Novel Mutations Reduce Expression of Meiotic Regulators SYCE1 and BOLL in Testis of Azoospermic Men from West Bengal, India

We investigated the polymorphisms/mutations in synaptonemal complex central element protein 1 (SYCE1) and CDC25A mRNA-binding protein (BOLL) to test whether they increase the risk of azoospermia among Bengali-speaking men from West Bengal, India. Sanger's dideoxy sequencing was used to genotype 140 azoospermic individuals who tested negative for Y chromosome microdeletion and 120 healthy controls. In both cases and controls, qRT-PCR was used to determine the expression summary of SYCE1 and BOLL. The perceived harmful consequences of identified mutations were inferred using in silico analysis. Suitable statistical approaches were used to conduct the association study. We found SYCE1 177insT (ON245141), 10650T > G (ON257012), 10093insT (ON257013), 10653insG (ON292504), rs10857748A > G, rs10857749G > A, and rs10857750T > A and BOLL 7708T > A (ON245141insT), rs72918816T > C, and rs700655C > T variants with the prevalence of azoospermia. Data from qRT-PCR and in silico studies projected that the variations would either disrupt the transcript's natural splice junctions or cause probable damage to the structure of the genes' proteins. SYCE1 gene variants [177insT (ON245141), 10650T > G (ON257012), 10093insT (ON257013), 10653insG (ON292504), rs10857748A > G, rs10857749G > A, rs10857750T > A] and BOLL gene variants [7708T > A (ON245141insT), rs72918816T > C, rs700655C > T] reduce the expression of respective gene in testicular tissue among azoospermic male as revealed from qRT-PCR result. These genetic variations could be utilized as screening tools for male infertility to determine the best course of treatment in routine ART practise.

P-113 Association of Novel Mutations of TSPY1 Gene With Spermatogenic Failure Among Men

Study question

Are the novel mutations of TSPY1 gene associated with idiopathic male infertility in men?

Summary answer

Sporadic TSPY1 gene mutation is one of the major causes of idiopathic male infertility among men.

What is known already

As per the published research, there are several studies including AZF micro-deletion, sex chromosome copy number variation but surprisingly studies on Y chromosome genes are not that much available. Due to the genetic cross-talks of different regulatory mechanisms involved in the spermatogenesis process, male infertility still remains idiopathic. Contradictory outcome of the analyses intrigues the association of the variations of TSPY1 gene with male infertility. Previous analyses did not reveal implication of TSPY1 gene as etiologic factor of male infertility.

Study design, size, duration

This was a population-based case-control study that includes 184 cases of spermatogenic failure and 197 age-matched fertile men as controls and the study was conducted between March, 2018 and February, 2021 to infer whether the genetic mutations are significantly associated with spermatogenic failure.

Participants/materials, setting, methods

The samples were collected from the Institute of Reproductive Medicine (IRM) and Genome-the fertility centre. All the selected individuals agreed to participate in the study and provided blood samples. We isolated DNA from the blood samples, designed specific primers and went for PCR. We performed Sanger’s dideoxy sequencing of TSPY1 gene reading frame followed by in silico analyses of detected variations to interpret their intuitive effects on transcript and protein level of TSPY1 gene.

Main results and the role of chance

We found one novel deletion namely MN734578 (NC_000024.10:g.9468830del) and one novel insertion MN719944 (NC_000024.10:g.9468815_9468816insA). Both these mutations exhibited strong association with male infertility. MN734578 showed compelling confederacy with male infertility increasing the risk factor against the odd 19.023 (P value 0.0027). Here the mutation was found in 8 out of 184 case individuals. MN719944 was found to be extremely correlated with male infertility increasing the risk factor by 14.547 folds (P value 0.0117). This mutation is found in 6 out of 184 case individuals. Both the mutations were not not found in the control individuals. In silico analyses using different software SIFT, PROVEAN, REGULATIONSPOTTER, HSF and SpliceAid suggest prospective disruption in splice sites and alteration in different isoforms of TSPY1 transcripts and amino acid sequence in TSPY1 protein. We calculated Odds ratios with respective 95% confidence interval (CI) by performing Fisher’s exact test. After Bonferroni's correction, a two-tailed P-value of less than 0.02 was considered statistically significant.

Limitations, reasons for caution

The origin of the novel mutations is unknown and the outcome does not provide mechanistic details how do de novo mutations imperil the process of spermatogenesis.

Wider implications of the findings

The study provides evidence in favour of implication of TSPY1 gene in male fertility. The outcome sheds light to get insight into the issue of unexplained male infertility in Bengali will help to manage fertility problem in men.

Trial registration number

Not applicable

Novel Mutations of TSPY1 Gene Associate Spermatogenic Failure Among Men

Etiology of male infertility is intriguing owing to complex genetic regulation of human spermatogenesis and ethnic variations in genetic architecture of human populations. The present study characterizes the role of Y chromosome specific spermatogenic regulator testis-specific protein Y-encoded 1 (TSPY1) gene mutation in spermatogenic failure. This case-control study includes 163 cases of spermatogenic failure and 175 age-matched fertile men as controls. We found five novel base substitutions, namely, MT162695, MN879413, MN889982, MN889983, MN719943, two deletions MN734578 and MN734579, three novel insertions MN719941, MN719942 and MN719944 through Sanger's dideoxy sequencing of TSPY1 gene reading frame. All these mutations exhibited strong association with male infertility. In silico analyses suggest prospective disruption in splice sites and alteration in different isoforms of TSPY1 transcripts and amino acid sequence in TSPY1 protein. The study provides novel evidence in favour of implication of TSPY1 gene in male fertility. The outcome sheds light to get insight into the issue of idiopathic male infertility in Bengali population.

Prevalence of Y chromosome microdeletion in azoospermia factor subregions among infertile men from West Bengal, India

Background

Etiology of male infertility is intriguing and Y chromosome microdeletion within azoospermia factor (AZF) sub‐regions is considered major cause. We conducted a screening for Y chromosome microdeletion in an infertile male cohort from West Bengal, India to characterize Y chromosome microdeletion among infertile men.

Methods

We recruited case subjects that were categorized on the basis of sperm count as azoospermia (N = 63), severe oligozoospermia (N = 38), and oligozoospermia (N = 17) and compared them with age, demography, and ethnicity matched healthy proven fertile control males (N = 84). Sequence Tagged Site makers and polymerase chain reaction based profiling of Y chromosome was done for AZF region and SRY for cases and controls.

Results

We scored 16.1% of cases (19 out of 118) that bear one or more microdeletions in the studied loci and none among the controls. The aberrations were more frequent among azoospermic males (17 of 19) than in severe oligozoospermic subjects (2 of 19).

Conclusion

Our study provides the results of screening of the largest Bengali infertile men sample genotyped with the maximum number of STS markers spanning the entire length of Y chromosome long arm. Y chromosome microdeletion is a significant genetic etiology of infertility among Bengali men.

Evaluation of potency of the selected bioactive molecules from Indian medicinal plants with MPro of SARS-CoV-2 through in silico analysis

Background

The recent outbreak of novel SARs CoVid-2 across the globe and absence of specific drug against this virus lead the scientific community to look into some alternative indigenous treatments. India as a hub of ayurvedic and medicinal plants can shed light on its treatment using specific active bio-molecules from these plants.

Objectives

Keeping our herbal resources in mind we were interested to inquire whether some phytochemicals from Indian spices and medicinal plants can be used as alternative therapeutic agents in contrast to synthetic drugs.

Materials and methods

We used in-silico molecular docking approach to test whether bioactive molecules of herbal origin such as Hyperoside, Nimbaflavone, Ursolic acid, 6-gingerol, 6-shogaol& 6-paradol, Curcumin, Catechins&Epigallocatechin, α-Hederin, Piperine could bind and potentially block theM^proenzyme of Sars-CoV-2 virus.

Results

Ursolic acid showed the highest docking score (-8.7 kcal/mol) followed by Hyperoside (-8.6kcal/mol), α-Hederin (-8.5 kcal/mol) and Nimbaflavone (-8.0kcal/mol). Epigallocatechin, Catechins, and Curcumin also exhibited high binding affinity (Docking score -7.3, -7.1 and -7.1 kcal/mol) with the M^pro. Rest of the tested phytochemicals exhibited moderate binding and inhibitory effects.

Conclusion

This finding provides a basis for biochemical assay on Sars-CoV-2 virus.