Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel cytoplasmic protein-tyrosine phosphatase that is specifically expressed in spermatocytes

Eighteen genes primarily expressed in the testis are not required for male fertility in mice†

There are approximately 20 000 protein-coding genes in humans and mice. More than 1000 of these genes are predominantly expressed in the testis or are testis-specific and thought to play an important role in male reproduction. Through the production of gene knockout mouse models and phenotypic evaluations, many genes essential for spermatogenesis, sperm maturation, and fertilization have been discovered, greatly contributing to the elucidation of their molecular mechanisms. On the other hand, there are many cases in which single-gene knockout models do not affect fertility, indicating that tissue-specific genes are not always critical. Here, we selected 18 genes whose mRNA expression is restricted to the testis or higher than in other tissues, but whose function in male reproduction is unknown. We then created single-gene KO mouse models using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The established KO males were subjected to mating tests and screened for effects on fecundity, revealing that these genes were not essential for spermatogenesis and male fertility. This knowledge will contribute to understanding the functions of genes characteristic of the testis and identify the cause of male infertility.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase hPTPN20a is targeted to sites of actin polymerization

The human genome encodes 38 classical tyrosine-specific PTPs (protein tyrosine phosphatases). Many PTPs have been shown to regulate fundamental cellular processes and several are mutated in human diseases. We report that the product of the PTPN20 gene at the chromosome locus 10q11.2 is alternatively spliced to generate 16 possible variants of the classical human non-transmembrane PTP 20 (hPTPN20). One of these variants, hPTPN20a, was expressed in a wide range of both normal and transformed cell lines. The catalytic domain of hPTPN20 exhibited catalytic activity towards tyrosyl phosphorylated substrates, confirming that it is a bona fide PTP. In serum-starved COS1 cells, hPTPN20a was targeted to the nucleus and the microtubule network, colocalizing with the microtubule-organizing centre and intracellular membrane compartments, including the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus. Stimulation of cells with epidermal growth factor, osmotic shock, pervanadate, or integrin ligation targeted hPTPN20a to actin-rich structures that included membrane ruffles. The present study identifies hPTPN20a as a novel and widely expressed phosphatase with a dynamic subcellular distribution that is targeted to sites of actin polymerization.

Requirement of protein tyrosine kinase and phosphatase activities for human sperm exocytosis

The acrosome is a membrane-limited granule that overlies the nucleus of the mature spermatozoon. In response to physiological or pharmacological stimuli, sperm undergo calcium-dependent exocytosis termed the acrosome reaction, which is an absolute prerequisite for fertilization. Protein tyrosine phosphorylation and dephosphorylation are a mechanisms by which multiple cellular events are regulated. Here we report that calcium induces tyrosine phosphorylation in streptolysin O (SLO)-permeabilized human sperm. As expected, pretreatment with tyrphostin A47-a tyrosine kinase inhibitor-abolishes the calcium effect. Interestingly, the calcium-induced increase in tyrosine phosphorylation has a functional correlate in sperm exocytosis. Masking of phosphotyrosyl groups with a specific antibody or inhibition of tyrosine kinases with genistein, tyrphostin A47, and tyrphostin A51 prevent the acrosome reaction. By reversibly sequestering intra-acrosomal calcium with a photo-inhibitable chelator, we show a requirement for protein tyrosine phosphorylation late in the exocytotic pathway, after the efflux of intra-acrosomal calcium. Both mouse and human sperm contain highly active tyrosine phosphatases. Importantly, this activity declines when sperm are incubated under capacitating conditions. Inhibition of tyrosine phosphatases with pervanadate, bis(N,N-dimethylhydroxoamido)hydroxovanadate, ethyl-3,4-dephostatin, and phenylarsine oxide prevents the acrosome reaction. Our results show that both tyrosine kinases and phosphatases play a central role in sperm exocytosis.

Tesmin transcription is regulated differently during male and female meiosis

Tesmin is a protein with homology to the metal-binding motif of the metallothionein protein family. Tesmin has been described as a testis-specific transcript, which starts to accumulate in 8-day-old mouse spermatocytes. Herein, a differential display comparing meiotic gene expression in embryonic ovaries and mature testes also revealed the presence of the Tesmin transcript in fetal ovaries as well as in fetal and adult heart. Time-course experiments showed that Tesmin was expressed in a characteristic development-related manner in fetal ovaries. Only a weak expression was observed at E12(1/2), the strongest signal was reached at E14(1/2), whereas the signal declined between E14(1/2) and E16(1/2). This transitional expression coincides with the early stages of the female meiotic prophase I. In the male, however, Tesmin was expressed in all stages of meiotic prophase I except preleptonema and leptonema. In situ hybridization further showed that the mRNA level increased during prophase I in the male, with the strongest expression seen at the transition from mid- to late pachytema (Stage VII-VIII). Furthermore, initiation of Tesmin transcription paralleled that of the synaptonemal complex protein 1 transcript (Scp1) in the fetal ovary and prepubertal testis. We, therefore, propose that Tesmin is likely to have a function in both the male and female meiotic prophase I. Moreover, the distinct difference in both the timing and the level of mRNA accumulation in the two gender's meiotic prophase I suggests that Tesmin transcription may be controlled by two different mechanisms during male and female meiosis. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 67: 116-126, 2004.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a novel dual specificity phosphatase, LMW-DSP2, that lacks the cdc25 homology domain

A novel dual specificity phosphatase (DSP) designated LMW-DSP2 was cloned with a combination of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and cDNA library screening strategies. The LMW-DSP2 open reading frame of 194 amino acids contained a single DSP catalytic domain but lacked the cdc25 homology domain, which is conserved in most known DSPs. Northern blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses revealed that LMW-DSP2 was specifically expressed in testis. Recombinant LMW-DSP2 protein exhibited phosphatase activity toward an artificial low molecular weight substrate para-nitrophenyl phosphate, and the activity was inhibited completely by sodium orthovanadate but not sodium fluoride, pyrophosphate, and okadaic acid. The substitution of critical amino acid residues, aspartic acid and cysteine, resulted in a dramatic reduction of phosphatase activity. Transient transfection of LMW-DSP2 in COS7 cells resulted in the expression of a 21-kDa protein, and the phosphatase was shown to be distributed in both the cytosol and the nucleus. LMW-DSP2 dephosphorylated and deactivated p38, to a higher extent, and stress-activated protein kinase (SAPK)/c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinases, in transfected COS7 cells and in vitro. Interestingly, mutation in a conserved docking motif of p38 and SAPK/JNK as well as in a cluster of aspartic acids of LMW-DSP2 did not affect the deactivation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases by LMW-DSP2. Furthermore, the binding between LMW-DSP2 and p38 and SAPK/JNK was also not disrupted by such mutations. Among the DSPs lacking the cdc25 homology domain, LMW-DSP2 is the first one that dephosphorylates and deactivates p38 and SAPK/JNK.

Molecular cloning and characterization of a protein tyrosine phosphatase enriched in testis, a putative murine homologue of human PTPMEG

Protein tyrosine phosphorylation is regulated by protein tyrosine kinase and protein tyrosine phosphatase activities. These two counteracting proteins are implicated in cell growth and transformation. Using polymerase chain reaction with degenerate primers, we have identified a novel mouse protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP). This cDNA contains a single open reading frame of the predicted 926 amino acids. Those predicted amino acids showed significant identity with human megakaryocyte protein-tyrosine phosphatase by 91% in nucleotide sequences and 94% in amino acid sequences. We have identified that expression of this PTP is highly enriched in the testis in mouse and human and has been termed here as a 'testis-enriched phosphatase' (TEP). Northern analysis detected two mRNA species of 3.7 and 3.2kb for this PTP in mouse testis and the expression of TEP is regulated during development. The recombinant phosphatase domain possesses protein tyrosine phosphatase activity when expressed in Escherichia coli. Immunohistochemical analysis of the cellular localization of TEP on mouse testis sections showed that this PTP is specifically expressed in spermatocytes and spermatids within seminiferous tubules, suggesting an important role in spermatogenesis.

Identification and characterization of TESK2, a novel member of the LIMK/TESK family of protein kinases, predominantly expressed in testis

In this study we present the cDNA sequence of a novel putative protein kinase, denoted TESK2. The open reading frame of TESK2 encodes a putative 555-amino-acid protein, including a protein kinase consensus sequence in the N-terminal half. The protein kinase domain of TESK2 is structurally similar to the kinase domain of the protein serine/threonine kinase TESK1 (64% identity) and to those of the LIMK1 and LIMK2 kinases (42 and 39% identity, respectively). TESK2, together with TESK1, constitutes a second subgroup of the LIMK/TESK family of protein kinases, as revealed by phylogenetic analysis of the protein kinase domains. Chromosomal localization of human TESK2 was assigned to 1p32. Expression analysis of human TESK2 revealed a single mRNA species of 3.0 kb predominantly expressed in testis and prostate and low expression in most other tissues examined. Rat testicles expressed a single species of TESK2 mRNA of approximately 3.5 kb. However, the transcript was first detectable in rat testis after day 30 of postnatal development and was predominantly expressed in round spermatids. These observations suggest that TESK2 plays an important role in spermatogenesis.

Plasma membrane-associated protein tyrosine phosphatase activity in hamster spermatozoa

Plasma membranes of caput and cauda epididymal spermatozoa of hamster exhibited protein phosphatase activity. This membrane-associated protein phosphatase was identified as a protein tyrosine phosphatase based on its ability to hydrolyse a substrate specific for PTPase, by inhibition of its activity with a specific inhibitor of PTPase (sodium orthovanadate) and by the inability to inhibit its activity with calyculin, okadaic acid, trifluoperazine, calcium, EGTA, and EDTA, which are specific inhibitors of other protein phosphatases, namely PP-1, PP-2A, PP-2B, and PP-2C respectively. The specific activity of the protein tyrosine phosphatase both in the caput and cauda epididymal sperm plasma membranes was similar, implying that the enzyme may not be solely responsible for the differential phosphorylation of membrane proteins observed during maturation (Uma Devi et al. 1997. Mol Reprod Dev 47:341-350). Thus the significance of the PTPase activity in epididymal maturation still remains to be determined. The membrane-associated PTPase may not be essential for acquisition of motility. However, it appears that the activity is essential for the sustenance of motility since sodium orthovanadate, which specifically inhibits PTPase activity, also inhibits motility of spermatozoa and decreases the overall velocity of the spermatozoa by decreasing the average path velocity, straight line velocity, curvilinear velocity, and amplitude of lateral head displacement of the treated spermatozoa.