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Kuske M, Floehr J, Yiallouros I, Michna T, Jahnen-Dechent W, Tenzer S, Stöcker W, Körschgen H. Limited proteolysis by acrosin affects sperm-binding and mechanical resilience of the mouse zona pellucida. Mol Hum Reprod 2021; 27:6199430. [PMID: 33779727 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaab022] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The encounter of oocyte and sperm is the key event initiating embryonic development in mammals. Crucial functions of this existential interaction are determined by proteolytic enzymes, such as acrosin, carried in the sperm head acrosome, and ovastacin, stored in the oocyte cortical granules. Ovastacin is released upon fertilisation to cleave the zona pellucida, a glycoprotein matrix surrounding the oocyte. This limited proteolysis hardens the oocyte envelope, and thereby provides a definitive block against polyspermy and protects the developing embryo. On the other hand, acrosin, the renowned and most abundant acrosomal protease, has been thought to enable sperm to penetrate the oocyte envelope. Depending on the species, proteolytic cleavage of the zona pellucida by acrosin is either essential or conducive for fertilisation. However, the specific target cleavage sites and the resulting physiological consequences of this proteolysis remained obscure. Here, we treated native mouse zonae pellucidae with active acrosin and identified two cleavage sites in zona pellucida protein 1 (ZP1), five in ZP2 and one in ZP3 by mass spectrometry. Several of these sites are highly conserved in mammals. Remarkably, limited proteolysis by acrosin leads to zona pellucida remodelling rather than degradation. Thus, acrosin affects both sperm binding and mechanical resilience of the zona pellucida, as assessed by microscopy and nanoindentation measurements, respectively. Furthermore, we ascertained potential regulatory effects of acrosin, via activation of latent pro-ovastacin and inactivation of fetuin-B, a tight binding inhibitor of ovastacin. These results offer novel insights into the complex proteolytic network modifying the extracellular matrix of the mouse oocyte, which might apply also to other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Kuske
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Cell and Matrix Biology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, German
| | - Julia Floehr
- Biointerface Laboratory, Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical Faculty, Aachen, German
| | - Irene Yiallouros
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Cell and Matrix Biology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, German
| | - Thomas Michna
- Institute for Immunology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Willi Jahnen-Dechent
- Biointerface Laboratory, Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University Medical Faculty, Aachen, German
| | - Stefan Tenzer
- Institute for Immunology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Walter Stöcker
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Cell and Matrix Biology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, German
| | - Hagen Körschgen
- Institute of Molecular Physiology, Cell and Matrix Biology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, German
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Grond K, Bell KC, Demboski JR, Santos M, Sullivan JM, Hird SM. No evidence for phylosymbiosis in western chipmunk species. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2020; 96:5626339. [PMID: 31730167 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiz182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Phylosymbiosis refers to a congruent pattern between the similarity of microbiomes of different species and the branching pattern of the host phylogeny. Phylosymbiosis has been detected in a variety of vertebrate and invertebrate hosts, but has only been assessed in geographically isolated populations. We tested for phylosymbiosis in eight (sub)species of western chipmunks with overlapping ranges and ecological niches; we used a nuclear (Acrosin) and a mitochondrial (CYTB) phylogenetic marker because there are many instances of mitochondrial introgression in chipmunks. We predicted that similarity among microbiomes increases with: (1) increasing host mitochondrial relatedness, (2) increasing host nuclear genome relatedness and (3) decreasing geographic distance among hosts. We did not find statistical evidence supporting phylosymbiosis in western chipmunks. Furthermore, in contrast to studies of other mammalian microbiomes, similarity of chipmunk microbiomes is not predominantly determined by host species. Sampling site explained most variation in microbiome composition, indicating an important role of local environment in shaping microbiomes. Fecal microbiomes of chipmunks were dominated by Bacteroidetes (72.2%), followed by Firmicutes (24.5%), which is one of the highest abundances of Bacteroidetes detected in wild mammals. Future work will need to elucidate the effects of habitat, ecology and host genomics on chipmunk microbiomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Grond
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 91 N Eagleville Rd, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
| | - Kayce C Bell
- Department of Invertebrate Zoology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, 10th and Constitution Ave, NW, Washington, DC, 20560, USA
| | - John R Demboski
- Zoology Department, Denver Museum of Nature & Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd, Denver, CO, 80205, USA
| | - Malia Santos
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Life Sciences South 252, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA
| | - Jack M Sullivan
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Life Sciences South 252, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA
| | - Sarah M Hird
- Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 91 N Eagleville Rd, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA.,Institute of Systems Genomics, University of Connecticut, 67 N Eagleville Rd, Storrs, CT, 06269, USA
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Hirose M, Honda A, Fulka H, Tamura-Nakano M, Matoba S, Tomishima T, Mochida K, Hasegawa A, Nagashima K, Inoue K, Ohtsuka M, Baba T, Yanagimachi R, Ogura A. Acrosin is essential for sperm penetration through the zona pellucida in hamsters. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:2513-8. [PMID: 31964830 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1917595117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
During natural fertilization, mammalian spermatozoa must pass through the zona pellucida before reaching the plasma membrane of the oocyte. It is assumed that this step involves partial lysis of the zona by sperm acrosomal enzymes, but there has been no unequivocal evidence to support this view. Here we present evidence that acrosin, an acrosomal serine protease, plays an essential role in sperm penetration of the zona. We generated acrosin-knockout (KO) hamsters, using an in vivo transfection CRISPR/Cas9 system. Homozygous mutant males were completely sterile. Acrosin-KO spermatozoa ascended the female genital tract and reached ovulated oocytes in the oviduct ampulla, but never fertilized them. In vitro fertilization (IVF) experiments revealed that mutant spermatozoa attached to the zona, but failed to penetrate it. When the zona pellucida was removed before IVF, all oocytes were fertilized. This indicates that in hamsters, acrosin plays an indispensable role in allowing fertilizing spermatozoa to penetrate the zona. This study also suggests that the KO hamster system would be a useful model for identifying new gene functions or analyzing human and animal disorders because of its technical facility and reproducibility.
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Komeya M, Yamanaka H, Sanjo H, Yao M, Nakamura H, Kimura H, Fujii T, Sato T, Ogawa T. In vitro spermatogenesis in two-dimensionally spread mouse testis tissues. Reprod Med Biol 2019; 18:362-369. [PMID: 31607796 PMCID: PMC6780044 DOI: 10.1002/rmb2.12291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 07/10/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Mouse in vitro spermatogenesis is possible with classical organ culture methods, by placing the testis tissue at the interphase between culture medium and air. In this condition, however, a tissue piece tends to round up to be compact, whose central region suffers from shortage of nutrients and oxygen. In this study, the authors improved the culture condition by spreading each tissue thin and flat, by which they were able to get better access to the oxygen and nutrients. METHODS Immature mouse testis tissues placed on agarose gel block were forced to spread flat by covering with a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) ceiling chip (PC chip). They were then cultured for weeks and evaluated by the transgene expression of Acr-Gfp, which reflects the progression of spermatogenesis. RESULTS Testis tissues covered with PC chip initiated and maintained spermatogenesis in its wider region than those without PC chip covering. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that the PC method yielded more numerous meiotic germ cells than those without PC. Immunohistochemical examination confirmed the authentic histological figure of spermatogenesis from spermatogonia up to round or elongating spermatids. CONCLUSIONS The PC chip method is simple and effective to improve the efficiency of in vitro spermatogenesis in the organ culture system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsuru Komeya
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical and Regenerative Sciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Life ScienceYokohama City University Association of Medical ScienceYokohamaJapan
- Department of UrologyYokohama City University Graduate School of MedicineYokohamaJapan
| | - Hiroyuki Yamanaka
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical and Regenerative Sciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Life ScienceYokohama City University Association of Medical ScienceYokohamaJapan
- Department of UrologyYokohama City University Graduate School of MedicineYokohamaJapan
| | - Hiroyuki Sanjo
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical and Regenerative Sciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Life ScienceYokohama City University Association of Medical ScienceYokohamaJapan
- Department of UrologyYokohama City University Graduate School of MedicineYokohamaJapan
| | - Masahiro Yao
- Department of UrologyYokohama City University Graduate School of MedicineYokohamaJapan
| | - Hiroko Nakamura
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringTokai UniversityHiratsukaJapan
| | - Hiroshi Kimura
- Department of Mechanical EngineeringTokai UniversityHiratsukaJapan
| | - Teruo Fujii
- Institute of Industrial ScienceUniversity of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Takuya Sato
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical and Regenerative Sciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Life ScienceYokohama City University Association of Medical ScienceYokohamaJapan
| | - Takehiko Ogawa
- Laboratory of Biopharmaceutical and Regenerative Sciences, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Life ScienceYokohama City University Association of Medical ScienceYokohamaJapan
- Department of UrologyYokohama City University Graduate School of MedicineYokohamaJapan
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Thélie A, Rehault-Godbert S, Poirier JC, Govoroun M, Fouchécourt S, Blesbois E. The seminal acrosin-inhibitor ClTI1/SPINK2 is a fertility-associated marker in the chicken. Mol Reprod Dev 2019; 86:762-775. [PMID: 31033055 PMCID: PMC6767445 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2018] [Revised: 03/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The seminal plasma is a very complex fluid, which surrounds sperm in semen. It contains numerous proteins including proteases and protease inhibitors that regulate proteolytic processes associated with protein activation and degradation. We previously identified a seminal protein, chicken liver trypsin inhibitor 1 (ClTI-1) over expressed in semen of roosters with high fertility, suggesting a role in male fertility. In the present study, we showed that ClTI-1 gene is actually SPINK2. Using normal healthy adult roosters, we showed that SPINK2 amount in seminal plasma was positively correlated with male fertility in chicken lines with highly contrasted genetic backgrounds (broiler and layer lines). Using affinity chromatography combined to mass spectrometry analysis and kinetic assays, we demonstrated for the first time that two chicken acrosin isoforms (acrosin and acrosin-like proteins) are the physiological serine protease targets of SPINK2 inhibitor. SPINK2 transcript was overexpressed all along the male tract, and the protein was present in the lumen as expected for secreted proteins. Altogether, these data emphasize the role of seminal SPINK2 Kazal-type inhibitor as an important actor of fertility in birds through its inhibitory action on acrosin isoforms proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurore Thélie
- PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | | | | | - Marina Govoroun
- PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
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Isotani A, Matsumura T, Ogawa M, Tanaka T, Yamagata K, Ikawa M, Okabe M. A delayed sperm penetration of cumulus layers by disruption of acrosin gene in rats. Biol Reprod 2018; 97:61-68. [PMID: 28859281 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/iox066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Acrosin, the trypsin-like serine protease in the sperm acrosome, was long viewed as a key enzyme required for zona pellucida penetration to fertilize eggs. However, gene disruption experiments in mice surprisingly showed that acrosin-disrupted males were fertile. Thus, the acrosin was considered to be not an essential enzyme for fertilization in mice. However, the involvement of acrosin in fertilization has been suggested in various species such as rat, bull, and pig. Moreover, it has been reported that serine protease (including acrosin) activity in mice is significantly weaker compared to other species, including rats. We analyzed the role of acrosin by disrupting the rat acrosin gene. It was found that, unlike in mice, acrosin was almost the sole source of serine protease in rat spermatozoa. Nevertheless, the acrosin-disrupted males were not infertile. However, the litter size from acrosin-disrupted males was decreased compared to heterozygous mutant rats. Further investigation using an in vitro fertilization system revealed that the acrosin-disrupted spermatozoa possessed an equal ability to penetrate the zona pellucida with wild-type spermatozoa, but the cumulus cell dispersal was slower compared to wild-type and heterozygous spermatozoa. This delay was presumed to be the cause of the small litter size of acrosin-disrupted male rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayako Isotani
- Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama-cho, Ikoma, Nara, Japan
| | - Takafumi Matsumura
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masaki Ogawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takahiro Tanaka
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazuo Yamagata
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Genetic Engineering, Faculty of Biology-Oriented Science and Technology, KINDAI University, 930 Nishimitani, Kinokawa, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan.,Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masaru Okabe
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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7
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Reda A, Hou M, Winton TR, Chapin RE, Söder O, Stukenborg JB. In vitro differentiation of rat spermatogonia into round spermatids in tissue culture. Mol Hum Reprod 2016; 22:601-12. [PMID: 27430551 PMCID: PMC5013872 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaw047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Accepted: 07/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Do the organ culture conditions, previously defined for in vitro murine male germ cell differentiation, also result in differentiation of rat spermatogonia into post-meiotic germ cells exhibiting specific markers for haploid germ cells? SUMMARY ANSWER We demonstrated the differentiation of rat spermatogonia into post-meiotic cells in vitro, with emphasis on exhibiting, protein markers described for round spermatids. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Full spermatogenesis in vitro from immature germ cells using an organ culture technique in mice was first reported 5 years ago. However, no studies reporting the differentiation of rat spermatogonia into post-meiotic germ cells exhibiting the characteristic protein expression profile or into functional sperm have been reported. STUDY DESIGN, SAMPLES/MATERIALS, METHODS Organ culture of testicular fragments of 5 days postpartum (dpp) neonatal rats was performed for up to 52 days. Evaluation of microscopic morphology, testosterone levels, mRNA and protein expression as measured by RT-qPCR and immunostaining were conducted to monitor germ cell differentiation in vitro. Potential effects of melatonin, Glutamax® medium, retinoic acid and the presence of epidydimal fat tissue on the spermatogenic process were evaluated. A minimum of three biological replicates were performed for all experiments presented in this study. One-way ANOVA, ANOVA on ranks and student's t-test were applied to perform the statistical analysis. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Male germ cells, present in testicular tissue pieces grown from 5 dpp rats, exhibited positive protein expression for Acrosin and Crem (cAMP (cyclic adenosine mono phosphate) response element modulator) after 52 days of culture in vitro. Intra-testicular testosterone production could be observed after 3 days of culture, while when epididymal fat tissue was added, spontaneous contractility of cultured seminiferous tubules could be observed after 21 days. However, no supportive effect of the supplementation with any factor or the co-culturing with epididymal fat tissue on germ cell differentiation in vitro or testosterone production was observed. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The human testis is very different in physiology from the rat testis, further investigations are still needed to optimize the organ culture system for future use in humans. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The successful differentiation of undifferentiated spermatogonia using the testis explant culture system might be employed in future to produce sperm from human spermatogonia as a clinical tool for fertility preservation in boys and men suffering infertility. LARGE SCALE DATA None. STUDY FUNDING AND COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported financially by the Frimurare Barnhuset in Stockholm, the Paediatric Research Foundation, Jeanssons Foundation, Sällskåpet Barnåvard in Stockholm, Swedish Research Council/Academy of Finland, Emil and Wera Cornells Foundation, Samariten Foundation, the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation as well as through the regional agreement on medical training and clinical research (ALF) between Stockholm County Council and Karolinska Institutet. All authors declare no conflicts of interests.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Reda
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Pediatric Endocrinology Unit; Q2:08; Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M Hou
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Pediatric Endocrinology Unit; Q2:08; Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - T R Winton
- Pfizer Worldwide R&D, Drug Safety R&D, MS-8274-1336 , Groton, CT 06340, USA
| | - R E Chapin
- Pfizer Worldwide R&D, Drug Safety R&D, MS-8274-1336 , Groton, CT 06340, USA
| | - O Söder
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Pediatric Endocrinology Unit; Q2:08; Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - J-B Stukenborg
- Department of Women's and Children's Health, Pediatric Endocrinology Unit; Q2:08; Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, SE-17176 Stockholm, Sweden
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