pathology & Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
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18
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Kaneda Y, Miyata H, Shimada K, Oura S, Ikawa M. Testis-specific proteins, TSNAXIP1 and 1700010I14RIK, are important for sperm motility and male fertility in mice. Andrology 2023; 11:799-807. [PMID: 36598146 PMCID: PMC10972718 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND TSN (translin), also called testis brain RNA-binding protein, binds to TSNAX (translin-associated factor X) and is suggested to play diverse roles, such as RNA metabolism and DNA damage response. TSNAXIP1 (Translin-associated factor X-interacting protein 1) was identified as a TSNAX-interacting protein using a yeast two-hybrid system, but its function in vivo was unknown. OBJECTIVE To reveal the function of TSNAXIP1 in vivo in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS We generated Tsnaxip1 knockout mice using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and analyzed their fertility and sperm motility. Further, we generated 1700010I14Rik knockout mice, because 1700010I14RIK is also predominantly expressed in testes and contains the same Pfam (protein families) domain as TSNAXIP1. RESULTS Reduced male fertility and impaired sperm motility with asymmetric flagellar waveforms were observed in not only Tsnaxip1 but also 1700010I14Rik knockout mice. Unlike Tsn knockout mice, no abnormalities were found in testicular sections of either Tsnaxip1 or 1700010I14Rik knockout mice. Furthermore, TSNAXIP1 was detected in the sperm tail and fractionated with axonemal proteins. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Unlike the TSN-TSNAX complex, whose disruption causes abnormal vacuoles in mouse testes, TSNAXIP1 and 1700010I14RIK may play roles in regulating sperm flagellar beating patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Kaneda
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Miyata
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Keisuke Shimada
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Seiya Oura
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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19
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Clark AC, Alexander A, Edison R, Esvelt K, Kamau S, Dutoit L, Champer J, Champer SE, Messer PW, Gemmell NJ. A framework for identifying fertility gene targets for mammalian pest control. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.30.542751. [PMID: 37398071 PMCID: PMC10312551 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.30.542751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Fertility-targeted gene drives have been proposed as an ethical genetic approach for managing wild populations of vertebrate pests for public health and conservation benefit.This manuscript introduces a framework to identify and evaluate target gene suitability based on biological gene function, gene expression, and results from mouse knockout models.This framework identified 16 genes essential for male fertility and 12 genes important for female fertility that may be feasible targets for mammalian gene drives and other non-drive genetic pest control technology. Further, a comparative genomics analysis demonstrates the conservation of the identified genes across several globally significant invasive mammals.In addition to providing important considerations for identifying candidate genes, our framework and the genes identified in this study may have utility in developing additional pest control tools such as wildlife contraceptives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna C Clark
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, 270 Great King Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
- Department of Computational Biology, Cornell University, 102 Tower Rd, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
| | - Alana Alexander
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, 270 Great King Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Rey Edison
- Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 75 Amherst St, Cambridge, United States
| | - Kevin Esvelt
- Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 75 Amherst St, Cambridge, United States
| | - Sebastian Kamau
- Media Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 75 Amherst St, Cambridge, United States
| | - Ludovic Dutoit
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Jackson Champer
- Center for Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Samuel E Champer
- Department of Computational Biology, Cornell University, 102 Tower Rd, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
| | - Philipp W Messer
- Department of Computational Biology, Cornell University, 102 Tower Rd, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
| | - Neil J Gemmell
- Department of Anatomy, School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Otago, 270 Great King Street, Central Dunedin, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
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20
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Wu B, Li R, Ma S, Ma Y, Fan L, Gong C, Liu C, Sun L, Yuan L. The cilia and flagella associated protein CFAP52 orchestrated with CFAP45 is required for sperm motility in mice. J Biol Chem 2023:104858. [PMID: 37236356 PMCID: PMC10319328 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Asthenozoospermia characterized by decreased sperm motility is a major cause of male infertility, but the majority of their etiology remains unknown. Here, we showed that the cilia and flagella associated protein 52 (Cfap52) gene was predominantly expressed in testis and its deletion in a Cfap52 knockout mouse model resulted in decreased sperm motility and male infertility. Cfap52 knockout also led to the disorganization of midpiece-principal piece junction of the sperm tail, but had no effect on the axoneme ultrastructure in spermatozoa. Furthermore, we found that CFAP52 interacted with the cilia and flagella associated protein 45 (CFAP45), and knockout of Cfap52 decreased the expression level of CFAP45 in sperm flagellum, which further disrupted the microtubule sliding produced by dynein ATPase. Together, our studies demonstrate that CFAP52 plays an essential role in sperm motility by interacting with CFAP45 in sperm flagellum, providing insights into the potential pathogenesis of the infertility of the human CFAP52 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingbing Wu
- Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Rachel Li
- Beijing Academy International Division, Beijing, 100018, China
| | - Shuang Ma
- Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yanjie Ma
- Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Lijun Fan
- Department of Endocrinology, Genetics, Metabolism, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing 100045, China
| | - Chunxiu Gong
- Department of Endocrinology, Genetics, Metabolism, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing 100045, China
| | - Chao Liu
- Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling Sun
- Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, 510623 Guangzhou, China.
| | - Li Yuan
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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21
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Becker LS, Al Smadi MA, Raeschle M, Rishik S, Abdul-Khaliq H, Meese E, Abu-Halima M. Proteomic Landscape of Human Sperm in Patients with Different Spermatogenic Impairments. Cells 2023; 12:cells12071017. [PMID: 37048090 PMCID: PMC10093380 DOI: 10.3390/cells12071017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the proteome of sperm has been characterized, there is still a lack of high-throughput studies on dysregulated proteins in sperm from subfertile men, with only a few studies on the sperm proteome in asthenozoospermic and oligoasthenozoospermic men. Using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) along with bioinformatics analyses, we investigated the proteomic landscape of sperm collected from subfertile men (n = 22), i.e., asthenozoospermic men (n = 13), oligoasthenozoospermic men (n = 9) and normozoospermic controls (n = 31). We identified 4412 proteins in human sperm. Out of these, 1336 differentially abundant proteins were identified in 70% of the samples. In subfertile men, 32 proteins showed a lower abundance level and 34 showed a higher abundance level when compared with normozoospermic men. Compared to normozoospermic controls, 95 and 8 proteins showed a lower abundance level, and 86 and 1 proteins showed a higher abundance level in asthenozoospermic and oligoasthenozoospermic men, respectively. Sperm motility and count were negatively correlated with 13 and 35 and positively correlated with 37 and 20 differentially abundant proteins in asthenozoospermic and oligoasthenozoospermic men, respectively. The combination of the proteins APCS, APOE, and FLOT1 discriminates subfertile males from normozoospermic controls with an AUC value of 0.95. Combined APOE and FN1 proteins discriminate asthenozoospermic men form controls with an AUC of 1, and combined RUVBL1 and TFKC oligoasthenozoospermic men with an AUC of 0.93. Using a proteomic approach, we revealed the proteomic landscape of sperm collected from asthenozoospermic or oligoasthenozoospermic men. Identified abundance changes of several specific proteins are likely to impact sperm function leading to subfertility. The data also provide evidence for the usefulness of specific proteins or protein combinations to support future diagnosis of male subfertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Simone Becker
- Institute of Human Genetics, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany
- Correspondence: (L.S.B.); (M.A.-H.)
| | - Mohammad A. Al Smadi
- Reproductive Endocrinology and IVF Unit, King Hussein Medical Centre, Amman 11733, Jordan
| | - Markus Raeschle
- Department of Molecular Genetics, TU Kaiserslautern, 67653 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Shusruto Rishik
- Chair for Clinical Bioinformatics, Saarland University, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Hashim Abdul-Khaliq
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Eckart Meese
- Institute of Human Genetics, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany
| | - Masood Abu-Halima
- Institute of Human Genetics, Saarland University, 66421 Homburg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, Germany
- Correspondence: (L.S.B.); (M.A.-H.)
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22
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Using the Culex pipiens sperm proteome to identify elements essential for mosquito reproduction. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280013. [PMID: 36795667 PMCID: PMC9934393 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Mature sperm from Culex pipiens were isolated and analyzed by mass spectrometry to generate a mature sperm proteome dataset. In this study, we highlight subsets of proteins related to flagellar structure and sperm motility and compare the identified protein components to previous studies examining essential functions of sperm. The proteome includes 1700 unique protein IDs, including a number of uncharacterized proteins. Here we discuss those proteins that may contribute to the unusual structure of the Culex sperm flagellum, as well as potential regulators of calcium mobilization and phosphorylation pathways that regulate motility. This database will prove useful for understanding the mechanisms that activate and maintain sperm motility as well as identify potential molecular targets for mosquito population control.
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23
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Siervo GEMDL, Mariani NAP, Silva AAS, Punhagui-Umbelino APF, Costa IRD, Andrade ADD, Silva EJR, Fernandes GSA. Low dose of cyclosporine A disrupts sperm parameters and testosterone levels reversibly in mice. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2023; 460:116374. [PMID: 36634874 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2023.116374] [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: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of autoimmune diseases has increased worldwide, including in men of reproductive age. Cyclosporine A (CsA) is an immunosuppressive drug commonly used for long periods in the prophylaxis and treatment of autoimmune dysfunction and transplant rejection. Owing to CsA toxicity, most clinical settings use lower CsA doses. Therefore, we evaluated whether a low dose (10 mg/kg) of CsA affects sperm parameters (daily sperm production, motility, morphology, mitochondrial activity, and acrosomal integrity), plasma testosterone levels, and fertility after short-term (10 days) and long-term (50 days) treatments in mice. Short-term CsA treatment partially affected sperm parameters and fertility, as shown by the reduction in sperm hyperactivation and gestational rate 10 days after the interruption of short-term CsA treatment. Long-term CsA treatment impairs sperm count, hyperactivated motility, and acrosomal integrity. This treatment regimen further decreased plasma testosterone concentrations but did not affect reproductive outcomes in mating trials. These outcomes were reversed 50 days after the interruption of long-term CsA treatment. We conclude that a low CsA dose differentially impairs sperm parameters and testicular steroidogenesis in a time-dependent and mostly reversible manner but does not affect male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alan Andrew S Silva
- Department of Biophysics & Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Ivana Regina da Costa
- Department of General Biology, Biological Sciences Center, State University of Londrina (UEL), Londrina, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Alexandre Dorth de Andrade
- Department of Biophysics & Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Erick J R Silva
- Department of Biophysics & Pharmacology, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
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24
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Morohoshi A, Miyata H, Tokuhiro K, Iida-Norita R, Noda T, Fujihara Y, Ikawa M. Testis-enriched ferlin, FER1L5, is required for Ca 2+-activated acrosome reaction and male fertility. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade7607. [PMID: 36696506 PMCID: PMC9876558 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade7607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Spermatozoa need to undergo an exocytotic event called the acrosome reaction before fusing with eggs. Although calcium ion (Ca2+) is essential for the acrosome reaction, its molecular mechanism remains unknown. Ferlin is a single transmembrane protein with multiple Ca2+-binding C2 domains, and there are six ferlins, dysferlin (DYSF), otoferlin (OTOF), myoferlin (MYOF), fer-1-like 4 (FER1L4), FER1L5, and FER1L6, in mammals. Dysf, Otof, and Myof knockout mice have been generated, and each knockout mouse line exhibited membrane fusion disorders such as muscular dystrophy in Dysf, deafness in Otof, and abnormal myogenesis in Myof. Here, by generating mutant mice of Fer1l4, Fer1l5, and Fer1l6, we found that only Fer1l5 is required for male fertility. Fer1l5 mutant spermatozoa could migrate in the female reproductive tract and reach eggs, but no acrosome reaction took place. Even a Ca2+ ionophore cannot induce the acrosome reaction in Fer1l5 mutant spermatozoa. These results suggest that FER1L5 is the missing link between Ca2+ and the acrosome reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akane Morohoshi
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871 Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871 Japan
| | - Haruhiko Miyata
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871 Japan
| | - Keizo Tokuhiro
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871 Japan
- Institute of Biomedical Science, Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka 5731191 Japan
| | - Rie Iida-Norita
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871 Japan
| | - Taichi Noda
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871 Japan
- Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Kumamoto 8600811 Japan
- Priority Organization for Innovation and Excellence, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Kumamoto 8608555 Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Fujihara
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871 Japan
- Department of Bioscience and Genetics, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka 5648565, Japan
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871 Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871 Japan
- The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo 1088639 Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), Osaka University, Suita, Osaka 5650871 Japan
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25
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Ulengin-Talkish I, Cyert MS. A cellular atlas of calcineurin signaling. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2023; 1870:119366. [PMID: 36191737 PMCID: PMC9948804 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2022.119366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2022] [Revised: 09/25/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Intracellular Ca2+ signals are temporally controlled and spatially restricted. Signaling occurs adjacent to sites of Ca2+ entry and/or release, where Ca2+-dependent effectors and their substrates co-localize to form signaling microdomains. Here we review signaling by calcineurin, the Ca2+/calmodulin regulated protein phosphatase and target of immunosuppressant drugs, Cyclosporin A and FK506. Although well known for its activation of the adaptive immune response via NFAT dephosphorylation, systematic mapping of human calcineurin substrates and regulators reveals unexpected roles for this versatile phosphatase throughout the cell. We discuss calcineurin function, with an emphasis on where signaling occurs and mechanisms that target calcineurin and its substrates to signaling microdomains, especially binding of cognate short linear peptide motifs (SLiMs). Calcineurin is ubiquitously expressed and regulates events at the plasma membrane, other intracellular membranes, mitochondria, the nuclear pore complex and centrosomes/cilia. Based on our expanding knowledge of localized CN actions, we describe a cellular atlas of Ca2+/calcineurin signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martha S Cyert
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94035, United States.
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26
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Service CA, Puri D, Hsieh TC, Patel DP. Emerging concepts in male contraception: a narrative review of novel, hormonal and non-hormonal options. Ther Adv Reprod Health 2023; 17:26334941221138323. [PMID: 36909934 PMCID: PMC9996746 DOI: 10.1177/26334941221138323] [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: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Access to reliable contraception is a pillar of modern society. The burden of unintended pregnancy has fallen disproportionately on the mother throughout human history; however, recent legal developments surrounding abortion have sparked a renewed interest in male factor contraceptives beyond surgical sterilization and condoms. Modern efforts to develop reversible male birth control date back nearly a century and initially focused on altering the hypothalamic-pituitary-testes axis. These hormonal contraceptives faced multiple barriers, including systemic side effects, challenging dosing regimens, unfavorable routes of delivery, and the public stigma surrounding steroid use. Novel hormonal agents are seeking to overcome these barriers by limiting the side effects and simplifying use. Non-hormonal contraceptives are agents that target various stages of spermatogenesis; such as inhibitors of retinoic acid, Sertoli cell-germ cell interactions, sperm ion channels, and other small molecular targets. The identification of reproductive tract-specific genes associated with male infertility has led to more targeted drug development, made possible by advances in CRISPR and proteolysis targeting chimeras (PROTACs). Despite multiple human trials, no male birth control agents have garnered regulatory approval in the United States or abroad. This narrative review examines current and emerging male contraceptives, including hormonal and non-hormonal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Austin Service
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Dhruv Puri
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Tung-Chin Hsieh
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Darshan P Patel
- Department of Urology, University of California San Diego, 9333 Genesee Avenue, Suite 320, La Jolla, CA 92121, USA
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27
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Ferreira AF, Santiago J, Silva JV, Oliveira PF, Fardilha M. PP1, PP2A and PP2B Interplay in the Regulation of Sperm Motility: Lessons from Protein Phosphatase Inhibitors. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315235. [PMID: 36499559 PMCID: PMC9737803 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315235] [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: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Male fertility relies on the ability of spermatozoa to fertilize the egg in the female reproductive tract (FRT). Spermatozoa acquire activated motility during epididymal maturation; however, to be capable of fertilization, they must achieve hyperactivated motility in the FRT. Extensive research found that three protein phosphatases (PPs) are crucial to sperm motility regulation, the sperm-specific protein phosphatase type 1 (PP1) isoform gamma 2 (PP1γ2), protein phosphatase type 2A (PP2A) and protein phosphatase type 2B (PP2B). Studies have reported that PP activity decreases during epididymal maturation, whereas protein kinase activity increases, which appears to be a requirement for motility acquisition. An interplay between these PPs has been extensively investigated; however, many specific interactions and some inconsistencies remain to be elucidated. The study of PPs significantly advanced following the identification of naturally occurring toxins, including calyculin A, okadaic acid, cyclosporin, endothall and deltamethrin, which are powerful and specific PP inhibitors. This review aims to overview the protein phosphorylation-dependent biochemical pathways underlying sperm motility acquisition and hyperactivation, followed by a discussion of the PP inhibitors that allowed advances in the current knowledge of these pathways. Since male infertility cases still attain alarming numbers, additional research on the topic is required, particularly using other PP inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana F. Ferreira
- Laboratory of Signal Transduction, Institute for Biomedicine-iBiMED, Medical Sciences Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Joana Santiago
- Laboratory of Signal Transduction, Institute for Biomedicine-iBiMED, Medical Sciences Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Joana V. Silva
- Laboratory of Signal Transduction, Institute for Biomedicine-iBiMED, Medical Sciences Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Pedro F. Oliveira
- QOPNA & LAQV, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Margarida Fardilha
- Laboratory of Signal Transduction, Institute for Biomedicine-iBiMED, Medical Sciences Department, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-918-143-947
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28
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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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29
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Kaneda Y, Miyata H, Shimada K, Oyama Y, Iida-Norita R, Ikawa M. IRGC1, a testis-enriched immunity related GTPase, is important for fibrous sheath integrity and sperm motility in mice. Dev Biol 2022; 488:104-113. [PMID: 35618043 PMCID: PMC9232189 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2022.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Immunity-related GTPases (IRGs), also known as p47 GTPases, are a family of interferon-inducible proteins that play roles in immunity defense against intracellular pathogens. Although the molecular functions of IRGs have been well studied, the function of the family member, IRGC1, remains unclear. IRGC1 is unique among IRGs because its expression is not induced by interferon and it is expressed predominantly in the testis. Further, IRGC1 is well conserved in mammals unlike other IRGs. Here, we knocked out (KO) Irgc1 in mice using the CRISPR/Cas9 system and found that the fertility of Irgc1 KO males was severely impaired because of abnormal sperm motility. Further analyses with a transmission electron microscope revealed that the fibrous sheath (FS), an accessory structure of the sperm tail, was disorganized in Irgc1 KO mice. In addition, IRGC1 was detected in the sperm tail and fractionated with FS proteins. These results suggest that IRGC1 is a component of the FS and is involved in the correct formation of the FS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Kaneda
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 5650871, Japan; Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 5650871, Japan.
| | - Haruhiko Miyata
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 5650871, Japan.
| | - Keisuke Shimada
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 5650871, Japan.
| | - Yuki Oyama
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 5650871, Japan; Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 5650871, Japan.
| | - Rie Iida-Norita
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 5650871, Japan.
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, 3-1 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 5650871, Japan; Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, 1-6 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 5650871, Japan; The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 1088639, Japan; Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research, Osaka University, 2-8 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 5650871, Japan.
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Zhou S, Wu H, Zhang J, He X, Liu S, Zhou P, Hua R, Cao Y, Liu M. Bi-allelic variants in human TCTE1/DRC5 cause asthenospermia and male infertility. Eur J Hum Genet 2022; 30:721-729. [PMID: 35388187 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-022-01095-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Asthenozoospermia (AZS) is a common male infertility phenotype, accounting for 18% of infertile patients. The N-DRC (Nexin-dynein Regulatory Complex) complex is the motor regulating device in the flagellum, which is found in most eukaryotic organisms with flagellum. The deletion of TCTE1 (T-Complex-Associated Testis-Expressed 1), a component of the N-DRC complex also known as DRC5 (Dynein regulatory complex subunit 5), has been shown to cause asthenospermia in mice. This study mainly introduces a clinical case of male infertility with normal sperm count, normal morphological structure, but low motility and weak forward movement. By whole-exome sequencing, we found that TCTE1 became a frameshift mutant, ENST00000371505.5: c.396_397insTC (p.Arg133Serfs*33), resulting in the rapid degradation of TCTE1 protein and male infertility. This phenotype is similar to the Tcte1-/- (Tcte1 knockout) mice, which showed structural integrity but reduced motility. Further, different from mice, in vitro Fertilization (IVF) could successfully solve the patient's problem of infertility. Our data provides a better understanding of the biological functions of TCTE1 in human flagellum assembly and male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shushu Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Huan Wu
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Jintao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Xiaojin He
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Siyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China
| | - Ping Zhou
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, 230032, China
| | - Rong Hua
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China. .,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, 230032, China. .,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, 230032, China.
| | - Yunxia Cao
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, 230022, China. .,NHC Key Laboratory of Study on Abnormal Gametes and Reproductive Tract (Anhui Medical University), Hefei, 230032, China. .,Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, 230032, China.
| | - Mingxi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.
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31
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Ali H, Unar A, Dil S, Ali I, Khan K, Khan I, Shi Q. Testis-specific fascin component FSCN3 is dispensable for mouse spermatogenesis and fertility. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:6261-6268. [PMID: 35449315 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07429-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fascins belong to a family of actin-bundling proteins that are involved in a wide range of biological functions. FSCN3, a newly identified testis-specific actin-bundling protein, is specifically expressed in elongated spermatids. However, its in vivo function in mouse spermiogenesis remains unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS We generated Fscn3 knockout mice through CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology. Fscn3-/- mice displayed normal testis morphology and testis to bodyweight ratio, and sperm concentrations did not differ significantly between Fscn3+/+ and Fscn3-/- mice. Fertility assays consistently revealed that Fscn3-/- mice are completely fertile and their reproductive status does not differ from that of wild-type. Moreover, hematoxylin and eosin staining of the testis sections of Fscn3-/- mice detected various germ cells, ranging from spermatogonia to mature spermatozoa. Furthermore, the swimming velocity of the sperm of Fscn3-/- mice was comparable to that of their wild-type littermates. Both Fscn3+/+ and Fscn3-/-mice had normal sperm morphology, indicating that the disruption of Fscn3 does not affect sperm morphology. The analysis of meiotic prophase I progression demonstrated normal prophase-I phases (leptonema to diplonema) in both Fscn3+/+ and Fscn3-/- mice, suggesting that Fscn3 is not essential for meiosis I. CONCLUSION Our study provides the first evidence that FSCN3 is a testis-specific actin-bundling protein that is not required for mouse spermatogenesis. Our results will help reproductive biologists focus their efforts on genes that are crucial for fertility and avoid research duplication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haider Ali
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Ahsanullah Unar
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Sobia Dil
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Imtiaz Ali
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Khalid Khan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Ihsan Khan
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Qinghua Shi
- The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at Microscale, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
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32
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Shum W, Zhang BL, Cao AS, Zhou X, Shi SM, Zhang ZY, Gu LY, Shi S. Calcium Homeostasis in the Epididymal Microenvironment: Is Extracellular Calcium a Cofactor for Matrix Gla Protein-Dependent Scavenging Regulated by Vitamins. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:827940. [PMID: 35252193 PMCID: PMC8893953 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.827940] [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: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In the male reproductive tract, the epididymis is an essential organ for sperm maturation, in which sperm cells acquire mobility and the ability to fertilize oocytes while being stored in a protective microenvironment. Epididymal function involves a specialized luminal microenvironment established by the epithelial cells of epididymal mucosa. Low-calcium concentration is a unique feature of this epididymal luminal microenvironment, its relevance and regulation are, however, incompletely understood. In the rat epididymis, the vitamin D-related calcium-dependent TRPV6-TMEM16A channel-coupler has been shown to be involved in fluid transport, and, in a spatially complementary manner, vitamin K2-related γ-glutamyl carboxylase (GGCX)-dependent carboxylation of matrix Gla protein (MGP) plays an essential role in promoting calcium-dependent protein aggregation. An SNP in the human GGCX gene has been associated with asthenozoospermia. In addition, bioinformatic analysis also suggests the involvement of a vitamin B6-axis in calcium-dependent MGP-mediated protein aggregation. These findings suggest that vitamins interact with calcium homeostasis in the epididymis to ensure proper sperm maturation and male fertility. This review article discusses the regulation mechanisms of calcium homeostasis in the epididymis, and the potential role of vitamin interactions on epididymal calcium homeostasis, especially the role of matrix calcium in the epididymal lumen as a cofactor for the carboxylated MGP-mediated scavenging function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winnie Shum
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- *Correspondence: Winnie Shum,
| | - Bao Li Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
- Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- NHC Key Lab of Reproduction Regulation, Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies, Reproduction and Development Institution, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Albert Shang Cao
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Zhou
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Su Meng Shi
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ze Yang Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lou Yi Gu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Shuo Shi
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
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33
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Investigation of Copy Number Variations (CNVs) of the Goat PPP3CA Gene and Their Effect on Litter Size and Semen Quality. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12040445. [PMID: 35203154 PMCID: PMC8868321 DOI: 10.3390/ani12040445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary PPP3CA is one of the candidate genes for goat reproduction, but no studies have been carried out yet. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the associations between copy number variations in the goat PPP3CA gene and litter size and semen quality in goats, including Shaanbei white cashmere goats (SBWC) (n = 353) and Guizhou Heima (GZHM) goats (n = 64). Based on the association analysis, the results showed that only CNV1 (copy number variation 1) and CNV2 (copy number variation 2) were distinctly related to the first-birth litter size in female goats (p = 7.6802 × 10−11; p = 5.0895 × 10−9), and they were also significantly associated with the semen quality of SBWC goats (p < 0.05). These findings prove that the PPP3CA gene plays an important role in reproduction traits in goats. Abstract Copy number variations (CNVs) have many forms of variation structure, and they play an important role in the research of variety diversity, biological evolution and disease correlation. Since CNVs have a greater impact on gene regulation and expression, more studies are being finalized on CNVs in important livestock and poultry species. The protein phosphatase 3 catalytic subunit alpha (PPP3CA) is a key candidate gene involved in the goat fecundity trait, and has important effects on precocious puberty, estrogen signal transduction pathways and oocyte meiosis. Additionally, PPP3CA also has a dephosphorylation effect in the process of spermatogonial stem cell meiosis and spermatogenesis. So far, there is no research on the relationship between the copy number variations of the PPP3CA gene and reproduction traits. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the association between copy number variations in the goat PPP3CA gene and litter size and semen quality in Shaanbei white cashmere goats (SBWC) (n = 353) and Guizhou Heima goats (n = 64). Based on the association analysis, the results showed that only CNV1 and CNV2 within the PPP3CA gene were distinctly related to the first-birth litter size in female goats (p = 7.6802 × 10−11; p = 5.0895 × 10−9, respectively) and they were also significantly associated with the semen quality of SBWC goats (p < 0.05). In addition, individuals with Loss genotypes demonstrated better phenotypic performance compared to those with other types. Therefore, CNV1 and CNV2 of the PPP3CA gene are potentially useful for breeding, as they are linked to important goat reproduction traits.
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In-cell structures of conserved supramolecular protein arrays at the mitochondria-cytoskeleton interface in mammalian sperm. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2110996118. [PMID: 34737233 PMCID: PMC8609336 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2110996118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Spatial organization of mitochondria is vital for cellular function. In many specialized cell types, mitochondria are immobilized at specific subcellular loci through interactions with the cytoskeleton. One of the most striking mitochondrial configurations occurs in mammalian sperm, where mitochondria wrap around the flagellum. Malformation of the mitochondrial sheath causes infertility, but the molecular structures underlying this intricate arrangement are unknown. Here, we analyzed the mitochondrial sheath in sperm from three mammalian species. We find that although mitochondrial dimensions and cristae architecture vary across species, molecular assemblies mediating intermitochondria and mitochondria–cytoskeleton interactions are conserved. These findings yield important insight into sperm physiology and evolution and are relevant for other polarized cell types, such as muscles, neurons, photoreceptors, and hair cells. Mitochondria–cytoskeleton interactions modulate cellular physiology by regulating mitochondrial transport, positioning, and immobilization. However, there is very little structural information defining mitochondria–cytoskeleton interfaces in any cell type. Here, we use cryofocused ion beam milling-enabled cryoelectron tomography to image mammalian sperm, where mitochondria wrap around the flagellar cytoskeleton. We find that mitochondria are tethered to their neighbors through intermitochondrial linkers and are anchored to the cytoskeleton through ordered arrays on the outer mitochondrial membrane. We use subtomogram averaging to resolve in-cell structures of these arrays from three mammalian species, revealing they are conserved across species despite variations in mitochondrial dimensions and cristae organization. We find that the arrays consist of boat-shaped particles anchored on a network of membrane pores whose arrangement and dimensions are consistent with voltage-dependent anion channels. Proteomics and in-cell cross-linking mass spectrometry suggest that the conserved arrays are composed of glycerol kinase-like proteins. Ordered supramolecular assemblies may serve to stabilize similar contact sites in other cell types in which mitochondria need to be immobilized in specific subcellular environments, such as in muscles and neurons.
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35
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Castaneda JM, Shimada K, Satouh Y, Yu Z, Devlin DJ, Ikawa M, Matzuk MM. FAM209 associates with DPY19L2, and is required for sperm acrosome biogenesis and fertility in mice. J Cell Sci 2021; 134:272021. [PMID: 34471926 PMCID: PMC8627553 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.259206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Infertility afflicts up to 15% of couples globally each year with men a contributing factor in 50% of these cases. Globozoospermia is a rare condition found in infertile men, which is characterized by defective acrosome biogenesis leading to the production of round-headed sperm. Here, we report that family with sequence similarity 209 (Fam209) is required for acrosome biogenesis in mouse sperm. FAM209 is a small transmembrane protein conserved among mammals. Loss of Fam209 results in fertility defects that are secondary to abnormalities in acrosome biogenesis during spermiogenesis, reminiscent of globozoospermia. Analysis of the FAM209 proteome identified DPY19L2, whose human orthologue is involved in the majority of globozoospermia cases. Although mutations in human and mouse Dpy19l2 have been shown to cause globozoospermia, no in vivo interacting partners of DPY19L2 have been identified until now. FAM209 colocalizes with DPY19L2 at the inner nuclear membrane to maintain the developing acrosome. Here, we identified FAM209 as the first interacting partner of DPY19L2, and the second protein that is essential for acrosome biogenesis that localizes to the inner nuclear membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julio M Castaneda
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Department of Experimental Genome Research, Osaka University, Osaka 5620031, Japan
| | - Keisuke Shimada
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Department of Experimental Genome Research, Osaka University, Osaka 5620031, Japan
| | - Yuhkoh Satouh
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Gunma University, Gunma 3718512, Japan
| | - Zhifeng Yu
- Department of Pathology & Immunology and Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Darius J Devlin
- Department of Pathology & Immunology and Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Department of Experimental Genome Research, Osaka University, Osaka 5620031, Japan
| | - Martin M Matzuk
- Department of Pathology & Immunology and Center for Drug Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Morohoshi A, Miyata H, Oyama Y, Oura S, Noda T, Ikawa M. FAM71F1 binds to RAB2A and RAB2B and is essential for acrosome formation and male fertility in mice. Development 2021; 148:dev199644. [PMID: 34714330 PMCID: PMC8602946 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The acrosome is a cap-shaped, Golgi-derived membranous organelle that is located over the anterior of the sperm nucleus and highly conserved throughout evolution. Although morphological changes during acrosome biogenesis in spermatogenesis have been well described, the molecular mechanism underlying this process is still largely unknown. Family with sequence similarity 71, member F1 and F2 (FAM71F1 and FAM71F2) are testis-enriched proteins that contain a RAB2B-binding domain, a small GTPase involved in vesicle transport and membrane trafficking. Here, by generating mutant mice for each gene, we found that Fam71f1 is essential for male fertility. In Fam71f1-mutant mice, the acrosome was abnormally expanded at the round spermatid stage, likely because of enhanced vesicle trafficking. Mass spectrometry analysis after immunoprecipitation indicated that, in testes, FAM71F1 binds not only RAB2B, but also RAB2A. Further study suggested that FAM71F1 binds to the GTP-bound active form of RAB2A/B, but not the inactive form. These results indicate that a complex of FAM71F1 and active RAB2A/B suppresses excessive vesicle trafficking during acrosome formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akane Morohoshi
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Miyata
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yuki Oyama
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Seiya Oura
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Taichi Noda
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Division of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Resource Development and Analysis, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-0811, Japan
- Priority Organization for Innovation and Excellence, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 860-8555, Japan
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Department of Experimental Genome Research, Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
- Laboratory of Reproductive Systems Biology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
- Center for Infectious Disease Education and Research (CiDER), Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
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Miyata H, Oyama Y, Kaneda Y, Ikawa M. The motor domain of testis-enriched kinesin KIF9 is essential for its localization in the mouse flagellum. Exp Anim 2021; 71:46-52. [PMID: 34526446 PMCID: PMC8828407 DOI: 10.1538/expanim.21-0082] [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] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Kinesin is a molecular motor that moves along microtubules. Testis-enriched kinesin KIF9 (Kinesin family member 9) is localized in the mouse sperm flagellum and is important for normal sperm motility and male fertility; however, it is unclear if the motor domain of KIF9 is involved in these processes. In this study, we substituted threonine of the ATP binding motif in the KIF9 motor domain to asparagine (T100N) in mice using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, which is known to impair kinesin motor activity. T100N mutant mice exhibit reduced sperm motility and male fertility consistent with Kif9 knockout mice. Further, KIF9 was depleted in the spermatozoa of T100N mutant mice although the amounts of KIF9 were comparable between wild-type and T100N mutant testes. These results indicate that the motor domain of KIF9 is essential for its localization in the sperm flagellum.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yuki Oyama
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University
| | - Yuki Kaneda
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University.,The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo
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SPATA33 localizes calcineurin to the mitochondria and regulates sperm motility in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2106673118. [PMID: 34446558 PMCID: PMC8536318 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2106673118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Calcineurin is a target of immunosuppressive drugs such as cyclosporine A and tacrolimus. In the immune system, calcineurin interacts with NFAT via the PxIxIT motif to activate T cells. In contrast, little is known about the proteins that interact with a testis-enriched calcineurin that is essential for sperm motility and male fertility. Here, we discovered that calcineurin interacts with SPATA33 via a PQIIIT sequence in the testis. Further analyses reveal that SPATA33 plays critical roles in sperm motility and male fertility. Our finding sheds new light on the molecular mechanisms of sperm motility regulation and the etiology of human male fertility. Furthermore, it may help us not only understand reproductive toxicities but also develop nonhormonal male contraceptives. Calcineurin is a calcium-dependent phosphatase that plays roles in a variety of biological processes including immune responses. In spermatozoa, there is a testis-enriched calcineurin composed of PPP3CC and PPP3R2 (sperm calcineurin) that is essential for sperm motility and male fertility. Because sperm calcineurin has been proposed as a target for reversible male contraceptives, identifying proteins that interact with sperm calcineurin widens the choice for developing specific inhibitors. Here, by screening the calcineurin-interacting PxIxIT consensus motif in silico and analyzing the function of candidate proteins through the generation of gene-modified mice, we discovered that SPATA33 interacts with sperm calcineurin via a PQIIIT sequence. Spata33 knockout mice exhibit reduced sperm motility because of an inflexible midpiece, leading to impaired male fertility, which phenocopies Ppp3cc and Ppp3r2 knockout mice. Further analysis reveals that sperm calcineurin disappears from the mitochondria in the Spata33 knockout testis. In addition, immunoprecipitation analysis indicates that sperm calcineurin interacts with not only SPATA33 but also the mitochondrial protein VDAC2. These results indicate that SPATA33 localizes calcineurin to the mitochondria and regulates sperm motility.
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Di Persio S, Leitão E, Wöste M, Tekath T, Cremers JF, Dugas M, Li X, Meyer Zu Hörste G, Kliesch S, Laurentino S, Neuhaus N, Horsthemke B. Whole-genome methylation analysis of testicular germ cells from cryptozoospermic men points to recurrent and functionally relevant DNA methylation changes. Clin Epigenetics 2021; 13:160. [PMID: 34419158 PMCID: PMC8379757 DOI: 10.1186/s13148-021-01144-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several studies have reported an association between male infertility and aberrant sperm DNA methylation patterns, in particular in imprinted genes. In a recent investigation based on whole methylome and deep bisulfite sequencing, we have not found any evidence for such an association, but have demonstrated that somatic DNA contamination and genetic variation confound methylation studies in sperm of severely oligozoospermic men. To find out whether testicular germ cells (TGCs) of such patients might carry aberrant DNA methylation, we compared the TGC methylomes of four men with cryptozoospermia (CZ) and four men with obstructive azoospermia, who had normal spermatogenesis and served as controls (CTR). RESULTS There was no difference in DNA methylation at the whole genome level or at imprinted regions between CZ and CTR samples. However, using stringent filters to identify group-specific methylation differences, we detected 271 differentially methylated regions (DMRs), 238 of which were hypermethylated in CZ (binominal test, p < 2.2 × 10-16). The DMRs were enriched for distal regulatory elements (p = 1.0 × 10-6) and associated with 132 genes, 61 of which are differentially expressed at various stages of spermatogenesis. Almost all of the 67 DMRs associated with the 61 genes (94%) are hypermethylated in CZ (63/67, p = 1.107 × 10-14). As judged by single-cell RNA sequencing, 13 DMR-associated genes, which are mainly expressed during meiosis and spermiogenesis, show a significantly different pattern of expression in CZ patients. In four of these genes, the promoter is hypermethylated in CZ men, which correlates with a lower expression level in these patients. In the other nine genes, eight of which downregulated in CZ, germ cell-specific enhancers may be affected. CONCLUSIONS We found that impaired spermatogenesis is associated with DNA methylation changes in testicular germ cells at functionally relevant regions of the genome. We hypothesize that the described DNA methylation changes may reflect or contribute to premature abortion of spermatogenesis and therefore not appear in the mature, motile sperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Di Persio
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Elsa Leitão
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Marius Wöste
- Institute of Medical Informatics, University Hospital of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Tobias Tekath
- Institute of Medical Informatics, University Hospital of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Jann-Frederik Cremers
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Department of Clinical and Surgical Andrology, University Hospital of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Martin Dugas
- Institute of Medical Informatics, University Hospital of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Xiaolin Li
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Gerd Meyer Zu Hörste
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Translational Neurology, University Hospital of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Sabine Kliesch
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, Department of Clinical and Surgical Andrology, University Hospital of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Sandra Laurentino
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Nina Neuhaus
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany.
| | - Bernhard Horsthemke
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
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40
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Usage of Tacrolimus and Mycophenolic Acid During Conception, Pregnancy, and Lactation, and Its Implications for Therapeutic Drug Monitoring: A Systematic Critical Review. Ther Drug Monit 2021; 42:518-531. [PMID: 32398419 DOI: 10.1097/ftd.0000000000000769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Conception, pregnancy, and lactation following solid organ transplantation require appropriate management. The most frequently used immunosuppressive drug combination after solid organ transplantation consists of tacrolimus (Tac) plus mycophenolic acid (MPA). Here, the effects of Tac and MPA on fertility, pregnancy, and lactation are systematically reviewed, and their implications for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) are discussed. METHODS A systematic literature search was performed (August 19, 2019) using Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, the Cochrane Central Register of controlled trials, Google Scholar, and Web of Science, and 102 studies were included. Another 60 were included from the reference list of the published articles. RESULTS As MPA is teratogenic, women who are trying to conceive are strongly recommended to switch from MPA to azathioprine. MPA treatment in men during conception seems to have no adverse effect on pregnancy outcomes. Nevertheless, in 2015, the drug label was updated with additional risk minimization measures in a pregnancy prevention program. Data on MPA pharmacokinetics during pregnancy and lactation are limited. Tac treatment during conception, pregnancy, and lactation seems to be safe in terms of the health of the mother, (unborn) child, and allograft. However, Tac may increase the risk of hypertension, preeclampsia, preterm birth, and low birth weight. Infants will ingest very small amounts of Tac via breast milk from mothers treated with Tac. However, no adverse outcomes have been reported in children exposed to Tac during lactation. During pregnancy, changes in Tac pharmacokinetics result in increased unbound to whole-blood Tac concentration ratio. To maintain Tac concentrations within the target range, increased Tac dose and intensified TDM may be required. However, it is unclear if dose adjustments during pregnancy are necessary, considering the higher concentration of (active) unbound Tac. CONCLUSIONS Tac treatment during conception, pregnancy and lactation seems to be relatively safe. Due to pharmacokinetic changes during pregnancy, a higher Tac dose might be indicated to maintain target concentrations. However, more evidence is needed to make recommendations on both Tac dose adjustments and alternative matrices than whole-blood for TDM of Tac during pregnancy. MPA treatment in men during conception seems to have no adverse effect on pregnancy outcomes, whereas MPA use in women during conception and pregnancy is strongly discouraged.
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Liu Y, Zhang C, Wang S, Hu Y, Jing J, Ye L, Jing R, Ding Z. Dependence of sperm structural and functional integrity on testicular calcineurin isoform PPP3R2 expression. J Mol Cell Biol 2021; 12:515-529. [PMID: 31900494 PMCID: PMC7493031 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjz115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
After leaving the testis, mammalian sperm undergo a sequential maturation process in the epididymis followed by capacitation during their movement through the female reproductive tract. These phenotypic changes are associated with modification of protein phosphorylation and membrane remodeling, which is requisite for sperm to acquire forward motility and induce fertilization. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying sperm maturation and capacitation are still not fully understood. Herein, we show that PPP3R2, a testis-specific regulatory subunit of protein phosphatase 3 (an isoform of calcineurin in the testis), is essential for sperm maturation and capacitation. Knockout of Ppp3r2 in mice leads to male sterility due to sperm motility impairment and morphological defects. One very noteworthy change includes increases in sperm membrane stiffness. Moreover, PPP3R2 regulates sperm maturation and capacitation via (i) modulation of membrane diffusion barrier function at the annulus and (ii) facilitation of cholesterol efflux during sperm capacitation. Taken together, PPP3R2 plays a critical role in modulating cholesterol efflux and mediating the dynamic control of membrane remodeling during sperm maturation and capacitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Liu
- Department of Histology, Embryology, Genetics and Developmental Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Chujun Zhang
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Shiyao Wang
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Yanqin Hu
- Department of Histology, Embryology, Genetics and Developmental Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Jia Jing
- Department of Histology, Embryology, Genetics and Developmental Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Luyao Ye
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Ran Jing
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Zhide Ding
- Department of Histology, Embryology, Genetics and Developmental Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
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Luque GM, Xu X, Romarowski A, Gervasi MG, Orta G, De la Vega-Beltrán JL, Stival C, Gilio N, Dalotto-Moreno T, Krapf D, Visconti PE, Krapf D, Darszon A, Buffone MG. Cdc42 localized in the CatSper signaling complex regulates cAMP-dependent pathways in mouse sperm. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21723. [PMID: 34224609 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202002773rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Sperm acquire the ability to fertilize in a process called capacitation and undergo hyperactivation, a change in the motility pattern, which depends on Ca2+ transport by CatSper channels. CatSper is essential for fertilization and it is subjected to a complex regulation that is not fully understood. Here, we report that similar to CatSper, Cdc42 distribution in the principal piece is confined to four linear domains and this localization is disrupted in CatSper1-null sperm. Cdc42 inhibition impaired CatSper activity and other Ca2+ -dependent downstream events resulting in a severe compromise of the sperm fertilizing potential. We also demonstrate that Cdc42 is essential for CatSper function by modulating cAMP production by soluble adenylate cyclase (sAC), providing a new regulatory mechanism for the stimulation of CatSper by the cAMP-dependent pathway. These results reveal a broad mechanistic insight into the regulation of Ca2+ in mammalian sperm, a matter of critical importance in male infertility as well as in contraception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermina M Luque
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Xinran Xu
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Ana Romarowski
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - María G Gervasi
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Gerardo Orta
- Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Cuernavaca, México
| | | | - Cintia Stival
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (CONICET-UNR), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Nicolás Gilio
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Tomás Dalotto-Moreno
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Dario Krapf
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (CONICET-UNR), Rosario, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Pablo E Visconti
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Diego Krapf
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | - Mariano G Buffone
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Ma J, Han R, Sun B, Lin J, Deng P, Wang S, Sun S. Differentially expressed microRNA in testicular tissues of hyperuricaemia rats. Andrologia 2021; 53:e14184. [PMID: 34255383 DOI: 10.1111/and.14184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
This study is to identify the differentially expressed miRNAs in testicular tissues of rats with hyperuricaemia-induced male infertility. We found that the hyperuricaemia model group had significantly increased serum uric acid, while significantly decreased sperm concentration and motile sperm percentage than normal group (p < .05). A total of 39 differentially expressed miRNAs were identified in the testicular tissues of hyperuricaemia rats compared with the control rats, ten of which were validated by real-time PCR. The target mRNAs of 7 differentially expressed miRNAs (miR-10b-5p, miR-26a-5p, miR-136-5p, miR-151-3p, miR-183-5p, miR-362-3p and miR-509-5p) from 3'-untranslated region binding perspective were enriched in signalling pathways of Wnt, Jak-STAT, mTOR and MAPK. The target mRNAs of 6 differentially expressed miRNAs (miR-136-5p, miR-144-3p, miR-99a-5p, miR-509-5p, miR-451-5p and miR-362-3p) from coding sequence binding perspective were enriched in signalling pathways of Calcium, Notch and MAPK. The functions of miRNAs in testicular tissues of rats with hyperuricaemia were revealed by the differentially expressed miRNAs (miR-183-5p, miR-99a-5p, miR-10b-5p, miR-151-3p, miR-26a-5p, miR-451-5p, miR-362-3p, miR-136-5p, miR-144-3p and miR-509-5p)-mRNAs interaction network. The differentially expressed miRNAs in the testicular tissues of hyperuricaemia rats might shed light on the mechanism of hyperuricaemia-induced male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Ma
- NHC Key Laboratory of Family Planning and Healthy, Hebei Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Hebei Research Institute for Family Planning Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Ruiyu Han
- NHC Key Laboratory of Family Planning and Healthy, Hebei Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Hebei Research Institute for Family Planning Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Bo Sun
- NHC Key Laboratory of Family Planning and Healthy, Hebei Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Hebei Research Institute for Family Planning Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Key Laboratory of Medical Biotechnology of Hebei Province, Cardiovascular Medical Science Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Jiajie Lin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Key Laboratory of Medical Biotechnology of Hebei Province, Cardiovascular Medical Science Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Peipei Deng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Family Planning and Healthy, Hebei Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Hebei Research Institute for Family Planning Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Shusong Wang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Family Planning and Healthy, Hebei Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Hebei Research Institute for Family Planning Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang, China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Key Laboratory of Medical Biotechnology of Hebei Province, Cardiovascular Medical Science Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Shaoguang Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Key Laboratory of Medical Biotechnology of Hebei Province, Cardiovascular Medical Science Center, Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, China
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ARMC12 regulates spatiotemporal mitochondrial dynamics during spermiogenesis and is required for male fertility. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2018355118. [PMID: 33536340 PMCID: PMC8017931 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2018355118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Although formation of the mitochondrial sheath is a critical process in the formation of mature spermatozoa, the molecular mechanisms involved in mitochondrial sheath genesis remain unclear. Using gene-manipulated mice, we discovered that ARMC12 regulates spatiotemporal “sperm mitochondrial dynamics” during mitochondrial sheath formation through interactions with mitochondrial proteins MIC60, VDAC2, and VDAC3 as well as testis-specific proteins TBC1D21 and GK2. In addition, we demonstrated that ARMC12-interacting proteins TBC1D21 and GK2 are also essential for mitochondrial sheath formation. Our paper sheds light on the molecular mechanisms of mitochondrial sheath formation and the regulation of sperm mitochondrial dynamics, allowing us to further understand the biology of spermatogenesis and the etiology of infertility in men. The mammalian sperm midpiece has a unique double-helical structure called the mitochondrial sheath that wraps tightly around the axoneme. Despite the remarkable organization of the mitochondrial sheath, the molecular mechanisms involved in mitochondrial sheath formation are unclear. In the process of screening testis-enriched genes for functions in mice, we identified armadillo repeat-containing 12 (ARMC12) as an essential protein for mitochondrial sheath formation. Here, we engineered Armc12-null mice, FLAG-tagged Armc12 knock-in mice, and TBC1 domain family member 21 (Tbc1d21)-null mice to define the functions of ARMC12 in mitochondrial sheath formation in vivo. We discovered that absence of ARMC12 causes abnormal mitochondrial coiling along the flagellum, resulting in reduced sperm motility and male sterility. During spermiogenesis, sperm mitochondria in Armc12-null mice cannot elongate properly at the mitochondrial interlocking step which disrupts abnormal mitochondrial coiling. ARMC12 is a mitochondrial peripheral membrane protein and functions as an adherence factor between mitochondria in cultured cells. ARMC12 in testicular germ cells interacts with mitochondrial proteins MIC60, VDAC2, and VDAC3 as well as TBC1D21 and GK2, which are required for mitochondrial sheath formation. We also observed that TBC1D21 is essential for the interaction between ARMC12 and VDAC proteins in vivo. These results indicate that ARMC12 uses integral mitochondrial membrane proteins VDAC2 and VDAC3 as scaffolds to link mitochondria and works cooperatively with TBC1D21. Thus, our studies have revealed that ARMC12 regulates spatiotemporal mitochondrial dynamics to form the mitochondrial sheath through cooperative interactions with several proteins on the sperm mitochondrial surface.
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Gòdia M, Casellas J, Ruiz-Herrera A, Rodríguez-Gil JE, Castelló A, Sánchez A, Clop A. Whole genome sequencing identifies allelic ratio distortion in sperm involving genes related to spermatogenesis in a swine model. DNA Res 2021; 27:5906030. [PMID: 32931559 PMCID: PMC7750926 DOI: 10.1093/dnares/dsaa019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmission Ratio Distortion (TRD), the uneven transmission of an allele from a parent to its offspring, can be caused by allelic differences affecting gametogenesis, fertilization or embryogenesis. However, TRD remains vaguely studied at a genomic scale. We sequenced the diploid and haploid genomes of three boars from leukocytes and spermatozoa at 50x to shed light into the genetic basis of spermatogenesis-caused Allelic Ratio Distortion (ARD). We first developed a Binomial model to identify ARD by simultaneously analysing all three males. This led to the identification of 55 ARD SNPs, most of which were animal-specific. We then evaluated ARD individually within each pig by a Fisher’s exact test and identified two shared genes (TOP3A and UNC5B) and four shared genomic regions harbouring distinct ARD SNPs in the three boars. The shared genomic regions contained candidate genes with functions related to spermatogenesis including AK7, ARID4B, BDKRB2, GSK3B, NID1, NSMCE1, PALB2, VRK1 and ZC3H13. Using the Fisher’s test, we also identified 378 genes containing variants with protein damaging potential in at least one boar, a high proportion of which, including FAM120B, TDRD15, JAM2 or AOX4 among others, are associated to spermatogenesis. Overall, our results show that sperm is subjected to ARD with variants associated to a wide variety of genes involved in different stages of spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Gòdia
- Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia 08193, Spain
| | - Joaquim Casellas
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia 08193, Spain
| | - Aurora Ruiz-Herrera
- Departament de Biologia Cel.lular, Fisiologia i Immunologia, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia 08193, Spain.,Genome Integrity and Instability Group, Institut de Biotecnologia i Biomedicina (IBB), Autonomous University of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia 08193, Spain
| | - Joan E Rodríguez-Gil
- Unit of Animal Reproduction, Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia 08193, Spain
| | - Anna Castelló
- Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia 08193, Spain.,Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia 08193, Spain
| | - Armand Sánchez
- Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia 08193, Spain.,Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia 08193, Spain
| | - Alex Clop
- Center for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG) CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB, Cerdanyola del Vallès, Catalonia 08193, Spain.,Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Barcelona, Catalonia 08003, Spain
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Manfrevola F, Guillou F, Fasano S, Pierantoni R, Chianese R. LINCking the Nuclear Envelope to Sperm Architecture. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12050658. [PMID: 33925685 PMCID: PMC8145172 DOI: 10.3390/genes12050658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear architecture undergoes an extensive remodeling during spermatogenesis, especially at levels of spermatocytes (SPC) and spermatids (SPT). Interestingly, typical events of spermiogenesis, such as nuclear elongation, acrosome biogenesis, and flagellum formation, need a functional cooperation between proteins of the nuclear envelope and acroplaxome/manchette structures. In addition, nuclear envelope plays a key role in chromosome distribution. In this scenario, special attention has been focused on the LINC (linker of nucleoskeleton and cytoskeleton) complex, a nuclear envelope-bridge structure involved in the connection of the nucleoskeleton to the cytoskeleton, governing mechanotransduction. It includes two integral proteins: KASH- and SUN-domain proteins, on the outer (ONM) and inner (INM) nuclear membrane, respectively. The LINC complex is involved in several functions fundamental to the correct development of sperm cells such as head formation and head to tail connection, and, therefore, it seems to be important in determining male fertility. This review provides a global overview of the main LINC complex components, with a special attention to their subcellular localization in sperm cells, their roles in the regulation of sperm morphological maturation, and, lastly, LINC complex alterations associated to male infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Manfrevola
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi della Campania L. Vanvitelli, Via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Napoli, Italy; (F.M.); (S.F.); (R.P.)
| | - Florian Guillou
- PRC, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, University of Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France;
| | - Silvia Fasano
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi della Campania L. Vanvitelli, Via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Napoli, Italy; (F.M.); (S.F.); (R.P.)
| | - Riccardo Pierantoni
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi della Campania L. Vanvitelli, Via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Napoli, Italy; (F.M.); (S.F.); (R.P.)
| | - Rosanna Chianese
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Università degli Studi della Campania L. Vanvitelli, Via Costantinopoli 16, 80138 Napoli, Italy; (F.M.); (S.F.); (R.P.)
- Correspondence:
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47
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Leung MR, Roelofs MC, Ravi RT, Maitan P, Henning H, Zhang M, Bromfield EG, Howes SC, Gadella BM, Bloomfield‐Gadêlha H, Zeev‐Ben‐Mordehai T. The multi-scale architecture of mammalian sperm flagella and implications for ciliary motility. EMBO J 2021; 40:e107410. [PMID: 33694216 PMCID: PMC8013824 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2020107410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Motile cilia are molecular machines used by a myriad of eukaryotic cells to swim through fluid environments. However, available molecular structures represent only a handful of cell types, limiting our understanding of how cilia are modified to support motility in diverse media. Here, we use cryo-focused ion beam milling-enabled cryo-electron tomography to image sperm flagella from three mammalian species. We resolve in-cell structures of centrioles, axonemal doublets, central pair apparatus, and endpiece singlets, revealing novel protofilament-bridging microtubule inner proteins throughout the flagellum. We present native structures of the flagellar base, which is crucial for shaping the flagellar beat. We show that outer dense fibers are directly coupled to microtubule doublets in the principal piece but not in the midpiece. Thus, mammalian sperm flagella are ornamented across scales, from protofilament-bracing structures reinforcing microtubules at the nano-scale to accessory structures that impose micron-scale asymmetries on the entire assembly. Our structures provide vital foundations for linking molecular structure to ciliary motility and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Ricardo Leung
- Cryo‐Electron MicroscopyBijvoet Center for Biomolecular ResearchUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
- The Division of Structural BiologyWellcome Centre for Human GeneticsThe University of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Marc C Roelofs
- Cryo‐Electron MicroscopyBijvoet Center for Biomolecular ResearchUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Ravi Teja Ravi
- Cryo‐Electron MicroscopyBijvoet Center for Biomolecular ResearchUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Paula Maitan
- Department of Equine SciencesFaculty of Veterinary MedicineUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
- Veterinary DepartmentUniversidade Federal de ViçosaViçosaBrazil
| | - Heiko Henning
- Department of Equine SciencesFaculty of Veterinary MedicineUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Farm & Animal Health and Biomolecular Health SciencesFaculty of Veterinary MedicineUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Elizabeth G Bromfield
- Department of Farm & Animal Health and Biomolecular Health SciencesFaculty of Veterinary MedicineUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
- Priority Research Centre for Reproductive ScienceFaculty of ScienceThe University of NewcastleCallaghanNSWAustralia
| | - Stuart C Howes
- Cryo‐Electron MicroscopyBijvoet Center for Biomolecular ResearchUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | - Bart M Gadella
- Department of Farm & Animal Health and Biomolecular Health SciencesFaculty of Veterinary MedicineUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
| | | | - Tzviya Zeev‐Ben‐Mordehai
- Cryo‐Electron MicroscopyBijvoet Center for Biomolecular ResearchUtrecht UniversityUtrechtThe Netherlands
- The Division of Structural BiologyWellcome Centre for Human GeneticsThe University of OxfordOxfordUK
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Lavoie-Ouellet C, Clark MÈ, Ruiz J, Saindon AA, Leclerc P. The protein phosphatase with EF-hand domain 1 is a calmodulin-binding protein that interacts with proteins involved in sperm capacitation, binding to the zona pellucida, and motility. Mol Reprod Dev 2021; 88:302-317. [PMID: 33783058 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Spermatozoa are highly specialized cells whose fertilizing and motility functions highly depend on intracellular Ca2+ -mediated events and protein posttranslational modifications like phosphorylation. Our group previously identified PPEF1, the Ser/Thr phosphatase with EF-hand domain 1, among calmodulin-affinity pulled down sperm proteins. As the mammalian ortholog of the Drosophila phosphatase rdgC that dephosphorylates rhodopsin, PPEF1 has been studied mostly in the retina. The presence and importance of this Ca2+ /calmodulin-binding protein phosphatase has not been studied in sperm or testicular functions despite its high expression level. In this study, we show that PPEF1 is present in testicular germ cells, and in mouse, human and bull spermatozoa where it is localized predominantly in the neck and acrosome areas. Different transcript variants encoding four predicted isoforms were detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction in bull testis, spermatocytes and spermatids. Phosphatase activity of immunoprecipitated sperm PPEF1 was detected using the substrate pNPP and analysis of the coimmunoprecipitated proteins reveal an enrichment in the biological processes of sperm capacitation, binding to the zona pellucida and motility. Although this is the first demonstration of the presence of PPEF1 in sperm and testicular germ cells, its involvement in sperm fertilizing ability and motility, and the mechanisms regulating its activity remain to be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Lavoie-Ouellet
- Département d'Obstétrique, gynécologie et reproduction, Centre de recherche en reproduction, développement et santé intergénérationnelle, Université Laval, Axe reproduction, santé de la mère et de l'enfant, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Marie-Ève Clark
- Département d'Obstétrique, gynécologie et reproduction, Centre de recherche en reproduction, développement et santé intergénérationnelle, Université Laval, Axe reproduction, santé de la mère et de l'enfant, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Juliana Ruiz
- Département d'Obstétrique, gynécologie et reproduction, Centre de recherche en reproduction, développement et santé intergénérationnelle, Université Laval, Axe reproduction, santé de la mère et de l'enfant, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Andrée-Anne Saindon
- Département d'Obstétrique, gynécologie et reproduction, Centre de recherche en reproduction, développement et santé intergénérationnelle, Université Laval, Axe reproduction, santé de la mère et de l'enfant, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
| | - Pierre Leclerc
- Département d'Obstétrique, gynécologie et reproduction, Centre de recherche en reproduction, développement et santé intergénérationnelle, Université Laval, Axe reproduction, santé de la mère et de l'enfant, Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec City, Québec, Canada
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Kitamura N, Kaminuma O. Isoform-Selective NFAT Inhibitor: Potential Usefulness and Development. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:2725. [PMID: 33800389 PMCID: PMC7962815 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT), which is the pharmacological target of immunosuppressants cyclosporine and tacrolimus, has been shown to play an important role not only in T cells (immune system), from which their name is derived, but also in many biological events. Therefore, functional and/or structural abnormalities of NFAT are linked to the pathogenesis of diseases in various organs. The NFAT protein family consists of five isoforms, and each isoform performs diverse functions and has unique expression patterns in the target tissues. This diversity has made it difficult to obtain ideal pharmacological output for immunosuppressants that inhibit the activity of almost all NFAT family members, causing serious and wide-ranging side effects. Moreover, it remains unclear whether isoform-selective NFAT regulation can be achieved by targeting the structural differences among NFAT isoforms and whether this strategy can lead to the development of better drugs than the existing ones. This review summarizes the role of the NFAT family members in biological events, including the development of various diseases, as well as the usefulness of and problems associated with NFAT-targeting therapies, including those dependent on current immunosuppressants. Finally, we propose a novel therapeutic strategy based on the molecular mechanisms that enable selective regulation of specific NFAT isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noriko Kitamura
- Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan;
| | - Osamu Kaminuma
- Laboratory of Allergy and Immunology, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo 156-8506, Japan;
- Department of Disease Model, Research Institute of Radiation Biology and Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima 734-8553, Japan
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Bai Y, Li J, Zhu H, Liu J, Dong S, Li L, Qu L, Chen H, Song X, Lan X. Deletion mutation within the goat PPP3CA gene identified by GWAS significantly affects litter size. Reprod Fertil Dev 2021; 33:476-483. [PMID: 33883061 DOI: 10.1071/rd20337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The protein phosphatase 3 catalytic subunit α (PPP3CA) gene is a high reproduction traits candidate gene for goats as revealed by a genome-wide association study. The aim of this work was to explore the genetic variations of the goat PPP3CA as well as to evaluate the genetic effects on litter size. Three novel insertions/deletions (indels) within the goat PPP3CA were found and their minor allelic frequencies (MAF) were 0.105, 0.066, and 0.042, respectively. The results showed that only the 20bp indel polymorphism was significantly associated with litter size in Shaanbei white cashmere goats (P<0.05) and individuals with deletion/deletion (DD) genotypes demonstrated the junior phenotypes when compared with those with other genotypes. These findings suggested that the 20bp indel is a potential DNA marker for selecting superior individuals in marker-assisted selection for breeding concerning fecundity in goats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Bai
- Laboratory of Animal Genome and Gene Function, College of Animal Science and Technology; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, Northwest A&F University, Yangling Shaanxi 712100, China; and Shaanxi Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center of Cashmere Goats, Yulin University, Yulin Shaanxi 719000, China; and Life Science Research Center, Yulin University, Yulin Shaanxi 719000, China
| | - Jie Li
- Laboratory of Animal Genome and Gene Function, College of Animal Science and Technology; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, Northwest A&F University, Yangling Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Haijing Zhu
- Shaanxi Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center of Cashmere Goats, Yulin University, Yulin Shaanxi 719000, China; and Life Science Research Center, Yulin University, Yulin Shaanxi 719000, China; and Shaanxi Province 'Four Subjects One Union' Sheep and Goat Engineering & Technology University & Enterprise Alliance Research Center, Yulin, Shaanxi 719000, PR China; and Shaanxi Haoli cashmere goat Technology Development Co., Ltd, Yulin, Shaanxi, PR China, 719000
| | - Jinwang Liu
- Shaanxi Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center of Cashmere Goats, Yulin University, Yulin Shaanxi 719000, China; and Life Science Research Center, Yulin University, Yulin Shaanxi 719000, China; and Shaanxi Province 'Four Subjects One Union' Sheep and Goat Engineering & Technology University & Enterprise Alliance Research Center, Yulin, Shaanxi 719000, PR China
| | - Shuwei Dong
- Shaanxi Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center of Cashmere Goats, Yulin University, Yulin Shaanxi 719000, China; and Life Science Research Center, Yulin University, Yulin Shaanxi 719000, China; and Shaanxi Province 'Four Subjects One Union' Sheep and Goat Engineering & Technology University & Enterprise Alliance Research Center, Yulin, Shaanxi 719000, PR China
| | - Longping Li
- Shaanxi Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center of Cashmere Goats, Yulin University, Yulin Shaanxi 719000, China; and Life Science Research Center, Yulin University, Yulin Shaanxi 719000, China; and Shaanxi Province 'Four Subjects One Union' Sheep and Goat Engineering & Technology University & Enterprise Alliance Research Center, Yulin, Shaanxi 719000, PR China
| | - Lei Qu
- Shaanxi Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center of Cashmere Goats, Yulin University, Yulin Shaanxi 719000, China; and Life Science Research Center, Yulin University, Yulin Shaanxi 719000, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Laboratory of Animal Genome and Gene Function, College of Animal Science and Technology; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, Northwest A&F University, Yangling Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Xiaoyue Song
- Shaanxi Provincial Engineering and Technology Research Center of Cashmere Goats, Yulin University, Yulin Shaanxi 719000, China; and Life Science Research Center, Yulin University, Yulin Shaanxi 719000, China; and Shaanxi Province 'Four Subjects One Union' Sheep and Goat Engineering & Technology University & Enterprise Alliance Research Center, Yulin, Shaanxi 719000, PR China
| | - Xianyong Lan
- Laboratory of Animal Genome and Gene Function, College of Animal Science and Technology; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Shaanxi Province, Northwest A&F University, Yangling Shaanxi 712100, China; and Corresponding author.
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