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Morabbi A, Karimian M. Trace and essential elements as vital components to improve the performance of the male reproductive system: Implications in cell signaling pathways. J Trace Elem Med Biol 2024; 83:127403. [PMID: 38340548 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtemb.2024.127403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Successful male fertilization requires the main processes such as normal spermatogenesis, sperm capacitation, hyperactivation, and acrosome reaction. The progress of these processes depends on some endogenous and exogenous factors. So, the optimal level of ions and essential and rare elements such as selenium, zinc, copper, iron, manganese, calcium, and so on in various types of cells of the reproductive system could affect conception and male fertility rates. The function of trace elements in the male reproductive system could be exerted through some cellular and molecular processes, such as the management of active oxygen species, involvement in the action of membrane channels, regulation of enzyme activity, regulation of gene expression and hormone levels, and modulation of signaling cascades. In this review, we aim to summarize the available evidence on the role of trace elements in improving male reproductive performance. Also, special attention is paid to the cellular aspects and the involved molecular signaling cascades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Morabbi
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
| | - Mohammad Karimian
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran.
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2
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Liu P, Shi J, Sheng D, Lu W, Guo J, Gao L, Wang X, Wu S, Feng Y, Dong D, Huang X, Tang H. Mitopherogenesis, a form of mitochondria-specific ectocytosis, regulates sperm mitochondrial quantity and fertility. Nat Cell Biol 2023; 25:1625-1636. [PMID: 37945830 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-023-01264-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondrial export into the extracellular space is emerging as a fundamental cellular process implicated in diverse physiological activities. Although a few studies have shed light on the process of discarding damaged mitochondria, how mitochondria are exported and the functions of mitochondrial release remain largely unclear. Here we describe mitopherogenesis, a formerly unknown process that specifically secretes mitochondria through a unique extracellular vesicle termed a 'mitopher'. We observed that during sperm development in male Caenorhabditis elegans, healthy mitochondria are exported out of the spermatids through mitopherogenesis and each of the generated mitophers harbours only one mitochondrion. In mitopherogenesis, the plasma membrane first forms mitochondrion-embedding outward buds, which then promptly bud off and thereby result in the generation of mitophers. Mechanistically, extracellular protease signalling in the testis triggers mitopher formation from spermatids, which is partially mediated by the tyrosine kinase SPE-8. Moreover, mitopherogenesis requires normal microfilament dynamics, whereas myosin VI antagonizes mitopher generation. Strikingly, our three-dimensional electron microscopy analyses indicate that mitochondrial quantity requires precise modulation during sperm development, which is critically mediated by mitopherogenesis. Inhibition of mitopherogenesis causes accumulation of mitochondria in sperm, which may lead to sperm motility and fertility defects. Our findings identify mitopherogenesis as a previously undescribed process for mitochondria-specific ectocytosis, which may represent a fundamental branch of mechanisms underlying mitochondrial quantity control to regulate cell functions during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Liu
- Key Laboratory of Growth Regulation and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jing Shi
- Key Laboratory of Growth Regulation and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Danli Sheng
- Key Laboratory of Growth Regulation and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenqing Lu
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Peking University, Beijing, China
- International Cancer Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Guo
- Key Laboratory of Growth Regulation and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lei Gao
- Key Laboratory of Growth Regulation and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoqing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Growth Regulation and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shaofeng Wu
- Key Laboratory of Growth Regulation and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yanwen Feng
- Key Laboratory of Growth Regulation and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dashan Dong
- State Key Laboratory for Mesoscopic Physics and Frontiers Science Center for Nano-optoelectronics, School of Physics, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoshuai Huang
- Biomedical Engineering Department, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- International Cancer Institute, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| | - Hongyun Tang
- Key Laboratory of Growth Regulation and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, China.
- Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, China.
- Institute of Biology, Westlake Institute for Advanced Study, Hangzhou, China.
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3
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Yang B, Yang Z, Cheng L, Li Y, Zhou T, Han Y, Du H, Xu A. Effects of 10 T static magnetic field on the function of sperms and their offspring in Caenorhabditis elegans. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 240:113671. [PMID: 35653972 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
With the wide application of static magnetic fields (SMFs), the risk of living organisms exposed to man-made magnetic fields that the intensity is much higher than geomagnetic field has gradually increased. Reproductive system is highly sensitive to environmental stress; however, the influence of high SMFs on reproduction system is still largely unknown. Here we explored the biological responses of SMFs exposure at an intensity of 10 T on the sperms and their offspring in him-5 male mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). The size of unactivated sperms was deceased by 10 T SMF exposure, instead of the morphology. Exposure to 10 T SMF significantly altered the function of sperms in him-5 worms including the activation of sperms and the non-transferred ratio of sperms. In addition, the brood size assay revealed that 10 T SMF exposure eventually diminished the reproductive capacity of him-5 male worms. The lifespan of outcrossed offspring from exposed him-5 male mutants and unexposed fog-2 female mutants was decreased by 10 T SMF in a time dependent manner. Together, our findings provide novel information regarding the adverse effects of high SMFs on the sperms of C. elegans and their offspring, which can improve our understanding of the fundamental aspects of high SMFs on biological system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baolin Yang
- School of Environmental Science and Optoelectronic Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, CAS, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China
| | - Zhen Yang
- Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, CAS, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China
| | - Lei Cheng
- School of Environmental Science and Optoelectronic Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, CAS, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China
| | - Yang Li
- School of Environmental Science and Optoelectronic Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, CAS, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China
| | - Tong Zhou
- Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, CAS, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China
| | - Yuyan Han
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Condensed Matter Physics at Extreme Conditions, High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, Anhui, China
| | - Hua Du
- Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, CAS, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China.
| | - An Xu
- School of Environmental Science and Optoelectronic Technology, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China; Key Laboratory of High Magnetic Field and Ion Beam Physical Biology, CAS, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution Control Technology, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, CAS, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China.
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4
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Tan CH, Kornfeld K. Zinc is an intracellular signal during sperm activation in Caenorhabditis elegans. Development 2021; 148:273336. [PMID: 34739028 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Sperm activation is a rapid and dramatic cell differentiation event that does not involve changes in transcription, and the signaling cascades that mediate this process have not been fully defined. zipt-7.1 encodes a zinc transporter, and zipt-7.1(lf) mutants display sperm-activation defects, leading to the hypothesis that zinc signaling mediates sperm activation in Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we describe the development of a method for dynamic imaging of labile zinc during sperm activation using the zinc-specific fluorescence probe FluoZin-3 AM and time-lapse confocal imaging. Two phases of dynamic changes in labile zinc levels were observed during sperm activation. Forced zinc entry using the zinc ionophore pyrithione activated sperm in vitro, and it suppressed the defects of zipt-7.1(lf) mutants, indicating that high levels of cytosolic zinc are sufficient for sperm activation. We compared activation by zinc pyrithione to activation by extracellular zinc, the Na+/H+ antiporter monensin and the protease cocktail pronase in multiple mutant backgrounds. These results indicate that the protease pathway does not require zinc signaling, suggesting that zinc signaling is sufficient to activate sperm but is not always necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chieh-Hsiang Tan
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Kerry Kornfeld
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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5
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Peterson JJ, Tocheny CE, Prajapati G, LaMunyon CW, Shakes DC. Subcellular patterns of SPE-6 localization reveal unexpected complexities in Caenorhabditis elegans sperm activation and sperm function. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2021; 11:jkab288. [PMID: 34849789 PMCID: PMC8527485 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
To acquire and maintain directed cell motility, Caenorhabditis elegans sperm must undergo extensive, regulated cellular remodeling, in the absence of new transcription or translation. To regulate sperm function, nematode sperm employ large numbers of protein kinases and phosphatases, including SPE-6, a member of C. elegans' highly expanded casein kinase 1 superfamily. SPE-6 functions during multiple steps of spermatogenesis, including functioning as a "brake" to prevent premature sperm activation in the absence of normal extracellular signals. Here, we describe the subcellular localization patterns of SPE-6 during wild-type C. elegans sperm development and in various sperm activation mutants. While other members of the sperm activation pathway associate with the plasma membrane or localize to the sperm's membranous organelles, SPE-6 surrounds the chromatin mass of unactivated sperm. During sperm activation by either of two semiautonomous signaling pathways, SPE-6 redistributes to the front, central region of the sperm's pseudopod. When disrupted by reduction-of-function alleles, SPE-6 protein is either diminished in a temperature-sensitive manner (hc187) or is mislocalized in a stage-specific manner (hc163). During the multistep process of sperm activation, SPE-6 is released from its perinuclear location after the spike stage in a process that does not require the fusion of membranous organelles with the plasma membrane. After activation, spermatozoa exhibit variable proportions of perinuclear and pseudopod-localized SPE-6, depending on their location within the female reproductive tract. These findings provide new insights regarding SPE-6's role in sperm activation and suggest that extracellular signals during sperm migration may further modulate SPE-6 localization and function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Claire E Tocheny
- Department of Biology, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA
| | - Gaurav Prajapati
- Department of Biological Science, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA 91768, USA
| | - Craig W LaMunyon
- Department of Biological Science, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, CA 91768, USA
| | - Diane C Shakes
- Department of Biology, William & Mary, Williamsburg, VA 23187, USA
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6
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Clark JN, Prajapati G, Aldaco FK, Sokolich TJ, Keung SS, Austin SP, Valdés ÁA, LaMunyon CW. Functionally non-redundant paralogs spe-47 and spe-50 encode FB-MO associated proteins and interact with him-8. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0230939. [PMID: 33382704 PMCID: PMC7774929 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0230939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The activation of C. elegans spermatids to crawling spermatozoa is affected by a number of genes including spe-47. Here, we investigate a paralog to spe-47: spe-50, which has a highly conserved sequence and expression, but which is not functionally redundant to spe-47. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the duplication event that produced the paralogs occurred prior to the radiation of the Caenorhabditis species included in the analysis, allowing a long period for the paralogs to diverge in function. Furthermore, we observed that knockout mutations in both genes, either alone or together, have little effect on sperm function. However, hermaphrodites harboring both knockout mutations combined with a third mutation in the him-8 gene are nearly self-sterile due to a sperm defect, even though they have numerous apparently normal sperm within their spermathecae. We suggest that the sperm in these triple mutants are defective in fusing with oocytes, and that the effect of the him-8 mutation is unclear but likely due to its direct or indirect effect on local chromatin structure and function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica N. Clark
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, California, United States of America
| | - Gaurav Prajapati
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, California, United States of America
| | - Fermina K. Aldaco
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, California, United States of America
| | - Thomas J. Sokolich
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, California, United States of America
| | - Steven S. Keung
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, California, United States of America
| | - Sarojani P. Austin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, California, United States of America
| | - Ángel A. Valdés
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, California, United States of America
| | - Craig W. LaMunyon
- Department of Biological Sciences, Cal Poly Pomona, Pomona, California, United States of America
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7
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The Role of Zinc in Male Fertility. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21207796. [PMID: 33096823 PMCID: PMC7589359 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Several studies proposed the importance of zinc ion in male fertility. Here, we describe the properties, roles and cellular mechanisms of action of Zn2+ in spermatozoa, focusing on its involvement in sperm motility, capacitation and acrosomal exocytosis, three functions that are crucial for successful fertilization. The impact of zinc supplementation on assisted fertilization techniques is also described. The impact of zinc on sperm motility has been investigated in many vertebrate and invertebrate species. It has been reported that Zn2+ in human seminal plasma decreases sperm motility and that Zn2+ removal enhances motility. Reduction in the intracellular concentration of Zn2+ during epididymal transit allows the development of progressive motility and the subsequent hyper activated motility during sperm capacitation. Extracellular Zn2+ affects intracellular signaling pathways through its interaction with the Zn2+ sensing receptor (ZnR), also named GPR39. This receptor was found in the sperm tail and the acrosome, suggesting the possible involvement of Zn2+ in sperm motility and acrosomal exocytosis. Our studies showed that Zn2+ stimulates bovine sperm acrosomal exocytosis, as well as human sperm hyper-activated motility, were both mediated by GPR39. Zn2+ binds and activates GPR39, which activates the trans-membrane-adenylyl-cyclase (tmAC) to catalyze cAMP production. The NHE (Na+/H+-exchanger) is activated by cAMP, leading in increased pHi and activation of the sperm-specific Ca2+ channel CatSper, resulting in an increase in [Ca2+]i, which, together with HCO3−, activates the soluble adenylyl-cyclase (sAC). The increase in [cAMP]i activates protein kinase A (PKA), followed by activation of the Src-epidermal growth factor receptor-Pphospholipase C (Src-EGFR-PLC) cascade, resulting in inositol-triphosphate (IP3) production, which mobilizes Ca2+ from the acrosome, causing a further increase in [Ca2+]i and the development of hyper-activated motility. PKA also activates phospholipase D1 (PLD1), leading to F-actin formation during capacitation. Prior to the acrosomal exocytosis, PLC induces phosphadidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) hydrolysis, leading to the release of the actin-severing protein gelsolin to the cytosol, which is activated by Ca2+, resulting in F-actin breakdown and the occurrence of acrosomal exocytosis.
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8
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Chou W, Lin Y, Lee Y. Short-term starvation stress at young adult stages enhances meiotic activity of germ cells to maintain spermatogenesis in aged male Caenorhabditis elegans. Aging Cell 2019; 18:e12930. [PMID: 30816005 PMCID: PMC6516166 DOI: 10.1111/acel.12930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Revised: 01/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
To survive and reproduce, living organisms must evolve numerous mechanisms to re‐adjust their physiology when encountering adverse conditions that subject them to severe stress. We found that short‐term starvation (STS) stress in young adult male Caenorhabditis elegans can significantly improve their vitality (relative to nonstressed males) when they are aged. In addition, we found that stress‐treated aged males maintained reproductive activity equivalent to young males, whereas nonstressed aged males quickly lost reproductive ability. STS stress can preserve sperm number and quality in aged male worms. Spermatogenesis involves germ cell mitosis and meiosis. We found that germ cell meiotic activity is more sensitive to aging than mitotic activity and is declining rapidly with age. We examined the role of numerous factors important for spermatogenesis on STS‐preserved spermatogenesis during aging. Our results show that mutant strains deficient in anaphase‐promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) function fail to exhibit the STS stress‐enhanced spermatogenesis found in wild‐type N2 worms, suggesting that the mechanism underlying starvation‐induced spermatogenesis involves the APC/C complex, a conserved ubiquitin‐protein ligase E3 complex. Furthermore, transgenic expression of FZY‐1/CDC‐20, a coactivator of APC/C, ameliorated the age‐associated decline of meiosis, similar to the hormetic effect of STS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan‐Yi Chou
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Molecular Biology Academia Sinica Taipei Taiwan
| | - Yu‐Chun Lin
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Molecular Biology Academia Sinica Taipei Taiwan
| | - Ying‐Hue Lee
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Institute of Molecular Biology Academia Sinica Taipei Taiwan
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9
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Tajima T, Ogawa F, Nakamura S, Hashimoto M, Omote M, Nishimura H. Proteinase K is an activator for the male-dependent spermiogenesis pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans: Its application to pharmacological dissection of spermiogenesis. Genes Cells 2019; 24:244-258. [PMID: 30656805 DOI: 10.1111/gtc.12670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2018] [Revised: 12/22/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Caenorhabditis elegans spermiogenesis involves spermatid activation into spermatozoa. Activation occurs through either SPE-8 class-dependent or class-independent pathways. Pronase (Pron) activates the SPE-8 class-dependent pathway, whereas no in vitro tools are available to stimulate the SPE-8 class-independent pathway. Thus, whether there is a functional relationship between these two pathways is currently unclear. In this study, we found that proteinase K (ProK) can activate the SPE-8 class-independent pathway. In vitro spermiogenesis assays using Pron and ProK suggested that SPE-8 class proteins act in the hermaphrodite- and male-dependent spermiogenesis pathways and that some spermatid proteins presumably working downstream of spermiogenesis pathways, including MAP kinases, are preferentially involved in the SPE-8 class-dependent pathway. We screened a library of chemicals, and a compound that we named DDI-1 inhibited both Pron- and ProK-induced spermiogenesis. To our surprise, several DDI-1 analogues that are structurally similar to DDI-1 blocked Pron, but not ProK, induced spermiogenesis. Although the mechanism by which DDI-1 blocks spermiogenesis is yet unknown, we have begun to address this issue by selecting two DDI-1-resistant mutants. Collectively, our data support a model in which C. elegans male and hermaphrodite spermiogenesis each has its own distinct, parallel pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuya Tajima
- Department of Life Science, Setsunan University, Neyagawa, Osaka, Japan
| | - Futa Ogawa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shogo Nakamura
- Department of Life Science, Setsunan University, Neyagawa, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masaharu Hashimoto
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masaaki Omote
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Setsunan University, Hirakata, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Nishimura
- Department of Life Science, Setsunan University, Neyagawa, Osaka, Japan
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10
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Abstract
Zinc is an essential mineral, but our understanding of its uses in the body is limited. Capitalizing on approaches available in the model system Caenorhabditis elegans, Zhao and colleagues show that zinc transduces a signal that induces sperm to become motile. This is an enigmatic process because sperm in all sexually-reproducing animals are transcriptionally inactive. Zinc levels inside sperm are regulated by an evolutionarily conserved zinc transporter called Zrt- and Irt-like Protein Transporter 7.1 (ZIPT-7.1). This zinc transporter localizes to intracellular organelles, suggesting that it primarily controls zinc levels by releasing zinc into the cytoplasm from internal stores rather than importing it from the external environment. The zinc released within cells acts as a messenger in a signaling pathway to promote mobility acquisition. These studies reveal an important role for zinc as an intracellular second messenger that generates physiological changes vital for sperm motility and fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana S. Chu
- Department of Biology, San Francisco State University, San Francisco, California, United States of America
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11
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Wilson LD, Obakpolor OA, Jones AM, Richie AL, Mieczkowski BD, Fall GT, Hall RW, Rumbley JN, Kroft TL. The Caenorhabditis elegans spe-49 gene is required for fertilization and encodes a sperm-specific transmembrane protein homologous to SPE-42. Mol Reprod Dev 2018; 85:563-578. [PMID: 29693775 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Fertilization, the fusion of sperm and oocyte to form a zygote, is the first and arguably the most important cell-cell interaction event in an organism's life. Forward and reverse genetic approaches in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans have identified many genes that are required for gametogenesis and fertilization and thus are beginning to elucidate the molecular pathways that underlie these processes. We identified an allele of the spe-49 gene in a second filial generation (F2 ) mutagenesis screen for spermatogenesis-defective (spe) mutants. Mutant worms for spe-49 produce sperm that have normal morphology, activate to form ameboid spermatozoa, and can migrate to and maintain their position in the hermaphrodite reproductive tract but fail to fertilize oocytes. This phenotype puts spe-49 in the spe-9 class of late-acting genes that function in sperm at the time of fertilization. We cloned the spe-49 gene through a combination of deficiency mapping, transgenic rescue, and genomic sequencing. spe-49 messenger RNA (mRNA) is enriched in male germ cells, and the complementary DNA (cDNA) encodes a predicted 772-amino-acid six-pass transmembrane protein that is homologous to SPE-42. Indeed, SPE-49 and SPE-42 have identical predicted membrane topology and domain structure, including a large extracellular domain with six conserved cysteine residues, a DC-STAMP domain, and a C-terminal cytoplasmic domain containing a C4-C4 RING finger motif. The presence of two SPE-42 homologs in animal genomes from worms to humans suggests that these proteins are highly conserved components of the molecular apparatus required for the sperm-oocyte recognition, binding, and fusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke D Wilson
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Omoyemwen A Obakpolor
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Auburn University at Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama
| | - Autumn M Jones
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Auburn University at Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama
| | | | | | - Gabriel T Fall
- Reagent Quality Control, Division of Diagnostics, Beckman Coulter, Chaska, Minnesota
| | - Rosine W Hall
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Auburn University at Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama
| | - Jon N Rumbley
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Tim L Kroft
- Department of Biology, College of Sciences, Auburn University at Montgomery, Montgomery, Alabama
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12
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Studies on reproductive stress caused by candidate Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria using model organism, Caenorhabditis elegans. Gene 2018; 649:113-126. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.01.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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13
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Krauchunas AR, Mendez E, Ni JZ, Druzhinina M, Mulia A, Parry J, Gu SG, Stanfield GM, Singson A. spe-43 is required for sperm activation in C. elegans. Dev Biol 2018; 436:75-83. [PMID: 29477340 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Revised: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Successful fertilization requires that sperm are activated prior to contacting an oocyte. In C. elegans, this activation process, called spermiogenesis, transforms round immobile spermatids into motile, fertilization-competent spermatozoa. We describe the phenotypic and genetic characterization of spe-43, a new component of the spe-8 pathway, which is required for spermiogenesis in hermaphrodites; spe-43 hermaphrodites are self-sterile, while spe-43 males show wild-type fertility. When exposed to Pronase to activate sperm in vitro, spe-43 spermatids form long rigid spikes radiating outward from the cell periphery instead of forming a motile pseudopod, indicating that spermiogenesis initiates but is not completed. Using a combination of recombinant and deletion mapping and whole genome sequencing, we identified F09E8.1 as spe-43. SPE-43 is predicted to exist in two isoforms; one isoform appears to be a single-pass transmembrane protein while the other is predicted to be a secreted protein. SPE-43 can bind to other known sperm proteins, including SPE-4 and SPE-29, which are known to impact spermiogenesis. In summary, we have identified a membrane protein that is present in C. elegans sperm and is required for sperm activation via the hermaphrodite activation signal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber R Krauchunas
- Waksman Institute of Microbiology and Department of Genetics, 190 Frelinghuysen Road, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
| | - Ernesto Mendez
- Waksman Institute of Microbiology and Department of Genetics, 190 Frelinghuysen Road, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Julie Zhouli Ni
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Marina Druzhinina
- Waksman Institute of Microbiology and Department of Genetics, 190 Frelinghuysen Road, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Amanda Mulia
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Jean Parry
- Waksman Institute of Microbiology and Department of Genetics, 190 Frelinghuysen Road, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Sam Guoping Gu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | | | - Andrew Singson
- Waksman Institute of Microbiology and Department of Genetics, 190 Frelinghuysen Road, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
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14
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Xu J, Jiang Y, Wan L, Wang Q, Huang Z, Liu Y, Wu Y, Chen Z, Liu X. Feeding recombinant E. coli with GST-mBmKTX fusion protein increases the fecundity and lifespan of Caenorhabditis elegans. Peptides 2017; 89:1-8. [PMID: 28088444 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2017.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2016] [Revised: 01/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Scorpion venom could be a useful treatment for a variety of diseases, such as cancer, epilepsy and analgesia. BmKTX is a polypeptide extracts from scorpion venom (PESV), which have attracted much attention from researchers in recent years. mBmKTX is a mutant polypeptide according to the amino acid sequence of BmKTX. We expressed it with the vector pGEX-4T-1 in Escherichia coli, and Caenorhabditis elegans were used as the animal model and fed with the strains. In this study, the expression of pGEX-mBmKTX was analyzed by SDS-PAGE, and GST-mBmKTX purified from pGEX-mBmKTX as a glutathione S-transferase (GST)-tagged fusion protein is approximately 30kDa. The secondary structure prediction shows that mBmKTX is mainly composed of approximately 13% β-sheet and 86% loop. A food clearance assay and brood size assay indicated that the worms fed pGEX-mBmKTX ate more and had greater fecundity than those fed the empty vector. A lifespan analysis demonstrated that mBmKTX could significantly prolong the lifespan of C. elegans, with an increase of 22.5% compared with the control. Behavioral assays confirmed that mBmKTX had no influence on the locomotion of C. elegans. In addition, microarray analysis and quantitative real-time PCR demonstrated that there are 320 differentially expressed genes, 182 of which are related to reproduction, growth and lifespan. In conclusion, the data suggested that mBmKTX has potential utility for increasing fecundity and animal survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Xu
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yajie Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Lu Wan
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Zebo Huang
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Biotechnology Drug Candidates, School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yongmei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Yingliang Wu
- School of Life Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Zongyun Chen
- School of Life Science, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Xin Liu
- Key Laboratory of Combinatorial Biosynthesis and Drug Discovery, Ministry of Education, and School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China.
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15
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Ellis RE. "The persistence of memory"-Hermaphroditism in nematodes. Mol Reprod Dev 2016; 84:144-157. [PMID: 27291983 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 06/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Self-fertility has evolved many times in nematodes. This transition often produces an androdioecious species, with XX hermaphrodites and XO males. Although these hermaphrodites resemble females in most respects, early germ cells differentiate as sperm, and late ones as oocytes. The sperm then receive an activation signal, populate the spermathecae, and are stored for later use in self-fertilization. These traits are controlled by complex modifications to the sex-determination and sperm activation pathways, which have arisen independently during the evolution of each hermaphroditic species. This transformation in reproductive strategy then promotes other major changes in the development, evolution, and population structure of these animals. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 84: 144-157, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald E Ellis
- Department of Molecular Biology, Rowan University SOM, Stratford, New Jersey
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16
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Abstract
Whole-genome sequencing provides a rapid and powerful method for identifying mutations on a global scale, and has spurred a renewed enthusiasm for classical genetic screens in model organisms. The most commonly characterized category of mutation consists of monogenic, recessive traits, due to their genetic tractability. Therefore, most of the mapping methods for mutation identification by whole-genome sequencing are directed toward alleles that fulfill those criteria (i.e., single-gene, homozygous variants). However, such approaches are not entirely suitable for the characterization of a variety of more challenging mutations, such as dominant and semidominant alleles or multigenic traits. Therefore, we have developed strategies for the identification of those classes of mutations, using polymorphism mapping in Caenorhabditis elegans as our model for validation. We also report an alternative approach for mutation identification from traditional recombinant crosses, and a solution to the technical challenge of sequencing sterile or terminally arrested strains where population size is limiting. The methods described herein extend the applicability of whole-genome sequencing to a broader spectrum of mutations, including classes that are difficult to map by traditional means.
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17
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LaMunyon CW, Nasri U, Sullivan NG, Shaw MA, Prajapati G, Christensen M, Elmatari D, Clark JN. A New Player in the Spermiogenesis Pathway of Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetics 2015; 201:1103-16. [PMID: 26333688 PMCID: PMC4649638 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.115.181172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2015] [Accepted: 09/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Precise timing of sperm activation ensures the greatest likelihood of fertilization. Precision in Caenorhabditis elegans sperm activation is ensured by external signaling, which induces the spherical spermatid to reorganize and extend a pseudopod for motility. Spermatid activation, also called spermiogenesis, is prevented from occurring prematurely by the activity of SPE-6 and perhaps other proteins, termed "the brake model." Here, we identify the spe-47 gene from the hc198 mutation that causes premature spermiogenesis. The mutation was isolated in a suppressor screen of spe-27(it132ts), which normally renders worms sterile, due to defective transduction of the activation signal. In a spe-27(+) background, spe-47(hc198) causes a temperature-sensitive reduction of fertility, and in addition to premature spermiogenesis, many mutant sperm fail to activate altogether. The hc198 mutation is semidominant, inducing a more severe loss of fertility than do null alleles generated by CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) technology. The hc198 mutation affects an major sperm protein (MSP) domain, altering a conserved amino acid residue in a β-strand that mediates MSP-MSP dimerization. Both N- and C-terminal SPE-47 reporters associate with the forming fibrous body (FB)-membranous organelle, a specialized sperm organelle that packages MSP and other components during spermatogenesis. Once the FB is fully formed, the SPE-47 reporters dissociate and disappear. SPE-47 reporter localization is not altered by either the hc198 mutation or a C-terminal truncation deleting the MSP domain. The disappearance of SPE-47 reporters prior to the formation of spermatids requires a reevaluation of the brake model for prevention of premature spermatid activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig W LaMunyon
- Department of Biological Science, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California 91768
| | - Ubaydah Nasri
- Department of Biological Science, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California 91768
| | - Nicholas G Sullivan
- Department of Biological Science, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California 91768
| | - Misa A Shaw
- Department of Biological Science, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California 91768
| | - Gaurav Prajapati
- Department of Biological Science, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California 91768
| | - Matthew Christensen
- Department of Biological Science, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California 91768
| | - Daniel Elmatari
- Department of Biological Science, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California 91768
| | - Jessica N Clark
- Department of Biological Science, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, California 91768
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18
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Co-option of alternate sperm activation programs in the evolution of self-fertile nematodes. Nat Commun 2014; 5:5888. [PMID: 25523309 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms6888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2014] [Accepted: 11/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-fertility evolved independently in three species of Caenorhabditis, yet the underlying genetic changes remain unclear. This transition required that XX animals acquire the ability to produce sperm and then signal those sperm to activate and fertilise oocytes. Here, we show that all genes that regulate sperm activation in C. elegans are conserved throughout the genus, even in male/female species. By using gene editing, we show that C. elegans and C. briggsae hermaphrodites use the SPE-8 tyrosine kinase pathway to activate sperm, whereas C. tropicalis hermaphrodites use a TRY-5 serine protease pathway. Finally, our analysis of double mutants shows that these pathways were redundant in ancestral males. Thus, newly evolving hermaphrodites became self-fertile by co-opting either of the two redundant male programs. The existence of these alternatives helps explain the frequent origin of self-fertility in nematode lineages. This work also demonstrates that the new genome-editing techniques allow unprecedented power and precision in evolutionary studies.
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