Abstract:
The transition zone is a specialised gate at the base of cilia/flagella, which separates the ciliary compartment from the cytoplasm and strictly regulates protein entry. We identified a potential new regulator of the male germ cell transition zone, CEP76. We demonstrated that CEP76 was involved in the selective entry and incorporation of key proteins required for sperm function and fertility into the ciliary compartment and ultimately the sperm tail. In the mutant, sperm tails were shorter and immotile as a consequence of deficits in essential sperm motility proteins including DNAH2 and AKAP4, which accumulated at the sperm neck in the mutant. Severe annulus, fibrous sheath, and outer dense fibre abnormalities were also detected in sperm lacking CEP76. Finally, we identified that CEP76 dictates annulus positioning and structure. This study suggests CEP76 as a male germ cell transition zone protein and adds further evidence to the hypothesis that the spermatid transition zone and annulus are part of the same functional structure.
摘要:
过渡区是纤毛/鞭毛底部的专用门,它将睫状区与细胞质分开,并严格调节蛋白质进入。我们确定了男性生殖细胞过渡区的潜在新调节剂,CEP76.我们证明了CEP76参与了精子功能和生育力所需的关键蛋白选择性进入和掺入睫状室并最终进入精子尾巴。在突变体中,精子尾巴较短且不运动,这是由于包括DNAH2和AKAP4在内的必需精子运动蛋白缺乏,这些蛋白在突变体的精子颈部积累。严重环空,纤维鞘,在缺乏CEP76的精子中也检测到外部致密纤维异常。最后,我们确定CEP76决定了环的定位和结构。这项研究表明CEP76是雄性生殖细胞过渡带蛋白,并为精子细胞过渡带和环是相同功能结构的一部分的假设提供了进一步的证据。