The genetic bases and molecular mechanisms involved in the assembly and function of the flagellum components as well as in the regulation of the flagellar movement are not fully understood, especially in humans. There...The genetic bases and molecular mechanisms involved in the assembly and function of the flagellum components as well as in the regulation of the flagellar movement are not fully understood, especially in humans. There are several causes for sperm immotility, of which some can be avoided and corrected, whereas other are related to genetic defects and deserve full investigation to give a diagnosis to patients. This review was performed after an extensive literature search on the online databases PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. Here, we review the involvement of regulatory pathways responsible for sperm motility, indicating possible causes for sperm immotility. These included the calcium pathway, the cAMP-dependent protein kinase pathway, the importance of kinases and phosphatases, the function of reactive oxygen species, and how the regulation of cell volume and osmolarity are also fundamental components. We then discuss main gene defects associated with specific morphological abnormalities. Finally, we slightly discuss some preventive and treatments approaches to avoid development of conditions that are associated with unspecified sperm immotility. We believe that in the near future, with the development of more powerful techniques, the genetic causes of sperm immotility and the regulatory mechanisms of sperm motility will be better understand, thus enabling to perform a full diagnosis and uncover new therapies.展开更多
本实验系统评价了抗冻蛋白Ⅲ(AFPⅢ)对山羊精子的冷冻保护效果。采用假阴道法采集6只云南黑山羊精液,离心洗涤去除精浆后和冷冻稀释液(0、0.1、1、10、100μg/m L AFPⅢ)混合,经4℃平衡、液氮气相预冻后直接投入液氮保存。解冻后检测精...本实验系统评价了抗冻蛋白Ⅲ(AFPⅢ)对山羊精子的冷冻保护效果。采用假阴道法采集6只云南黑山羊精液,离心洗涤去除精浆后和冷冻稀释液(0、0.1、1、10、100μg/m L AFPⅢ)混合,经4℃平衡、液氮气相预冻后直接投入液氮保存。解冻后检测精子活力、顶体、质膜以及早期凋亡等指标。同时采用透射电镜(TEM)观察冷冻对精子超微结构的影响。结果表明:与对照组相比,AFPⅢ并不能显著改善山羊解冻后精子活力、顶体完整性、质膜完整性和低渗耐受性(P>0.05)。此外,AFPⅢ并不能抑制解冻后精子的磷脂酰丝氨酸(PS)外翻。电镜实验结果进一步证实,AFPⅢ并不能有效保护冷冻精子质膜。总之,本实验证实,AFPⅢ并不能降低山羊精子的冷冻损伤,相反其可能加重冷冻对精子质膜的损伤,其损伤机制尚需要进一步研究。展开更多
The serine/threonine phosphatase （PP1） isoform PP1γ2, predominantly expressed in the testis, is a key enzyme in spermatozoa. High PP1γ2 catalytic activity holds motility in check in immature spermatozoa. Inhibitio...The serine/threonine phosphatase （PP1） isoform PP1γ2, predominantly expressed in the testis, is a key enzyme in spermatozoa. High PP1γ2 catalytic activity holds motility in check in immature spermatozoa. Inhibition of PP1γ2 causes motility initiation in immature spermatozoa and motility stimulation and changes in flagellar beat parameters in mature spermatozoa. The PP1γ2 isoform is present in all mammalian spermatozoa studied： mouse, rat, hamster, bovine, non-human primate and man. We have now identified at least four of its regulatory proteins that regulate distinct pools of PP1γ2 within spermatozoa. Our studies provide new insights into biochemical mechanisms underlying development and regulation of sperm motility. We hypothesize that changes in sperm PP1γ2 activity as a result of phosphorylation and reversible binding of the regulatory proteins to the catalytic subunit are critical in the development and regulation of motility and the ability of sperm to fertilize eggs. Targeted disruption of the Ppplcc gene, which encodes the PP1γ1 or PP1γ2 isoforms, causes male infertility in mice as a result of impaired spermiogenesis. Our observations suggest that, in addition to motility, the protein phosphatase PP1γ2 might play an isoform-specific function in the development of specialized flagellar structures of mammalian spermatozoa. （Asian J Androl 2007 July; 9： 445--452）展开更多
蛋白质棕榈酰化是指饱和十六碳的棕榈酸盐通过硫酯键或者酰胺键连接在蛋白质肽链的半胱氨酸上,属翻译后修饰,可影响蛋白质的相互作用、稳定性及定位等功能。热休克蛋白90(heat shock protein 90,Hsp90)是一种重要的分子伴侣,已证明其参...蛋白质棕榈酰化是指饱和十六碳的棕榈酸盐通过硫酯键或者酰胺键连接在蛋白质肽链的半胱氨酸上,属翻译后修饰,可影响蛋白质的相互作用、稳定性及定位等功能。热休克蛋白90(heat shock protein 90,Hsp90)是一种重要的分子伴侣,已证明其参与精子获能等生理过程。然而,哺乳动物精子中是否存在蛋白质棕榈酰化,Hsp90在精子不同生理状态下是否发生棕榈酰化,目前尚不清楚。本研究首先采用酰基-生物素置换法检测小鼠附睾尾部成熟精子总蛋白质棕榈酰化情况,然后通过CSS-Palm 4.0软件预测Hsp90的棕榈酰化位点,再进一步结合免疫沉淀方法检测附睾头部、附睾尾部精子的Hsp90棕榈酰化情况。结果显示,小鼠附睾尾部精子多种蛋白质存在棕榈酰化,其中分子量大小约50、65、72、85和130 k Da的蛋白质发生棕榈酰化最为显著;软件预测显示Hsp90两个亚型共有5个棕榈酰化位点;免疫沉淀结果也显示小鼠精子存在棕榈酰化的Hsp90,且其棕榈酰化水平与小鼠精子的生理状态有关:附睾尾部棕榈酰化水平比附睾头部高,而获能后的棕榈酰化水平比获能前明显升高。以上结果表明,哺乳动物精子中存在蛋白棕榈酰化,且Hsp90棕榈酰化可能参与精子生理状态的调节。展开更多
Nematode sperm undergo a drastic physiological change during spermiogenesis(sperm activation).Unlike mammalian flagellated sperm,nematode sperm are amoeboid cells and their motility is driven by the dynamics of a cyto...Nematode sperm undergo a drastic physiological change during spermiogenesis(sperm activation).Unlike mammalian flagellated sperm,nematode sperm are amoeboid cells and their motility is driven by the dynamics of a cytoskeleton composed of major sperm protein(MSP)rather than actin found in other crawling cells.This review focuses on sperm from Caenorhabditis elegans and Ascaris suum to address the roles of external and internal factors that trigger sperm activation and power sperm motility.Nematode sperm can be activated in vitro by several factors,including Pronase and ionophores,and in vivo through the TRY-5 and SPE-8 pathways.Moreover,protease and protease inhibitors are crucial regulators of sperm maturation.MSP-based sperm motility involves a coupled process of protrusion and retraction,both of which have been reconstituted in vitro.Sperm motility is mediated by phosphorylation signals,as illustrated by identification of several key components(MPOP,MFPs and MPAK)in Ascaris and the characterization of GSP-3/4 in C.elegans.展开更多
To study whether the antibody against the testis form of the nuclear autoantigenic sperm protein(tNASP)could result in reproductive failure,we successfully cloned and expressed a 339-bp cDNA fragment of mouse tNASP(mt...To study whether the antibody against the testis form of the nuclear autoantigenic sperm protein(tNASP)could result in reproductive failure,we successfully cloned and expressed a 339-bp cDNA fragment of mouse tNASP(mtNASP).Using mouse as a model,recombinant mtNASP(rmtNASP)and a synthetic peptide,human tNASP393-408(htNASP393-408),were investigated for their antifertility effect.Active immunization with rmtNASP or the synthesized peptide raised high antibody titers in the immunized mice.Sperm-egg binding and fusion assay were carried out in 8-10-week-old BALB/c mice.Sperm-egg binding and in vitro fertilization of mouse oocytes were inhibited by co-incubation of zona-free mouse oocytes with capacitated mouse spermatozoa in the presence of varying concentrations of the antisera against rmtNASP.There was a significant antifertility effect in animals immunized with rmtNASP or the synthesized peptide.The effect on fertility in the mice immunized with the synthesized peptide was reversible.Our data indicate that active immunization with rmtNASP antigen may induce a strong antibody response that causes an inhibition of fertility.展开更多
Numerous genes have been associated with multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella(MMAF),which cause severe asthenozoospermia and lead to male infertility,while the causes of approximately 50%of MMAF ...Numerous genes have been associated with multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella(MMAF),which cause severe asthenozoospermia and lead to male infertility,while the causes of approximately 50%of MMAF cases remain unclear.To reveal the genetic causes of MMAF in an infertile patient,whole-exome sequencing was performed to screen for pathogenic genes,and electron microscope was used to reveal the sperm flagellar ultrastructure.A novel heterozygous missense mutation in the outer dense fiber protein 2(ODF2)gene was detected,which was inherited from the patient’s mother and predicted to be potentially damaging.Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the outer dense fibers were defective in the patient’s sperm tail,which was similar to that of the reported heterozygous Odf2 mutation mouse.Immunostaining of ODF2 showed severe ODF2 expression defects in the patient’s sperm.Therefore,it was concluded that the heterozygous mutation in ODF2 caused MMAF in this case.To evaluate the possibility of assisted reproductive technology(ART)treatment for this patient,intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI)was performed,with the help of a hypo-osmotic swelling test and laser-assisted immotile sperm selection(LAISS)for available sperm screening,and artificial oocyte activation with ionomycin was applied to improve the fertilization rate.Four ICSI cycles were performed,and live birth was achieved in the LAISS-applied cycle,suggesting that LAISS would be valuable in ART treatment for MMAF.展开更多
文摘The genetic bases and molecular mechanisms involved in the assembly and function of the flagellum components as well as in the regulation of the flagellar movement are not fully understood, especially in humans. There are several causes for sperm immotility, of which some can be avoided and corrected, whereas other are related to genetic defects and deserve full investigation to give a diagnosis to patients. This review was performed after an extensive literature search on the online databases PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science. Here, we review the involvement of regulatory pathways responsible for sperm motility, indicating possible causes for sperm immotility. These included the calcium pathway, the cAMP-dependent protein kinase pathway, the importance of kinases and phosphatases, the function of reactive oxygen species, and how the regulation of cell volume and osmolarity are also fundamental components. We then discuss main gene defects associated with specific morphological abnormalities. Finally, we slightly discuss some preventive and treatments approaches to avoid development of conditions that are associated with unspecified sperm immotility. We believe that in the near future, with the development of more powerful techniques, the genetic causes of sperm immotility and the regulatory mechanisms of sperm motility will be better understand, thus enabling to perform a full diagnosis and uncover new therapies.
文摘本实验系统评价了抗冻蛋白Ⅲ(AFPⅢ)对山羊精子的冷冻保护效果。采用假阴道法采集6只云南黑山羊精液,离心洗涤去除精浆后和冷冻稀释液(0、0.1、1、10、100μg/m L AFPⅢ)混合,经4℃平衡、液氮气相预冻后直接投入液氮保存。解冻后检测精子活力、顶体、质膜以及早期凋亡等指标。同时采用透射电镜(TEM)观察冷冻对精子超微结构的影响。结果表明:与对照组相比,AFPⅢ并不能显著改善山羊解冻后精子活力、顶体完整性、质膜完整性和低渗耐受性(P>0.05)。此外,AFPⅢ并不能抑制解冻后精子的磷脂酰丝氨酸(PS)外翻。电镜实验结果进一步证实,AFPⅢ并不能有效保护冷冻精子质膜。总之,本实验证实,AFPⅢ并不能降低山羊精子的冷冻损伤,相反其可能加重冷冻对精子质膜的损伤,其损伤机制尚需要进一步研究。
文摘The serine/threonine phosphatase （PP1） isoform PP1γ2, predominantly expressed in the testis, is a key enzyme in spermatozoa. High PP1γ2 catalytic activity holds motility in check in immature spermatozoa. Inhibition of PP1γ2 causes motility initiation in immature spermatozoa and motility stimulation and changes in flagellar beat parameters in mature spermatozoa. The PP1γ2 isoform is present in all mammalian spermatozoa studied： mouse, rat, hamster, bovine, non-human primate and man. We have now identified at least four of its regulatory proteins that regulate distinct pools of PP1γ2 within spermatozoa. Our studies provide new insights into biochemical mechanisms underlying development and regulation of sperm motility. We hypothesize that changes in sperm PP1γ2 activity as a result of phosphorylation and reversible binding of the regulatory proteins to the catalytic subunit are critical in the development and regulation of motility and the ability of sperm to fertilize eggs. Targeted disruption of the Ppplcc gene, which encodes the PP1γ1 or PP1γ2 isoforms, causes male infertility in mice as a result of impaired spermiogenesis. Our observations suggest that, in addition to motility, the protein phosphatase PP1γ2 might play an isoform-specific function in the development of specialized flagellar structures of mammalian spermatozoa. （Asian J Androl 2007 July; 9： 445--452）
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.81571426,81170554)the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province,China(No.LY14H040012)Public Project for Technological Research and Social Development,the Science and Technology Plan of Zhejiang Province,China(No.2013C31066)
文摘蛋白质棕榈酰化是指饱和十六碳的棕榈酸盐通过硫酯键或者酰胺键连接在蛋白质肽链的半胱氨酸上,属翻译后修饰,可影响蛋白质的相互作用、稳定性及定位等功能。热休克蛋白90(heat shock protein 90,Hsp90)是一种重要的分子伴侣,已证明其参与精子获能等生理过程。然而,哺乳动物精子中是否存在蛋白质棕榈酰化,Hsp90在精子不同生理状态下是否发生棕榈酰化,目前尚不清楚。本研究首先采用酰基-生物素置换法检测小鼠附睾尾部成熟精子总蛋白质棕榈酰化情况,然后通过CSS-Palm 4.0软件预测Hsp90的棕榈酰化位点,再进一步结合免疫沉淀方法检测附睾头部、附睾尾部精子的Hsp90棕榈酰化情况。结果显示,小鼠附睾尾部精子多种蛋白质存在棕榈酰化,其中分子量大小约50、65、72、85和130 k Da的蛋白质发生棕榈酰化最为显著;软件预测显示Hsp90两个亚型共有5个棕榈酰化位点;免疫沉淀结果也显示小鼠精子存在棕榈酰化的Hsp90,且其棕榈酰化水平与小鼠精子的生理状态有关:附睾尾部棕榈酰化水平比附睾头部高,而获能后的棕榈酰化水平比获能前明显升高。以上结果表明,哺乳动物精子中存在蛋白棕榈酰化,且Hsp90棕榈酰化可能参与精子生理状态的调节。
基金supported by the National Basic Research Program of China(Nos.2012CB94502,2010CB912303)(to L.M.)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.31171337 and 30971648)(to L.M.)+1 种基金Grant Nos.30871226 and 31071180(to Y.Z.)supported by the Chinese Academy of Sciences 100-Talents Program.
文摘Nematode sperm undergo a drastic physiological change during spermiogenesis(sperm activation).Unlike mammalian flagellated sperm,nematode sperm are amoeboid cells and their motility is driven by the dynamics of a cytoskeleton composed of major sperm protein(MSP)rather than actin found in other crawling cells.This review focuses on sperm from Caenorhabditis elegans and Ascaris suum to address the roles of external and internal factors that trigger sperm activation and power sperm motility.Nematode sperm can be activated in vitro by several factors,including Pronase and ionophores,and in vivo through the TRY-5 and SPE-8 pathways.Moreover,protease and protease inhibitors are crucial regulators of sperm maturation.MSP-based sperm motility involves a coupled process of protrusion and retraction,both of which have been reconstituted in vitro.Sperm motility is mediated by phosphorylation signals,as illustrated by identification of several key components(MPOP,MFPs and MPAK)in Ascaris and the characterization of GSP-3/4 in C.elegans.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.30470909 to Chen Xu,and No.30640031 to Chen Xu)the Deng Shan Project of Shanghai Municipal Commission of Science and Technology(No.06JC14046 to Chen Xu)+2 种基金the‘973’Basic Research Funding Scheme of China(No.G199905501 to Chen Xu)the Science Research Project of Science&Technology Commission of Shanghai(No.06ZR14057 to Jian-Li Shi)the Shanghai Leading Academic Discipline Project(No.S30201 to Chen Xu).
文摘To study whether the antibody against the testis form of the nuclear autoantigenic sperm protein(tNASP)could result in reproductive failure,we successfully cloned and expressed a 339-bp cDNA fragment of mouse tNASP(mtNASP).Using mouse as a model,recombinant mtNASP(rmtNASP)and a synthetic peptide,human tNASP393-408(htNASP393-408),were investigated for their antifertility effect.Active immunization with rmtNASP or the synthesized peptide raised high antibody titers in the immunized mice.Sperm-egg binding and fusion assay were carried out in 8-10-week-old BALB/c mice.Sperm-egg binding and in vitro fertilization of mouse oocytes were inhibited by co-incubation of zona-free mouse oocytes with capacitated mouse spermatozoa in the presence of varying concentrations of the antisera against rmtNASP.There was a significant antifertility effect in animals immunized with rmtNASP or the synthesized peptide.The effect on fertility in the mice immunized with the synthesized peptide was reversible.Our data indicate that active immunization with rmtNASP antigen may induce a strong antibody response that causes an inhibition of fertility.
基金supported by grant from the National Key Research and Development Program of China(No.2017YFC1002003).
文摘Numerous genes have been associated with multiple morphological abnormalities of the sperm flagella(MMAF),which cause severe asthenozoospermia and lead to male infertility,while the causes of approximately 50%of MMAF cases remain unclear.To reveal the genetic causes of MMAF in an infertile patient,whole-exome sequencing was performed to screen for pathogenic genes,and electron microscope was used to reveal the sperm flagellar ultrastructure.A novel heterozygous missense mutation in the outer dense fiber protein 2(ODF2)gene was detected,which was inherited from the patient’s mother and predicted to be potentially damaging.Transmission electron microscopy revealed that the outer dense fibers were defective in the patient’s sperm tail,which was similar to that of the reported heterozygous Odf2 mutation mouse.Immunostaining of ODF2 showed severe ODF2 expression defects in the patient’s sperm.Therefore,it was concluded that the heterozygous mutation in ODF2 caused MMAF in this case.To evaluate the possibility of assisted reproductive technology(ART)treatment for this patient,intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI)was performed,with the help of a hypo-osmotic swelling test and laser-assisted immotile sperm selection(LAISS)for available sperm screening,and artificial oocyte activation with ionomycin was applied to improve the fertilization rate.Four ICSI cycles were performed,and live birth was achieved in the LAISS-applied cycle,suggesting that LAISS would be valuable in ART treatment for MMAF.
