1
|
Schneider S, Kovacevic A, Mayer M, Dicke AK, Arévalo L, Koser SA, Hansen JN, Young S, Brenker C, Kliesch S, Wachten D, Kirfel G, Struenker T, Tüttelmann F, Schorle H. Cylicins are a structural component of the sperm calyx being indispensable for male fertility in mice and human. eLife 2023; 12:RP86100. [PMID: 38013430 PMCID: PMC10684152 DOI: 10.7554/elife.86100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cylicins are testis-specific proteins, which are exclusively expressed during spermiogenesis. In mice and humans, two Cylicins, the gonosomal X-linked Cylicin 1 (Cylc1/CYLC1) and the autosomal Cylicin 2 (Cylc2/CYLC2) genes, have been identified. Cylicins are cytoskeletal proteins with an overall positive charge due to lysine-rich repeats. While Cylicins have been localized in the acrosomal region of round spermatids, they resemble a major component of the calyx within the perinuclear theca at the posterior part of mature sperm nuclei. However, the role of Cylicins during spermiogenesis has not yet been investigated. Here, we applied CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing in zygotes to establish Cylc1- and Cylc2-deficient mouse lines as a model to study the function of these proteins. Cylc1 deficiency resulted in male subfertility, whereas Cylc2-/-, Cylc1-/yCylc2+/-, and Cylc1-/yCylc2-/- males were infertile. Phenotypical characterization revealed that loss of Cylicins prevents proper calyx assembly during spermiogenesis. This results in decreased epididymal sperm counts, impaired shedding of excess cytoplasm, and severe structural malformations, ultimately resulting in impaired sperm motility. Furthermore, exome sequencing identified an infertile man with a hemizygous variant in CYLC1 and a heterozygous variant in CYLC2, displaying morphological abnormalities of the sperm including the absence of the acrosome. Thus, our study highlights the relevance and importance of Cylicins for spermiogenic remodeling and male fertility in human and mouse, and provides the basis for further studies on unraveling the complex molecular interactions between perinuclear theca proteins required during spermiogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simon Schneider
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Developmental Pathology, Medical Faculty, University of BonnBonnGermany
- Bonn Technology Campus, Core Facility 'Gene-Editing', Medical Faculty, University of BonnBonnGermany
| | - Andjela Kovacevic
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Developmental Pathology, Medical Faculty, University of BonnBonnGermany
| | - Michelle Mayer
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Developmental Pathology, Medical Faculty, University of BonnBonnGermany
| | - Ann-Kristin Dicke
- Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of MünsterMünsterGermany
| | - Lena Arévalo
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Developmental Pathology, Medical Faculty, University of BonnBonnGermany
| | - Sophie A Koser
- Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of MünsterMünsterGermany
| | - Jan N Hansen
- Institute of Innate Immunity, Biophysical Imaging, Medical Faculty, University of BonnBonnGermany
| | - Samuel Young
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital Münster, University of MünsterMünsterGermany
| | - Christoph Brenker
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital Münster, University of MünsterMünsterGermany
| | - Sabine Kliesch
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital Münster, University of MünsterMünsterGermany
| | - Dagmar Wachten
- Institute of Innate Immunity, Biophysical Imaging, Medical Faculty, University of BonnBonnGermany
| | - Gregor Kirfel
- Institute for Cell Biology, University of BonnBonnGermany
| | - Timo Struenker
- Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University Hospital Münster, University of MünsterMünsterGermany
| | - Frank Tüttelmann
- Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of MünsterMünsterGermany
| | - Hubert Schorle
- Institute of Pathology, Department of Developmental Pathology, Medical Faculty, University of BonnBonnGermany
| |
Collapse
|