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Li Z, Xian H, Ye R, Zhong Y, Liang B, Huang Y, Dai M, Guo J, Tang S, Ren X, Bai R, Feng Y, Deng Y, Yang X, Chen D, Yang Z, Huang Z. Gender-specific effects of polystyrene nanoplastic exposure on triclosan-induced reproductive toxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 932:172876. [PMID: 38692326 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172876] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
Nanoplastics (NPs) and triclosan (TCS) are ubiquitous emerging environmental contaminants detected in human samples. While the reproductive toxicity of TCS alone has been studied, its combined effects with NPs remain unclear. Herein, we employed Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering to characterize the coexposure of polystyrene nanoplastics (PS-NPs, 50 nm) with TCS. Then, adult zebrafish were exposed to TCS at environmentally relevant concentrations (0.361-48.2 μg/L), with or without PS-NPs (1.0 mg/L) for 21 days. TCS biodistribution in zebrafish tissues was investigated using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Reproductive toxicity was assessed through gonadal histopathology, fertility tests, changes in steroid hormone synthesis and gene expression within the hypothalamus-pituitary-gonad-liver (HPGL) axis. Transcriptomics and proteomics were applied to explore the underlying mechanisms. The results showed that PS-NPs could adsorb TCS, thus altering the PS-NPs' physical characteristics. Our observations revealed that coexposure with PS-NPs reduced TCS levels in the ovaries, livers, and brains of female zebrafish. Conversely, in males, coexposure with PS-NPs increased TCS levels in the testes and livers, while decreasing them in the brain. We found that co-exposure mitigated TCS-induced ovary development inhibition while exacerbated TCS-induced spermatogenesis suppression, resulting in increased embryonic mortality and larval malformations. This co-exposure influenced the expression of genes linked to steroid hormone synthesis (cyp11a1, hsd17β, cyp19a1) and attenuated the TCS-decreased estradiol (E2) in females. Conversely, testosterone levels were suppressed, and E2 levels were elevated due to the upregulation of specific genes (cyp11a1, hsd3β, cyp19a1) in males. Finally, the integrated analysis of transcriptomics and proteomics suggested that the aqp12-dctn2 pathway was involved in PS-NPs' attenuation of TCS-induced reproductive toxicity in females, while the pck2-katnal1 pathway played a role in PS-NPs' exacerbation of TCS-induced reproductive toxicity in males. Collectively, PS-NPs altered TCS-induced reproductive toxicity by disrupting the HPGL axis, with gender-specific effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiming Li
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Hongyi Xian
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Rongyi Ye
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yizhou Zhong
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Boxuan Liang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yuji Huang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Mingzhu Dai
- Hunter Biotechnology, Inc., Hangzhou 310051, China
| | - Jie Guo
- Hunter Biotechnology, Inc., Hangzhou 310051, China
| | - Shuqin Tang
- College of Environment and Climate, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xiaohu Ren
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Shenzhen Medical Key Discipline of Health Toxicology, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Ruobing Bai
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yu Feng
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yanhong Deng
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xingfen Yang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Da Chen
- College of Environment and Climate, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Zhu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, 999077, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China
| | - Zhenlie Huang
- NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Evaluation of Cosmetics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Research, Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China; Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510280, China.
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2
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Dunleavy JEM, Graffeo M, Wozniak K, O'Connor AE, Merriner DJ, Nguyen J, Schittenhelm RB, Houston BJ, O'Bryan MK. The katanin A-subunits KATNA1 and KATNAL1 act co-operatively in mammalian meiosis and spermiogenesis to achieve male fertility. Development 2023; 150:dev201956. [PMID: 37882691 PMCID: PMC10690054 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Katanins, a class of microtubule-severing enzymes, are potent M-phase regulators in oocytes and somatic cells. How the complex and evolutionarily crucial, male mammalian meiotic spindle is sculpted remains unknown. Here, using multiple single and double gene knockout mice, we reveal that the canonical katanin A-subunit KATNA1 and its close paralogue KATNAL1 together execute multiple aspects of meiosis. We show KATNA1 and KATNAL1 collectively regulate the male meiotic spindle, cytokinesis and midbody abscission, in addition to diverse spermatid remodelling events, including Golgi organisation, and acrosome and manchette formation. We also define KATNAL1-specific roles in sperm flagellum development, manchette regulation and sperm-epithelial disengagement. Finally, using proteomic approaches, we define the KATNA1, KATNAL1 and KATNB1 mammalian testis interactome, which includes a network of cytoskeletal and vesicle trafficking proteins. Collectively, we reveal that the presence of multiple katanin A-subunit paralogs in mammalian spermatogenesis allows for 'customised cutting' via neofunctionalisation and protective buffering via gene redundancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E. M. Dunleavy
- School of BioSciences and Bio21 Institute, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Maddison Graffeo
- School of BioSciences and Bio21 Institute, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Kathryn Wozniak
- Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and The Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Anne E. O'Connor
- School of BioSciences and Bio21 Institute, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - D. Jo Merriner
- School of BioSciences and Bio21 Institute, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Joseph Nguyen
- School of BioSciences and Bio21 Institute, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Ralf B. Schittenhelm
- Monash Proteomics & Metabolomics Facility, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia
| | - Brendan J. Houston
- School of BioSciences and Bio21 Institute, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Moira K. O'Bryan
- School of BioSciences and Bio21 Institute, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
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3
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Chan CC, Yen TH, Tseng HC, Mai B, Ho PK, Chou JL, Wu GJ, Huang YC. A Comprehensive Genetic Study of Microtubule-Associated Gene Clusters for Male Infertility in a Taiwanese Cohort. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15363. [PMID: 37895049 PMCID: PMC10607339 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015363] [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: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Advanced reproductive technologies are utilized to identify the genetic mutations that lead to spermatogenic impairment, and allow informed genetic counseling to patients to prevent the transmission of genetic defects to offspring. The purpose of this study was to identify potential single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with male infertility. Genetic variants that may cause infertility are identified by combining the targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) panel and whole exome sequencing (WES). The validation step of Sanger sequencing adds confidence to the identified variants. Our analysis revealed five distinct affected genes covering seven SNPs based on the targeted NGS panel and WES data: SPATA16 (rs16846616, 1515442, 1515441), CFTR (rs213950), KIF6 (rs2273063), STPG2 (r2903150), and DRC7 (rs3809611). Infertile men have a higher mutation rate than fertile men, especially those with azoospermia. These findings strongly support the hypothesis that the dysfunction of microtubule-related and spermatogenesis-specific genes contributes to idiopathic male infertility. The SPATA16, CFTR, KIF6, STPG2, and DRC7 mutations are associated with male infertility, specifically azoospermia, and a further examination of this genetic function is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chying-Chyuan Chan
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114201, Taiwan; (C.-C.C.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei City Hospital-Renai Branch, Taipei 103212, Taiwan
| | - Te-Hsin Yen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei City Hospital-Renai Branch, Taipei 103212, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Chen Tseng
- School of Pharmacy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114201, Taiwan
| | - Brang Mai
- School of Pharmacy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114201, Taiwan
| | - Pin-Kuan Ho
- School of Dentistry, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114201, Taiwan
| | - Jian-Liang Chou
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114201, Taiwan; (C.-C.C.)
- Department of Research and Development, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114201, Taiwan
| | - Gwo-Jang Wu
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114201, Taiwan; (C.-C.C.)
- Reproductive Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei 114202, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chuan Huang
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114201, Taiwan; (C.-C.C.)
- School of Pharmacy, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114201, Taiwan
- Department of Research and Development, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei 114201, Taiwan
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4
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Microtubule-severing protein Fidgetin-like 1 promotes spindle organization during meiosis of mouse oocytes. ZYGOTE 2022; 30:872-881. [PMID: 36148793 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199422000417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Microtubule-severing proteins (MTSPs) play important roles in mitosis and interphase. However, to the best of our knowledge, no previous studies have evaluated the role of MTSPs in female meiosis in mammals. It was found that FIGNL1, a member of MTSPs, was predominantly expressed in mouse oocytes and distributed at the spindle poles during meiosis in the present study. FIGNL1 was co-localized and interacted with γ-tubulin, an important component of the microtubule tissue centre (MTOC). Fignl1 knockdown by specific small interfering RNA caused spindle defects characterized by an abnormal length:width ratio and decreased microtubule density, which consequently led to aberrant chromosome arrangement, oocyte maturation and fertilization obstacles. In conclusion, the present results suggested that FIGNL1 may be an essential factor in oocyte maturation by influencing the meiosis process via the formation of spindles.
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5
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Cerván-Martín M, Bossini-Castillo L, Guzmán-Jiménez A, Rivera-Egea R, Garrido N, Lujan S, Romeu G, Santos-Ribeiro S, Group I, Group LC, Castilla JA, Gonzalvo MC, Clavero A, Maldonado V, Vicente FJ, Burgos M, Jiménez R, González-Muñoz S, Sánchez-Curbelo J, López-Rodrigo O, Pereira-Caetano I, Marques PI, Carvalho F, Barros A, Bassas L, Seixas S, Gonçalves J, Larriba S, Lopes AM, Palomino-Morales RJ, Carmona FD. Common genetic variation in KATNAL1 non-coding regions is involved in the susceptibility to severe phenotypes of male infertility. Andrology 2022; 10:1339-1350. [PMID: 35752927 PMCID: PMC9546047 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Background Previous studies in animal models evidenced that genetic mutations of KATNAL1, resulting in dysfunction of its encoded protein, lead to male infertility through disruption of microtubule remodelling and premature germ cell exfoliation. Subsequent studies in humans also suggested a possible role of KATNAL1 single‐nucleotide polymorphisms in the development of male infertility as a consequence of severe spermatogenic failure. Objectives The main objective of the present study is to evaluate the effect of the common genetic variation of KATNAL1 in a large and phenotypically well‐characterised cohort of infertile men because of severe spermatogenic failure. Materials and methods A total of 715 infertile men because of severe spermatogenic failure, including 210 severe oligospermia and 505 non‐obstructive azoospermia patients, as well as 1058 unaffected controls were genotyped for three KATNAL1 single‐nucleotide polymorphism taggers (rs2077011, rs7338931 and rs2149971). Case–control association analyses by logistic regression assuming different models and in silico functional characterisation of risk variants were conducted. Results Genetic associations were observed between the three analysed taggers and different severe spermatogenic failure groups. However, in all cases, the haplotype model (rs2077011*C | rs7338931*T | rs2149971*A) better explained the observed associations than the three risk alleles independently. This haplotype was associated with non‐obstructive azoospermia (adjusted p = 4.96E‐02, odds ratio = 2.97), Sertoli‐cell only syndrome (adjusted p = 2.83E‐02, odds ratio = 5.16) and testicular sperm extraction unsuccessful outcomes (adjusted p = 8.99E‐04, odds ratio = 6.13). The in silico analyses indicated that the effect on severe spermatogenic failure predisposition could be because of an alteration of the KATNAL1 splicing pattern. Conclusions Specific allelic combinations of KATNAL1 genetic polymorphisms may confer a risk of developing severe male infertility phenotypes by favouring the overrepresentation of a short non‐functional transcript isoform in the testis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Cerván-Martín
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad de Granada, de Granada, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
| | - Lara Bossini-Castillo
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad de Granada, de Granada, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
| | - Andrea Guzmán-Jiménez
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad de Granada, de Granada, Spain
| | - Rocío Rivera-Egea
- Andrology Laboratory and Sperm Bank, IVIRMA Valencia, Valencia, Spain.,IVI Foundation, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), Valencia, Spain
| | - Nicolás Garrido
- IVI Foundation, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), Valencia, Spain.,Servicio de Urología, Hospital Universitari i Politecnic La Fe e Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), Valencia, Spain
| | - Saturnino Lujan
- Servicio de Urología, Hospital Universitari i Politecnic La Fe e Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), Valencia, Spain
| | - Gema Romeu
- Servicio de Urología, Hospital Universitari i Politecnic La Fe e Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe (IIS La Fe), Valencia, Spain
| | - Samuel Santos-Ribeiro
- IVI-RMA Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | | | - José A Castilla
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain.,Unidad de Reproducción, UGC Obstetricia y Ginecología, HU Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain.,CEIFER Biobanco - NextClinics, Granada, Spain
| | - M Carmen Gonzalvo
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain.,Unidad de Reproducción, UGC Obstetricia y Ginecología, HU Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
| | - Ana Clavero
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain.,Unidad de Reproducción, UGC Obstetricia y Ginecología, HU Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
| | - Vicente Maldonado
- UGC de Obstetricia y Ginecología, Complejo Hospitalario de Jaén, Jaén, Spain
| | - F Javier Vicente
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain.,UGC de Urología, HU Virgen de las Nieves, Granada, Spain
| | - Miguel Burgos
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad de Granada, de Granada, Spain
| | - Rafael Jiménez
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad de Granada, de Granada, Spain
| | - Sara González-Muñoz
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad de Granada, de Granada, Spain
| | - Josvany Sánchez-Curbelo
- Laboratory of Seminology and Embryology, Andrology Service-Fundació Puigvert, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Olga López-Rodrigo
- Laboratory of Seminology and Embryology, Andrology Service-Fundació Puigvert, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Iris Pereira-Caetano
- Departamento de Genética Humana, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Patricia I Marques
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto (I3S), Porto, Portugal.,Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Filipa Carvalho
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto (I3S), Porto, Portugal.,Serviço de Genética, Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Alberto Barros
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto (I3S), Porto, Portugal.,Serviço de Genética, Departamento de Patologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Lluís Bassas
- Laboratory of Seminology and Embryology, Andrology Service-Fundació Puigvert, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Susana Seixas
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto (I3S), Porto, Portugal.,Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - João Gonçalves
- Departamento de Genética Humana, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal.,ToxOmics - Centro de Toxicogenómica e Saúde Humana, Nova Medical School, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Sara Larriba
- Human Molecular Genetics Group, Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alexandra M Lopes
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto (I3S), Porto, Portugal.,Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto (IPATIMUP), Porto, Portugal
| | - Rogelio J Palomino-Morales
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain.,Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular I, Universidad de Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - F David Carmona
- Departamento de Genética e Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad de Granada, de Granada, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
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6
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Sell-Kubiak E, Knol EF, Lopes M. Evaluation of the phenotypic and genomic background of variability based on litter size of Large White pigs. Genet Sel Evol 2022; 54:1. [PMID: 34979897 PMCID: PMC8722267 DOI: 10.1186/s12711-021-00692-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The genetic background of trait variability has captured the interest of ecologists and animal breeders because the genes that control it could be involved in buffering various environmental effects. Phenotypic variability of a given trait can be assessed by studying the heterogeneity of the residual variance, and the quantitative trait loci (QTL) that are involved in the control of this variability are described as variance QTL (vQTL). This study focuses on litter size (total number born, TNB) and its variability in a Large White pig population. The variability of TNB was evaluated either using a simple method, i.e. analysis of the log-transformed variance of residuals (LnVar), or the more complex double hierarchical generalized linear model (DHGLM). We also performed a single-SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) genome-wide association study (GWAS). To our knowledge, this is only the second study that reports vQTL for litter size in pigs and the first one that shows GWAS results when using two methods to evaluate variability of TNB: LnVar and DHGLM. RESULTS Based on LnVar, three candidate vQTL regions were detected, on Sus scrofa chromosomes (SSC) 1, 7, and 18, which comprised 18 SNPs. Based on the DHGLM, three candidate vQTL regions were detected, i.e. two on SSC7 and one on SSC11, which comprised 32 SNPs. Only one candidate vQTL region overlapped between the two methods, on SSC7, which also contained the most significant SNP. Within this vQTL region, two candidate genes were identified, ADGRF1, which is involved in neurodevelopment of the brain, and ADGRF5, which is involved in the function of the respiratory system and in vascularization. The correlation between estimated breeding values based on the two methods was 0.86. Three-fold cross-validation indicated that DHGLM yielded EBV that were much more accurate and had better prediction of missing observations than LnVar. CONCLUSIONS The results indicated that the LnVar and DHGLM methods resulted in genetically different traits. Based on their validation, we recommend the use of DHGLM over the simpler method of log-transformed variance of residuals. These conclusions can be useful for future studies on the evaluation of the variability of any trait in any species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Sell-Kubiak
- Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Poznan University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Poland.
| | - Egbert F Knol
- Topigs Norsvin Research Centre, Beuningen, The Netherlands
| | - Marcos Lopes
- Topigs Norsvin Research Centre, Beuningen, The Netherlands.,Topigs Norsvin, Curitiba, Brazil
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7
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Li CR, Wang RL, Xie SY, Li YR, Gao LL, Yang ZX, Zhang D. Fidgetin knockdown and knockout influences female reproduction distinctly in mice. J Biomed Res 2022; 36:269-279. [PMID: 35965436 PMCID: PMC9376731 DOI: 10.7555/jbr.36.20220086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubule-severing proteins (MTSPs), are a family of proteins which use adenosine triphosphate to sever microtubules. MTSPs have been shown to play an important role in multiple microtubule-involved cellular processes. One member of this family, fidgetin (FIGN), is also involved in male fertility; however, no studies have explored its roles in female fertility. In this study, we found mouse fidgetin is rich within oocyte zona pellucida (ZP) and is the only MTSP member to do so. Fidgetin also appears to interact with all three ZP proteins. These findings prompted us to propose that fidgetin might prevent polyspermy. Results from in vitro maturation oocytes analysis showed that fidgetin knockdown did cause polyspermy. We then deleted all three fidgetin isoforms with CRISPR/Cas9 technologies; however, female mice remained healthy and with normal fertility. Of all mouse MTSPs, only the mRNA level of fidgetin-like 1 (FIGNL1) significantly increased. Therefore, we assert that fidgetin-like 1 compensates fidgetin's roles in fidgetin knockout female mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong-Rong Li
- State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
| | - Ruo-Lei Wang
- State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
| | - Shi-Ya Xie
- State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
| | - Yan-Ru Li
- State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
| | - Lei-Lei Gao
- State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
| | - Zhi-Xia Yang
- State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
- Dong Zhang and Zhi-Xia Yang, State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, 101 Longmian Ave, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China. Tel/Fax: +86-25-86869504, E-mails:
and
| | - Dong Zhang
- State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
- Animal Core Facility, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China
- Dong Zhang and Zhi-Xia Yang, State Key Lab of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, 101 Longmian Ave, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, China. Tel/Fax: +86-25-86869504, E-mails:
and
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8
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Dunleavy JEM, O'Connor AE, Okuda H, Merriner DJ, O'Bryan MK. KATNB1 is a master regulator of multiple katanin enzymes in male meiosis and haploid germ cell development. Development 2021; 148:273717. [PMID: 34822718 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Katanin microtubule-severing enzymes are crucial executers of microtubule regulation. Here, we have created an allelic loss-of-function series of the katanin regulatory B-subunit KATNB1 in mice. We reveal that KATNB1 is the master regulator of all katanin enzymatic A-subunits during mammalian spermatogenesis, wherein it is required to maintain katanin A-subunit abundance. Our data shows that complete loss of KATNB1 from germ cells is incompatible with sperm production, and we reveal multiple new spermatogenesis functions for KATNB1, including essential roles in male meiosis, acrosome formation, sperm tail assembly, regulation of both the Sertoli and germ cell cytoskeletons during sperm nuclear remodelling, and maintenance of seminiferous epithelium integrity. Collectively, our findings reveal that katanins are able to differentially regulate almost all key microtubule-based structures during mammalian male germ cell development, through the complexing of one master controller, KATNB1, with a 'toolbox' of neofunctionalised katanin A-subunits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E M Dunleavy
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.,School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Anne E O'Connor
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.,School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Hidenobu Okuda
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - D Jo Merriner
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia.,School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Moira K O'Bryan
- School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
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9
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Lynn NA, Martinez E, Nguyen H, Torres JZ. The Mammalian Family of Katanin Microtubule-Severing Enzymes. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:692040. [PMID: 34414183 PMCID: PMC8369831 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.692040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The katanin family of microtubule-severing enzymes is critical for cytoskeletal rearrangements that affect key cellular processes like division, migration, signaling, and homeostasis. In humans, aberrant expression, or dysfunction of the katanins, is linked to developmental, proliferative, and neurodegenerative disorders. Here, we review current knowledge on the mammalian family of katanins, including an overview of evolutionary conservation, functional domain organization, and the mechanisms that regulate katanin activity. We assess the function of katanins in dividing and non-dividing cells and how their dysregulation promotes impaired ciliary signaling and defects in developmental programs (corticogenesis, gametogenesis, and neurodevelopment) and contributes to neurodegeneration and cancer. We conclude with perspectives on future katanin research that will advance our understanding of this exciting and dynamic class of disease-associated enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole A. Lynn
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Emily Martinez
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Hieu Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Jorge Z. Torres
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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10
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Vallés AS, Tenconi PE, Luquez JM, Furland NE. The inhibition of microtubule dynamics instability alters lipid homeostasis in TM4 Sertoli cells. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2021; 426:115607. [PMID: 34089742 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2021.115607] [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: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Sertoli cells (SC) structurally support and transport nutrients to germ cells during spermatogenesis facilitated by an active cytoskeleton. Chemical perturbation of SC microtubule (MT) dynamics instability leads to premature germ cell exfoliation demonstrating that this process is essential for male fertility, yet the effects of MT damaging drugs on SC lipid metabolism have been less explored. The aim of this study was to advance our understanding of how adequate SC MT dynamicity is needed to finely tune lipid homeostasis. To elucidate the role of MT dynamics instability on the latter, we suppressed MT dynamicity by long-term exposures to 10 nM of nocodazole (NCZ) on TM4-SC cultures. Inhibition of MT dynamics instability affected the distribution of [3H] arachidonate on TM4-SC. Triacylglycerols (TAG) exhibited a higher proportion of the [3H] label, with significantly lower percentages in the mitochondrial phospholipid cardiolipin, and notably, also in phosphatidylethanolamine. A noteworthy and progressive accumulation of lipid droplets during the period of exposure to NCZ was accompanied by increased TAG levels but not cholesterol levels in TM4-SC. NCZ-exposed cells reduced their mitochondrial membrane potential and increased ROS production without triggering apoptosis, had a compromised autophagic flux, and lost their transferrin expression. Although SC morphology was preserved, the NCZ-exposed cells displayed alteration of the normal organization of microfilaments (f-actin) and intermediate filaments (vimentin). Our findings suggest that a preserved MT dynamicity is essential in the maintenance of lipid and fatty acids homeostasis in SC, and thus highlights a novel target in these cells for drugs that impair MT dynamicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- A S Vallés
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquıímicas de Bahía Blanca, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina.
| | - P E Tenconi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquıímicas de Bahía Blanca, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - J M Luquez
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquıímicas de Bahía Blanca, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - N E Furland
- Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquıímicas de Bahía Blanca, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
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11
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Pan Z, Zhu C, Chang G, Wu N, Ding H, Wang H. Differential expression analysis and identification of sex-related genes by gonad transcriptome sequencing in estradiol-treated and non-treated Ussuri catfish Pseudobagrus ussuriensis. FISH PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY 2021; 47:565-581. [PMID: 33523351 DOI: 10.1007/s10695-021-00932-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Ussuri catfish (Pseudobagrus ussuriensis) has an XX/XY sex determination system but its sex determination gene(s) remain unknown. To better understand the molecular sex determination mechanism, transcriptome analysis was conducted to obtain sex-related gene expression profiles. Transcriptome analyses were made of male and female developing/differentiating gonads by high-throughput RNA sequencing, including gonads from fish given an estradiol-induced sex reversal treatment. A total of 81,569 unigenes were assembled and 39,904 were significantly matched to known unique proteins by comparison with public databases. Twenty specifically expressed and 142 differentially expressed sex-related genes were extracted from annotated data by comparing the treatment groups. These genes are involved in spermatogenesis (e.g., Dnali1, nectin3, klhl10, mybl1, Katnal1, Eno4, Mns1, Spag6, Tsga10, Septin7), oogenesis (e.g., Lagr5, Fmn2, Npm2, zar1, Fbxo5, Fbxo43, Prdx4, Nrip1, Lfng, Atrip), gonadal development/differentiation (e.g., Cxcr4b, Hmgb2, Cftr, Ch25h, brip1, Prdm9, Tdrd1, Star, dmrt1, Tut4, Hsd17b12a, gdf9, dnd, arf1, Spata22), and estradiol response (e.g., Mmp14, Lhcgr, vtg1, vtg2, esr2b, Piwil1, Aifm1, Hsf1, gdf9). Dmrt1 and gdf9 may play an essential role in sex determination in P. ussuriensis. The expression patterns of six random genes were validated by quantitative real-time PCR, which confirmed the reliability and accuracy of the RNA-seq results. These data provide a valuable resource for future studies of gene expression and for understanding the molecular mechanism of sex determination/differentiation and gonadal development/differentiation (including hormone-induced sexual reversal) in Ussuri catfish. This has the potential to assist in producing monosex Ussuri catfish to increase aquacultural productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- ZhengJun Pan
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Breeding of Special Aquatic Organisms, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian, 223300, China.
| | - ChuanKun Zhu
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Breeding of Special Aquatic Organisms, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian, 223300, China
| | - GuoLiang Chang
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Breeding of Special Aquatic Organisms, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian, 223300, China
| | - Nan Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Breeding of Special Aquatic Organisms, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian, 223300, China
| | - HuaiYu Ding
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Breeding of Special Aquatic Organisms, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian, 223300, China
| | - Hui Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Jiangsu Engineering Laboratory for Breeding of Special Aquatic Organisms, Huaiyin Normal University, Huaian, 223300, China
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12
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Sperm Methylome Profiling Can Discern Fertility Levels in the Porcine Biomedical Model. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052679. [PMID: 33800945 PMCID: PMC7961483 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A combined Genotyping By Sequencing (GBS) and methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP) protocol was used to identify—in parallel—genetic variation (Genomic-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) and epigenetic differences of Differentially Methylated Regions (DMR) in the genome of spermatozoa from the porcine animal model. Breeding boars with good semen quality (n = 11) and specific and well-documented differences in fertility (farrowing rate, FR) and prolificacy (litter size, LS) (n = 7) in artificial insemination programs, using combined FR and LS, were categorized as High Fertile (HF, n = 4) or Low Fertile (LF, n = 3), and boars with Unknown Fertility (UF, n = 4) were tested for eventual epigenetical similarity with those fertility-proven. We identified 165,944 Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) that explained 14–15% of variance among selection lines. Between HF and LF individuals (n = 7, 4 HF and 3 LF), we identified 169 SNPs with p ≤ 0.00015, which explained 58% of the variance. For the epigenetic analyses, we considered fertility and period of ejaculate collection (late-summer and mid-autumn). Approximately three times more DMRs were observed in HF than in LF boars across these periods. Interestingly, UF boars were clearly clustered with one of the other HF or LF groups. The highest differences in DMRs between HF and LF experimental groups across the pig genome were located in the chr 3, 9, 13, and 16, with most DMRs being hypermethylated in LF boars. In both HF and LF boars, DMRs were mostly hypermethylated in late-summer compared to mid-autumn. Three overlaps were detected between SNPs (p ≤ 0.0005, n = 1318) and CpG sites within DMRs. In conclusion, fertility levels in breeding males including FR and LS can be discerned using methylome analyses. The findings in this biomedical animal model ought to be applied besides sire selection for andrological diagnosis of idiopathic sub/infertility.
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13
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Chen H, Huang M, Yang B, Wu Z, Deng Z, Hou Y, Ren J, Huang L. Introgression of Eastern Chinese and Southern Chinese haplotypes contributes to the improvement of fertility and immunity in European modern pigs. Gigascience 2021; 9:5788434. [PMID: 32141510 PMCID: PMC7059266 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giaa014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Revised: 10/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pigs were domesticated independently from European and Asian wild boars nearly 10,000 years ago. Chinese indigenous pigs have been historically introduced to improve Europe local pigs. However, the geographic origin and biological functions of introgressed Chinese genes in modern European pig breeds remain largely unknown. Results Here we explored whole-genome sequencing data from 266 Eurasian wild boars and domestic pigs to produce a fine-scale map of introgression between French Large White (FLW) and Chinese pigs. We show that FLW pigs had historical admixture with both Southern Chinese (SCN) and Eastern Chinese (ECN) pigs ∼200–300 years ago. Moreover, a set of SCN haplotypes was shown to be beneficial for improving disease resistance and ECN haplotypes are favorable for improved reproductive performance in FLW pigs. In addition, we confirm human-mediated introgression events at the AHR locus, at which the haplotype of most likely ECN origin contributes to increased fertility of FLW pigs. Conclusions This study advances our understanding of the breeding history of global domestic pigs and highlights the importance of artificial introgression in the formation of phenotypic characteristics in domestic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, P. R. China
| | - Min Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, P. R. China
| | - Bin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, P. R. China
| | - Zhongping Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, P. R. China
| | - Zheng Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, P. R. China
| | - Yong Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, P. R. China
| | - Jun Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, P. R. China
| | - Lusheng Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Pig Genetic Improvement and Production Technology, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, P. R. China
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14
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Sung DC, Ahmad M, Lerma Cervantes CB, Zhang Y, Adelstein RS, Ma X. Mutations in non-muscle myosin 2A disrupt the actomyosin cytoskeleton in Sertoli cells and cause male infertility. Dev Biol 2020; 470:49-61. [PMID: 33188738 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Revised: 11/04/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in non-muscle myosin 2A (NM2A) encompass a wide spectrum of anomalies collectively known as MYH9-Related Disease (MYH9-RD) in humans that can include macrothrombocytopenia, glomerulosclerosis, deafness, and cataracts. We previously created mouse models of the three mutations most frequently found in humans: R702C, D1424N, and E1841K. While homozygous R702C and D1424N mutations are embryonic lethal, we found homozygous mutant E1841K mice to be viable. However the homozygous male, but not female, mice were infertile. Here, we report that these mice have reduced testis size and defects in actin-associated junctions in Sertoli cells, resulting in inability to form the blood-testis barrier and premature germ cell loss. Moreover, compound double heterozygous (R702C/E1841K and D1424/E1841K) males show the same abnormalities in testes as E1841K homozygous males. Conditional ablation of either NM2A or NM2B alone in Sertoli cells has no effect on fertility and testis size, however deletion of both NM2A and NM2B in Sertoli cells results in infertility. Isolation of mutant E1841K Sertoli cells reveals decreased NM2A and F-actin colocalization and thicker NM2A filaments. Furthermore, AE1841K/AE1841K and double knockout Sertoli cells demonstrate microtubule disorganization and increased tubulin acetylation, suggesting defects in the microtubule cytoskeleton. Together, these results demonstrate that NM2A and 2B paralogs play redundant roles in Sertoli cells and are essential for testes development and normal fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Derek C Sung
- Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology, Cell and Developmental Biology Center, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1583, United States; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1583, United States
| | - Mohsin Ahmad
- Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology, Cell and Developmental Biology Center, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1583, United States; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1583, United States
| | - Connie B Lerma Cervantes
- Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology, Cell and Developmental Biology Center, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1583, United States; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1583, United States
| | - Yingfan Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology, Cell and Developmental Biology Center, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1583, United States; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1583, United States
| | - Robert S Adelstein
- Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology, Cell and Developmental Biology Center, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1583, United States; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1583, United States
| | - Xuefei Ma
- Laboratory of Molecular Cardiology, Cell and Developmental Biology Center, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1583, United States; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1583, United States.
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15
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Marker-assisted selection vis-à-vis bull fertility: coming full circle-a review. Mol Biol Rep 2020; 47:9123-9133. [PMID: 33099757 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-020-05919-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Bull fertility is considered an indispensable trait, as far as farm economics is concerned since it is the successful conception in a cow that provides calf crop, along with the ensuing lactation. This ensures sustainability of a dairy farm. Traditionally, bull fertility did not receive much attention by the farm managers and breeding animals were solely evaluated based on phenotypic predictors, namely, sire conception rate and seminal parameters in bull. With the advent of the molecular era in animal breeding, attempts were made to unravel the genetic complexity of bull fertility by the identification of genetic markers related to the trait. Marker-Assisted Selection (MAS) is a methodology that aims at utilizing the genetic information at markers and selecting improved populations for important traits. Traditionally, MAS was pursued using a candidate gene approach for identifying markers related to genes that are already known to have a physiological function related to the trait but this approach had certain shortcomings like stringent criteria for significance testing. Now, with the availability of genome-wide data, the number of markers identified and variance explained in relation to bull fertility has gone up. So, this presents a unique opportunity to revisit MAS by selection based on the information of a large number of genome-wide markers and thus, improving the accuracy of selection.
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16
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Wang L, Yan M, Wu S, Mao B, Wong CKC, Ge R, Sun F, Cheng CY. Microtubule Cytoskeleton and Spermatogenesis-Lesson From Studies of Toxicant Models. Toxicol Sci 2020; 177:305-315. [PMID: 32647867 PMCID: PMC7548287 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfaa109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies have shown that mammalian testes, in particular the Sertoli cells, are highly susceptible to exposure of environmental toxicants, such as cadmium, perfluorooctanesulfonate, phthalates, 2,5-hexanedione and bisphenol A. However, important studies conducted by reproductive toxicologists and/or biologists in the past have been treated as toxicology reports per se. Yet, many of these studies provided important mechanistic insights on the toxicant-induced testis injury and reproductive dysfunction, relevant to the biology of the testis and spermatogenesis. Furthermore, recent studies have shown that findings obtained from toxicant models are exceedingly helpful tools to unravel the biology of testis function in particular spermatogenesis, including specific cellular events associated with spermatid transport to support spermiogenesis and spermiation. In this review, we critically evaluate some recent data, focusing primarily on the molecular structure and role of microtubules in cellular function, illustrating the importance of toxicant models to unravel the biology of microtubule cytoskeleton in supporting spermatogenesis, well beyond information on toxicology. These findings have opened up some potential areas of research which should be carefully evaluated in the years to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Wang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Ming Yan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Siwen Wu
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Baiping Mao
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Drug Screening, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210009, China
| | - Chris K C Wong
- Department of Biology, Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Renshan Ge
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
| | - Fei Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children’s Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
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17
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de Oliveira VS, Castro AJG, Domingues JT, de Souza AZP, Scheffer DDL, Latini A, Soares CHL, Van Der Kraak G, Silva FRMB. A Brazilian pulp and paper mill effluent disrupts energy metabolism in immature rat testis and alters Sertoli cell secretion and mitochondrial activity. Anim Reprod 2020; 17:e20190116. [PMID: 32714452 PMCID: PMC7375872 DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-ar2019-0116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Our objective was to investigate whether the pulp and paper mill industry effluent could affect the testis and Sertoli cells in a fast exposure period. For this, the present study was carried out in immature rats at 10-day-old. Testis treated in vitro with 4% effluent for 1 h presented changes in energy metabolism in terms of a decrease in lactate content and glucose uptake. Elevation in GSH content, as an antioxidant defense mechanism, was also detected. Sertoli cells treated with 4% effluent for 1 hour showed alterations in the mitochondrial metabolism that favor the decoupling of oxidative phosphorylation and the generation of oxygen reactive species and also a time and concentration-dependent delay secretion of acidic vesicles. Our results showed that pollutants present in the pulp and paper mill effluents, in a short time of exposure, are capable of inducing alterations in important metabolic functions in the testis and in Sertoli cells that are crucial for the correct progression of spermatogenesis and fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Débora da Luz Scheffer
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil
| | - Alexandra Latini
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, SC, Brasil
| | | | - Glen Van Der Kraak
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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18
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Teves ME, Roldan ERS, Krapf D, Strauss III JF, Bhagat V, Sapao P. Sperm Differentiation: The Role of Trafficking of Proteins. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E3702. [PMID: 32456358 PMCID: PMC7279445 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21103702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 05/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Sperm differentiation encompasses a complex sequence of morphological changes that takes place in the seminiferous epithelium. In this process, haploid round spermatids undergo substantial structural and functional alterations, resulting in highly polarized sperm. Hallmark changes during the differentiation process include the formation of new organelles, chromatin condensation and nuclear shaping, elimination of residual cytoplasm, and assembly of the sperm flagella. To achieve these transformations, spermatids have unique mechanisms for protein trafficking that operate in a coordinated fashion. Microtubules and filaments of actin are the main tracks used to facilitate the transport mechanisms, assisted by motor and non-motor proteins, for delivery of vesicular and non-vesicular cargos to specific sites. This review integrates recent findings regarding the role of protein trafficking in sperm differentiation. Although a complete characterization of the interactome of proteins involved in these temporal and spatial processes is not yet known, we propose a model based on the current literature as a framework for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria E. Teves
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA 23298, USA;
| | - Eduardo R. S. Roldan
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), 28006-Madrid, Spain
| | - Diego Krapf
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA;
| | - Jerome F. Strauss III
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA 23298, USA;
| | - Virali Bhagat
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA 23298, USA;
| | - Paulene Sapao
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond VA, 23298, USA;
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19
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Gao LL, Xu F, Jin Z, Ying XY, Liu JW. Microtubule‑severing protein Katanin p60 ATPase‑containing subunit A‑like 1 is involved in pole‑based spindle organization during mouse oocyte meiosis. Mol Med Rep 2019; 20:3573-3582. [PMID: 31485656 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubule‑severing proteins (MTSPs) are a group of microtubule‑associated proteins essential for multiple microtubule‑related processes, including mitosis and meiosis. Katanin p60 ATPase‑containing subunit A‑like 1 (p60 katanin‑like 1) is an MTSP that maintains the density of spindle microtubules at the poles in mitotic cells; however, to date, there have been no studies about its role in female meiosis. Using in vitro‑matured (IVM) oocytes as a model, it was first revealed that p60 katanin‑like 1 was predominant in the ovaries and oocytes, indicating its essential roles in oocyte meiosis. It was also revealed that p60 katanin‑like 1 was concentrated at the spindle poles and co‑localized and interacted with γ‑tubulin, indicating that it may be involved in pole organization. Next, specific siRNA was used to deplete p60 katanin‑like 1; the spindle organization was severely disrupted and characterized by an abnormal width:length ratio, multipolarity and extra aster microtubules out of the main spindles. Finally, it was determined that p60 katanin‑like 1 knockdown retarded oocyte meiosis, reduced fertilization, and caused abnormal mitochondrial distribution. Collectively, these results indicated that p60 katanin‑like 1 is essential for oocyte meiosis by ensuring the integrity of the spindle poles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei-Lei Gao
- Department of Gynecology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, P.R. China
| | - Fei Xu
- Department of Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310015, P.R. China
| | - Zhen Jin
- Reproductive Genetic Center, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing, Nanjing, Jiangsu 215000, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Yan Ying
- Department of Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210011, P.R. China
| | - Jin-Wei Liu
- Department of Gynecology, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, People's Hospital of Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, P.R. China
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20
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Zhang H, Wang R, Yu Y, Zhu H, Li L, Yang X, Hu X, Liu R. Non-Robertsonian translocations involving chromosomes 13, 14, or 15 in male infertility: 28 cases and a review of the literature. Medicine (Baltimore) 2019; 98:e14730. [PMID: 30817623 PMCID: PMC6831198 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000014730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
For genetic counseling of male carriers of chromosomal translocations, the specific chromosomes and breakpoints involved in the translocation are relevant to know. The structural chromosomal abnormalities may lead to abnormal sperm counts, infertility, and miscarriage. These are related to the specific chromosomes and breakpoints involved in the translocation. To date, over 200 cases of non-Robertsonian translocation in male carriers have been described that involve chromosomes 13, 14, or 15.This study reports of 28 male carriers from our clinic with balanced reciprocal translocations of chromosome 13, 14, or 15, and a literature review of 201 cases. The 28 male carriers from our clinic were diagnosed by cytogenetic analyses: 19 subjects suffered from pregestational infertility and 9 from gestational infertility. The most common translocations were t(7;13), t(10;14), and t(3;15), observed respectively in 13 (46%), 8 (29%), and 8 (29%) of our subjects. The literature cases (n = 201) involved chromosome 13 (n = 83, 41%), chromosome 14 (n = 56, 28%) or 15 (n = 62, 31%) in which 75 breakpoints were identified, the most common breakpoint, 13q22, was observed in 12 subjects (6%), followed by 14q32 (n = 11), 15q15 (n = 9), and 15q22 (n = 9). Most breakpoints were related to gestational infertility, while breakpoints at 13p13, 13p12, 13p11.2, 13p11, 13q11, 13q15, 14p12, 14p10, 15p13, 15p10, and 15q22.2 were associated with pregestational infertility.Carriers of non-Robertsonian translocations involving chromosome 13, 14, or 15 and experiencing infertility should receive counseling with regard to chromosomal breakpoints as there seem to be consequences for treatment. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection with preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) for the carriers with oligozoospermia, microscopic testicular sperm extraction or sperm from the sperm bank for the carriers with azoospermia should be considered for pregestational infertility. The carriers with gestational infertility can choose PGD or prenatal diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongguo Zhang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Center for Prenatal Diagnosis, First Hospital
- Jilin Engineering Research Center for Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ruixue Wang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Center for Prenatal Diagnosis, First Hospital
- Jilin Engineering Research Center for Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yang Yu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Center for Prenatal Diagnosis, First Hospital
- Jilin Engineering Research Center for Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Haibo Zhu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Center for Prenatal Diagnosis, First Hospital
- Jilin Engineering Research Center for Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Leilei Li
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Center for Prenatal Diagnosis, First Hospital
- Jilin Engineering Research Center for Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiao Yang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Center for Prenatal Diagnosis, First Hospital
- Jilin Engineering Research Center for Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiaonan Hu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Center for Prenatal Diagnosis, First Hospital
- Jilin Engineering Research Center for Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Ruizhi Liu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine and Center for Prenatal Diagnosis, First Hospital
- Jilin Engineering Research Center for Reproductive Medicine and Genetics, Jilin University, Changchun, China
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21
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Hatakeyama E, Hayashi K. KATNAL1 is a more active and stable isoform of katanin, and is expressed dominantly in neurons. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 507:389-394. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.11.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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22
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Gunes S, Sengupta P, Henkel R, Alguraigari A, Sinigaglia MM, Kayal M, Joumah A, Agarwal A. Microtubular Dysfunction and Male Infertility. World J Mens Health 2018; 38:9-23. [PMID: 30350487 PMCID: PMC6920067 DOI: 10.5534/wjmh.180066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Microtubules are the prime component of the cytoskeleton along with microfilaments. Being vital for organelle transport and cellular divisions during spermatogenesis and sperm motility process, microtubules ascertain functional capacity of sperm. Also, microtubule based structures such as axoneme and manchette are crucial for sperm head and tail formation. This review (a) presents a concise, yet detailed structural overview of the microtubules, (b) analyses the role of microtubule structures in various male reproductive functions, and (c) presents the association of microtubular dysfunctions with male infertility. Considering the immense importance of microtubule structures in the formation and maintenance of physiological functions of sperm cells, this review serves as a scientific trigger in stimulating further male infertility research in this direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sezgin Gunes
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey.,American Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Pallav Sengupta
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, MAHSA University, Selangor, Malaysia.,American Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Ralf Henkel
- Department of Medical Bioscience, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa.,American Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Aabed Alguraigari
- Batterjee Medical College, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.,American Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Mariana Marques Sinigaglia
- University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil.,American Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Malik Kayal
- Alfaisal University Medical School, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,American Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Ahmad Joumah
- Alfaisal University Medical School, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,American Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Ashok Agarwal
- American Center for Reproductive Medicine, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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23
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Curley M, Milne L, Smith S, Jørgensen A, Frederiksen H, Hadoke P, Potter P, Smith LB. A young testicular microenvironment protects Leydig cells against age-related dysfunction in a mouse model of premature aging. FASEB J 2018; 33:978-995. [PMID: 30080443 PMCID: PMC6355079 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201800612r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Testicular Leydig cells (LCs) are the primary source of circulating androgen in men. As men age, circulating androgen levels decline. However, whether reduced LC steroidogenesis results from specific effects of aging within LCs or reflects degenerative alterations to the wider supporting microenvironment is unclear; inability to separate intrinsic LC aging from that of the testicular microenvironment in vivo has made this question difficult to address. To resolve this, we generated novel mouse models of premature aging, driven by CDGSH iron sulfur domain 2 (Cisd2) deletion, to separate the effects of cell intrinsic aging from extrinsic effects of aging on LC function. At 6 mo of age, constitutive Cisd2-deficient mice display signs of premature aging, including testicular atrophy, reduced LC and Sertoli cell (SC) number, decreased circulating testosterone, increased luteinizing hormone/testosterone ratio, and decreased expression of steroidogenic mRNAs, appropriately modeling primary testicular dysfunction observed in aging men. However, mice with Cisd2 deletion (and thus premature aging) restricted to either LCs or SCs were protected against testicular degeneration, demonstrating that age-related LCs dysfunction cannot be explained by intrinsic aging within either the LC or SC lineages alone. We conclude that age-related LC dysfunction is largely driven by aging of the supporting testicular microenvironment.—Curley, M., Milne, L., Smith, S., Jørgensen, A., Frederiksen, H., Hadoke, P., Potter, P., Smith, L. B. A Young testicular microenvironment protects Leydig cells against age-related dysfunction in a mouse model of premature aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Curley
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Milne
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Smith
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Anne Jørgensen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Hanne Frederiksen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,International Centre for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Patrick Hadoke
- The British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Potter
- MRC Mammalian Genetics Unit, MRC Harwell, Harwell, United Kingdom; and
| | - Lee B Smith
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
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24
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Gholami D, Ghaffari SM, Shahverdi A, Sharafi M, Riazi G, Fathi R, Esmaeili V, Hezavehei M. Proteomic analysis and microtubule dynamicity of human sperm in electromagnetic cryopreservation. J Cell Biochem 2018; 119:9483-9497. [PMID: 30074256 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.27265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The proteomic changes, microtubule dynamicity, and quality parameters of human sperm were investigated during cryopreservation in an extremely low electromagnetic field (ELEF) condition. Semen samples were obtained from 210 healthy individuals with normospermia and then were divided into three experimental groups: fresh control, frozen control, and frozen ELEF group. Shotgun proteomics was performed to assess the identification of microtubule proteins of the sperm in experimental groups. Microtubule dynamicity, secondary, and tertiary structure modifications of tubulins, characteristics of transmission electron microscopy of sperm as well as sperm quality parameters were evaluated. The expression ratios of α- and β-tubulins were significantly increased after cryopreservation compared with fresh control while this ratio was not significantly different in frozen ELEF group. The expression ratio of tubulin polymerization-promoting protein was significantly decreased after cryopreservation compared with fresh control. The length, width, and the activity of microtubule, secondary, and tertiary structures of tubulins, motility, and the viability of the sperm were decreased in frozen control as compared with fresh control. The microtubule activity, secondary, and tertiary structures of sperm tubulin in frozen ELEF group were higher than frozen control. Transmission electron microscopy of microtubules showed that the size of the width and length of the microtubules in frozen ELEF group were greater than frozen control. Motility, viability, and reactive oxygen species levels were improved in frozen ELEF group when compared with frozen control. While the microtubule dynamicity of the sperm was affected by the cryopreservation, this trait was improved during the electromagnetic cryopreservation resulted in better motility and viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dariush Gholami
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Mahmood Ghaffari
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Abdolhossein Shahverdi
- Department of Embryology, Reproduction Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACER, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohsen Sharafi
- Department of Embryology, Reproduction Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACER, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Poultry Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Gholamhossein Riazi
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rouhollah Fathi
- Department of Embryology, Reproduction Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACER, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vahid Esmaeili
- Department of Embryology, Reproduction Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACER, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Hezavehei
- Department of Embryology, Reproduction Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACER, Tehran, Iran
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25
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Curley M, Milne L, Smith S, Atanassova N, Rebourcet D, Darbey A, Hadoke PWF, Wells S, Smith LB. Leukemia Inhibitory Factor-Receptor is Dispensable for Prenatal Testis Development but is Required in Sertoli cells for Normal Spermatogenesis in Mice. Sci Rep 2018; 8:11532. [PMID: 30068994 PMCID: PMC6070476 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-30011-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), a pleiotropic cytokine belonging to the interleukin-6 family, is most often noted for its role in maintaining the balance between stem cell proliferation and differentiation. In rodents, LIF is expressed in both the fetal and adult testis; with the peritubular myoid (PTM) cells thought to be the main site of production. Given their anatomical location, LIF produced by PTM cells may act both on intratubular and interstitial cells to influence spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis respectively. Indeed, the leukemia inhibitory factor receptor (LIFR) is expressed in germ cells, Sertoli cells, Leydig cells, PTM cells and testicular macrophages, suggesting that LIF signalling via LIFR may be a key paracrine regulator of testicular function. However, a precise role(s) for testicular LIFR-signalling in vivo has not been established. To this end, we generated and characterised the testicular phenotype of mice lacking LIFR either in germ cells, Sertoli cells or both, to identify a role for LIFR-signalling in testicular development/function. Our analyses reveal that LIFR is dispensable in germ cells for normal spermatogenesis. However, Sertoli cell LIFR ablation results in a degenerative phenotype, characterised by abnormal germ cell loss, sperm stasis, seminiferous tubule distention and subsequent atrophy of the seminiferous tubules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Curley
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Milne
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Smith
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Nina Atanassova
- Institute of Experimental Morphology, Pathology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 1113, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Diane Rebourcet
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Annalucia Darbey
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Patrick W F Hadoke
- The British Heart Foundation Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Wells
- Mary Lyons Centre, MRC Harwell, Harwell Campus, Oxfordshire, OX11 ORD, United Kingdom
| | - Lee B Smith
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom. .,School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, 2308, Australia.
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26
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Yang Y, Adeola AC, Xie HB, Zhang YP. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses reveal selection of genes for puberty in Bama Xiang pigs. Zool Res 2018; 39:424-430. [PMID: 29955027 PMCID: PMC6085766 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2018.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The Bama Xiang pig (BMX) is a famous early-maturing Chinese indigenous breed with a two-end black coat. To uncover the genetic basis of the BMX phenotype, we conducted comparative genomic analyses between BMX and East Asian wild boars and Laiwu pigs, respectively. Genes under positive selection were enriched in pathways associated with gonadal hormone and melanin synthesis, consistent with the phenotypic changes observed during development in BMX pigs. We also performed differentially expressed gene analysis based on RNA-seq data from pituitary tissues of BMX and Large White pigs. The CTTNBP2NL, FRS2, KANK4, and KATNAL1 genes were under selection and exhibited expressional changes in the pituitary tissue, which may affect BMX pig puberty. Our study demonstrated the positive selection of early maturity in the development of BMX pigs and advances our knowledge on the role of regulatory elements in puberty evolution in pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650204, China; E-mails:; .,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Adeniyi C Adeola
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650204, China; E-mails:;
| | - Hai-Bing Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650204, China; E-mails:;
| | - Ya-Ping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650204, China; E-mails:; .,Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming Yunnan 650204, China
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27
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Darbey A, Smith LB. Deliverable transgenics & gene therapy possibilities for the testes. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2018; 468:81-94. [PMID: 29191697 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2017.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Revised: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 11/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Male infertility and hypogonadism are clinically prevalent conditions with a high socioeconomic burden and are both linked to an increased risk in cardiovascular-metabolic diseases and earlier mortality. Therefore, there is an urgent need to better understand the causes and develop new treatments for these conditions that affect millions of men. The accelerating advancement in gene editing and delivery technologies promises improvements in both diagnosis as well as affording the opportunity to develop bespoke treatment options which would both prove beneficial for the millions of individuals afflicted with these reproductive disorders. In this review, we summarise the systems developed and utilised for the delivery of gene therapy and discuss how each of these systems could be applied for the development of a gene therapy system in the testis and how they could be of use for the future diagnosis and repair of common male reproductive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalucia Darbey
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Lee B Smith
- MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK; School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia.
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28
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Gat I, Maghen L, Filice M, Kenigsberg S, Wyse B, Zohni K, Saraz P, Fisher AG, Librach C. Initial germ cell to somatic cell ratio impacts the efficiency of SSC expansion in vitro. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2018; 64:39-50. [PMID: 29193985 DOI: 10.1080/19396368.2017.1406013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Spermatogonial Stem Cell (SSC) expansion in vitro remains a major challenge in efforts to preserve fertility among pubertal cancer survivor boys. The current study focused on innovative approaches to optimize SSC expansion. Six- to eight-week-old CD-1 murine testicular samples were harvested by mechanical and enzymatic digestion. Cell suspensions were incubated for differential plating (DP). After DP, we established two experiments comparing single vs. repetitive DP (S-DP and R-DP, respectively) until passage 2 (P2) completion. Each experiment included a set of cultures consisting of 5 floating-to-attached cell ratios (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25) and control cultures containing floating cells only. We found similar cell and colony count drops during P0 in both S- and R-DP. During P2, counts increased in S-DP in middle ratios (10, 15, and especially 20) relative to low and high ratios (5 and 25, respectively). Counts dropped extensively in R-DP after passage 2. The superiority of intermediate ratios was demonstrated by enrichment of GFRα1 by qPCR. The optimal ratio of 20 in S-DP contained significantly increased proportions of GFRα1-positive cells (25.8±5.8%) as measured by flow cytometry compared to after DP (1.9±0.7%, p<0.0001), as well as positive immunostaining for GFRα1 and UTF1, with rare Sox9-positive cells. This is the first report of the impact of initial floating-to-attached cell ratios on SSC proliferation in vitro. ABBREVIATIONS SSC: spermatogonial stem cells; DP: differential plating; NOA: non-obstructive azoospermia; MACS: magnetic-activated cells sorting; FACS: fluorescence-activated cells sorting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itai Gat
- a CReATe Fertility Centre , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
- b Pinchas Borenstein Talpiot Medical Leadership Program , Sheba Medical Center, Tel HaShomer , Ramat Gan , Israel
- c Sackler Medical School, University of Tel Aviv , Israel
| | - Leila Maghen
- a CReATe Fertility Centre , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
| | | | | | - Brandon Wyse
- a CReATe Fertility Centre , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
| | - Khaled Zohni
- a CReATe Fertility Centre , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
| | - Peter Saraz
- a CReATe Fertility Centre , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
| | | | - Clifford Librach
- a CReATe Fertility Centre , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
- d Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology , University of Toronto , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
- e Department of Gynecology , Women's College Hospital , Toronto , Ontario , Canada
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29
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A missense mutation in Katnal1 underlies behavioural, neurological and ciliary anomalies. Mol Psychiatry 2018; 23:713-722. [PMID: 28373692 PMCID: PMC5761721 DOI: 10.1038/mp.2017.54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Revised: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Microtubule severing enzymes implement a diverse range of tissue-specific molecular functions throughout development and into adulthood. Although microtubule severing is fundamental to many dynamic neural processes, little is known regarding the role of the family member Katanin p60 subunit A-like 1, KATNAL1, in central nervous system (CNS) function. Recent studies reporting that microdeletions incorporating the KATNAL1 locus in humans result in intellectual disability and microcephaly suggest that KATNAL1 may play a prominent role in the CNS; however, such associations lack the functional data required to highlight potential mechanisms which link the gene to disease symptoms. Here we identify and characterise a mouse line carrying a loss of function allele in Katnal1. We show that mutants express behavioural deficits including in circadian rhythms, sleep, anxiety and learning/memory. Furthermore, in the brains of Katnal1 mutant mice we reveal numerous morphological abnormalities and defects in neuronal migration and morphology. Furthermore we demonstrate defects in the motile cilia of the ventricular ependymal cells of mutants, suggesting a role for Katnal1 in the development of ciliary function. We believe the data we present here are the first to associate KATNAL1 with such phenotypes, demonstrating that the protein plays keys roles in a number of processes integral to the development of neuronal function and behaviour.
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30
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Yang CC, Chen YT, Chen CH, Chiang JY, Zhen YY, Yip HK. Assessment of doxorubicin-induced mouse testicular damage by the novel second-harmonic generation microscopy. Am J Transl Res 2017; 9:5275-5288. [PMID: 29312482 PMCID: PMC5752880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Microtubules, maintaining a non-linear structure, are suitable for direct observation in living mammalian by second-harmonic imaging microscopy (SHIM) (a new kind of confocal microscopies). Testes constituted by vast seminiferous microtubules (SM), serve as good candidates for visualization by SHIM. This study employs the SHIM and Western-blot (WB) to assess the cellular-molecular levels of doxorubicin (Dox)-induced mouse testicular damage. The SHIM examination was able to clearly identify the integrity of normal architecture of the living mouse testis, namely, the anatomical features of SM, smooth muscle wall of SM, manchette microtubules, exoplasmic microtubules in Sertoli cells and interstitial connective tissue, as well as the destructive feature of SM in Dox-treated mice (n = 6 per group). By day 21 after Dox-treatment, the testicular weight and testicular length were significantly progressively decreased as Dox dosage was stepwise increased, i.e., 0/5/10/15/20 mg/kg/body-weight (BW) (all p<0.0001). The cross-section area of SM was significantly lower in Dox-treated (15 mg/kg-BW) mice than that in controls (p<0.001). The protein expression of vimentin was significantly progressively increased whereas the protein expression of β-tubulin/androgen-receptor was significantly progressively decreased in stepwise increased Dox dosage (all p<0.001). The protein expressions of inflammatory (MMP-9/IL-1β/TNF-α/iNOX), oxidative-stress (NOX-1/NOX-2/NOX-4/oxidized protein), apoptotic (mitochondrial-Bax/cleaved-caspase-3/PARP), fibrotic (Smad3/TGF-ß) mitochondrial/DNA-damaged (cytosolic cytochrome-C/γ-H2AX/ATM/KU70), and cell apoptotic/death (PTEN/p53) biomarkers were significantly higher in Dox-treated (15 mg/kg-BW) group than those in controls (all p<0.001). In conlusion, the dose-dependent Dox-caused mouse testicular damage can be not only detected by WB in molecular level but also clearly identified by SHIM in living mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Chao Yang
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of MedicineKaohsiung 83301, Taiwan, R.O.C.
| | - Yen-Ta Chen
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of MedicineKaohsiung 83301, Taiwan, R.O.C.
| | - Chih-Hung Chen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of MedicineKaohsiung 83301, Taiwan, R.O.C.
| | - John Y Chiang
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, National Sun Yat-Sen UniversityKaohsiung 80424, Taiwan, R.O.C.
- Department of Healthcare Administration and Medical Informatics, Kaohsiung Medical UniversityKaohsiung 80708, Taiwan, R.O.C.
| | - Yen-Yi Zhen
- Institute for Translational Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial HospitalKaohsiung 83301, Taiwan, R.O.C.
- Center for Shockwave Medicine and Tissue Engineering, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial HospitalKaohsiung 83301, Taiwan, R.O.C.
| | - Hon-Kan Yip
- Institute for Translational Research in Biomedicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial HospitalKaohsiung 83301, Taiwan, R.O.C.
- Center for Shockwave Medicine and Tissue Engineering, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial HospitalKaohsiung 83301, Taiwan, R.O.C.
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of MedicineKaohsiung 83301, Taiwan, R.O.C.
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical UniversityTaichung 40402, Taiwan, R.O.C.
- Department of Nursing, Asia UniversityTaichung 41354, Taiwan, R.O.C.
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Dunleavy JEM, Okuda H, O’Connor AE, Merriner DJ, O’Donnell L, Jamsai D, Bergmann M, O’Bryan MK. Katanin-like 2 (KATNAL2) functions in multiple aspects of haploid male germ cell development in the mouse. PLoS Genet 2017; 13:e1007078. [PMID: 29136647 PMCID: PMC5705150 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2017] [Revised: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The katanin microtubule-severing proteins are essential regulators of microtubule dynamics in a diverse range of species. Here we have defined critical roles for the poorly characterised katanin protein KATNAL2 in multiple aspects of spermatogenesis: the initiation of sperm tail growth from the basal body, sperm head shaping via the manchette, acrosome attachment, and ultimately sperm release. We present data suggesting that depending on context, KATNAL2 can partner with the regulatory protein KATNB1 or act autonomously. Moreover, our data indicate KATNAL2 may regulate δ- and ε-tubulin rather than classical α-β-tubulin microtubule polymers, suggesting the katanin family has a greater diversity of function than previously realised. Together with our previous research, showing the essential requirement of katanin proteins KATNAL1 and KATNB1 during spermatogenesis, our data supports the concept that in higher order species the presence of multiple katanins has allowed for subspecialisation of function within complex cellular settings such as the seminiferous epithelium. Male infertility affects one in twenty men of reproductive age in western countries. Despite this, the biochemical basis of common defects, including reduced sperm count and abnormal sperm structure and function, remains poorly defined. Microtubules are cellular “scaffolds” that serve critical roles in all cells, including developing male germ cells wherein they facilitate mitosis and meiosis (cell division), sperm head remodelling and sperm tail formation. The precise regulation of microtubule number, length and movement is thus, essential for male fertility. Within this manuscript, we have used spermatogenesis to define the function of the putative microtubule-severing protein katanin-like 2 (KATNAL2). We show that mice with compromised KATNAL2 function are male sterile as a consequence of defects in the structural remodelling of germ cells. Notably, we show the function of microtubule-based structures involved in sperm head shaping and tail formation are disrupted. Further, we show for the first time, that KATNAL2 can function both independently or in concert with the katanin regulatory protein KATNB1 and that it can target the poorly characterized tubulin subunits delta and epsilon. Our research has immediate relevance to the origins of human male infertility and provides novel insights into aspects of microtubule regulation relevant to numerous tissues and species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica E. M. Dunleavy
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and The Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria; Australia
| | - Hidenobu Okuda
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria; Australia
| | - Anne E. O’Connor
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria; Australia
| | - D. Jo Merriner
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria; Australia
| | - Liza O’Donnell
- Hudson Institute of Medical Research and Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria; Australia
| | - Duangporn Jamsai
- Development and Stem Cells Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and The Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria; Australia
| | - Martin Bergmann
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Hesse; Germany
| | - Moira K. O’Bryan
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria; Australia
- * E-mail:
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Wang C, Liu W, Wang G, Li J, Dong L, Han L, Wang Q, Tian J, Yu Y, Gao C, Kong Z. KTN80 confers precision to microtubule severing by specific targeting of katanin complexes in plant cells. EMBO J 2017; 36:3435-3447. [PMID: 28978669 DOI: 10.15252/embj.201796823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2017] [Revised: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The microtubule (MT)-severing enzyme katanin triggers dynamic reorientation of cortical MT arrays that play crucial functions during plant cell morphogenesis, such as cell elongation, cell wall biosynthesis, and hormonal signaling. MT severing specifically occurs at crossover or branching nucleation sites in living Arabidopsis cells. This differs from the random severing observed along the entire length of single MTs in vitro and strongly suggests that a precise control mechanism must exist in vivo However, how katanin senses and cleaves at MT crossover and branching nucleation sites in vivo has remained unknown. Here, we show that the katanin p80 subunit KTN80 confers precision to MT severing by specific targeting of the katanin p60 subunit KTN1 to MT cleavage sites and that KTN1 is required for oligomerization of functional KTN80-KTN1 complexes that catalyze severing. Moreover, our findings suggest that the katanin complex in Arabidopsis is composed of a hexamer of KTN1-KTN80 heterodimers that sense MT geometry to confer precise MT severing. Our findings shed light on the precise control mechanism of MT severing in plant cells, which may be relevant for other eukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaofeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Weiwei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guangda Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Li
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Libo Han
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanjun Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Caixia Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaosheng Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Abstract
Many stem cell niches contain support cells that increase contact with stem cells by enwrapping them in cellular processes. One example is the germ stem cell niche in C. elegans, which is composed of a single niche cell termed the distal tip cell (DTC) that extends cellular processes, constructing an elaborate plexus that enwraps germ stem cells. To identify genes required for plexus formation and to explore the function of this specialized enwrapping behavior, a series of targeted and tissue-specific RNAi screens were performed. Here we identify genes that promote stem cell enwrapment by the DTC plexus, including a set that specifically functions within the DTC, such as the chromatin modifier lin-40/MTA1, and others that act within the germline, such as the 14-3-3 signaling protein par-5. Analysis of genes that function within the germline to mediate plexus development reveal that they are required for expansion of the germ progenitor zone, supporting the emerging idea that germ stem cells signal to the niche to stimulate enwrapping behavior. Examination of wild-type animals with asymmetric plexus formation and animals with reduced DTC plexus elaboration via loss of two candidates including lin-40 indicate that cellular enwrapment promotes GLP-1/Notch signaling and germ stem cell fate. Together, our work identifies novel regulators of cellular enwrapment and suggests that reciprocal signaling between the DTC niche and the germ stem cells promotes enwrapment behavior and stem cell fate.
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34
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Expression of katanin p80 in human spermatogenesis. Fertil Steril 2016; 106:1683-1690.e1. [PMID: 27717557 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2016.08.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Revised: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To define the stage-by-stage expression of KATNB1 during human spermatogenesis. DESIGN Gene expression analysis, histologic and immunohistochemical evaluation. SETTING University research laboratories and andrological clinic. PATIENT(S) Eighty human testicular biopsy samples: 43 showing normal spermatogenesis, 9 with maturation arrest at level of spermatocytes, 8 with maturation arrest at level of spermatogonia, and 20 with a Sertoli cell only syndrome. INTERVENTION(S) None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Evaluation of katanin p80 expression in normal as well as impaired spermatogenesis on mRNA (RT-PCR, RT-qPCR, and in situ hybridization) and protein level (immunohistochemistry/immunofluorescence). RESULT(S) KATNB1 messenger RNA is exclusively expressed in germ cells, and quantitatively reduced in maturation arrests at the level of spermatogonia. The KATNB1 protein was detected in type B spermatogonia entering meiosis and in the Golgi complex of pachytene spermatocytes. Immediately before the first meiotic division, it is colocalized with the cleaving centriole. It was also detected in early round spermatids in the dictyosome. CONCLUSION(S) The expression and localization of KATNB1 support a role in spindle formation. The localization of KATNB1 in early round spermatids suggests an involvement in the formation of microtubule-based structures during spermiogenesis (manchette and flagellum). These data are consistent with the demonstrated role of KATNB1 in mouse meiosis, nuclear shaping, and flagellum formation of sperm and suggest the strong conservation of function even between distantly related species.
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35
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Sudo H, Nakajima K. The mitotic tensegrity guardian tau protects mammary epithelia from katanin-like1-induced aneuploidy. Oncotarget 2016; 7:53712-53734. [PMID: 27447563 PMCID: PMC5288216 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.10728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The microtubule associated-protein tau has been identified as an effective positive prognostic indicator in breast cancer. To explore the physiological function of tau in early carcinogenesis, endogenous tau was knocked down in primary cultured human mammary epithelial cells. This resulted in chromosome-bridging during anaphase followed by micronucleation, both of which were suppressed by a further katanin-like1 knockdown. We also detected that the exogenously expressed katanin-like1 induction of cellular transformation is prevented by exogenous tau in rat fibroblasts. The mutant katanin-like1 (L123V) identified in breast cancer showed an increase in this transformation capacity as well as microtubule severing activity resistant to tau. The tau knockdown resulted in a loss of the kinetochore fibers on which tau is normally localized. This physical fragility was also observed in isolated tau-knockdown mitotic spindles, supporting the relevance of microtubule damage to the onset of transformation. The karyotyping of tau-knockdown cells showed increased frequency of loss of one X chromosome, further suggesting the involvement of tau in breast tumorigenesis. We propose that tau may contribute to tumor progression by protecting spindle microtubules from excess severing by katanin-like1. We also present data indicating that the microtubule-binding octapeptide NAP is a candidate modifier against the tau deficiency in tumor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruka Sudo
- Department of Biochemistry, The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Tokyo, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 102-8159, Japan.,Department of Anatomy, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Kazunori Nakajima
- Department of Anatomy, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
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36
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Li N, Mruk DD, Tang EI, Lee WM, Wong CKC, Cheng CY. Formin 1 Regulates Microtubule and F-Actin Organization to Support Spermatid Transport During Spermatogenesis in the Rat Testis. Endocrinology 2016; 157:2894-908. [PMID: 27145014 PMCID: PMC4929546 DOI: 10.1210/en.2016-1133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Formin 1 confers actin nucleation by generating long stretches of actin microfilaments to support cell movement, cell shape, and intracellular protein trafficking. Formin 1 is likely involved in microtubule (MT) dynamics due to the presence of a MT binding domain near its N terminus. Here, formin 1 was shown to structurally interact with α-tubulin, the building block of MT, and also end-binding protein 1 (a MT plus [+]-end-binding protein that stabilizes MT) in the testis. Knockdown of formin 1 in Sertoli cells with an established tight junction barrier was found to induce down-regulation of detyrosinated MT (a stabilized form of MT), and disorganization of MTs, in which MTs were retracted from the cell cortical zone, mediated through a loss of MT polymerization and down-regulation of Akt1/2 signaling kinase. An efficient knockdown of formin 1 in the testis reduced the number of track-like structures conferred by MTs and F-actin considerably, causing defects in spermatid and phagosome transport across the seminiferous epithelium. In summary, formin1 maintains MT and F-actin track-like structures to support spermatid and phagosome transport across the seminiferous epithelium during spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Li
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research (N.L., D.D.M., E.I.T., C.Y.C.), Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065-6307; College of Life Sciences and Oceanography (N.L.), Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; School of Biological Sciences (W.M.L.), University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; and Department of Biology (C.K.C.W.), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Dolores D Mruk
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research (N.L., D.D.M., E.I.T., C.Y.C.), Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065-6307; College of Life Sciences and Oceanography (N.L.), Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; School of Biological Sciences (W.M.L.), University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; and Department of Biology (C.K.C.W.), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Elizabeth I Tang
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research (N.L., D.D.M., E.I.T., C.Y.C.), Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065-6307; College of Life Sciences and Oceanography (N.L.), Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; School of Biological Sciences (W.M.L.), University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; and Department of Biology (C.K.C.W.), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Will M Lee
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research (N.L., D.D.M., E.I.T., C.Y.C.), Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065-6307; College of Life Sciences and Oceanography (N.L.), Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; School of Biological Sciences (W.M.L.), University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; and Department of Biology (C.K.C.W.), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chris K C Wong
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research (N.L., D.D.M., E.I.T., C.Y.C.), Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065-6307; College of Life Sciences and Oceanography (N.L.), Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; School of Biological Sciences (W.M.L.), University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; and Department of Biology (C.K.C.W.), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research (N.L., D.D.M., E.I.T., C.Y.C.), Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065-6307; College of Life Sciences and Oceanography (N.L.), Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; School of Biological Sciences (W.M.L.), University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; and Department of Biology (C.K.C.W.), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
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37
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Cheung K, Senese S, Kuang J, Bui N, Ongpipattanakul C, Gholkar A, Cohn W, Capri J, Whitelegge JP, Torres JZ. Proteomic Analysis of the Mammalian Katanin Family of Microtubule-severing Enzymes Defines Katanin p80 subunit B-like 1 (KATNBL1) as a Regulator of Mammalian Katanin Microtubule-severing. Mol Cell Proteomics 2016; 15:1658-69. [PMID: 26929214 PMCID: PMC4858946 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m115.056465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The Katanin family of microtubule-severing enzymes is critical for remodeling microtubule-based structures that influence cell division, motility, morphogenesis and signaling. Katanin is composed of a catalytic p60 subunit (A subunit, KATNA1) and a regulatory p80 subunit (B subunit, KATNB1). The mammalian genome also encodes two additional A-like subunits (KATNAL1 and KATNAL2) and one additional B-like subunit (KATNBL1) that have remained poorly characterized. To better understand the factors and mechanisms controlling mammalian microtubule-severing, we have taken a mass proteomic approach to define the protein interaction module for each mammalian Katanin subunit and to generate the mammalian Katanin family interaction network (Katan-ome). Further, we have analyzed the function of the KATNBL1 subunit and determined that it associates with KATNA1 and KATNAL1, it localizes to the spindle poles only during mitosis and it regulates Katanin A subunit microtubule-severing activity in vitro. Interestingly, during interphase, KATNBL1 is sequestered in the nucleus through an N-terminal nuclear localization signal. Finally KATNB1 was able to compete the interaction of KATNBL1 with KATNA1 and KATNAL1. These data indicate that KATNBL1 functions as a regulator of Katanin A subunit microtubule-severing activity during mitosis and that it likely coordinates with KATNB1 to perform this function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith Cheung
- From the ‡Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90095
| | - Silvia Senese
- From the ‡Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90095
| | - Jiaen Kuang
- From the ‡Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90095
| | - Ngoc Bui
- From the ‡Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90095
| | - Chayanid Ongpipattanakul
- From the ‡Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90095
| | - Ankur Gholkar
- From the ‡Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90095
| | - Whitaker Cohn
- §Pasarow Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, The Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Joseph Capri
- §Pasarow Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, The Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Julian P Whitelegge
- §Pasarow Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, The Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095; ¶Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90095; ‖Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90095
| | - Jorge Z Torres
- From the ‡Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90095; ¶Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90095; ‖Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Los Angeles, California, 90095
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38
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Li N, Mruk DD, Lee WM, Wong CKC, Cheng CY. Is toxicant-induced Sertoli cell injury in vitro a useful model to study molecular mechanisms in spermatogenesis? Semin Cell Dev Biol 2016; 59:141-156. [PMID: 26779951 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2016.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Sertoli cells isolated from rodents or humans and cultured in vitro are known to establish a functional tight junction (TJ)-permeability barrier that mimics the blood-testis barrier (BTB) in vivo. This model has been widely used by investigators to study the biology of the TJ and the BTB. Studies have shown that environmental toxicants (e.g., perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), bisphenol A (BPA) and cadmium) that exert their disruptive effects to induce Sertoli cell injury using this in vitro model are reproducible in studies in vivo. Thus, this in vitro system provides a convenient approach to probe the molecular mechanism(s) underlying toxicant-induced testis injury but also to provide new insights in understanding spermatogenesis, such as the biology of cell adhesion, BTB restructuring that supports preleptotene spermatocyte transport, and others. Herein, we provide a brief and critical review based on studies using this in vitro model of Sertoli cell cultures using primary cells isolated from rodent testes vs. humans to monitor environmental toxicant-mediated Sertoli cell injury. In short, recent findings have shown that environmental toxicants exert their effects on Sertoli cells to induce testis injury through their action on Sertoli cell actin- and/or microtubule-based cytoskeleton. These effects are mediated via their disruptive effects on actin- and/or microtubule-binding proteins. Sertoli cells also utilize differential spatiotemporal expression of these actin binding proteins to confer plasticity to the BTB to regulate germ cell transport across the BTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Li
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Dolores D Mruk
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, United States
| | - Will M Lee
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Chris K C Wong
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Ave, New York, NY 10065, United States.
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39
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Ververis A, Christodoulou A, Christoforou M, Kamilari C, Lederer CW, Santama N. A novel family of katanin-like 2 protein isoforms (KATNAL2), interacting with nucleotide-binding proteins Nubp1 and Nubp2, are key regulators of different MT-based processes in mammalian cells. Cell Mol Life Sci 2016; 73:163-84. [PMID: 26153462 PMCID: PMC11108477 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-015-1980-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2015] [Revised: 06/08/2015] [Accepted: 06/25/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Katanins are microtubule (MT)-severing AAA proteins with high phylogenetic conservation throughout the eukaryotes. They have been functionally implicated in processes requiring MT remodeling, such as spindle assembly in mitosis and meiosis, assembly/disassembly of flagella and cilia and neuronal morphogenesis. Here, we uncover a novel family of katanin-like 2 proteins (KATNAL2) in mouse, consisting of five alternatively spliced isoforms encoded by the Katnal2 genomic locus. We further demonstrate that in vivo these isoforms are able to interact with themselves, with each other and moreover directly and independently with MRP/MinD-type P-loop NTPases Nubp1 and Nubp2, which are integral components of centrioles, negative regulators of ciliogenesis and implicated in centriole duplication in mammalian cells. We find KATNAL2 localized on interphase MTs, centrioles, mitotic spindle, midbody and the axoneme and basal body of sensory cilia in cultured murine cells. shRNAi of Katnal2 results in inefficient cytokinesis and severe phenotypes of enlarged cells and nuclei, increased numbers of centrioles and the manifestation of aberrant multipolar mitotic spindles, mitotic defects, chromosome bridges, multinuclearity, increased MT acetylation and an altered cell cycle pattern. Silencing or stable overexpression of KATNAL2 isoforms drastically reduces ciliogenesis. In conclusion, KATNAL2s are multitasking enzymes involved in the same cell type in critically important processes affecting cytokinesis, MT dynamics, and ciliogenesis and are also implicated in cell cycle progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonis Ververis
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, University Avenue 1, 1678, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Andri Christodoulou
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, University Avenue 1, 1678, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Maria Christoforou
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, University Avenue 1, 1678, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Christina Kamilari
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, University Avenue 1, 1678, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | | | - Niovi Santama
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, University Avenue 1, 1678, Nicosia, Cyprus.
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Li N, Tang EI, Cheng CY. Regulation of blood-testis barrier by actin binding proteins and protein kinases. Reproduction 2015; 151:R29-41. [PMID: 26628556 DOI: 10.1530/rep-15-0463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 12/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The blood-testis barrier (BTB) is an important ultrastructure in the testis, since the onset of meiosis and spermiogenesis coincides with the establishment of a functional barrier in rodents and humans. It is also noted that a delay in the assembly of a functional BTB following treatment of neonatal rats with drugs such as diethylstilbestrol or adjudin also delays the first wave of spermiation. While the BTB is one of the tightest blood-tissue barriers, it undergoes extensive remodeling, in particular, at stage VIII of the epithelial cycle to facilitate the transport of preleptotene spermatocytes connected in clones across the immunological barrier. Without this timely transport of preleptotene spermatocytes derived from type B spermatogonia, meiosis will be arrested, causing aspermatogenesis. Yet the biology and regulation of the BTB remains largely unexplored since the morphological studies in the 1970s. Recent studies, however, have shed new light on the biology of the BTB. Herein, we critically evaluate some of these findings, illustrating that the Sertoli cell BTB is regulated by actin-binding proteins (ABPs), likely supported by non-receptor protein kinases, to modulate the organization of actin microfilament bundles at the site. Furthermore, microtubule-based cytoskeleton is also working in concert with the actin-based cytoskeleton to confer BTB dynamics. This timely review provides an update on the unique biology and regulation of the BTB based on the latest findings in the field, focusing on the role of ABPs and non-receptor protein kinases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Li
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive ResearchCenter for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - Elizabeth I Tang
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive ResearchCenter for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, USA
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive ResearchCenter for Biomedical Research, Population Council, 1230 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065, USA
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Monroe N, Hill CP. Meiotic Clade AAA ATPases: Protein Polymer Disassembly Machines. J Mol Biol 2015; 428:1897-911. [PMID: 26555750 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2015.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Revised: 11/03/2015] [Accepted: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Meiotic clade AAA ATPases (ATPases associated with diverse cellular activities), which were initially grouped on the basis of phylogenetic classification of their AAA ATPase cassette, include four relatively well characterized family members, Vps4, spastin, katanin and fidgetin. These enzymes all function to disassemble specific polymeric protein structures, with Vps4 disassembling the ESCRT-III polymers that are central to the many membrane-remodeling activities of the ESCRT (endosomal sorting complexes required for transport) pathway and spastin, katanin p60 and fidgetin affecting multiple aspects of cellular dynamics by severing microtubules. They share a common domain architecture that features an N-terminal MIT (microtubule interacting and trafficking) domain followed by a single AAA ATPase cassette. Meiotic clade AAA ATPases function as hexamers that can cycle between the active assembly and inactive monomers/dimers in a regulated process, and they appear to disassemble their polymeric substrates by translocating subunits through the central pore of their hexameric ring. Recent studies with Vps4 have shown that nucleotide-induced asymmetry is a requirement for substrate binding to the pore loops and that recruitment to the protein lattice via MIT domains also relieves autoinhibition and primes the AAA ATPase cassettes for substrate binding. The most striking, unifying feature of meiotic clade AAA ATPases may be their MIT domain, which is a module that is found in a wide variety of proteins that localize to ESCRT-III polymers. Spastin also displays an adjacent microtubule binding sequence, and the presence of both ESCRT-III and microtubule binding elements may underlie the recent findings that the ESCRT-III disassembly function of Vps4 and the microtubule-severing function of spastin, as well as potentially katanin and fidgetin, are highly coordinated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Monroe
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-5650, USA
| | - Christopher P Hill
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-5650, USA.
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Grode KD, Rogers SL. The non-catalytic domains of Drosophila katanin regulate its abundance and microtubule-disassembly activity. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0123912. [PMID: 25886649 PMCID: PMC4401518 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Microtubule severing is a biochemical reaction that generates an internal break in a microtubule and regulation of microtubule severing is critical for cellular processes such as ciliogenesis, morphogenesis, and meiosis and mitosis. Katanin is a conserved heterodimeric ATPase that severs and disassembles microtubules, but the molecular determinants for regulation of microtubule severing by katanin remain poorly defined. Here we show that the non-catalytic domains of Drosophila katanin regulate its abundance and activity in living cells. Our data indicate that the microtubule-interacting and trafficking (MIT) domain and adjacent linker region of the Drosophila katanin catalytic subunit Kat60 cooperate to regulate microtubule severing in two distinct ways. First, the MIT domain and linker region of Kat60 decrease its abundance by enhancing its proteasome-dependent degradation. The Drosophila katanin regulatory subunit Kat80, which is required to stabilize Kat60 in cells, conversely reduces the proteasome-dependent degradation of Kat60. Second, the MIT domain and linker region of Kat60 augment its microtubule-disassembly activity by enhancing its association with microtubules. On the basis of our data, we propose that the non-catalytic domains of Drosophila katanin serve as the principal sites of integration of regulatory inputs, thereby controlling its ability to sever and disassemble microtubules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle D. Grode
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Stephen L. Rogers
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Carolina Center for Genome Sciences, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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O’Hara L, Curley M, Tedim Ferreira M, Cruickshanks L, Milne L, Smith LB. Pituitary androgen receptor signalling regulates prolactin but not gonadotrophins in the male mouse. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0121657. [PMID: 25799562 PMCID: PMC4370825 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2014] [Accepted: 02/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Production of the androgen testosterone is controlled by a negative feedback loop within the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Stimulation of testicular Leydig cells by pituitary luteinising hormone (LH) is under the control of hypothalamic gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH), while suppression of LH secretion by the pituitary is controlled by circulating testosterone. Exactly how androgens exert their feedback control of gonadotrophin secretion (and whether this is at the level of the pituitary), as well as the role of AR in other pituitary cell types remains unclear. To investigate these questions, we exploited a transgenic mouse line (Foxg1Cre/+; ARfl/y) which lacks androgen receptor in the pituitary gland. Both circulating testosterone and gonadotrophins are unchanged in adulthood, demonstrating that AR signalling is dispensable in the male mouse pituitary for testosterone-dependent regulation of LH secretion. In contrast, Foxg1Cre/+; ARfl/y males have a significant increase in circulating prolactin, suggesting that, rather than controlling gonadotrophins, AR-signalling in the pituitary acts to suppress aberrant prolactin production in males.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura O’Hara
- Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Curley
- Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Tedim Ferreira
- Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Lyndsey Cruickshanks
- Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Milne
- Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Lee B. Smith
- Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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Johnson KJ. Testicular histopathology associated with disruption of the Sertoli cell cytoskeleton. SPERMATOGENESIS 2015; 4:e979106. [PMID: 26413393 DOI: 10.4161/21565562.2014.979106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2014] [Accepted: 10/16/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Testicular histological alterations following Sertoli cell cytoskeleton disruption are numerous. The Sertoli cell cytoskeleton is comprised of intermediate filaments, microtubules, microfilaments and their direct interacting proteins and performs essential functions including structural support of the seminiferous epithelium, apicobasal movement of elongate spermatids, and release of elongate spermatids from the seminiferous epithelium during spermiation. This review summarizes the histological changes occurring after disruption of the Sertoli cell cytoskeleton, including the signature lesion of seminiferous epithelium sloughing. By presenting examples of histological changes after exposure to toxins or toxicants directly affecting the Sertoli cell cytoskeleton or genetic manipulations of this cytoskeleton, the toxicologist observing similar histological changes associated with exposure to novel compounds can use this information to generate hypotheses about a potential mode of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamin J Johnson
- Toxicology and Environmental Research and Consulting; The Dow Chemical Company ; Midland, MI USA
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O'Hara L, McInnes K, Simitsidellis I, Morgan S, Atanassova N, Slowikowska-Hilczer J, Kula K, Szarras-Czapnik M, Milne L, Mitchell RT, Smith LB. Autocrine androgen action is essential for Leydig cell maturation and function, and protects against late-onset Leydig cell apoptosis in both mice and men. FASEB J 2014; 29:894-910. [PMID: 25404712 PMCID: PMC4422361 DOI: 10.1096/fj.14-255729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Leydig cell number and function decline as men age, and low testosterone is associated with all “Western” cardio-metabolic disorders. However, whether perturbed androgen action within the adult Leydig cell lineage predisposes individuals to this late-onset degeneration remains unknown. To address this, we generated a novel mouse model in which androgen receptor (AR) is ablated from ∼75% of adult Leydig stem cell/cell progenitors, from fetal life onward (Leydig cell AR knockout mice), permitting interrogation of the specific roles of autocrine Leydig cell AR signaling through comparison to adjacent AR-retaining Leydig cells, testes from littermate controls, and to human testes, including from patients with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS). This revealed that autocrine AR signaling is dispensable for the attainment of final Leydig cell number but is essential for Leydig cell maturation and regulation of steroidogenic enzymes in adulthood. Furthermore, these studies reveal that autocrine AR signaling in Leydig cells protects against late-onset degeneration of the seminiferous epithelium in mice and inhibits Leydig cell apoptosis in both adult mice and patients with CAIS, possibly via opposing aberrant estrogen signaling. We conclude that autocrine androgen action within Leydig cells is essential for the lifelong support of spermatogenesis and the development and lifelong health of Leydig cells.—O’Hara, L., McInnes, K., Simitsidellis, I., Morgan, S., Atanassova, N., Slowikowska-Hilczer, J., Kula, K., Szarras-Czapnik, M., Milne, L., Mitchell, R. T., Smith, L. B. Autocrine androgen action is essential for Leydig cell maturation and function, and protects against late-onset Leydig cell apoptosis in both mice and men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura O'Hara
- *MRC Centre for Reproductive Health and BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Institute of Experimental Morphology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria; Department of Andrology and Reproductive Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland; and Clinic of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kerry McInnes
- *MRC Centre for Reproductive Health and BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Institute of Experimental Morphology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria; Department of Andrology and Reproductive Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland; and Clinic of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ioannis Simitsidellis
- *MRC Centre for Reproductive Health and BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Institute of Experimental Morphology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria; Department of Andrology and Reproductive Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland; and Clinic of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Stephanie Morgan
- *MRC Centre for Reproductive Health and BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Institute of Experimental Morphology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria; Department of Andrology and Reproductive Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland; and Clinic of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Nina Atanassova
- *MRC Centre for Reproductive Health and BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Institute of Experimental Morphology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria; Department of Andrology and Reproductive Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland; and Clinic of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Jolanta Slowikowska-Hilczer
- *MRC Centre for Reproductive Health and BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Institute of Experimental Morphology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria; Department of Andrology and Reproductive Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland; and Clinic of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Kula
- *MRC Centre for Reproductive Health and BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Institute of Experimental Morphology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria; Department of Andrology and Reproductive Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland; and Clinic of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maria Szarras-Czapnik
- *MRC Centre for Reproductive Health and BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Institute of Experimental Morphology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria; Department of Andrology and Reproductive Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland; and Clinic of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Laura Milne
- *MRC Centre for Reproductive Health and BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Institute of Experimental Morphology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria; Department of Andrology and Reproductive Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland; and Clinic of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Rod T Mitchell
- *MRC Centre for Reproductive Health and BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Institute of Experimental Morphology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria; Department of Andrology and Reproductive Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland; and Clinic of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Lee B Smith
- *MRC Centre for Reproductive Health and BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, The Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom; Institute of Experimental Morphology and Anthropology with Museum, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria; Department of Andrology and Reproductive Endocrinology, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland; and Clinic of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Children's Memorial Health Institute, Warsaw, Poland
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O'Donnell L, McLachlan RI, Merriner DJ, O'Bryan MK, Jamsai D. KATNB1 in the human testis and its genetic variants in fertile and oligoasthenoteratozoospermic infertile men. Andrology 2014; 2:884-91. [PMID: 25280067 DOI: 10.1111/andr.276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2014] [Revised: 07/27/2014] [Accepted: 08/20/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT) is a phenotype frequently observed in infertile men, and is defined by low spermatozoa number, abnormal spermatozoa morphology and poor motility. We previously showed that a mutation in the Katnb1 gene in mice causes infertility because of OAT. The KATNB1 gene encodes an accessory subunit of the katanin microtubule-severing enzyme complex; this accessory subunit is thought to modulate microtubule-severing location and activity. We hypothesized that KATNB1 may play a role in human spermatogenesis and that genetic variants in KATNB1 could be associated with OAT in humans. Using immunostaining, we defined the localization of the KATNB1 protein in human testes. KATNB1 was present during spermatid development, and in particular localized to the microtubules of the manchette, a structure required for sperm head shaping. To assess a potential association between genetic variants in the KATNB1 gene and infertile men with OAT, we performed direct sequencing of genomic DNA samples from 100 OAT infertile and 100 proven fertile men. Thirty-seven KATNB1 variants were observed, five of which had not previously been described. Ten variants were present only in OAT men, however, statistical analysis did not reveal a significant association with fertility status. Our results suggest that variants in the KATNB1 gene are not commonly associated with OAT infertility in Australian men.
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Affiliation(s)
- L O'Donnell
- The Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; MIMR-PHI Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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Zhang X, Wang C, Zhang Y, Ju Z, Qi C, Wang X, Huang J, Zhang S, Li J, Zhong J, Shi F. Association between an alternative promoter polymorphism and sperm deformity rate is due to modulation of the expression of KATNAL1 transcripts in Chinese Holstein bulls. Anim Genet 2014; 45:641-51. [PMID: 24990491 DOI: 10.1111/age.12182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/05/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Katanin p60 subunit A-like 1 (KATNAL1) is an ATPase that regulates Sertoli cell microtubule dynamics and sperm retention. We evaluated one novel splice variant and characterized the promoter and a functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the bovine KATNAL1 gene to explore its expression pattern, possible regulatory mechanism and relationship with semen traits in Chinese Holstein bulls. A novel splice variant, KATNAL1 transcript variant 2 (KATNAL1-TV2) of the retained 68 bp in intron 2, was identified by RT-PCR and compared with KATNAL1 transcript variant 1 (KATNAL1-TV1, NM 001192918.1) in various tissues. Bioinformatics analyses predicted that KATNAL1 transcription was regulated by two promoters: P1 in KATNAL1-TV1 and P2 in KATNAL1-TV2. Results of qRT-PCR revealed that KATNAL1-TV1 had higher expression than did KATNAL1-TV2 in testes of adult bulls (P < 0.05). Promoter luciferase activity analysis suggested that the core sequences of P1 and P2 were mapped to the region of c.-575˜c.-180 and c.163-40˜c.333+59 respectively. One novel SNP (c.163-210T>C, ss836312085) located in intron 1 was found using sequence alignment. The SNP in P2 resulted in the presence of the DeltaE binding site, improving its basal promoter activity (P < 0.05); and we observed a greater sperm deformity rate in bulls with the genotype CC than in those with the genotype TT (P < 0.05), which indicated that different genotypes were associated with the bovine semen traits. Bioinformatics analysis of the KATNAL1 protein sequence predicted that the loss of the MIT domain in the KATNAL1-TV2 transcript resulted in protein dysfunction. These findings help us to understand that a functional SNP in P2 and subsequent triggering of expression diversity of KATNAL1 transcripts are likely to play an important role with regard to semen traits in bull breeding programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China; Dairy Cattle Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Science, Jinan, 250131, China; College of Animal Science, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, 453000, China
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Lack of association of KATNAL1 gene sequence variants and azoospermia in humans. J Assist Reprod Genet 2014; 31:1065-71. [PMID: 24913027 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-014-0269-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2014] [Accepted: 06/01/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE A recent experiment indicated that a loss of function mutation in the murine Katnal1 gene resulted in male factor infertility due to premature exfoliation of spermatids. This study investigated the relevance of this gene to infertility in humans. METHODS Multiple methods of genetic analysis were employed to investigate whether mutations in human KATNAL1 have a causative role in male infertility. This was a genetic association study, which included DNA samples from 105 men with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) and 242 anonymous sperm donor controls. 28 commercially available TaqMan SNP assays were used to haplotype samples from both groups and genetically tag regions of interest across the entire gene. AmpliSeq primers were then designed for identified regions so that targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) could be used to identify causative variants. RESULTS Four SNPs in the 3'UTR demonstrated a putative association with NOA. The AmpliSeq primers designed for the 3'UTR provided 83 % coverage of the 7,202 basepairs within the regions of interest. Variant sites were analyzed against genetic models to identify sequence polymorphisms which associated with NOA. No variants met standard criteria for significance when tested between the groups. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests a lack of association of KATNAL1 gene sequence variants and azoospermia in humans.
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Abstract
Hybrid dysfunction, a common feature of reproductive barriers between species, is often caused by negative epistasis between loci ("Dobzhansky-Muller incompatibilities"). The nature and complexity of hybrid incompatibilities remain poorly understood because identifying interacting loci that affect complex phenotypes is difficult. With subspecies in the early stages of speciation, an array of genetic tools, and detailed knowledge of reproductive biology, house mice (Mus musculus) provide a model system for dissecting hybrid incompatibilities. Male hybrids between M. musculus subspecies often show reduced fertility. Previous studies identified loci and several X chromosome-autosome interactions that contribute to sterility. To characterize the genetic basis of hybrid sterility in detail, we used a systems genetics approach, integrating mapping of gene expression traits with sterility phenotypes and QTL. We measured genome-wide testis expression in 305 male F2s from a cross between wild-derived inbred strains of M. musculus musculus and M. m. domesticus. We identified several thousand cis- and trans-acting QTL contributing to expression variation (eQTL). Many trans eQTL cluster into eleven 'hotspots,' seven of which co-localize with QTL for sterility phenotypes identified in the cross. The number and clustering of trans eQTL-but not cis eQTL-were substantially lower when mapping was restricted to a 'fertile' subset of mice, providing evidence that trans eQTL hotspots are related to sterility. Functional annotation of transcripts with eQTL provides insights into the biological processes disrupted by sterility loci and guides prioritization of candidate genes. Using a conditional mapping approach, we identified eQTL dependent on interactions between loci, revealing a complex system of epistasis. Our results illuminate established patterns, including the role of the X chromosome in hybrid sterility. The integrated mapping approach we employed is applicable in a broad range of organisms and we advocate for widespread adoption of a network-centered approach in speciation genetics.
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