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He Z, Fang Y, Zhang F, Liu Y, Cheng X, Wang J, Li D, Chen D, Wu F. Adenine nucleotide translocase 2 (Ant2) is required for individualization of spermatogenesis of Drosophila melanogaster. INSECT SCIENCE 2024; 31:1055-1072. [PMID: 38112480 DOI: 10.1111/1744-7917.13309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Successful completion of spermatogenesis is crucial for the perpetuation of the species. In Drosophila, spermatid individualization, a process involving changes in mitochondrial structure and function is critical to produce functional mature sperm. Ant2, encoding a mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocase, is highly expressed in male testes and plays a role in energy metabolism in the mitochondria. However, its molecular function remains unclear. Here, we identified an important role of Ant2 in spermatid individualization. In Ant2 knockdown testes, spermatid individualization complexes composed of F-actin cones exhibited a diffuse distribution, and mature sperms were absent in the seminal vesicle, thus leading to male sterility. The most striking effects in Ant2-knockdown spermatids were decrease in tubulin polyglycylation and disruption of proper mitochondria derivatives function. Excessive apoptotic cells were also observed in Ant2-knockdown testes. To further investigate the phenotype of Ant2 knockdown in testes at the molecular level, complementary transcriptome and proteome analyses were performed. At the mRNA level, 868 differentially expressed genes were identified, of which 229 genes were upregulated and 639 were downregulated induced via Ant2 knockdown. iTRAQ-labeling proteome analysis revealed 350 differentially expressed proteins, of which 117 proteins were upregulated and 233 were downregulated. The expression of glutathione transferase (GstD5, GstE5, GstE8, and GstD3), proteins involved in reproduction were significantly regulated at both the mRNA and protein levels. These results indicate that Ant2 is crucial for spermatid maturation by affecting mitochondrial morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen He
- Industrial Crops Institute, Hubei Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Yang Fang
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Fengchao Zhang
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Xinkai Cheng
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Jiajia Wang
- Institute of Evolution & Marine Biodiversity, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China
| | - Dechen Li
- Industrial Crops Institute, Hubei Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Dengsong Chen
- Industrial Crops Institute, Hubei Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Fan Wu
- Industrial Crops Institute, Hubei Academy of Agriculture Sciences, Wuhan, China
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Li C, Ren Y, Chen MY, Wang Q, He Z, Wang YF. CG9920 is necessary for mitochondrial morphogenesis and individualization during spermatogenesis in Drosophila melanogaster. Dev Biol 2024; 512:13-25. [PMID: 38703942 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2024.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Drosophila melanogaster is an ideal model organism for investigating spermatogenesis due to its powerful genetics, conserved genes and visible morphology of germ cells during sperm production. Our previous work revealed that ocnus (ocn) knockdown resulted in male sterility, and CG9920 was identified as a significantly downregulated protein in fly abdomen after ocn knockdown, suggesting a role of CG9920 in male reproduction. In this study, we found that CG9920 was highly expressed in fly testes. CG9920 knockdown in fly testes caused male infertility with no mature sperms in seminal vesicles. Immunofluorescence staining showed that depletion of CG9920 resulted in scattered spermatid nuclear bundles, fewer elongation cones that did not migrate to the anterior region of the testis, and almost no individualization complexes. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that CG9920 knockdown severely disrupted mitochondrial morphogenesis during spermatogenesis. Notably, we found that CG9920 might not directly interact with Ocn, but rather was inhibited by STAT92E, which itself was indirectly affected by Ocn. We propose a possible novel pathway essential for spermatogenesis in D. melanogaster, whereby Ocn indirectly induces CG9920 expression, potentially counteracting its inhibition by the JAK-STAT signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Li
- School of Life Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, PR China
| | - Yue Ren
- School of Life Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, PR China
| | - Meng-Yan Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, PR China
| | - Qian Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, PR China
| | - Zhen He
- School of Life Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, PR China
| | - Yu-Feng Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetic Regulation and Integrative Biology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, 430079, PR China.
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Trelford CB, Shepherd TG. LKB1 biology: assessing the therapeutic relevancy of LKB1 inhibitors. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:310. [PMID: 38844908 PMCID: PMC11155146 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01689-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver Kinase B1 (LKB1), encoded by Serine-Threonine Kinase 11 (STK11), is a master kinase that regulates cell migration, polarity, proliferation, and metabolism through downstream adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and AMPK-related kinase signalling. Since genetic screens identified STK11 mutations in Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome, STK11 mutants have been implicated in tumourigenesis labelling it as a tumour suppressor. In support of this, several compounds reduce tumour burden through upregulating LKB1 signalling, and LKB1-AMPK agonists are cytotoxic to tumour cells. However, in certain contexts, its role in cancer is paradoxical as LKB1 promotes tumour cell survival by mediating resistance against metabolic and oxidative stressors. LKB1 deficiency has also enhanced the selectivity and cytotoxicity of several cancer therapies. Taken together, there is a need to develop LKB1-specific pharmacological compounds, but prior to developing LKB1 inhibitors, further work is needed to understand LKB1 activity and regulation. However, investigating LKB1 activity is strenuous as cell/tissue type, mutations to the LKB1 signalling pathway, STE-20-related kinase adaptor protein (STRAD) binding, Mouse protein 25-STRAD binding, splicing variants, nucleocytoplasmic shuttling, post-translational modifications, and kinase conformation impact the functional status of LKB1. For these reasons, guidelines to standardize experimental strategies to study LKB1 activity, associate proteins, spliced isoforms, post-translational modifications, and regulation are of upmost importance to the development of LKB1-specific therapies. Therefore, to assess the therapeutic relevancy of LKB1 inhibitors, this review summarizes the importance of LKB1 in cell physiology, highlights contributors to LKB1 activation, and outlines the benefits and risks associated with targeting LKB1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles B Trelford
- The Mary &, John Knight Translational Ovarian Cancer Research Unit, London Regional Cancer Program, 790 Commissioners Road East, Room A4‑921, London, ON, N6A 4L6, Canada.
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
| | - Trevor G Shepherd
- The Mary &, John Knight Translational Ovarian Cancer Research Unit, London Regional Cancer Program, 790 Commissioners Road East, Room A4‑921, London, ON, N6A 4L6, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Oncology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada
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Chao CF, Pesch YY, Yu H, Wang C, Aristizabal MJ, Huan T, Tanentzapf G, Rideout E. An important role for triglyceride in regulating spermatogenesis. eLife 2024; 12:RP87523. [PMID: 38805376 PMCID: PMC11132686 DOI: 10.7554/elife.87523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Drosophila is a powerful model to study how lipids affect spermatogenesis. Yet, the contribution of neutral lipids, a major lipid group which resides in organelles called lipid droplets (LD), to sperm development is largely unknown. Emerging evidence suggests LD are present in the testis and that loss of neutral lipid- and LD-associated genes causes subfertility; however, key regulators of testis neutral lipids and LD remain unclear. Here, we show LD are present in early-stage somatic and germline cells within the Drosophila testis. We identified a role for triglyceride lipase brummer (bmm) in regulating testis LD, and found that whole-body loss of bmm leads to defects in sperm development. Importantly, these represent cell-autonomous roles for bmm in regulating testis LD and spermatogenesis. Because lipidomic analysis of bmm mutants revealed excess triglyceride accumulation, and spermatogenic defects in bmm mutants were rescued by genetically blocking triglyceride synthesis, our data suggest that bmm-mediated regulation of triglyceride influences sperm development. This identifies triglyceride as an important neutral lipid that contributes to Drosophila sperm development, and reveals a key role for bmm in regulating testis triglyceride levels during spermatogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte F Chao
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| | - Yanina-Yasmin Pesch
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| | - Huaxu Yu
- Department of Chemistry, The University of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| | - Chenjingyi Wang
- Department of Chemistry, The University of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| | | | - Tao Huan
- Department of Chemistry, The University of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| | - Guy Tanentzapf
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
| | - Elizabeth Rideout
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Sciences Institute, The University of British ColumbiaVancouverCanada
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Su Q, Xu B, Chen X, Rokita SE. Misregulation of bromotyrosine compromises fertility in male Drosophila. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2322501121. [PMID: 38748578 PMCID: PMC11126969 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2322501121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Biological regulation often depends on reversible reactions such as phosphorylation, acylation, methylation, and glycosylation, but rarely halogenation. A notable exception is the iodination and deiodination of thyroid hormones. Here, we report detection of bromotyrosine and its subsequent debromination during Drosophila spermatogenesis. Bromotyrosine is not evident when Drosophila express a native flavin-dependent dehalogenase that is homologous to the enzyme responsible for iodide salvage from iodotyrosine in mammals. Deletion or suppression of the dehalogenase-encoding condet (cdt) gene in Drosophila allows bromotyrosine to accumulate with no detectable chloro- or iodotyrosine. The presence of bromotyrosine in the cdt mutant males disrupts sperm individualization and results in decreased fertility. Transgenic expression of the cdt gene in late-staged germ cells rescues this defect and enhances tolerance of male flies to bromotyrosine. These results are consistent with reversible halogenation affecting Drosophila spermatogenesis in a process that had previously eluded metabolomic, proteomic, and genomic analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Su
- Department of Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD21218
| | - Bing Xu
- Department of Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD21218
| | - Xin Chen
- HHMI, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD21218
- Department of Biology, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD21218
| | - Steven E. Rokita
- Department of Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD21218
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Liu XP, Liu CY, Feng YJ, Guo XK, Zhang LS, Wang MQ, Li YY, Zeng FR, Nolan T, Mao JJ. Male vitellogenin regulates gametogenesis through a testis-enriched big protein in Chrysopa pallens. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 33:17-28. [PMID: 37707297 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
In insects, vitellogenin (Vg) is generally viewed as a female-specific protein. Its primary function is to supply nutrition to developing embryos. Here, we reported Vg from the male adults of a natural predator, Chrysopa pallens. The male Vg was depleted by RNAi. Mating with Vg-deficient male downregulated female Vg expression, suppressed ovarian development and decreased reproductive output. Whole-organism transcriptome analysis after male Vg knockdown showed no differential expression of the known spermatogenesis-related regulators and seminal fluid protein genes, but a sharp downregulation of an unknown gene, which encodes a testis-enriched big protein (Vcsoo). Separate knockdown of male Vg and Vcsoo disturbed the assembly of spermatid cytoplasmic organelles in males and suppressed the expansion of ovary germarium in mated females. These results demonstrated that C. pallens male Vg signals through the downstream Vcsoo and regulates male and female reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Ping Liu
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemy Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Chang-Yan Liu
- Institute of Food Crops, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences/Hubei Key Laboratory of Food Crop Germplasm and Genetic, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan-Jiao Feng
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemy Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xing-Kai Guo
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemy Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Li-Sheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemy Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng-Qing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemy Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu-Yan Li
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemy Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Fan-Rong Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemy Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Tony Nolan
- Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Jian-Jun Mao
- Key Laboratory of Natural Enemy Insects, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Institute of Plant Protection, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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7
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Kakino K, Mon H, Ebihara T, Hino M, Masuda A, Lee JM, Kusakabe T. Comprehensive Transcriptome Analysis in the Testis of the Silkworm, Bombyx mori. INSECTS 2023; 14:684. [PMID: 37623394 PMCID: PMC10455414 DOI: 10.3390/insects14080684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023]
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is an important process in reproduction and is conserved across species, but in Bombyx mori, it shows peculiarities, such as the maintenance of spermatogonia by apical cells and fertilization by dimorphic spermatozoa. In this study, we attempted to characterize the genes expressed in the testis of B. mori, focusing on aspects of expression patterns and gene function by transcriptome comparisons between different tissues, internal testis regions, and Drosophila melanogaster. The transcriptome analysis of 12 tissues of B. mori, including those of testis, revealed the widespread gene expression of 20,962 genes and 1705 testis-specific genes. A comparative analysis of the stem region (SR) and differentiated regions (DR) of the testis revealed 4554 and 3980 specific-enriched genes, respectively. In addition, comparisons with D. melanogaster testis transcriptome revealed homologs of 1204 SR and 389 DR specific-enriched genes that were similarly expressed in equivalent regions of Drosophila testis. Moreover, gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was performed for SR-specific enriched genes and DR-specific enriched genes, and the GO terms of several biological processes were enriched, confirming previous findings. This study advances our understanding of spermatogenesis in B. mori and provides an important basis for future research, filling a knowledge gap between fly and mammalian studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Kakino
- Laboratory of Insect Genome Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan; (K.K.); (H.M.); (T.E.)
| | - Hiroaki Mon
- Laboratory of Insect Genome Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan; (K.K.); (H.M.); (T.E.)
| | - Takeru Ebihara
- Laboratory of Insect Genome Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan; (K.K.); (H.M.); (T.E.)
| | - Masato Hino
- Laboratory of Sanitary Entomology, Kyushu University Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan;
| | - Akitsu Masuda
- Laboratory of Creative Science for Insect Industries, Kyushu University Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan; (A.M.); (J.M.L.)
| | - Jae Man Lee
- Laboratory of Creative Science for Insect Industries, Kyushu University Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan; (A.M.); (J.M.L.)
| | - Takahiro Kusakabe
- Laboratory of Insect Genome Science, Kyushu University Graduate School of Bioresource and Bioenvironmental Sciences, Motooka 744, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan; (K.K.); (H.M.); (T.E.)
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Venugopal P, Veyssière H, Couderc JL, Richard G, Vachias C, Mirouse V. Multiple functions of the scaffold protein Discs large 5 in the control of growth, cell polarity and cell adhesion in Drosophila melanogaster. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2020; 20:10. [PMID: 32552730 PMCID: PMC7301484 DOI: 10.1186/s12861-020-00218-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Background Scaffold proteins support a variety of key processes during animal development. Mutant mouse for the MAGUK protein Discs large 5 (Dlg5) presents a general growth impairment and moderate morphogenetic defects. Results Here, we generated null mutants for Drosophila Dlg5 and show that it owns similar functions in growth and epithelial architecture. Dlg5 is required for growth at a cell autonomous level in several tissues and at the organism level, affecting cell size and proliferation. Our results are consistent with Dlg5 modulating hippo pathway in the wing disc, including the impact on cell size, a defect that is reproduced by the loss of yorkie. However, other observations indicate that Dlg5 regulates growth by at least another way that may involve Myc protein but nor PI3K neither TOR pathways. Moreover, epithelia cells mutant for Dlg5 also show a reduction of apical domain determinants, though not sufficient to induce a complete loss of cell polarity. Dlg5 is also essential, in the same cells, for the presence at Adherens junctions of N-Cadherin, but not E-Cadherin. Genetic analyses indicate that junction and polarity defects are independent. Conclusions Together our data show that Dlg5 own several conserved functions that are independent of each other in regulating growth, cell polarity and cell adhesion. Moreover, they reveal a differential regulation of E-cadherin and N-cadherin apical localization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parvathy Venugopal
- iGReD (Institute of Genetics, Reproduction and Development), Université Clermont Auvergne, UMR CNRS 6293 - INSERM U1103, Faculté de Médecine, 28 Place Henri-Dunant, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.,present address : School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Kollam, Kerala, 690525, India
| | - Hugo Veyssière
- iGReD (Institute of Genetics, Reproduction and Development), Université Clermont Auvergne, UMR CNRS 6293 - INSERM U1103, Faculté de Médecine, 28 Place Henri-Dunant, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.,present address : University Clermont Auvergne, INSERM U1240, Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer Jean PERRIN, 58 rue Montalembert, 63011, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Jean-Louis Couderc
- iGReD (Institute of Genetics, Reproduction and Development), Université Clermont Auvergne, UMR CNRS 6293 - INSERM U1103, Faculté de Médecine, 28 Place Henri-Dunant, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Graziella Richard
- iGReD (Institute of Genetics, Reproduction and Development), Université Clermont Auvergne, UMR CNRS 6293 - INSERM U1103, Faculté de Médecine, 28 Place Henri-Dunant, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Caroline Vachias
- iGReD (Institute of Genetics, Reproduction and Development), Université Clermont Auvergne, UMR CNRS 6293 - INSERM U1103, Faculté de Médecine, 28 Place Henri-Dunant, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France
| | - Vincent Mirouse
- iGReD (Institute of Genetics, Reproduction and Development), Université Clermont Auvergne, UMR CNRS 6293 - INSERM U1103, Faculté de Médecine, 28 Place Henri-Dunant, 63000, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
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9
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Brooks D, Naeem F, Stetsiv M, Goetting SC, Bawa S, Green N, Clark C, Bashirullah A, Geisbrecht ER. Drosophila NUAK functions with Starvin/BAG3 in autophagic protein turnover. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1008700. [PMID: 32320396 PMCID: PMC7176095 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The inability to remove protein aggregates in post-mitotic cells such as muscles or neurons is a cellular hallmark of aging cells and is a key factor in the initiation and progression of protein misfolding diseases. While protein aggregate disorders share common features, the molecular level events that culminate in abnormal protein accumulation cannot be explained by a single mechanism. Here we show that loss of the serine/threonine kinase NUAK causes cellular degeneration resulting from the incomplete clearance of protein aggregates in Drosophila larval muscles. In NUAK mutant muscles, regions that lack the myofibrillar proteins F-actin and Myosin heavy chain (MHC) instead contain damaged organelles and the accumulation of select proteins, including Filamin (Fil) and CryAB. NUAK biochemically and genetically interacts with Drosophila Starvin (Stv), the ortholog of mammalian Bcl-2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3). Consistent with a known role for the co-chaperone BAG3 and the Heat shock cognate 71 kDa (HSC70)/HSPA8 ATPase in the autophagic clearance of proteins, RNA interference (RNAi) of Drosophila Stv, Hsc70-4, or autophagy-related 8a (Atg8a) all exhibit muscle degeneration and muscle contraction defects that phenocopy NUAK mutants. We further demonstrate that Fil is a target of NUAK kinase activity and abnormally accumulates upon loss of the BAG3-Hsc70-4 complex. In addition, Ubiquitin (Ub), ref(2)p/p62, and Atg8a are increased in regions of protein aggregation, consistent with a block in autophagy upon loss of NUAK. Collectively, our results establish a novel role for NUAK with the Stv-Hsc70-4 complex in the autophagic clearance of proteins that may eventually lead to treatment options for protein aggregate diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Brooks
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States of America
| | - Fawwaz Naeem
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States of America
| | - Marta Stetsiv
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States of America
| | - Samantha C Goetting
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States of America
| | - Simranjot Bawa
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States of America
| | - Nicole Green
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States of America
| | - Cheryl Clark
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States of America
| | - Arash Bashirullah
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States of America
| | - Erika R Geisbrecht
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, United States of America
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10
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Fabrizio JJ, Rollins J, Bazinet CW, Wegener S, Koziy I, Daniel R, Lombardo V, Pryce D, Bharrat K, Innabi E, Villanobos M, Mendoza G, Ferrara E, Rodway S, Vicioso M, Siracusa V, Dailey E, Pronovost J, Innabi S, Patel V, DeSouza N, Quaranto D, Niknejad A. Tubulin-binding cofactor E-like (TBCEL), the protein product of the mulet gene, is required in the germline for the regulation of inter-flagellar microtubule dynamics during spermatid individualization. Biol Open 2020; 9:bio049080. [PMID: 32033965 PMCID: PMC7055396 DOI: 10.1242/bio.049080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Individual sperm cells are resolved from a syncytium during late step of spermiogenesis known as individualization, which is accomplished by an Individualization Complex (IC) composed of 64 investment cones. mulet encodes Tubulin-binding cofactor E-like (TBCEL), suggesting a role for microtubule dynamics in individualization. Indeed, a population of ∼100 cytoplasmic microtubules fails to disappear in mulet mutant testes during spermatogenesis. This persistence, detected using epi-fluorescence and electron microscopy, suggests that removal of these microtubules by TBCEL is a prerequisite for individualization. Immunofluorescence reveals TBCEL expression in elongated spermatid cysts. In addition, testes from mulet mutant males were rescued to wild type using tubulin-Gal4 to drive TBCEL expression, indicating that the mutant phenotype is caused by the lack of TBCEL. Finally, RNAi driven by bam-GAL4 successfully phenocopied mulet, confirming that mulet is required in the germline for individualization. We propose a model in which the cytoplasmic microtubules serve as alternate tracks for investment cones in mulet mutant testes.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- James J Fabrizio
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Mt St Vincent, Bronx, NY 10471, USA
| | - Janet Rollins
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Mt St Vincent, Bronx, NY 10471, USA
| | | | - Stephanie Wegener
- Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology Magdeburg, Department Genetics of Learning and Memory, 39118 Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Iryna Koziy
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Mt St Vincent, Bronx, NY 10471, USA
| | - Rachel Daniel
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Mt St Vincent, Bronx, NY 10471, USA
| | - Vincent Lombardo
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Mt St Vincent, Bronx, NY 10471, USA
| | - Dwaine Pryce
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Mt St Vincent, Bronx, NY 10471, USA
| | - Kavita Bharrat
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Mt St Vincent, Bronx, NY 10471, USA
| | - Elissa Innabi
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Mt St Vincent, Bronx, NY 10471, USA
| | - Marielle Villanobos
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Mt St Vincent, Bronx, NY 10471, USA
| | - Gabriela Mendoza
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Mt St Vincent, Bronx, NY 10471, USA
| | - Elisa Ferrara
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Mt St Vincent, Bronx, NY 10471, USA
| | - Stephanie Rodway
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Mt St Vincent, Bronx, NY 10471, USA
| | - Matthew Vicioso
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Mt St Vincent, Bronx, NY 10471, USA
| | - Victoria Siracusa
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Mt St Vincent, Bronx, NY 10471, USA
| | - Erin Dailey
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Mt St Vincent, Bronx, NY 10471, USA
| | - Justin Pronovost
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Mt St Vincent, Bronx, NY 10471, USA
| | - Simon Innabi
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Mt St Vincent, Bronx, NY 10471, USA
| | - Vrutant Patel
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Mt St Vincent, Bronx, NY 10471, USA
| | - Nicole DeSouza
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Mt St Vincent, Bronx, NY 10471, USA
| | - Danielle Quaranto
- Division of Natural Sciences, College of Mt St Vincent, Bronx, NY 10471, USA
| | - Amir Niknejad
- Department of Mathematics, College of Mt St Vincent, Bronx, NY 10471, USA
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Drosophila Pif1A is essential for spermatogenesis and is the homolog of human CCDC157, a gene associated with idiopathic NOA. Cell Death Dis 2019; 10:125. [PMID: 30741974 PMCID: PMC6370830 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-019-1398-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Revised: 01/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The dynamic process of spermatogenesis shows little variation between invertebrate models such as Drosophila, and vertebrate models such as mice and rats. In each case, germ stem cells undergo mitotic division to proliferate and then continue, via meiosis, through various stages of elongation and individualization from spermatogonia to spermatid to finally to form mature sperm. Mature sperm are then stored in the seminal vesicles for fertilization. Errors in any of these stages can lead to male infertility. Here, we identify that Drosophila Pif1A acts as a key regulator for sperm individualization. Loss of Pif1A leads to male sterility associated with irregular individualization complex and empty seminal vesicles without mature sperm. Pif1A is highly expressed in the testes of mated male adult flies and the Pif1A protein is expressed at a higher level in male than in female flies. Pif1A is homologous to mammalian coiled-coil domain-containing protein 157 (CCDC157), which is also enriched in the testes of humans and mice. Human CCDC157, with unknown function, was identified to be downregulated in men with idiopathic non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA). We map the function of Drosophila Pif1A during spermatogenesis, showing that Pif1A is essential for spermatide individualization and involved in the regulation of the lipid metabolism genes. Our findings might be applicable for studying the function of CCDC157 in spermatogenesis and other aspects of human male fertility.
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Abstract
Background The formation of matured and individual sperm involves a series of molecular and spectacular morphological changes of the developing cysts in Drosophila melanogaster testis. Recent advances in RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq) technology help us to understand the complexity of eukaryotic transcriptomes by dissecting different tissues and developmental stages of organisms. To gain a better understanding of cellular differentiation of spermatogenesis, we applied RNA-Seq to analyse the testis-specific transcriptome, including coding and non-coding genes. Results We isolated three different parts of the wild-type testis by dissecting and cutting the different regions: 1.) the apical region, which contains stem cells and developing spermatocytes 2.) the middle region, with enrichment of meiotic cysts 3.) the basal region, which contains elongated post-meiotic cysts with spermatids. Total RNA was isolated from each region and analysed by next-generation sequencing. We collected data from the annotated 17412 Drosophila genes and identified 5381 genes with significant transcript accumulation differences between the regions, representing the main stages of spermatogenesis. We demonstrated for the first time the presence and region specific distribution of 2061 lncRNAs in testis, with 203 significant differences. Using the available modENCODE RNA-Seq data, we determined the tissue specificity indices of Drosophila genes. Combining the indices with our results, we identified genes with region-specific enrichment in testis. Conclusion By multiple analyses of our results and integrating existing knowledge about Drosophila melanogaster spermatogenesis to our dataset, we were able to describe transcript composition of different regions of Drosophila testis, including several stage-specific transcripts. We present searchable visualizations that can facilitate the identification of new components that play role in the organisation and composition of different stages of spermatogenesis, including the less known, but complex regulation of post-meiotic stages. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-5085-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Disruption of INOS, a Gene Encoding myo-Inositol Phosphate Synthase, Causes Male Sterility in Drosophila melanogaster. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2018; 8:2913-2922. [PMID: 29991509 PMCID: PMC6118315 DOI: 10.1534/g3.118.200403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Inositol is a precursor for the phospholipid membrane component phosphatidylinositol (PI), involved in signal transduction pathways, endoplasmic reticulum stress, and osmoregulation. Alterations of inositol metabolism have been implicated in human reproductive issues, the therapeutic effects of drugs used to treat epilepsy and bipolar disorder, spinal cord defects, and diseases including diabetes and Alzheimer’s. The sole known inositol synthetic enzyme is myo-inositol synthase (MIPS), and the homolog in Drosophilia melanogaster is encoded by the Inos gene. Three identical deletion strains (inosΔDF/CyO) were constructed, confirmed by PCR and sequencing, and homozygotes (inosΔDF/inosΔDF) were shown to lack the transcript encoding the MIPS enzyme. Without inositol, homozygous inosΔDF deletion fertilized eggs develop only to the first-instar larval stage. When transferred as pupae to food without inositol, however, inosΔDF homozygotes die significantly sooner than wild-type flies. Even with dietary inositol the homozygous inosΔDF males are sterile. An inos allele, with a P-element inserted into the first intron, fails to complement this male sterile phenotype. An additional copy of the Inos gene inserted into another chromosome rescues all the phenotypes. These genetic and phenotypic analyses establish D. melanogaster as an excellent model organism in which to examine the role of inositol synthesis in development and reproduction.
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