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Zhang XZ, Wei LL, Zhang XH, Jin HJ, Chen SR. Loss of perinuclear theca ACTRT1 causes acrosome detachment and severe male subfertility in mice. Development 2022; 149:275523. [DOI: 10.1242/dev.200489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The perinuclear theca (PT) is a cytoskeletal element encapsulating the sperm nucleus; however, the physiological roles of the PT in sperm are largely uncertain. Here, we reveal that ACTRT1, ACTRT2, ACTL7A and ACTL9 proteins interact to form a multimeric complex and localize to the subacrosomal region of spermatids. Furthermore, we engineered Actrt1-knockout (KO) mice to define the functions of ACTRT1. Despite normal sperm count and motility, Actrt1-KO males were severely subfertile owing to a deficiency in fertilization. Loss of ACTRT1 caused a high incidence of malformed heads and detachment of acrosomes from sperm nuclei, caused by loosened acroplaxome structure during spermiogenesis. Furthermore, Actrt1-KO sperm showed reduced ACTL7A and PLCζ protein content as a potential cause of fertilization defects. Moreover, we reveal that ACTRT1 anchors developing acrosomes to the nucleus, likely by interacting with the inner acrosomal membrane protein SPACA1 and the nuclear envelope proteins PARP11 and SPATA46. Loss of ACTRT1 weakened the interaction between ACTL7A and SPACA1. Our study and recent findings of ACTL7A/ACTL9-deficient sperm together reveal that the sperm PT-specific ARP complex mediates the acrosome-nucleus connection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Zhen Zhang
- Ministry of Education, Department of Biology, College of Life Sciences Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology , , , 100875 Beijing , China
- Beijing Normal University Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology , , , 100875 Beijing , China
| | - Lin-Lin Wei
- Ministry of Education, Department of Biology, College of Life Sciences Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology , , , 100875 Beijing , China
- Beijing Normal University Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology , , , 100875 Beijing , China
| | - Xiao-Hui Zhang
- Ministry of Education, Department of Biology, College of Life Sciences Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology , , , 100875 Beijing , China
- Beijing Normal University Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology , , , 100875 Beijing , China
| | - Hui-Juan Jin
- Ministry of Education, Department of Biology, College of Life Sciences Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology , , , 100875 Beijing , China
- Beijing Normal University Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology , , , 100875 Beijing , China
| | - Su-Ren Chen
- Ministry of Education, Department of Biology, College of Life Sciences Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology , , , 100875 Beijing , China
- Beijing Normal University Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology , , , 100875 Beijing , China
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Gomes C, Soh J. DnaJC18, a Novel Type III DnaJ Family Protein, is Expressed Specifically in Rat Male Germ Cells. Dev Reprod 2017; 21:237-247. [PMID: 29082339 PMCID: PMC5651690 DOI: 10.12717/dr.2017.21.3.237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2017] [Revised: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian spermatogenesis occurs in a precise and coordinated manner in the
seminiferous tubules. One of the attempts to understand the detailed biological
process during mammalian spermatogenesis at the molecular level has been to
identify the testis specific genes followed by study of the testicular
expression pattern of the genes. From the subtracted cDNA library of rat testis
prepared using representational difference analysis (RDA) method, a
complimentary DNA clone encoding type III member of a DnaJ family protein,
DnaJC18, was cloned (GenBank Accession No. DQ158861). The full-length DnaJC18
cDNA has the longest open reading frame of 357 amino acids. Tissue and
developmental Northern blot analysis revealed that the DnaJC18
gene was expressed specifically in testis and began to express from postnatal
week 4 testis, respectively. In situ hybridization studies
showed that DnaJC18 mRNA was expressed only during the
maturation stages of late pachy- tene, round and elongated spermatids of adult
rat testis. Western blot analysis with DnaJC18 antibody revealed that 41.2 kDa
DnaJC18 protein was detected only in adult testis. Immunohistochemistry study
further confirmed that DnaJC18 protein, was expressed in developing germ cells
and the result was in concert with the in situ hybridization
result. Confocal microscopy with GFP tagged DnaJC18 protein revealed that it was
localized in the cytoplasm of cells. Taken together, these results suggested
that testis specific DnaJC18, a member of the type III DnaJ protein family,
might play a role during germ cell maturation in adult rat testis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Gomes
- Department of Anatomical Sciences and Neurobiology, University of Louisville, KY 40202 USA
| | - Jaemog Soh
- Hormone Research Center, School of Bioloical Sciences and Technology, College of Natural Sciences, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
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