Article
Cell Biology
Maximiliano Tourmente, Ester Sansegundo, Eduardo Rial, Eduardo R. S. Roldan
Summary: In mammals, sperm undergo physiological and biochemical changes known as capacitation to acquire fertilization ability. This study found that capacitation leads to a shift in the metabolic pathways of sperm, from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis. However, this metabolic rewiring does not affect the rate at which sperm consume ATP. The probable function of this metabolic switch is to increase ATP supply to meet the energetic demands of capacitation.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Xinglin Qu, Yue Han, Xuan Chen, Yanqiu Lv, Yuyang Zhang, Lipeng Cao, Junzheng Zhang, Yi Jin
Summary: This study investigates the effects of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) on porcine sperm capacitation and its interactions with the cAMP-PKA pathway. The findings indicate that UPP inhibition increases the phosphorylation and ubiquitination levels of porcine sperm, while inhibiting sperm-egg binding.
ANIMAL REPRODUCTION SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Andrology
Gabriela Hernandez-Silva, Aidee S. Lopez-Torres, Israel Maldonado-Rosas, Esperanza Mata-Martinez, Fernando Larrea, Victor Torres-Flores, Claudia L. Trevino, Mayel Chirinos
Summary: The study compared the functional differences between human sperm samples processed by swim-up and density gradient centrifugation, revealing significant variations in redox state, intracellular calcium oscillations, hyperactivation, protein tyrosine phosphorylation, and acrosome reaction. Sperm retrieved by density gradient centrifugation exhibited higher levels of hyperactivation and tyrosine phosphorylation compared to swim-up sperm, suggesting a greater degree of capacitation.
WORLD JOURNAL OF MENS HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Bertrand de Prelle, Pascale Lybaert, David Gall
Summary: Mammalian spermatozoa need a prolonged exposure to the alkaline medium of the female genital tract to become capable of fertilizing the oocyte. This process, called capacitation, involves ionic fluxes across the sperm membrane and the activation of specific transmembrane proteins. Here, we developed a mathematical model to study the positive feedback loop between the SLO3 potassium channel and the sNHE sodium-proton exchanger in mouse epididymal sperm during capacitation. Our model explains the switch between the uncapacitated and capacitated states and predicts the existence of a bistable behavior. Additionally, our model suggests that inhibiting the SLO3 channel can effectively prevent capacitation.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Ni Feng, Chenling Ge, Fang Huang, Xun Li, Xiaoye Wang, Yinsheng Tang, Mingguang Huang, Chuanhuo Hu
Summary: The objective of this study was to analyze the differential proteins between non-capacitated and capacitated boar sperm, and identify their functions. Transwell chambers and LC-MS/MS analysis were used to separate and quantify these proteins. A total of 475 differential proteins were identified, with 303 upregulated and 172 downregulated proteins. These proteins are involved in various biological processes and signaling pathways. Phosphofructokinase was identified as a potential key protein in capacitation, and its role was validated through immunoblotting.
Article
Cell Biology
Maria Milagros Giaccagli, Matias Daniel Gomez-Elias, Jael Dafne Herzfeld, Clara Isabel Marin-Briggiler, Patricia Sara Cuasnicu, Debora Juana Cohen, Vanina Gabriela Da Ros
Summary: The study investigated the role of mitochondrial activity in sperm fertilizing ability during capacitation in mice, finding that MMP increase depends on capacitation and H89-sensitive events, high MMP is associated with sperm motility, and mitochondrial function is needed mainly for zona pellucida penetration. Additionally, mitochondrial activity is fundamental for sperm function in fertilization.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Saurabh Tiwari, Gayathri Rajamanickam, Veena Unnikrishnan, Mina Ojaghi, John P. Kastelic, Jacob C. Thundathil
Summary: An advanced understanding of sperm function is important for male fertility prediction and addressing male infertility. Current methods for evaluating fertility overlook subtle differences in sperm, and research is now focused on developing in vitro sperm function tests and identifying biomarkers. This review discusses the role of the ATP1A4 protein in capacitation and fertilization events, and its potential use in improving male fertility prediction.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Han-Yu Wang, Yi-Ru Shen, Yung-Chieh Tsai, Shang-Rung Wu, Chia-Yih Wang, Pao-Lin Kuo
Summary: SEPT12 and SEPT4 proteins are involved in maintaining the sperm annulus and regulating sperm capacitation. The phosphorylation status of SEPT12 and the activity of SEPT4 together control the expression and localization of sAC protein, which is crucial for sperm activation.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gen L. Takei, Yuhei Ogura, Yoshihiro Ujihara, Fubito Toyama, Keitaro Hayashi, Tomoe Fujita
Summary: Previous studies have shown that extracellular Na+ suppresses hamster sperm hyperactivation by reducing intracellular Ca2+ levels, and this suppressive effect can be canceled by specific inhibitors of Na+/Ca2+-exchanger (NCX). However, direct evidence of the presence and functionality of NCX in hamster spermatozoa is lacking. This study demonstrates the presence of functional NCX1 in hamster spermatozoa and its downregulation upon capacitation to trigger hyperactivation, providing novel insights into the regulation of sperm hyperactivation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Joao C. Ribeiro, Raquel L. L. Bernardino, Ana Goncalves, Alberto Barros, Giuseppe Calamita, Marco G. G. Alves, Pedro F. F. Oliveira
Summary: Osmoregulation is essential for sperm function, and aquaglyceroporins play a crucial role in glycerol permeability, which is important for sperm motility. AQP7 is especially significant in glycerol transport, and its impairment may lead to reduced sperm motility in asthenozoospermic individuals.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Guillermina M. Luque, Xinran Xu, Ana Romarowski, Maria G. Gervasi, Gerardo Orta, Jose L. De la Vega-Beltran, Cintia Stival, Nicolas Gilio, Tomas Dalotto-Moreno, Dario Krapf, Pablo E. Visconti, Diego Krapf, Alberto Darszon, Mariano G. Buffone
Summary: The study found that Cdc42 and CatSper play crucial roles in sperm, with Cdc42 inhibition affecting CatSper activity and severely compromising the sperm's fertilizing potential. Cdc42 regulates the function of CatSper by modulating the production of cAMP, providing a new regulatory mechanism for stimulating CatSper through the cAMP-dependent pathway.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maximiliano Tourmente, Ester Sansegundo, Eduardo Rial, Eduardo R. S. Roldan
Summary: The acquisition of fertilizing ability by mammalian spermatozoa, known as capacitation, is influenced by metabolic pathways and has variable effects in different species. Mouse sperm can produce ATP through multiple metabolic pathways, and the study focuses on a closely related species to compare its metabolic traits with laboratory strains. The steppe mouse, Mus spicilegus, demonstrated a similar response to capacitation as Mus musculus but also exhibited distinct metabolic features.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hedvika Rimnacova, Jiri Moravec, Miriama Stiavnicka, Jirina Havrankova, Ladan Monsef, Petr Hosek, Sarka Prokesova, Tereza Zalmanova, Tereza Fenclova, Jaroslav Petr, Milena Kralickova, Jan Nevoral
Summary: Research found that H2S and its production by enzymes such as cystathionine gamma-lyase, cystathionine beta-synthase, and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase, are present in sperm. These H2S molecules can react with proteins in the sperm, leading to persulfidation and maintaining the signaling pathway, which is essential for sperm viability.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fanwen Zeng, Mingming Wang, Ju Li, Chengde Li, Xueqing Pan, Li Meng, Li Li, Hengxi Wei, Shouquan Zhang
Summary: In this study, we found that porcine beta-defensin 129 (pBD129) is widely present in accessory sex glands and coats the surface of sperm. Inhibiting pBD129 on the sperm surface resulted in increased acrosome integrity, tyrosine phosphorylation levels, and Ca2+ influx, leading to a reduced in vitro fertilization cleavage rate. Furthermore, treatment with recombinant pBD129 restored sperm motility in semen contaminated with Escherichia coli.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Byeong-Mu Lee, Yoo-Jin Park, Won-Ki Pang, Do-Yeal Ryu, Md Saidur Rahman, Dae-Young Lee, Myung-Geol Pang
Summary: The activation of mitochondria in spermatozoa during capacitation leads to the changes in biological and morphological features of spermatozoa that are necessary for fertilization. This study focused on identifying the changes in mitochondrial proteins during sperm capacitation and their regulation of male fertility using boar spermatozoa. The expression of different mitochondrial proteins varied during sperm capacitation, depending on the fertility status of the boars.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)