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Jin P, Zhang Q, Zang Y, Zhao L, Zhang H, Yu K, Liang X, Zi X, Shi L. Down Regulation of EGF and AZGP1 Were Associated with Clinical Characteristics in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps: An Observation Study. J Inflamm Res 2023; 16:4885-4898. [PMID: 37920240 PMCID: PMC10619462 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s428238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The mechanisms underlying the chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) remained unclear. This study aimed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in nasal polyps from CRSwNP patients compared to healthy controls and explore key genes and pathways associated with CRSwNP pathophysiology and prognosis. Methods Three datasets were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database and the intersecting DEGs were identified in CRSwNP patients. Gene Ontology (GO) and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis were applied to investigate the function of DEGs. Nasal specimens from 90 CRSwNP and 45 controls were further collected and qRT-PCR was applied to verify the mRNA expression of hub genes, and moreover, their association with tissue eosinophilia and clinical characteristics in CRSwNP were analyzed. Results Sixty-eight co-DEGs including 8 upregulated and 60 downregulated genes were identified and GO analyses identified the terms including positive regulation of ERK1 and ERK2 cascade, transforming growth factor beta receptor signaling pathway. PPI networks identified hub genes including EGF, ERBB4, AZGP1, CRISP3 and PIP which were validated to be significantly down-regulated in CRSwNP and showed well diagnostic prediction quality. In addition, lower mRNA expressions level of EGF and AZGP1 in eosinophilic CRSwNP compared with non-eosinophilic CRSwNP were found. Aberrant low expressions of EGF and AZGP1 protein in CRSwNP were identified, and there was good consistency between their mRNA expression level and protein relative expression level. Furthermore, the expressions of EGF and AZGP1 mRNA were significantly correlated with clinical severity parameters. Conclusion Integrated analysis revealed 68 co-DEGs between nasal polyps and controls and identified hub genes, of which EGF and AZGP1 expression was significantly downregulated in eosinophilic CRSwNP and correlated with disease severity. Downregulation of EGF and AZGP1 may contribute to epithelial barrier dysfunction and type 2 inflammation in CRSwNP, suggesting them as potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Jin
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Qinqin Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yiran Zang
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Li Zhao
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hongyang Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Kena Yu
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xu Liang
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoxue Zi
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Li Shi
- Department of Otolaryngology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, People’s Republic of China
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Gonzalez SN, Sulzyk V, Weigel Muñoz M, Cuasnicu PS. Cysteine-Rich Secretory Proteins (CRISP) are Key Players in Mammalian Fertilization and Fertility. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:800351. [PMID: 34970552 PMCID: PMC8712725 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.800351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian fertilization is a complex process involving a series of successive sperm-egg interaction steps mediated by different molecules and mechanisms. Studies carried out during the past 30 years, using a group of proteins named CRISP (Cysteine-RIch Secretory Proteins), have significantly contributed to elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying mammalian gamete interaction. The CRISP family is composed of four members (i.e., CRISP1-4) in mammals, mainly expressed in the male tract, present in spermatozoa and exhibiting Ca2+ channel regulatory abilities. Biochemical, molecular and genetic approaches show that each CRISP protein participates in more than one stage of gamete interaction (i.e., cumulus penetration, sperm-ZP binding, ZP penetration, gamete fusion) by either ligand-receptor interactions or the regulation of several capacitation-associated events (i.e., protein tyrosine phosphorylation, acrosome reaction, hyperactivation, etc.) likely through their ability to regulate different sperm ion channels. Moreover, deletion of different numbers and combination of Crisp genes leading to the generation of single, double, triple and quadruple knockout mice showed that CRISP proteins are essential for male fertility and are involved not only in gamete interaction but also in previous and subsequent steps such as sperm transport within the female tract and early embryo development. Collectively, these observations reveal that CRISP have evolved to perform redundant as well as specialized functions and are organized in functional modules within the family that work through independent pathways and contribute distinctly to fertility success. Redundancy and compensation mechanisms within protein families are particularly important for spermatozoa which are transcriptionally and translationally inactive cells carrying numerous protein families, emphasizing the importance of generating multiple knockout models to unmask the true functional relevance of family proteins. Considering the high sequence and functional homology between rodent and human CRISP proteins, these observations will contribute to a better understanding and diagnosis of human infertility as well as the development of new contraceptive options.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Patricia S. Cuasnicu
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Słowińska M, Pardyak L, Liszewska E, Judycka S, Bukowska J, Dietrich MA, Paukszto Ł, Jastrzębski J, Kozłowski K, Kowalczyk A, Jankowski J, Bilińska B, Ciereszko A. Characterization and biological role of cysteine-rich venom protein belonging to CRISPs from turkey seminal plasma†. Biol Reprod 2021; 104:1302-1321. [PMID: 33675663 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Turkey semen contains cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs) that belong to the dominant seminal plasma proteins. We aimed to isolate and characterize CRISP from turkey seminal plasma and evaluate its possible involvement in yellow semen syndrome (YSS). YSS, which is well characterized, causes reduced fertility and hatchability. The protein was purified using hydrophobic interaction, gel filtration, and reverse phase chromatography. It then was subjected to identification by mass spectrometry, analysis of physicochemical properties, and specific antibody production. The biological function of the isolated protein was tested and included its effects on sperm motility and migration and sperm-egg interactions. Sperm motility was measured with the CASA system using Hobson Sperm Tracker. The reproductive tract of turkey toms was analyzed for gene expression; immunohistochemistry was used for protein localization in the male reproductive tract, spermatozoa, and inner perivitelline layer. The isolated protein was identified as cysteine-rich venom protein-like isoform X2 (CRVP X2; XP_010706464.1) and contained feature motifs of CRISP family proteins. Turkey CRVP X2 was present in both spermatozoa and seminal plasma. The extensive secretion of CRVP X2 by the epithelial cells of the epididymis and ductus deferens suggests its involvement in post-testicular sperm maturation. The internally localized CRVP X2 in the proximal part of the sperm tail might be responsible for stimulation of sperm motility. CRVP X2 on the sperm head might be involved in several events prior to fusion and may also participate in gamete fusion itself. Although the mechanisms by which CRVP X2 mediates fertilization are still unknown, the involvement of complementary sites cannot be excluded. The disturbance of CRVP X2 expression can serve as an etiologic factor of YSS in the turkey. This study expands the understanding of the detailed mechanism of fertilization in birds by clarifying the specific role of CRVP X2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariola Słowińska
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Laura Pardyak
- Center of Experimental and Innovative Medicine, University of Agriculture in Kraków, Kraków, Poland
| | - Ewa Liszewska
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Sylwia Judycka
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Joanna Bukowska
- Department of Biological Function of Food, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Mariola Aleksandra Dietrich
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Łukasz Paukszto
- Department of Plant Physiology, Genetics, and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Jan Jastrzębski
- Department of Plant Physiology, Genetics, and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Kozłowski
- Department of Poultry Science and Apiculture, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Artur Kowalczyk
- Division of Poultry Breeding, Institute of Animal Breeding, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wrocław, Poland
| | - Jan Jankowski
- Department of Poultry Science and Apiculture, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Barbara Bilińska
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Andrzej Ciereszko
- Department of Gamete and Embryo Biology, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
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Badari JC, Díaz-Roa A, Teixeira Rocha MM, Mendonça RZ, da Silva Junior PI. Patagonin-CRISP: Antimicrobial Activity and Source of Antimicrobial Molecules in Duvernoy's Gland Secretion ( Philodryas patagoniensis Snake). Front Pharmacol 2021; 11:586705. [PMID: 33603660 PMCID: PMC7884886 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.586705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Snake venom contains a variety of toxins with a range of biological activity, among these toxins cysteine-rich secreted proteins (CRISPs) can be found. The proteins of this family have masses of 20-30 kDa and display homologous amino acid sequences containing 16 cysteine residues, forming eight disulfide bonds. Some of these proteins have been explored, characterized, and described in terms of their activity; however, little is known about their range of activities. A search for new antimicrobial molecules is ongoing, as the number of microbial strains resistant to available antibiotics is increasing. We identified antimicrobial activity in the secretion of Duvernoy's gland of the rear-fanged Philodryas patagoniensis. Fractions of this venom were subjected to reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography and analyzed to determine their antimicrobial activity with a liquid broth inhibition assay. One of the fractions presented activity against a Gram-negative bacterium and a filamentous fungus. This fraction was analyzed with LC-MS/MS, and a protein of 24,848.8 Da was identified. Database searches allowed us to identify it as a CRISP due to the presence of some unique fragments in the molecule. We called it patagonin-CRISP, as the same protein in the venom of P. patagoniensis had previously been characterized as having a different biological activity. Patagonin-CRISP presented activity at very low concentrations and showed no cytotoxic activity. This is the first time that antimicrobial activity has been identified for P. patagoniensis venom or for a CRISP family protein.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Díaz-Roa
- Laboratory for Applied Toxinology (LETA) - Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling - CeTICS/CEPID Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil.,Escuela de Ciencias Agrícolas, Pecuarias y del Medio Ambiente (ECAPMA), Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia (UNAD), Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | | | - Pedro Ismael da Silva Junior
- Laboratory for Applied Toxinology (LETA) - Center of Toxins, Immune-Response and Cell Signaling - CeTICS/CEPID Butantan Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
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Ligands and Receptors Involved in the Sperm-Zona Pellucida Interactions in Mammals. Cells 2021; 10:cells10010133. [PMID: 33445482 PMCID: PMC7827414 DOI: 10.3390/cells10010133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Sperm-zona pellucida (ZP) interaction, involving the binding of sperm surface ligands to complementary carbohydrates of ZP, is the first direct gamete contact event crucial for subsequent gamete fusion and successful fertilization in mammals. It is a complex process mediated by the coordinated engagement of multiple ZP receptors forming high-molecular-weight (HMW) protein complexes at the acrosomal region of the sperm surface. The present article aims to review the current understanding of sperm-ZP binding in the four most studied mammalian models, i.e., murine, porcine, bovine, and human, and summarizes the candidate ZP receptors with established ZP affinity, including their origins and the mechanisms of ZP binding. Further, it compares and contrasts the ZP structure and carbohydrate composition in the aforementioned model organisms. The comprehensive understanding of sperm-ZP interaction mechanisms is critical for the diagnosis of infertility and thus becomes an integral part of assisted reproductive therapies/technologies.
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Gaikwad AS, Hu J, Chapple DG, O'Bryan MK. The functions of CAP superfamily proteins in mammalian fertility and disease. Hum Reprod Update 2020; 26:689-723. [PMID: 32378701 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmaa016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Members of the cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPS), antigen 5 (Ag5) and pathogenesis-related 1 (Pr-1) (CAP) superfamily of proteins are found across the bacterial, fungal, plant and animal kingdoms. Although many CAP superfamily proteins remain poorly characterized, over the past decade evidence has accumulated, which provides insights into the functional roles of these proteins in various processes, including fertilization, immune defence and subversion, pathogen virulence, venom toxicology and cancer biology. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE The aim of this article is to summarize the current state of knowledge on CAP superfamily proteins in mammalian fertility, organismal homeostasis and disease pathogenesis. SEARCH METHODS The scientific literature search was undertaken via PubMed database on all articles published prior to November 2019. Search terms were based on following keywords: 'CAP superfamily', 'CRISP', 'Cysteine-rich secretory proteins', 'Antigen 5', 'Pathogenesis-related 1', 'male fertility', 'CAP and CTL domain containing', 'CRISPLD1', 'CRISPLD2', 'bacterial SCP', 'ion channel regulator', 'CatSper', 'PI15', 'PI16', 'CLEC', 'PRY proteins', 'ASP proteins', 'spermatogenesis', 'epididymal maturation', 'capacitation' and 'snake CRISP'. In addition to that, reference lists of primary and review article were reviewed for additional relevant publications. OUTCOMES In this review, we discuss the breadth of knowledge on CAP superfamily proteins with regards to their protein structure, biological functions and emerging significance in reproduction, health and disease. We discuss the evolution of CAP superfamily proteins from their otherwise unembellished prokaryotic predecessors into the multi-domain and neofunctionalized members found in eukaryotic organisms today. At least in part because of the rapid evolution of these proteins, many inconsistencies in nomenclature exist within the literature. As such, and in part through the use of a maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis of the vertebrate CRISP subfamily, we have attempted to clarify this confusion, thus allowing for a comparison of orthologous protein function between species. This framework also allows the prediction of functional relevance between species based on sequence and structural conservation. WIDER IMPLICATIONS This review generates a picture of critical roles for CAP proteins in ion channel regulation, sterol and lipid binding and protease inhibition, and as ligands involved in the induction of multiple cellular processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avinash S Gaikwad
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Jinghua Hu
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - David G Chapple
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Moira K O'Bryan
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
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7
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Zhao W, Mengal K, Yuan M, Quansah E, Li P, Wu S, Xu C, Yi C, Cai X. Comparative RNA-Seq Analysis of Differentially Expressed Genes in the Epididymides of Yak and Cattleyak. Curr Genomics 2019; 20:293-305. [PMID: 32030088 PMCID: PMC6983960 DOI: 10.2174/1389202920666190809092819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cattleyak are the Fl hybrids between (♀) yak (Bos grunniens) and (♂) cattle (Bos taurus). Cattleyak exhibit higher capability in adaptability to a harsh environment and display much higher performances in production than the yak and cattle. The cattleyak, however, are females fertile but males sterile. All previous studies greatly focused on testes tissues to study the mechanism of male infer-tility in cattleyak. However, so far, no transcriptomic study has been conducted on the epididymides of yak and cattleyak. Objective Our objective was to perform comparative transcriptome analysis between the epididymides of yak and cattleyak and predict the etiology of male infertility in cattleyak.Methods: We performed comparative transcriptome profiles analysis by mRNA sequencing in the epidi-dymides of yak and cattleyak. Results In total 3008 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in cattleyak, out of which 1645 DEGs were up-regulated and 1363 DEGs were down-regulated. Thirteen DEGs were validated by quantitative real-time PCR. DEGs included certain genes that were associated with spermatozoal matura-tion, motility, male fertility, water and ion channels, and beta-defensins. LCN9, SPINT4, CES5A, CD52, CST11, SERPINA1, CTSK, FABP4, CCR5, GRIA2, ENTPD3, LOC523530 and DEFB129, DEFB128, DEFB127, DEFB126, DEFB124, DEFB122A, DEFB122, DEFB119 were all downregu-lated, whereas NRIP1 and TMEM212 among top 30 DEGs were upregulated. Furthermore, protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum pathway was ranked at top-listed three significantly enriched KEGG pathways that as a consequence of abnormal expression of ER-associated genes in the entire ER protein processing pathway might have been disrupted in male cattleyak which resulted in the down-regulation of several important genes. All the DEGs enriched in this pathway were downregulated ex-cept NEF. Conclusion Taken together, our findings revealed that there were marked differences in the epididymal transcriptomic profiles of yak and cattleyak. The DEGs were involved in spermatozoal maturation, mo-tility, male fertility, water and ion channels, and beta-defensins. Abnormal expression of ER-associated genes in the entire ER protein processing pathway may have disrupted protein processing pathway in male cattleyak resulting in the downregulation of several important genes involved in sperm maturation, motility and defense.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wangsheng Zhao
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang621010, Sichuan, China
| | - Kifayatullah Mengal
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang621010, Sichuan, China
| | - Meng Yuan
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang621010, Sichuan, China
| | - Eugene Quansah
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang621010, Sichuan, China
| | - Pengcheng Li
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang621010, Sichuan, China
| | - Shixin Wu
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang621010, Sichuan, China
| | - Chuanfei Xu
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang621010, Sichuan, China
| | - Chuanping Yi
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang621010, Sichuan, China
| | - Xin Cai
- School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang621010, Sichuan, China
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Weigel Muñoz M, Carvajal G, Curci L, Gonzalez SN, Cuasnicu PS. Relevance of CRISP proteins for epididymal physiology, fertilization, and fertility. Andrology 2019; 7:610-617. [DOI: 10.1111/andr.12638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Weigel Muñoz
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET); Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - G. Carvajal
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET); Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - L. Curci
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET); Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - S. N. Gonzalez
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET); Buenos Aires Argentina
| | - P. S. Cuasnicu
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET); Buenos Aires Argentina
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9
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Carvajal G, Brukman NG, Weigel Muñoz M, Battistone MA, Guazzone VA, Ikawa M, Haruhiko M, Lustig L, Breton S, Cuasnicu PS. Impaired male fertility and abnormal epididymal epithelium differentiation in mice lacking CRISP1 and CRISP4. Sci Rep 2018; 8:17531. [PMID: 30510210 PMCID: PMC6277452 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35719-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Epididymal Cysteine Rich Secretory Proteins 1 and 4 (CRISP1 and CRISP4) associate with sperm during maturation and play different roles in fertilization. However, males lacking each of these molecules individually are fertile, suggesting compensatory mechanisms between these homologous proteins. Based on this, in the present work, we generated double CRISP1/CRISP4 knockout (DKO) mice and examined their reproductive phenotype. Our data showed that the simultaneous lack of the two epididymal proteins results in clear fertility defects. Interestingly, whereas most of the animals exhibited specific sperm fertilizing ability defects supportive of the role of CRISP proteins in fertilization, one third of the males showed an unexpected epididymo-orchitis phenotype with altered levels of inflammatory molecules and non-viable sperm in the epididymis. Further analysis showed that DKO mice exhibited an immature epididymal epithelium and abnormal luminal pH, supporting these defects as likely responsible for the different phenotypes observed. These observations reveal that CRISP proteins are relevant for epididymal epithelium differentiation and male fertility, contributing to a better understanding of the fine-tuning mechanisms underlying sperm maturation and immunotolerance in the epididymis with clear implications for human epididymal physiology and pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Carvajal
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, C1428ADN, Argentina
| | - Nicolás Gastón Brukman
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, C1428ADN, Argentina
| | - Mariana Weigel Muñoz
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, C1428ADN, Argentina
| | - María A Battistone
- Program in Membrane Biology, Center for Systems Biology, Nephrology Division, and Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Vanesa A Guazzone
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED-UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, C1121ABG, Argentina
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Miyata Haruhiko
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Livia Lustig
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas (INBIOMED-UBA-CONICET), Buenos Aires, C1121ABG, Argentina
| | - Sylvie Breton
- Program in Membrane Biology, Center for Systems Biology, Nephrology Division, and Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Patricia S Cuasnicu
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, C1428ADN, Argentina.
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Abstract
Today, a vast arsenal of contraceptive methods interfering at different levels of the female reproductive axis is available. This is not the case for men for whom, until now, there is no reliable male reversible method and for whom vasectomy, condom and withdrawal are the only options available. Despite this limited supply, more than one third of all contraceptive methods used worldwide rely on the cooperation of the male partner. Besides developing hormonal approaches to stop sperm production, there may be attractive approaches that will interfere with sperm functions rather than production. Sperm functions are primarily established during post-testicular maturation, with the epididymis accounting for the majority. The purpose of this review is to present some of the promising and/or already abandoned leads that emerge from research efforts targeting the epididymis and its activities as potential means to achieve male post-meiotic contraception.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joël R. Drevet
- Laboratoire GReD “Génétique, Reproduction & Développement”, UMR CNRS 6293, INSERM U1103, Université Clermont Auvergne (UCA), 28-Place Henri Dunant, bâtiment CRBC, 63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France
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11
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Belardin L, Camargo M, Intasqui P, Antoniassi M, Fraietta R, Bertolla R. Cysteine‐rich secretory protein 3: inflammation role in adult varicocoele. Andrology 2018; 7:53-61. [DOI: 10.1111/andr.12555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. Belardin
- Department of Surgery Division of Urology Universidade Federal de São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
| | - M. Camargo
- Department of Surgery Division of Urology Universidade Federal de São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
| | - P. Intasqui
- Department of Surgery Division of Urology Universidade Federal de São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
| | - M. Antoniassi
- Department of Surgery Division of Urology Universidade Federal de São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
| | - R. Fraietta
- Department of Surgery Division of Urology Universidade Federal de São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
| | - R. Bertolla
- Department of Surgery Division of Urology Universidade Federal de São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
- Hospital São Paulo São Paulo Brazil
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12
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Anklesaria JH, Kulkarni BJ, Pathak BR, Mahale SD. Identification of CRISP2 from human sperm as PSP94-binding protein and generation of CRISP2-specific anti-peptide antibodies. J Pept Sci 2016; 22:383-90. [PMID: 27161017 DOI: 10.1002/psc.2878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Revised: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs) are mainly found in the mammalian male reproductive tract and reported to be involved at different stages of fertilization. CRISPs have been shown to interact with prostate secretory protein of 94 amino acids (PSP94) from diverse sources, and the binding of these evolutionarily conserved proteins across species is proposed to be of functional significance. Of the three mammalian CRISPs, PSP94-CRISP3 interaction is well characterized, and specific binding sites have been identified; whereas, CRISP2 has been shown to interact with PSP94 in vitro. Interestingly, human CRISP3 and CRISP2 proteins are closely related showing 71.4% identity. In this study, we identified CRISP2 as a potential binding protein of PSP94 from human sperm. Further, we generated antisera capable of specifically detecting CRISP2 and not CRISP3. In this direction, specific peptides corresponding to the least conserved ion channel regulatory region were synthesized, and polyclonal antibodies were generated against the peptide in rabbits. The binding characteristics of the anti-CRISP2 peptide antibody were evaluated using competitive ELISA. Immunoblotting experiments also confirmed that the peptide was able to generate antibodies capable of detecting the mature CRISP2 protein present in human sperm lysate. Furthermore, this anti-CRISP2 peptide antibody also detected the presence of native CRISP2 on sperm.Copyright © 2016 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenifer H Anklesaria
- Division of Structural Biology, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Bhalchandra J Kulkarni
- Division of Structural Biology, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Bhakti R Pathak
- Division of Structural Biology, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Smita D Mahale
- Division of Structural Biology, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.,ICMR-Biomedical Informatics Center, National Institute for Research In Reproductive Health, Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, 400 012, Mumbai, India
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Brukman NG, Miyata H, Torres P, Lombardo D, Caramelo JJ, Ikawa M, Da Ros VG, Cuasnicú PS. Fertilization defects in sperm from Cysteine-rich secretory protein 2 (Crisp2) knockout mice: implications for fertility disorders. Mol Hum Reprod 2016; 22:240-51. [PMID: 26786179 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaw005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2015] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY HYPOTHESIS We hypothesize that fertility disorders in patients with aberrant expression of Cysteine-RIch Secretory Protein 2 (CRISP2) could be linked to the proposed functional role of this protein in fertilization. STUDY FINDING Our in vivo and in vitro observations reveal that Crisp2-knockout mice exhibit significant defects in fertility-associated parameters under demanding conditions, as well as deficiencies in sperm fertilizing ability, hyperactivation development and intracellular Ca(2+) regulation. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Testicular CRISP2 is present in mature sperm and has been proposed to participate in gamete fusion in both humans and rodents. Interestingly, evidence in humans shows that aberrant expression of CRISP2 is associated with male infertility. STUDY DESIGN, SAMPLES/MATERIALS, METHODS A mouse line carrying a deletion in the sixth exon of the Crisp2 gene was generated. The analyses of the reproductive phenotype of Crisp2(-/-) adult males included the evaluation of their fertility before and after being subjected to unilateral vasectomy, in vivo fertilization rates obtained after mating with either estrus or superovulated females, in vitro sperm fertilizing ability and different sperm functional parameters associated with capacitation such as tyrosine phosphorylation (by western blot), acrosome reaction (by Coomassie Blue staining), hyperactivation (by computer-assisted sperm analysis) and intracellular Ca(2+) levels (by flow cytometry). MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Crisp2(-/-) males presented normal fertility and in vivo fertilization rates when mated with estrus females. However, the mutant mice showed clear defects in those reproductive parameters compared with controls under more demanding conditions, i.e. when subjected to unilateral vasectomy to reduce the number of ejaculated sperm (n = 5; P< 0.05), or when mated with hormone-treated females containing a high number of eggs in the ampulla (n ≥ 5; P< 0.01). In vitro fertilization studies revealed that Crisp2(-/-) sperm exhibited deficiencies to penetrate the egg vestments (i.e. cumulus oophorus and zona pellucida) and to fuse with the egg (n ≥ 6; P< 0.01). Consistent with this, Crisp2-null sperm showed lower levels of hyperactivation (n = 7; P< 0.05), a vigorous motility required for penetration of the egg coats, as well as a dysregulation in intracellular Ca(2+) levels associated with capacitation (n = 5; P< 0.001). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The analysis of the possible mechanisms involved in fertility disorders in men with abnormal expression of CRISP2 was carried out in Crisp2 knockout mice due to the ethical and technical problems inherent to the use of human gametes for fertilization studies. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our findings in mice showing that Crisp2(-/-) males exhibit fertility and fertilization defects under demanding conditions support fertilization defects in sperm as a mechanism underlying infertility in men with aberrant expression of CRISP2. Moreover, our observations in mice resemble the situation in humans where fertility disorders can or cannot be detected depending on the accumulation of own individual defects or the fertility status of the partner. Finally, the fact that reproductive defects in mice are masked by conventional mating highlights the need of using different experimental approaches to analyze male fertility. STUDY FUNDING AND COMPETING INTERESTS This study was supported by the World Health Organization (H9/TSA/037), the National Research Council of Argentina (PIP 2009-290), the National Agency for Scientific and Technological Promotion of Argentina (PICT 2011, 2023) and the Rene Baron Foundation to P.S.C. and by the MEXT of Japan to M.I. The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- N G Brukman
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1428ADN, Argentina
| | - H Miyata
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - P Torres
- Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1427CWO, Argentina
| | - D Lombardo
- Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología en Reproducción Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1427CWO, Argentina
| | - J J Caramelo
- Fundación Instituto Leloir, Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Buenos Aires (IIBBA-CONICET), Departamento de Química Biológica (FCEN-UBA), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1405BWE, Argentina
| | - M Ikawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - V G Da Ros
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1428ADN, Argentina
| | - P S Cuasnicú
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires C1428ADN, Argentina
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Pujianto DA, Loanda E, Sari P, Midoen YH, Soeharso P. Sperm-associated antigen 11A is expressed exclusively in the principal cells of the mouse caput epididymis in an androgen-dependent manner. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2013; 11:59. [PMID: 23815807 PMCID: PMC3710511 DOI: 10.1186/1477-7827-11-59] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2012] [Accepted: 06/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Epididymal sperm maturation occurs via interactions between sperm and proteins secreted by the epididymal epithelium. Although this is an important process, the genes that encode the involved proteins remain largely uncharacterized. Previous studies have demonstrated that the genes involved in sperm maturation are regulated by androgen. Spag11a is an epididymal gene that is influenced by androgen. However, little is known about the putative role of this gene in the sperm maturation process. The objective of this study was to characterize Spag11a in the mouse epididymis. METHODS In silico analyses were performed to predict signal peptides and functional domains. Spag11a expression was measured by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Western blots and immunocytochemistry were performed to determine protein expression. RESULTS SPAG11A is a member of the beta defensin protein family and constitutes a secretory protein. Spag11a was expressed exclusively in the epididymis. Moreover, it exhibited region-specific expression in the caput, which is typical for genes that are involved in creating a suitable microenvironment for sperm maturation. Mouse Spag11a was regulated by androgen. A significant decrease of Spag11a expression was observed at third day following a gonadectomy (P < 0.001). Interestingly, testosterone replacement therapy was able to maintain the expression almost at the normal level, indicating a dependency on androgen. Besides androgen, testicular factors influenced Spag11a expression in a different way. This was revealed by efferent duct ligation in which Spag11a was transiently up-regulated at the third day following the ligation before returning to the normal level at day 5. Spag11a regional expression was also observed at protein level detected by western immunoblotting which revealed a clear band in the caput but not in other regions. The prediction that SPAG11A is a secretory protein was confirmed by immunocytochemical analyses indicating cell-specific expression mainly in the caput principal cells and detection of the protein in epididymal luminal fluid and spermatozoa. CONCLUSIONS Based on the characteristics of Spag11a, it is likely that this gene has a specific role in epididymal sperm maturation. Further studies using functional assays are necessary to confirm this finding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dwi A Pujianto
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jl. Salemba Raya 6, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
| | - Evelyn Loanda
- Master Program for Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jl. Salemba Raya 6, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Atma Jaya Catholic University, Jl. Pluit Raya 2, Jakarta 14440, Indonesia
| | - Puji Sari
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jl. Salemba Raya 6, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
| | - Yurnadi H Midoen
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jl. Salemba Raya 6, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
| | - Purnomo Soeharso
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jl. Salemba Raya 6, Jakarta 10430, Indonesia
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ZHAN B, SANTIAGO H, KEEGAN B, GILLESPIE P, XUE J, BETHONY J, De OLIVEIRA LM, JIANG D, DIEMERT D, XIAO SH, JONES K, FENG X, HOTEZ PJ, BOTTAZZI ME. Fusion of Na-ASP-2 with human immunoglobulin Fcγ abrogates histamine release from basophils sensitized with anti-Na-ASP-2 IgE. Parasite Immunol 2012; 34:404-11. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3024.2012.01371.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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16
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Les approches épididymaires de la contraception masculine. Basic Clin Androl 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s12610-012-0186-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Résumé
L’offre en matière de moyens contraceptifs masculins est limitée et, en particulier, à ce jour il n’existe pas de contraception hormonale masculine sur le marché. L’épididyme, dans lequel les spermatozoïdes acquièrent leurs capacités fécondantes et où ils sont stockés, s’avère être un site intéressant à cibler. Cette revue vise à présenter de façon synthétique les quelques pistes prometteuses qui ont émergé ces dernières années.
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Burnett LA, Washburn CA, Sugiyama H, Xiang X, Olson JH, Al-Anzi B, Bieber AL, Chandler DE. Allurin, an amphibian sperm chemoattractant having implications for mammalian sperm physiology. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2012; 295:1-61. [PMID: 22449486 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-394306-4.00007-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Eggs of many species are surrounded by extracellular coats that emit ligands to which conspecific sperm respond by undergoing chemotaxis and changes in metabolism, motility, and acrosomal status in preparation for fertilization. Here we review methods used to measure sperm chemotaxis and focus on recent studies of allurin, a 21-kDa protein belonging to the Cysteine-RIch Secretory Protein (CRISP) family that has chemoattraction activity for both amphibian and mammalian sperm. Allurin is unique in being the first extensively characterized Crisp protein found in the female reproductive tract and is the product of a newly discovered amphibian gene within a gene cluster that has been largely conserved in mammals. Study of its expression, function, and tertiary structure could lead to new insights in the role of Crisp proteins in sperm physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey A Burnett
- Department of Animal Science, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
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18
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Cysteine-rich secretory protein 4 is an inhibitor of transient receptor potential M8 with a role in establishing sperm function. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2011; 108:7034-9. [PMID: 21482758 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1015935108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs) are a group of four proteins in the mouse that are expressed abundantly in the male reproductive tract, and to a lesser extent in other tissues. Analysis of reptile CRISPs and mouse CRISP2 has shown that CRISPs can regulate cellular homeostasis via ion channels. With the exception of the ability of CRISP2 to regulate ryanodine receptors, the in vivo targets of mammalian CRISPs function are unknown. In this study, we have characterized the ion channel regulatory activity of epididymal CRISP4 using electrophysiology, cell assays, and mouse models. Through patch-clamping of testicular sperm, the CRISP4 CRISP domain was shown to inhibit the transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel TRPM8. These data were confirmed using a stably transfected CHO cell line. TRPM8 is a major cold receptor in the body, but is found in other tissues, including the testis and on the tail and head of mouse and human sperm. Functional assays using sperm from wild-type mice showed that TRPM8 activation significantly reduced the number of sperm undergoing the progesterone-induced acrosome reaction following capacitation, and that this response was reversed by the coaddition of CRISP4. In accordance, sperm from Crisp4 null mice had a compromised ability to undergo to the progesterone-induced acrosome reaction. Collectively, these data identify CRISP4 as an endogenous regulator of TRPM8 with a role in normal sperm function.
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19
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Abstract
The cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs) are a subgroup of the CRISP, antigen 5 and Pr-1 (CAP) protein superfamily, and are found only in vertebrates. They show a strong expression bias to the mammalian male reproductive tract and the venom of poisonous reptiles. Within the male reproductive tract CRISPs have been implicated in many aspects of male germ cell biology spanning haploid germ cell development, epididymal maturation, capacitation, motility and the actual processes of fertilization. At a structural level, CRISPs are composed of two domains, a CAP domain, which has been implicated in cell-cell adhesion, and a CRISP domain, which has been shown to regulate several classes of ion channels across multiple species. Herein, we will review the current literature on the role of CRISPs in male fertility, and by inference to related non-mammalian protein, infer potential biochemical functions.
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20
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Da Silva N, Pisitkun T, Belleannée C, Miller LR, Nelson R, Knepper MA, Brown D, Breton S. Proteomic analysis of V-ATPase-rich cells harvested from the kidney and epididymis by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2010; 298:C1326-42. [PMID: 20181927 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00552.2009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Proton-transporting cells are located in several tissues where they acidify the extracellular environment. These cells express the vacuolar H(+)-ATPase (V-ATPase) B1 subunit (ATP6V1B1) in their plasma membrane. We provide here a comprehensive catalog of the proteins that are expressed in these cells, after their isolation by enzymatic digestion and fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) from transgenic B1-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) mice. In these mice, type A and B intercalated cells and connecting segment cells of the kidney, and narrow and clear cells of the epididymis, which all express ATP6V1B1, also express EGFP, while all other cell types are negative. The proteome of renal and epididymal EGFP-positive (EGFP(+)) cells was identified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and compared with their respective EGFP-negative (EGFP(-)) cell populations. A total of 2,297 and 1,564 proteins were detected in EGFP(+) cells from the kidney and epididymis, respectively. Out of these proteins, 202 and 178 were enriched by a factor greater than 1.5 in EGFP(+) cells compared with EGFP(-) cells, in the kidney and epididymis respectively, and included subunits of the V-ATPase (B1, a4, and A). In addition, several proteins involved in intracellular trafficking, signaling, and cytoskeletal dynamics were identified. A novel common protein that was enriched in renal and epididymal EGFP(+) cells is the progesterone receptor, which might be a potential candidate for the regulation of V-ATPase-dependent proton transport. These proteomic databases provide a framework for comprehensive future analysis of the common and distinct functions of V-ATPase-B1-expressing cells in the kidney and epididymis.
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Joseph A, Hess RA, Schaeffer DJ, Ko C, Hudgin-Spivey S, Chambon P, Shur BD. Absence of estrogen receptor alpha leads to physiological alterations in the mouse epididymis and consequent defects in sperm function. Biol Reprod 2010; 82:948-57. [PMID: 20130267 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.109.079889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Male mice deficient in ESR1 (ERalpha) (Esr1KO mice) are infertile, and sperm recovered from the cauda epididymis exhibit reduced motility and fail to fertilize eggs in vitro. These effects on sperm appear to result from defective epididymal function and not a direct effect on spermatogenesis, as Esr1KO germ cells transplanted into wild-type testes yield normal offspring. We hypothesized that the previously described defect in efferent duct fluid reabsorption would lead to alterations in the epididymal fluid milieu, which would negatively impact sperm function. Analysis of the epididymal fluid revealed that the Esr1KO maintains a higher luminal pH throughout the epididymis, confirming an inability of the efferent ducts and/or epididymis to properly acidify the luminal contents. Subsequent studies showed that these abnormalities were not the result of global defects in epididymal function since protein secretion by the Esr1KO epididymis appeared normal as judged by SDS-PAGE of total secreted proteins and by immunoblotting of candidate secreted proteins. To gain insight into the basis of the aberrant fluid homeostasis in the Esr1KO epididymis, the expression of several enzymes and transporters known to be involved in acid/base regulation were analyzed. The levels of SLC9A3 (NHE3) as well as carbonic anhydrase XIV and SLC4A4 (NBC1) were all reduced in the proximal portion of the Esr1KO epididymis, while other components appeared unaffected, including other ion transporters and ATP6V0A1 (V-ATPase). The altered luminal milieu of the Esr1KO epididymis was shown to lead to a corresponding increase in the intracellular pH of Esr1KO sperm, relative to sperm from control animals. Since pH and bicarbonate ions are critical regulators of sperm cAMP levels and motility, we attempted to bypass the abnormal luminal and intracellular environment by supplementing sperm with exogenous cAMP. This treatment rescued all defective motility parameters, as assayed by CASA, further showing that motility defects are not intrinsic to the sperm but, rather, result from the abnormal epididymal milieu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avenel Joseph
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Illinois, USA
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22
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Sipilä P, Jalkanen J, Huhtaniemi IT, Poutanen M. Novel epididymal proteins as targets for the development of post-testicular male contraception. Reproduction 2009; 137:379-89. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-08-0132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Apart from condoms and vasectomy, modern contraceptive methods for men are still not available. Besides hormonal approaches to stop testicular sperm production, the post-meiotic blockage of epididymal sperm maturation carries lots of promise. Microarray and proteomics techniques and libraries of expressed sequence tags, in combination with digital differential display tools and publicly available gene expression databases, are being currently used to identify and characterize novel epididymal proteins as putative targets for male contraception. The data reported indicate that these technologies provide complementary information for the identification of novel highly expressed genes in the epididymis. Deleting the gene of interest by targeted ablation technology in mice or using immunization against the cognate protein are the two preferred methods to functionally validate the function of novel genesin vivo. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of several epididymal proteins shown eitherin vivoorin vitroto be involved in the epididymal sperm maturation. These proteins include CRISP1, SPAG11e, DEFB126, carbonyl reductase P34H, CD52, and GPR64. In addition, we introduce novel proteinases and protease inhibitor gene families with potentially important roles in regulating the sperm maturation process. Furthermore, potential contraceptive strategies as well as delivery methods will be discussed. Despite the progress made in recent years, further studies are needed to reveal further details in the epididymal sperm maturation process and the factors involved, in order to facilitate the development of new epididymal contraceptives.
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Asano A, Selvaraj V, Buttke DE, Nelson JL, Green KM, Evans JE, Travis AJ. Biochemical characterization of membrane fractions in murine sperm: identification of three distinct sub-types of membrane rafts. J Cell Physiol 2009; 218:537-48. [PMID: 19006178 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.21623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Despite enormous interest in membrane raft micro-domains, no studies in any cell type have defined the relative compositions of the raft fractions on the basis of their major components--sterols, phospholipids, and proteins--or additional raft-associating lipids such as the ganglioside, G(M1). Our previous localization data in live sperm showed that the plasma membrane overlying the acrosome represents a stabilized platform enriched in G(M1) and sterols. These findings, along with the physiological requirement for sterol efflux for sperm to function, prompted us to characterize sperm membrane fractions biochemically. After confirming limitations of commonly used detergent-based approaches, we utilized a non-detergent-based method, separating membrane fractions that were reproducibly distinct based on sterol, G(M1), phospholipid, and protein compositions (both mass amounts and molar ratios). Based on fraction buoyancy and biochemical composition, we identified at least three highly reproducible sub-types of membrane raft. Electron microscopy revealed that raft fractions were free of visible contaminants and were separated by buoyancy rather than morphology. Quantitative proteomic comparisons and fluorescence localization of lipids suggested that different organelles contributed differentially to individual raft sub-types, but that multiple membrane micro-domain sub-types could exist within individual domains. This has important implications for scaffolding functions broadly associated with rafts. Most importantly, we show that the common practice of characterizing membrane domains as either "raft" or "non-raft" oversimplifies the actual biochemical complexity of cellular membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Asano
- The Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
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24
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Ecroyd H, Nixon B, Dacheux JL, Jones RC. Testicular descent, sperm maturation and capacitation. Lessons from our most distant relatives, the monotremes. Reprod Fertil Dev 2009; 21:992-1001. [DOI: 10.1071/rd09081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2009] [Accepted: 05/17/2009] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The present review examines whether monotremes may help to resolve three questions relating to sperm production in mammals: why the testes descend into a scrotum in most mammals, why spermatozoa are infertile when they leave the testes and require a period of maturation in the specific milieu provided by the epididymides, and why ejaculated spermatozoa cannot immediately fertilise an ovum until they undergo capacitation within the female reproductive tract. Comparisons of monotremes with other mammals indicate that there is a need for considerable work on monotremes. It is hypothesised that testicular descent should be related to epididymal differentiation. Spermatozoa and ova from both groups share many of the proteins that are thought to be involved in gamete interaction, and although epididymal sperm maturation is significant it is probably less complex in monotremes than in other mammals. However, the monotreme epididymis is unique in forming spermatozoa into bundles of 100 with greatly enhanced motility compared with individual spermatozoa. Bundle formation involves a highly organised interaction with epididymal proteins, and the bundles persist during incubation in vitro, except in specialised medium, in which spermatozoa separate after 2–3 h incubation. It is suggested that this represents an early form of capacitation.
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Nixon B, Bielanowicz A, Mclaughlin EA, Tanphaichitr N, Ensslin MA, Aitken RJ. Composition and significance of detergent resistant membranes in mouse spermatozoa. J Cell Physiol 2009; 218:122-34. [DOI: 10.1002/jcp.21575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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26
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Gibbs GM, Roelants K, O'Bryan MK. The CAP superfamily: cysteine-rich secretory proteins, antigen 5, and pathogenesis-related 1 proteins--roles in reproduction, cancer, and immune defense. Endocr Rev 2008; 29:865-97. [PMID: 18824526 DOI: 10.1210/er.2008-0032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 352] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The cysteine-rich secretory proteins, antigen 5, and pathogenesis-related 1 proteins (CAP) superfamily members are found in a remarkable range of organisms spanning each of the animal kingdoms. Within humans and mice, there are 31 and 33 individual family members, respectively, and although many are poorly characterized, the majority show a notable expression bias to the reproductive tract and immune tissues or are deregulated in cancers. CAP superfamily proteins are most often secreted and have an extracellular endocrine or paracrine function and are involved in processes including the regulation of extracellular matrix and branching morphogenesis, potentially as either proteases or protease inhibitors; in ion channel regulation in fertility; as tumor suppressor or prooncogenic genes in tissues including the prostate; and in cell-cell adhesion during fertilization. This review describes mammalian CAP superfamily gene expression profiles, phylogenetic relationships, protein structural properties, and biological functions, and it draws into focus their potential role in health and disease. The nine subfamilies of the mammalian CAP superfamily include: the human glioma pathogenesis-related 1 (GLIPR1), Golgi associated pathogenesis related-1 (GAPR1) proteins, peptidase inhibitor 15 (PI15), peptidase inhibitor 16 (PI16), cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs), CRISP LCCL domain containing 1 (CRISPLD1), CRISP LCCL domain containing 2 (CRISPLD2), mannose receptor like and the R3H domain containing like proteins. We conclude that overall protein structural conservation within the CAP superfamily results in fundamentally similar functions for the CAP domain in all members, yet the diversity outside of this core region dramatically alters target specificity and, therefore, the biological consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard M Gibbs
- Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, 27-31 Wright Street, Clayton 3168, Australia.
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Müller L, Vogel M, Stadler M, Truffer R, Rohner E, Stadler BM. Sensitization to wasp venom does not induce autoantibodies leading to infertility. Mol Immunol 2008; 45:3775-85. [PMID: 18632155 DOI: 10.1016/j.molimm.2008.05.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2008] [Revised: 05/27/2008] [Accepted: 05/28/2008] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Antigenic cross-reactivity has been described between the venom allergen (antigen 5) and mammalian testis proteins. Based on an allergen database we have previously shown that allergens can be represented by allergen motifs. A motif group was found containing venom antigen 5 sequences from different vespids. Using an optimized amino acid profile based on antigen 5 sequences for searching cross-reactive proteins, three human semen proteins belonging to the family of cysteine-rich secretory proteins (hCRISP) were found in the Swiss Protein database. To analyze antigenic cross-reactivity between antigen 5 and hCRISPs, antigen 5 from yellow jacket venom (Ves v 5) and two hCRISPs (CRISP-2 and -3) were chosen and produced as recombinant proteins in E. coli. A correlation was found between antibodies reacting with rVes v 5 and rhCRISP-2, -3 in a small human sera population indicating the presence of cross-reactive antibodies in human serum. Using intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg), a therapeutic multidonor IgG preparation, cross-reactive antibodies were isolated that recognize rVes v 5, hCRISP-2 and -3 suggesting the presence of common epitopes between Ves v 5 and hCRISPs. However this cross-reactivity seems not to be linked to allergy to wasp venom as we could show no correlation between increasing CAP-class IgE level to wasp venom and IgG to sperm extract and hCRISPs. These data suggest that higher sensitization to wasp venom does not induce more antibodies against autoantigens and might not represent a higher risk to develop autoantibodies leading to infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenz Müller
- Institute of Immunology, University of Bern, Inselspital, Sahlihaus 2, Bern 3010, Switzerland
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Jamsai D, Reilly A, Smith S, Gibbs G, Baker H, McLachlan R, de Kretser D, O'Bryan M. Polymorphisms in the human cysteine-rich secretory protein 2 (CRISP2) gene in Australian men. Hum Reprod 2008; 23:2151-9. [DOI: 10.1093/humrep/den191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
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Jamsai D, Bianco DM, Smith SJ, Merriner DJ, Ly-Huynh JD, Herlihy A, Niranjan B, Gibbs GM, O'Bryan MK. Characterization of gametogenetin 1 (GGN1) and its potential role in male fertility through the interaction with the ion channel regulator, cysteine-rich secretory protein 2 (CRISP2) in the sperm tail. Reproduction 2008; 135:751-9. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-07-0485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Cysteine-rich secretory protein 2 (CRISP2) is a testis-enriched protein localized to the sperm acrosome and tail. CRISP2 has been proposed to play a critical role in spermatogenesis and male fertility, although the precise function(s) of CRISP2 remains to be determined. Recent data have shown that the CRISP domain of the mouse CRISP2 has the ability to regulate Ca2+flow through ryanodine receptors (RyR) and to bind to MAP kinase kinase kinase 11 (MAP3K11). To further define the biochemical pathways within which CRISP2 is involved, we screened an adult mouse testis cDNA library using a yeast two-hybrid assay to identify CRISP2 interacting partners. One of the most frequently identified CRISP2-binding proteins was gametogenetin 1 (GGN1). Interactions occur between the ion channel regulatory region within the CRISP2 CRISP domain and the carboxyl-most 158 amino acids of GGN1. CRISP2 does not bind to the GGN2 or GGN3 isoforms. Furthermore, we showed thatGgn1is a testis-enriched mRNA and the protein first appeared in late pachytene spermatocytes and was up-regulated in round spermatids before being incorporated into the principal piece of the sperm tail where it co-localized with CRISP2. These data along with data on RyR and MAP3K11 binding define the CRISP2 CRISP domain as a protein interaction motif and suggest a role for the GGN1–CRISP2 complex in sperm tail development and/or motility.
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Visser A, Van Zeveren A, Meyvis Y, Peelaers I, Van den Broeck W, Gevaert K, Vercruysse J, Claerebout E, Geldhof P. Gender-enriched transcription of activation associated secreted proteins in Ostertagia ostertagi. Int J Parasitol 2008; 38:455-65. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2007.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2007] [Revised: 08/17/2007] [Accepted: 08/21/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Roberts KP, Johnston DS, Nolan MA, Wooters JL, Waxmonsky NC, Piehl LB, Ensrud-Bowlin KM, Hamilton DW. Structure and function of epididymal protein cysteine-rich secretory protein-1. Asian J Androl 2007; 9:508-14. [PMID: 17589788 DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-7262.2007.00318.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cysteine-rich secretory protein-1 (CRISP-1) is a glycoprotein secreted by the epididymal epithelium. It is a member of a large family of proteins characterized by two conserved domains and a set of 16 conserved cysteine residues. In mammals, CRISP-1 inhibits sperm-egg fusion and can suppress sperm capacitation. The molecular mechanism of action of the mammalian CRISP proteins remains unknown, but certain non-mammalian CRISP proteins can block ion channels. In the rat, CRISP-1 comprises two forms referred to as Proteins D and E. Recent work in our laboratory demonstrates that the D form of CRISP-1 associates transiently with the sperm surface, whereas the E form binds tightly. When the spermatozoa are washed, the E form of CRISP-1 persists on the sperm surface after all D form has dissociated. Cross-linking studies demonstrate different protein-protein interaction patterns for D and E, although no binding partners for either protein have yet been identified. Mass spectrometric analyses revealed a potential post-translational modification on the E form that is not present on the D form. This is the only discernable difference between Proteins D and E, and presumably is responsible for the difference in behavior of these two forms of rat CRISP-1. These studies demonstrate that the more abundant D form interacts with spermatozoa transiently, possibly with a specific receptor on the sperm surface, consistent with a capacitation-suppressing function during sperm transit and storage in the epididymis, and also confirm a tightly bound population of the E form that could act in the female reproductive tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth P Roberts
- Department of Urologic Surgery, University of Minnesota, MMC 394, 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
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Busso D, Cohen DJ, Maldera JA, Dematteis A, Cuasnicu PS. A novel function for CRISP1 in rodent fertilization: involvement in sperm-zona pellucida interaction. Biol Reprod 2007; 77:848-54. [PMID: 17671267 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.107.061788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Epididymal protein CRISP1 participates in rat and mouse gamete fusion through its interaction with complementary sites on the egg surface. Based on in vivo observations, in the present study we investigated the possibility that CRISP1 plays an additional role in the sperm-zona pellucida (ZP) interaction that precedes gamete fusion. In vitro fertilization experiments using zona-intact rat and mouse eggs indicated that the presence of either an antibody against rat CRISP1 (anti-CRISP1) or rat native CRISP1 (rCRISP1) during gamete co-incubation produced a significant decrease in the percentage of fertilized eggs. However, differently to that expected for a protein involved in gamete fusion, no accumulation of perivitelline sperm was observed, suggesting that the inhibitions occurred at the sperm-ZP interaction level. Bacterially expressed recombinant CRISP1 (recCRISP1) also significantly inhibited egg fertilization. In this case, however, an increase in the number of perivitelline sperm was observed. Subsequent experiments evaluating the effect of anti-CRISP1 or rCRISP1 on the number of sperm bound per egg indicated that the protein is involved in the initial step of sperm-ZP binding. In agreement with these functional studies, indirect immunofluorescence experiments revealed that although rCRISP1 is capable of binding to both the ZP and the oolema, recCRISP1 only binds to the egg surface. The finding that deglycosylated rCRISP1 behaves as the untreated protein, whereas the heat-denatured rCRISP1 associated only with the oolema, indicates that the protein ZP-binding ability resides in the conformation rather than in the glycosydic portion of the molecule. The interaction between rCRISP1 and the ZP reproduces the sperm-ZP-binding behavior, as judged by the failure of the protein to interact with the ZP of fertilized eggs. Together, these results support the idea that CRISP1 participates not only in sperm-egg fusion but also in the prior stage of sperm-ZP interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dolores Busso
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), 1428 Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Gibbs GM, Bianco DM, Jamsai D, Herlihy A, Ristevski S, Aitken RJ, Kretser DMD, O'Bryan MK. Cysteine-rich secretory protein 2 binds to mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 11 in mouse sperm. Biol Reprod 2007; 77:108-14. [PMID: 17377140 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.106.057166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Cysteine-rich secretory protein (CRISP) 2 (previously TPX1) is a testis-enriched member of the CRISP family, and has been localized to both the sperm acrosome and tail. Like all members of the mammalian CRISP family, its expression pattern is strongly suggestive of a role in male fertility, but functional support for this hypothesis remains limited. In order to determine the biochemical pathways within which CRISP2 is a component, the putative mature form of CRISP2 was used as bait in a yeast two-hybrid screen of a mouse testis expression library. One of the most frequently identified interacting partners was mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 11 (MAP3K11). Sequencing and deletion experiments showed that the carboxyl-most 20 amino acids of MAP3K11 interacted with the CRISP domain of CRISP2. This interaction was confirmed using pull-down experiments and the cellular context was supported by the localization of CRISP2 and MAP3K11 to the acrosome of the developing spermatids and epididymal spermatozoa. Interestingly, mouse epididymal sperm contained an approximately 60-kDa variant of MAP3K11, which may have been a result of proteolytic cleavage of the longer 93-kDa form seen in many tissues. These data raise the possibility that CRISP2 is a MAP3K11-modifying protein or, alternatively, that MAP3K11 acts to phosphorylate CRISP2 during acrosome development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard M Gibbs
- Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria 3168, Australia
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Pujianto DA, Damdimopoulos AE, Sipilä P, Jalkanen J, Huhtaniemi I, Poutanen M. Bfk, a novel member of the bcl2 gene family, is highly expressed in principal cells of the mouse epididymis and demonstrates a predominant nuclear localization. Endocrinology 2007; 148:3196-204. [PMID: 17412810 DOI: 10.1210/en.2007-0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2) family kin (BFK) is a recently identified novel protein that is similar to proteins of the BCL2 family. In the present study, we discovered that the mouse Bfk transcript is expressed at the highest level in the epididymis. Two transcripts of 0.9 and 2.6 kb in size were identified, with alternative exon 4 structures, resulting in a difference in the last three to five amino acids of the variants. However, the 0.9-kb transcript was found to be the predominant form in the epididymis and mammary gland, another tissue with strong Bfk expression. Epididymal Bfk expression was regulated both by androgens and other testicular factors. It is thus one of the few initial-segment enriched genes under androgen control, the majority of them being regulated by other testicular factors. BFK protein was expressed specifically in the principal cells of the epididymis. Its nuclear localization was evident in the initial segment and caput epididymis and in the epithelium of pregnant female mammary gland. The expression of BFK-enhanced green fluorescent protein recombinant protein in epididymal cells further confirmed the predominant nuclear localization of BFK with nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling. Overexpressing BFK in epididymal cells did not induce apoptosis. However, enhanced caspase 3 activation was observed in the presence of BFK upon staurosporine-induced apoptosis. This suggests that BFK may have a proapoptotic role only after the process has been initiated by other mechanisms. Being exceptionally highly expressed in the initial segment, Bfk is suggested to have a role in the differentiation of this segment of the epididymis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dwi Ari Pujianto
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Finland
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Ellerman DA, Busso D, Maldera JA, Cuasnicú PS. Immunocontraceptive properties of recombinant sperm protein DE: implications for the development of novel contraceptives. Fertil Steril 2007; 89:199-205. [PMID: 17482178 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2007.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2006] [Revised: 02/14/2007] [Accepted: 02/14/2007] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the immunocontraceptive properties of recombinant DE, a sperm epididymal protein involved in fertilization, via an experimental study in rats as a critical step toward the development of a human immunocontraceptive. DESIGN In vivo study in rats. SETTING Animal care facility of an academic research center. ANIMAL(S) Seventy-four 90-day-old Wistar male and female rats distributed into three groups. INTERVENTION(S) Animals received five injections (intramuscular and subcutaneous) of recombinant DE (recDE), native DE (nDE), or MBP (maltose-binding protein). At various times, animals were anesthetized and bled. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S) Anti-DE levels and tissue specificity of sera were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot, respectively. Fertility was analyzed by natural mating. The testes and epididymides were analyzed by histology. RESULT(S) Recombinant DE raised an immune response with the same kinetics and higher anti-DE levels than that elicited by nDE. Sera against recDE recognized epitopes of DE that were different from those recognized by anti-nDE sera but specifically reacted with DE in epididymis and sperm without cross-reacting with other tissues tested. Male and female recDE-injected animals presented a statistically significant reduction in their fertility with no evidence of pathologic effects. CONCLUSION(S) Recombinant DE is able to both elicit a specific immune response and inhibit male and female fertility, supporting the use of this sperm epididymal protein for the development of an immunocontraceptive approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego A Ellerman
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, Buenos Aires (1428), Argentina
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Vasmatzis G, Klee EW, Kube DM, Therneau TM, Kosari F. Quantitating tissue specificity of human genes to facilitate biomarker discovery. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007; 23:1348-55. [PMID: 17384019 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btm102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
We describe a method to identify candidate cancer biomarkers by analyzing numeric approximations of tissue specificity of human genes. These approximations were calculated by analyzing predicted tissue expression distributions of genes derived from mapping expressed sequence tags (ESTs) to the human genome sequence using a binary indexing algorithm. Tissue-specificity values facilitated high-throughput analysis of the human genes and enabled the identification of genes highly specific to different tissues. Tissue expression distributions for several genes were compared to estimates obtained from other public gene expression datasets and experimentally validated using quantitative RT-PCR on RNA isolated from several human tissues. Our results demonstrate that most human genes ( approximately 98%) are expressed in many tissues (low specificity), and only a small number of genes possess very specific tissue expression profiles. These genes comprise a rich dataset from which novel therapeutic targets and novel diagnostic serum biomarkers may be selected.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Vasmatzis
- Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center and Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
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Sipilä P, Pujianto DA, Shariatmadari R, Nikkilä J, Lehtoranta M, Huhtaniemi IT, Poutanen M. Differential Endocrine Regulation of Genes Enriched in Initial Segment and Distal Caput of the Mouse Epididymis as Revealed by Genome-Wide Expression Profiling1. Biol Reprod 2006; 75:240-51. [PMID: 16641146 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.105.047811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
We have performed genome-wide expression profiling of endocrine regulation of genes expressed in the mouse initial segment (IS) and distal caput of the epididymis by using Affymetrix microarrays. The data revealed that of the 15 020 genes expressed in the epididymis, 35% were enriched in one of the two regions studied, indicating that differential functions can be attributed to the IS and the more distal caput regions. The data, furthermore, showed that 27% of the genes expressed in the IS and/or distal caput epididymidis are under the regulation of testicular factors present in the duct fluid, while bloodborne androgens can regulate for 14% of them. This is in line with the high testis dependency of epididymal physiology. We then focused on genes with moderate or strong expression, showing strict segment enrichment and strong dependency on testicular factors. Analyses of the 59 genes, including upregulated and downregulated genes, fulfilling the criteria indicated that the expression of 18 (17 downregulated genes; 1 upregulated gene) of 19 gonadectomy-responsive genes enriched in the IS was not maintained by the androgen treatment, whereas the expression of all six downregulated genes enriched in the distal caput and the majority of those with no strict segment enrichment of expression (28 of 34; consisting of 23 downregulated and 5 upregulated genes) were maintained by androgens. Hence, it is evident that testicular factors other than androgens are important for the expression of IS-enriched genes, whereas the expression of distal caput-enriched genes is typically regulated by androgens. Identical data were obtained by independent clustering analyses performed for the expression data of 3626 epididymal genes. Several novel genes with putative involvement in epididymal sperm maturation, such as a disintegrin and metallopeptidase domain 28 (Adam28) and a solute carrier organic anion transporter family, member 4C1 (Slco4c1), were identified, indicating that this approach is successful for identifying novel epididymal genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Sipilä
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland
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38
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Ellerman DA, Cohen DJ, Da Ros VG, Morgenfeld MM, Busso D, Cuasnicú PS. Sperm protein "DE" mediates gamete fusion through an evolutionarily conserved site of the CRISP family. Dev Biol 2006; 297:228-37. [PMID: 16872593 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2006.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2006] [Revised: 05/08/2006] [Accepted: 05/11/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The first member of the cysteine-rich secretory protein (CRISP) family was described by our laboratory in the rat epididymis, and it is known as DE or CRISP-1. Since then, numerous CRISPs exhibiting a high amino acid sequence similarity have been identified in animals, plants and fungi, although their functions remain largely unknown. CRISP-1 proteins are candidates to mediate gamete fusion in the rat, mouse and human through their binding to complementary sites on the egg surface. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying CRISP-1 function, in the present work, deletion mutants of protein DE were generated and examined for their ability to bind to the rat egg and interfere with gamete fusion. Results revealed that the egg-binding ability of DE resides within a 45-amino acid N-terminal region containing the two motifs of the CRISP family named Signature 1 and Signature 2. Subsequent assays using synthetic peptides and other CRISPs support that the egg-binding site of DE falls in the 12-amino-acid region corresponding to Signature 2. The interesting finding that the binding site of DE resides in an evolutionarily conserved region of the molecule provides novel information on the molecular mechanisms underlying CRISP-1 function in gamete fusion with important implications on the structure-function relationship of other members of the widely distributed CRISP family.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego A Ellerman
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), V. de Obligado 2490, (1428) Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Bjartell A, Johansson R, Björk T, Gadaleanu V, Lundwall A, Lilja H, Kjeldsen L, Udby L. Immunohistochemical detection of cysteine-rich secretory protein 3 in tissue and in serum from men with cancer or benign enlargement of the prostate gland. Prostate 2006; 66:591-603. [PMID: 16388501 DOI: 10.1002/pros.20342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recently, the gene for cysteine-rich secretory protein 3 (CRISP-3) was reported to be highly upregulated in prostate cancer (PCa) compared to benign prostatic tissue. The current aims were to investigate diagnostic use of tissue expression and immunodetection in serum of CRISP-3 for detection or monitoring of PCa. METHODS Radical prostatectomy specimens and tissue microarrays from transurethral resections and metastases were analyzed for CRISP-3 and PSA by immunohistochemistry. CRISP-3 in tissue homogenates and in serum was measured by an in-house ELISA and PSA by a commercially available immunoassay. RESULTS Immunostaining for CRISP-3 in benign prostatic epithelium was generally weak or not detectable. Specific and strong immunostaining was found in a major proportion of cells in high-grade prostatic-intraepithelial-neoplasia (HG-PIN,12/17 patients), in most primary tumors (111/115), and in lymph node (11/15) and bone (12/15) metastases. CRISP-3 immunostaining intensity was regularly strong in areas of Gleason grades 4/5, where PSA-immunoreaction was less intense. Serum levels of CRISP-3 were not different in patients with PCa (n=152) compared to men with BPH (n=81). There was a very weak co-variation between levels of CRISP-3 versus PSA in serum from PCa patients (P<0.05). After orchiectomy, levels of CRISP-3 in serum decreased in median with 11% compared to a 97% median decrease of PSA in serum from 15/20 patients with advanced PCa. CONCLUSIONS Strong immunostaining for CRISP-3 is common in HG-PIN and preserved in most PCa specimens, which warrant further immunohistochemical studies of CRISP-3 in PCa. Serum levels of CRISP-3 do not primarily reflect PCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Bjartell
- Department of Urology, Malmö University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden.
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Peterson RL, Tkatchenko TV, Pruett ND, Potter CS, Jacobs DF, Awgulewitsch A. Epididymal cysteine-rich secretory protein 1 encoding gene is expressed in murine hair follicles and downregulated in mice overexpressing Hoxc13. J Investig Dermatol Symp Proc 2006; 10:238-42. [PMID: 16382673 DOI: 10.1111/j.1087-0024.2005.10114.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Members of the Hox gene family of transcriptional regulators are believed to play essential roles in hair follicle differentiation, although little is known about the molecular mechanisms mediating these putative control functions. Transgenic mice overexpressing Hoxc13 in hair follicles (GC13 mice) exhibit complex phenotypic alterations including hair shaft defects and alopecia, as well as severe epidermal abnormalities. To identify some of the genetic pathways affected by Hoxc13 overexpression in hair, we performed large-scale differential gene expression analysis on the skin of 5-d GC13 versus normal FVB mice using DNA chip assays. A surprising result of these experiments was the identification of the epididymal cysteine-rich secretory protein 1 (Crisp1) gene as one of the genes with the greatest expression differential, in this case with greater than 20-fold downregulation in skin from GC13 mice. Crisp1 encodes a secreted protein that has originally been found to be abundantly expressed in the epididymis, where it plays a role in sperm maturation. We have localized Crisp1 mRNA in 5-d postnatal murine scapular skin by in situ hybridization, showing its expression to be restricted to the medulla of the hair shaft. Furthermore, we provide evidence for specific interaction of Hoxc13 with at least one cognate binding site found in the Crisp1 promoter region, thus supporting the concept of a Hoxc13/Crisp1 regulatory relationship. In summary, these data establish the hair as a novel site for Crisp1 expression where its functional role remains to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ron L Peterson
- Integrative Expression Profiling, Novartis Institutes of Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Massachussetts, USA
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Nolan MA, Wu L, Bang HJ, Jelinsky SA, Roberts KP, Turner TT, Kopf GS, Johnston DS. Identification of rat cysteine-rich secretory protein 4 (Crisp4) as the ortholog to human CRISP1 and mouse Crisp4. Biol Reprod 2006; 74:984-91. [PMID: 16467491 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.105.048298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs) are present in a diverse population of organisms and are defined by 16 conserved cysteine residues spanning a plant pathogenesis related-1 and a C-terminal cysteine-rich domain. To date, the diversification of mammalian CRISPs is evidenced by the existence of two, three, and four paralogous genes in the rat, human, and mouse, respectively. The current study identifies a third rat Crisp paralog we term Crisp4. The gene for Crisp4 is on rat chromosome 9 within 1 Mb of both the Crisp1 and Crisp2 genes. The full-length transcript for this gene was cloned from rat epididymal RNA and encodes a protein that shares 69% and 91% similarity with human CRISP1 and mouse CRISP4, respectively. Expression of rat Crisp4 is most abundant in the epididymis, with the highest levels of transcription observed in the caput and corpus epididymis. In contrast, rat CRISP4 protein is most abundant in the corpus and cauda regions of the epididymis. Rat CRISP4 protein is also present in caudal sperm extracts, appearing as a detergent-soluble form at the predicted MWR (26 kDa). Our data identify rat Crisp4 as the true ortholog to human CRISP1 and mouse Crisp4, and demonstrate its interaction with spermatozoa in the epididymis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael A Nolan
- Contraception, Women's Health and Musculoskeletal Biology, Wyeth Research, Collegeville, Pennsylvania 19426, USA.
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Gibbs GM, Scanlon MJ, Swarbrick J, Curtis S, Gallant E, Dulhunty AF, O'Bryan MK. The cysteine-rich secretory protein domain of Tpx-1 is related to ion channel toxins and regulates ryanodine receptor Ca2+ signaling. J Biol Chem 2005; 281:4156-63. [PMID: 16339766 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m506849200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The cysteine-rich secretory proteins (Crisp) are predominantly found in the mammalian male reproductive tract as well as in the venom of reptiles. Crisps are two domain proteins with a structurally similar yet evolutionary diverse N-terminal domain and a characteristic cysteine-rich C-terminal domain, which we refer to as the Crisp domain. We presented the NMR solution structure of the Crisp domain of mouse Tpx-1, and we showed that it contains two subdomains, one of which has a similar fold to the ion channel regulators BgK and ShK. Furthermore, we have demonstrated for the first time that the ion channel regulatory activity of Crisp proteins is attributed to the Crisp domain. Specifically, the Tpx-1 Crisp domain inhibited cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR) 2 with an IC(50) between 0.5 and 1.0 microM and activated the skeletal RyR1 with an AC(50) between 1 and 10 microM when added to the cytoplasmic domain of the receptor. This activity was nonvoltage-dependent and weakly voltage-dependent, respectively. Furthermore, the Tpx-1 Crisp domain activated both RyR forms at negative bilayer potentials and showed no effect at positive bilayer potentials when added to the luminal domain of the receptor. These data show that the Tpx-1 Crisp domain on its own can regulate ion channel activity and provide compelling evidence for a role for Tpx-1 in the regulation of Ca(2+) fluxes observed during sperm capacitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerard M Gibbs
- Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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43
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Udby L, Lundwall Å, Johnsen AH, Fernlund P, Valtonen-André C, Blom AM, Lilja H, Borregaard N, Kjeldsen L, Bjartell A. beta-Microseminoprotein binds CRISP-3 in human seminal plasma. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2005; 333:555-61. [PMID: 15950934 PMCID: PMC1939934 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2005.05.139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2005] [Accepted: 05/25/2005] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
beta-Microseminoprotein (MSP) and cysteine-rich secretory protein 3 (CRISP-3) are abundant constituents of human seminal plasma. Immunoprecipitation and gel filtration of seminal plasma proteins combined with examination of the proteins in their pure form showed that MSP and CRISP-3 form stable, non-covalent complexes. CRISP-3 binds MSP with very high affinity, as evidenced by surface plasmon resonance. Due to far higher abundance of MSP in prostatic fluid, it manifests large overcapacity for CRISP-3 binding. Structural similarity with an MSP-binding protein from blood plasma suggests that CRISP-3 binds MSP through its aminoterminal SCP-domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lene Udby
- Granulocyte Research Laboratory, Department of Hematology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
- * Corresponding author. Fax: +45 3545 6727. E-mail address: (L. Udby)
| | - Åke Lundwall
- Department of Laboratory Medicine (Division of Clinical Chemistry), Lund University, University Hospital MAS, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Anders H. Johnsen
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
| | - Per Fernlund
- Department of Laboratory Medicine (Division of Clinical Chemistry), Lund University, University Hospital MAS, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Camilla Valtonen-André
- Department of Laboratory Medicine (Division of Clinical Chemistry), Lund University, University Hospital MAS, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Anna M. Blom
- Department of Laboratory Medicine (Division of Clinical Chemistry), Lund University, University Hospital MAS, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Hans Lilja
- Department of Laboratory Medicine (Division of Clinical Chemistry), Lund University, University Hospital MAS, Malmö, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Laboratories, Urology and Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA
| | - Niels Borregaard
- Granulocyte Research Laboratory, Department of Hematology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
| | - Lars Kjeldsen
- Granulocyte Research Laboratory, Department of Hematology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark
| | - Anders Bjartell
- Department of Urology, Lund University, University Hospital MAS, Malmö, Sweden
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44
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Johnston DS, Jelinsky SA, Bang HJ, DiCandeloro P, Wilson E, Kopf GS, Turner TT. The mouse epididymal transcriptome: transcriptional profiling of segmental gene expression in the epididymis. Biol Reprod 2005; 73:404-13. [PMID: 15878890 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.105.039719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Maturation of spermatozoa, including the acquisition of motility and the ability to undergo capacitation, occurs during transit through the dynamic environment of the epididymis. The microenvironments created along the length of the epididymal tubule are essential to the molecular modifications of spermatozoa that result in fertile gametes. The secretory and resorptive processes of the epithelial cells that line this tubule generate these microenvironments. In the current study, 10 morphologically distinct segments of the mouse epididymis were identified by microdissection. We hypothesized that the changing environments of the epididymal lumen are established by differential gene expression among these segments. RNA isolated from each of the 10 segments was analyzed by microarray analysis. More than 17,000 genes are expressed in the mouse epididymis, compared with about 12,000 genes identified from whole epididymal samples. Screening a panel of normal mouse tissues identified both epididymal-selective and epididymal-specific transcripts. In addition, this study identified 2168 genes that are up-regulated or down-regulated by greater than 4-fold between at least two different segments. The expression patterns of these genes identify distinct patterns of segmental regulation. Using principal component analysis, we determined that the 10 segments form 6 different transcriptional units. These analyses elucidate the changes in gene expression along the length of the epididymis for 17,000 expressed transcripts and provide a powerful resource for the research community in future studies of the biological factors that mediate epididymal sperm maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel S Johnston
- Contraception, Woman's Health & Bone, Wyeth Research, Collegeville, Pennsylvania 19426, USA.
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45
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Jalkanen J, Huhtaniemi I, Poutanen M. Mouse cysteine-rich secretory protein 4 (CRISP4): a member of the Crisp family exclusively expressed in the epididymis in an androgen-dependent manner. Biol Reprod 2005; 72:1268-74. [PMID: 15673606 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.104.035758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The final maturation of spermatozoa produced in the testis takes place during their passage through the epididymis. In this process, the proteins secreted into the epididymal lumen along with changes in the pH and salt composition of the epididymal fluid cause several biochemical changes and remodeling of the sperm plasma membrane. The Crisp family is a group of cysteine-rich secretory proteins that previously consisted of three members, one of which-CRISP1-is an epididymal protein shown to attach to the sperm surface in the epididymal lumen and to inhibit gamete membrane fusion. In the present paper, we introduce a new member of the Crisp protein family, CRISP4. The new gene was discovered through in silico analysis of the epididymal expressed sequence tag library deposited in the UniGene database. The peptide sequence of CRISP4 has a signal sequence suggesting that it is secreted into the epididymal lumen and might thus interact with sperm. Unlike the other members of the family, Crisp4 is located on chromosome 1 in a cluster of genes encoding for cysteine-rich proteins. Crisp4 is expressed in the mouse exclusively in epithelial cells of the epididymis in an androgen-dependent manner, and the expression of the gene starts at puberty along with the onset of sperm maturation. The identified murine CRISP4 peptide has high homology with human CRISP1, and the homology is higher than that between murine and human CRISP1, suggesting that CRISP4 represents the mouse counterpart of human CRISP1 and could have similar effects on sperm membrane as mouse and human CRISP1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenni Jalkanen
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Finland
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46
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Britan A, Lareyre JJ, Lefrançois-Martinez AM, Manin M, Schwaab V, Greiffeuille V, Vernet P, Drevet JR. Spontaneously immortalized epithelial cells from mouse caput epididymidis. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2004; 224:41-53. [PMID: 15353179 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2004.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2003] [Revised: 06/28/2004] [Accepted: 06/29/2004] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We report here on the characterization of tissue-culture cell lines derived from primary cultures of the mouse caput epididymidis epithelium. The cell lines were spontaneously immortalized without the use of transforming oncogenes. In defined conditions, our epididymal cells adopted various morphological features that resembles that of the in vivo epididymis epithelium such as a polarized organization and the presence of junctional structures at their apical/lateral membranes as revealed by electron microscopy analyses. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that we were dealing with homogenous cell populations that had reached a near-tetraploid state. RT-PCR assays were used in order to show that several genes that can be considered as markers of in vivo caput epididymidis epithelium activity were expressed in our cell lines confirming that these cells were indeed in a differentiated state close to their endogenous state.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Britan
- Laboratoires Epididyme and Maturation des Gamètes, Université Blaise Pascal-Clermont II, 24 Avenue des Landais, 63177 Aubière Cedex, France
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47
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Suzuki K, Drevet J, Hinton BT, Huhtaniemi I, Lareyre JJ, Matusik RJ, Pons E, Poutanen M, Sipilä P, Orgebin-Crist MC. Epididymis-specific promoter-driven gene targeting: a new approach to control epididymal function? Mol Cell Endocrinol 2004; 216:15-22. [PMID: 15109740 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2003.10.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kichiya Suzuki
- Department of Obstetric and Gynecology, Vanderbilt Univerity School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
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48
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Penttinen J, Pujianto DA, Sipila P, Huhtaniemi I, Poutanen M. Discovery in silico and characterization in vitro of novel genes exclusively expressed in the mouse epididymis. Mol Endocrinol 2003; 17:2138-51. [PMID: 12920233 DOI: 10.1210/me.2003-0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Epididymal proteins interact with sperm during their passage through the epididymis and thus contribute to the maturation and fertilizing capacity of the spermatozoa. In the present study we have discovered five novel epididymis-specific genes through in silico analysis of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) at the UniGene library collection. The strategy used is a powerful way to discover novel epididymis-specific genes. The full-length cDNA sequences were determined, and computational tools were used to characterize the genomic structures and to predict putative functions for the encoded proteins. In vitro analyses revealed that all five genes characterized were highly expressed in the defined areas of the epididymis, and they were not expressed at significant levels in any other tissue. Three of the genes were named on the basis of their putative functions: Spint4 (serine protease inhibitor, Kunitz type 4), and Rnase9 and Rnase10 (ribonuclease, Rnase A family 9 and 10), while for the ESTs AV381130 and AV381126 no putative functions could be predicted. The expression of Spint4, Rnase9, and AV381130 was found to be under a direct or indirect regulation by androgens, while the expression of Rnase10 is regulated by a testicular factor(s) other than androgen. None of the genes were expressed in the immature epididymis, while mRNAs were detected from d 17 onward, at the time of maturation of epididymal epithelium. However, the expression of AV381130 was not detected until d 30 after birth, indicating a close connection between gene expression and puberty.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenni Penttinen
- Department of Physiology, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 10, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland.
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Milne TJ, Abbenante G, Tyndall JDA, Halliday J, Lewis RJ. Isolation and characterization of a cone snail protease with homology to CRISP proteins of the pathogenesis-related protein superfamily. J Biol Chem 2003; 278:31105-10. [PMID: 12759345 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m304843200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis-related (PR) protein superfamily is widely distributed in the animal, plant, and fungal kingdoms and is implicated in human brain tumor growth and plant pathogenesis. The precise biological activity of PR proteins, however, has remained elusive. Here we report the characterization, cloning and structural homology modeling of Tex31 from the venom duct of Conus textile. Tex31 was isolated to >95% purity by activity-guided fractionation using a para-nitroanilide substrate based on the putative cleavage site residues found in the propeptide precursor of conotoxin TxVIA. Tex31 requires four residues including a leucine N-terminal of the cleavage site for efficient substrate processing. The sequence of Tex31 was determined using two degenerate PCR primers designed from N-terminal and tryptic digest Edman sequences. A BLAST search revealed that Tex31 was a member of the PR protein superfamily and most closely related to the CRISP family of mammalian proteins that have a cysteine-rich C-terminal tail. A homology model constructed from two PR proteins revealed that the likely catalytic residues in Tex31 fall within a structurally conserved domain found in PR proteins. Thus, it is possible that other PR proteins may also be substrate-specific proteases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Trudy J Milne
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Queensland 4072, Australia
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50
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Schambony A, Hefele JA, Gentzel M, Wilm M, Wedlich D. A homologue of cysteine-rich secretory proteins induces premature degradation of vitelline envelopes and hatching of Xenopus laevis embryos. Mech Dev 2003; 120:937-48. [PMID: 12963113 DOI: 10.1016/s0925-4773(03)00162-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
We cloned Xenopus laevis CRISP, XCRISP, a homologue of the mammalian family of cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPs), which has been previously identified as a Wnt3a/noggin responsive gene in an expression screen [Mech. Dev. 87 (1999) 21]. We detected XCRISP expression exclusively in the hatching gland. XCRISP enters the secretory pathway and accumulates on the surface of presumptive hatching gland cells. Overexpression studies of XCRISP and XCRISP-mutants show that XCRISP induces premature hatching of embryos preceded by degradation of the vitelline envelope. A deletion mutant that lacks a 35 amino acid domain even accelerates hatching, while further deletion of the carboxy-terminus reverses these effects. From our studies, we conclude that XCRISP is sufficient to induce degradation of vitelline envelopes and that this activity maps to the most C-terminal amino acids, while the adjacent domain regulates XCRISP activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Schambony
- Institute of Zoology II, University of Karlsruhe, Fritz-Haber-Weg 4, D-76128 Karlsruhe, Germany.
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