A novel method for evaluating the acrosomal status of mammalian spermatozoa

Seeing is believing: Current methods to observe sperm acrosomal exocytosis in real time

Acrosomal exocytosis (AR) is a critical process that sperm need to undergo to fertilize an egg. The evaluation of the presence or absence of the acrosome is usually performed by using lectins or dyes in fixed cells. With this approach, it is neither possible to monitor the dynamic process of exocytosis and related molecular events while discriminating between live and dead cells, nor to evaluate the acrosomal status while sperm reside in the female reproductive tract. However, over the last two decades, several new methodologies have been used to assess the occurrence of AR in living cells allowing different groups to obtain information that was not possible in the past. These techniques have revolutionized the whole study of this process. This review summarizes current methods available to analyze AR in living cells as well as the important information that emerged from studies using these approaches.

Delivering value from sperm proteomics for fertility

Fertilization of an egg by a spermatozoon sets the stage for mammalian development. Viable sperm are a prerequisite for successful fertilization and beyond. Spermatozoa have a unique cell structure where haploid genomic DNA is located in a tiny cytoplasmic space in the head, mitochondria in the midpiece and then the tail, all enclosed by several layers of membrane. Proteins in sperm play vital roles in motility, capacitation, fertilization, egg activation and embryo development. Molecular defects in these proteins are associated with low fertility or in some cases, infertility. This review will first summarize genesis, molecular anatomy and physiology of spermatozoa, fertilization, embryogenesis and then those proteins playing important roles in various aspects of sperm physiology.

The enigma of ATCE1, an acrosome-associated transcription factor

Atce1 belongs to the CREB3/LZIP subtype of the ATF/CREB transcription factor gene family. Its transcription has previously been shown to be testis-specific and within the testis to be restricted to haploid spermatids. In this study, we characterized the protein's distribution in the testis and found that it accumulates in late round and in elongating spermatids, corresponding to developmental stages considered transcriptionally silent. ATCE1 accumulation is acrosome-specific and persists up to mature epididymal cells, at which stage the protein remained associated with the inner acrosome membrane even after acrosomal reaction. No nuclear localization was evident at any spermatogenic stage. Expression of full-length ATCE1 in various cell lines revealed ER and Golgi localization whereas truncation of the C-terminus allowed entrance into the nucleus. Potent transcriptional activation activity, from kB-containing regulatory elements (but not from CRE elements as one might expect), was observed using the C-terminally truncated nuclear form of ATCE1. These results raise the question of why would a transcription factor be specifically anchored to the acrosome inner membrane? An intriguing speculation that ATCE1 might be paternally delivered to the newly formed zygote is discussed.