获能期间精子蛋白的酪氨酸磷酸化

哺乳动物精了获能是精子与卵子成功受精的前提。蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化对精子获能十分重要。精了获能期蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化程度增高与sAC/cAMP/PKA途径、受体酪氨酸激酶途径和非受体蛋白酪氨酸激酶途径调节有关。获能过程中酪氨酸磷酸化蛋白分布于精子细胞的不同区域,蛋白的酪氨酸磷酸化与精子功能密切相关。     

酪氨酸磷酸化蛋白在体外获能豚鼠精子上的分布与表达

为研究豚鼠精子获能过程中蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化的变化规律,将豚鼠精子悬浮于改良的TALP获能培养基中,在5% CO2 孵箱37 ℃培养,以精子与金霉素(CTC) 荧光结合类型为指标评价精子获能状态,用免疫荧光技术和Western blot方法检测酪氨酸磷酸化的蛋白在精子上的分布以及酪氨酸磷酸化水平的变化。结果显示,随着获能的进行,发生蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化的精子占总精子的百分比增加,由未获能前的36％增至获能7h时的92％。酪氨酸磷酸化的蛋白分布变广,由精子头部扩增至精子头部、鞭毛主段和中段。另外,有80,45,40kDa的三种蛋白发生酪氨酸磷酸化,其中40kDa的蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化水平自精子体外培养后呈递增趋势,45kDa的蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化自培养3h后发现并呈递增趋势,而80kDa的蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化水平在精子培养3h时最高,后呈递减趋势。     

双酚A暴露对哺乳动物精子蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化的影响

双酚A(BPA)是一种人工合成的雌激素性化合物,广泛存在于环境中,对哺乳动物内分泌有干扰作用,影响雄性生殖系统功能。本研究以新鲜猪精子、17 ℃保存猪精子以及小鼠精子为对象,采用体外培养方法,利用蛋白免疫印迹(WB)和免疫荧光技术,分析不同浓度BPA(0、0.1、1、10、100 μmol·L^-1)暴露对哺乳动物精子蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化的影响及分子机制。结果表明: 低中浓度(0.1、1 μmol·L^-1)BPA暴露对新鲜猪获能精子蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化具有显著促进作用,但在高浓度(10、100 μmol·L^-1)BPA暴露下,猪获能精子蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化呈现降低趋势。BPA暴露下,小鼠获能精子蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化随BPA浓度的增加而增强,并且BPA影响猪和小鼠精子获能相关酪氨酸磷酸化修饰的蛋白种类不同。表明BPA暴露对哺乳动物精子的影响具有物种特异性。免疫荧光结果显示BPA对精子蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化的影响主要发生在鞭毛的中段和主段。     

调控精子获能的相关因素

获能是精子发生顶体反应以及与卵子结合之前所必需的生理过程,目前精子获能的机制得到初步阐明,获能伴随着质膜重组,离子通道的调节,胆固醇的流失以及许多蛋白磷酸化状态的改变.获能同时受到内在和外在因子的调节,其中胆固醇、HCO3-、Ca2+以及蛋白磷酸化在精子获能过程中发挥着重要作用.     

精子获能中HCO-3介导的信号转导途径

获能是哺乳动物精子受精前必须经历的一个生理过程。获能涉及精子膜性质的改变、Ca2 通道活化、胞内cAMP增加,以及蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化(PTP)等。实验证明,HCO3-在该过程中起重要作用。本文旨在介绍HCO3-介导的cAMP信号转导途径。     

精子获能及其发展

获能是哺乳动物精子受精前必须经历的一个成熟过程,它所需时间因种而导,并具有非均一怀和可逆性,获能涉及精子质膜去获能因子（ＤＦ）的去除和膜组分的重新分布,包括膜脂成分的改变,蛋白迁移,受体暴露,钙通道激活,胞内ｃＡＭＰ产生和蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化等,获能的终点是发生顶体反应（ＡＲ）并呈现超激活运动（ＨＡＭ）受精取决于上述变化,并可用金霉素染色法,ＡＲ,ＨＡＭ和穿卵率定量检测获能。     

精子磷酸化蛋白质组学研究应用

蛋白质磷酸化是生物体中广泛存在的翻译后修饰方式,参与多种过程的调节。精子是高度分化的特殊细胞,不具有转录活性,主要依赖于蛋白质的磷酸化完成精子成熟、分化和受精等过程。因此,对于精子磷酸化蛋白质组学的研究有助于进一步了解精子发生、精子获能、超激活以及精卵识别等过程的调控机制。本文简要综述了精子磷酸化蛋白质组学的研究方法及磷酸化蛋白质组学在精子中的应用,为精子磷酸化蛋白质组学在实际科研应用中提供了理论参考。     

哺乳动物精子获能过程中信号通路研究进展

哺乳动物精子在雌性生殖道内及体外获能培养过程中伴随着胆固醇外流、质膜重组、离子通道调节及获能相关蛋白磷酸化状态改变等相关生理调节过程,其中信号通路及相应信号分子对精子获能及功能修饰起到重要调节作用,成为精子细胞超激活运动及完成受精作用的关键环节。根据近年来的研究报道,对哺乳动物精子获能过程中已知的信号通路、信号分子及调节因子、离子通道、存在的问题及未来研究主要方向进行综述,为精子体外培养及辅助生殖等提供理论参考。     

镉对小鼠精子蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化修饰的影响及EGTA的保护作用

采用体外培养的方法,利用精子活力分析软件(CASA)、蛋白免疫印迹(WB)及免疫荧光技术, 探讨镉(Cd)对小鼠精子活力参数、蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化修饰的影响,并对小鼠精子酪氨酸磷酸化蛋白进行细胞亚组分定位. 结果表明: Cd对小鼠精子活力具有明显抑制作用,且随着Cd浓度的增加抑制作用增强,当Cd浓度达到1.0 μmol·L^-1时, 小鼠精子活力(MOT)显著低于对照组;同时,Cd促进小鼠精子蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化,当浓度≥1.0 μmol·L^-1时,尤其分子量约为55 kDa的蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化程度显著增强,且免疫荧光结果显示主要集中在小鼠精子中段;当用30 μmol·L^-1 乙二醇二乙醚二胺四乙酸(EGTA)和10 μmol·L^-1 Cd同时培养时,55 kDa蛋白并未发生明显的酪氨酸磷酸化修饰,而且小鼠精子活力变化不显著. 表明Cd可能是通过诱导中段55 kDa蛋白发生酪氨酸磷酸化修饰从而抑制精子活力,EGTA能螯合Cd离子并有效防止其毒性作用. 研究证实,Cd诱导精子特异性蛋白酪氨酸磷酸化增强,进而抑制精子活力. EGTA可以用于体外控制Cd进入细胞的阻断剂,为Cd繁殖毒性分子机制的研究提供了研究手段.     

磷酸化蛋白质组学在哺乳动物精子研究中的应用

蛋白质磷酸化是蛋白质翻译后最普遍、最重要的修饰之一,是生物体内一种普通的调节方式,参与调控细胞增殖、信号转导、新陈代谢、肿瘤发生等分子机能,并在精子信号转导和酶合成表达的过程中起重要作用。对精子磷酸化蛋白的研究有助于深入了解精子发生、运输、获能,以及精卵识别的调控机理。因此,在磷酸化蛋白组学的层面上研究精子的各项机能可以为雄性不育更深层的研究提供一条新的道路。     

Phosphorylation of protein tyrosine residues in fresh and cryopreserved stallion spermatozoa under capacitating conditions

Phosphorylation of tyrosine residues on sperm proteins is one important intracellular mechanism regulating sperm function that may be a meaningful indicator of capacitation. There is substantial evidence that cryopreservation promotes the capacitation of sperm and this cryocapacitation is frequently cited as one factor associated with the reduced longevity of cryopreserved sperm in the female reproductive tract. This study was designed to determine whether stallion sperm express different levels of tyrosine phosphorylation after in vitro capacitation and whether thawed sperm display similar phosphorylation characteristics in comparison with freshly ejaculated sperm. Experiments were performed to facilitate comparisons of tyrosine phosphorylation, motility, and viability of sperm prior to and following in vitro capacitation in fresh and frozen-thawed sperm. We hypothesized that equine spermatozoa undergo tyrosine phosphorylation during capacitation and that this phosphorylation is modified when sperm have been cryopreserved. We also hypothesized that tyrosine phosphorylation could be enhanced by the use of the activators dibutyryl cAMP (db cAMP) and caffeine, as well as methyl beta-cyclodextrin-which causes cholesterol efflux from the spermatozoa-and inhibited by the protein kinase A (PK-A) inhibitor H-89. Our results indicate that equine sperm capacitation is mediated by a signaling pathway that involves cAMP-dependent PK-A and tyrosine kinases and that cryopreserved sperm may be more sensitive to inducers of capacitation, which could explain their limited life span when compared with fresh sperm.     

Protein tyrosine phosphorylation in sperm during gamete interaction in the mouse: the influence of glucose

A key intracellular event during capacitation is protein tyrosine phosphorylation, but its involvement during sperm interaction with the oocyte has not been investigated. Glucose is necessary to achieve fertilization and thus may have an influence on sperm protein tyrosine phosphorylation. The objectives of this study were to 1) visualize protein tyrosine phosphorylation patterns in sperm during capacitation and interaction with the oocyte and 2) determine the influence of glucose. Protein tyrosine phosphorylation was investigated by Western analysis and immunofluorescence. Protein tyrosine phosphorylation was increased during capacitation, and immunofluorescence revealed that zona binding and gamete fusion were correlated with an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins in the midpiece. During capacitation, the absence of glucose led to a delay in the appearance of protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Following binding to the zona pellucida and the oolemma, tyrosine phosphorylation in the flagellum was also delayed in the absence of glucose and resulted in a significant inhibition of the midpiece phosphorylation. The correlation between successful gamete fusion and the tyrosine phosphorylation of midpiece proteins suggests that the effect of glucose on sperm-oocyte interaction is mediated through regulation of protein tyrosine phosphorylation in a specific area of the fertilizing sperm.     

FSCB phosphorylation in mouse spermatozoa capacitation

It is generally accepted that spermatozoa capacitation is associated with protein kinase A-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation. In our previous study, we identified the fibrous sheath CABYR binding protein (FSCB), which was phosphorylated by PKA. However, the phosphorylation status of FSCB protein during spermatozoa capacitation should be further investigated. To this aim, in this study, we found that phosphorylation of this 270-kDa protein occurred as early as 1 min after mouse spermatozoa capacitation, which increased over time and remained stable after 60 min. Immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that the tyrosine and Ser/Thr phosphorylation of FSCB occurred during spermatozoa capacitation. The extent of phosphorylation and was closely associated with the PKA activity and spermatozoa motility characteristics. FSCB phosphorylation could be induced by PKA agonist DB-cAMP, but was blocked by PKA antagonist H-89.Therefore, FSCB contributes to spermatozoa capacitation in a tyrosine-phosphorylated format, which may help in further elucidating the molecular mechanism of spermatozoa capacitation.     

Endogenous redox activity in mouse spermatozoa and its role in regulating the tyrosine phosphorylation events associated with sperm capacitation

We investigated the role of endogenous redox activity in regulating the signal transduction pathway leading to tyrosine phosphorylation in mouse spermatozoa. Endogenous redox activity was monitored using a luminol-peroxidase chemiluminescent probe. Chemiluminescence increased in spermatozoa that were actively undergoing cAMP-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation events associated with capacitation and was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner by addition of catalase or diphenylene iodonium, both of which also inhibited tyrosine phosphorylation within the cell at points downstream of cAMP. Excluding bicarbonate from the incubation medium reduced the redox activity of sperm by 80-90% and dramatically reduced tyrosine phosphorylation. This study provides the first evidence that tyrosine phosphorylation associated with capacitation in mouse spermatozoa is redox regulated by a flavinoid-containing enzyme involving mediation by hydrogen peroxide. Bicarbonate regulated the redox activity of mouse spermatozoa, and this regulation may contribute to the impact of this anion on tyrosine phosphorylation during capacitation of mouse spermatozoa.     

Localization of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins in human sperm and relation to capacitation and zona pellucida binding

Mammalian sperm must undergo a process known as capacitation before fertilization can take place. A key intracellular event that occurs during capacitation is protein tyrosine phosphorylation. The objective of this study was to investigate and visualize protein tyrosine phosphorylation patterns in human sperm during capacitation and interaction with the zona pellucida. The presence of specific patterns was also assessed in relation to the fertilizing capacity of the spermatozoa after in vitro fertilization. Protein tyrosine phosphorylation was investigated by immunofluorescence. Phosphorylation increased significantly with capacitation and was localized mainly to the principal piece of human sperm. Following binding to the zona pellucida, the percentage of sperm with phosphotyrosine residues localized to both the neck and the principal piece was significantly higher in bound sperm than in capacitated sperm in suspension. When the percentage of principal piece-positive sperm present after capacitation was <7%, fertilization rates after in vitro fertilization were reduced. Different compartments of human spermatozoa undergo a specific sequence of phosphorylation during both capacitation and upon binding to the zona pellucida. Tyrosine phosphorylation in the principal and neck piece may be considered a prerequisite for fertilization in humans.     

Pentoxifylline induced signalling events during capacitation of hamster spermatozoa: significance of protein tyrosine phosphorylation.

To fertilize the oocyte, mammalian spermatozoa must undergo capacitation and acrosome reaction. These events are believed to be associated with various biochemical changes primarily mediated by cAMP, Ca2+ and protein kinases. But the precise signaling mechanisms governing sperm function are not clear. To study this, we used pentoxifylline (PF), a sperm motility stimulant and a cAMP-phosphodiesterase inhibitor, during capacitation and acrosome reaction of hamster spermatozoa. PF induced an early onset of sperm capacitation and its action involved modulation of sperm cell signaling molecules viz, cAMP, [Ca2+]i and protein kinases. The PF-induced capacitation was associated with an early and increased total protein phosphorylation coupled with changes in the levels of reactive oxygen species. Protein kinase (PK)-A inhibitor (H-89) completely inhibited phosphorylation of a 29 kDa protein while PK-C inhibitor (staurosporine) did not inhibit phosphorylation. Interestingly, PF induced protein tyrosine phosphorylation of a set of proteins (Mr 45-80 K) and a greater proportion of PF-treated spermatozoa exhibited protein tyrosine phosphorylation, compared to untreated controls (82 + 9% vs 34 +/- 10%; p < 0.001); tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins were localized specifically to the mid-piece of the sperm. The profile of protein tyrosine phosphorylation was inhibitable by higher concentrations (> 0.5 mM) of tyrosine kinase inhibitor, tyrphostin A47. However, at lower (0.1-0.25 mM) concentrations, the compound interestingly induced early sperm capacitation and protein tyrosine phosphorylation, like PF. These results show that protein tyrosine phosphorylation in the mid-piece segment (mitochondrial sheath) appears to be an early and essential event during PF-induced capacitation and a regulated level of tyrosine phosphorylation of sperm proteins is critical for capacitation of hamster spermatozoa.     

Identification of proteins undergoing tyrosine phosphorylation during mouse sperm capacitation

Mammalian sperm are not able to fertilize immediately upon ejaculation; they become fertilization-competent after undergoing changes in the female reproductive tract collectively termed capacitation. Although it has been established that capacitation is associated with an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation, little is known about the role of this event in sperm function. In this work we used a combination of two dimensional gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry to identify proteins that undergo tyrosine phosphorylation during capacitation. Some of the identified proteins are the mouse orthologues of human sperm proteins known to undergo tyrosine phosphorylation. Among them we identified VDAC, tubulin, PDH E1 beta chain, glutathione S-transferase, NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) Fe-S protein 6, acrosin binding protein precursor (sp32), proteasome subunit alpha type 6b and cytochrome b-c1 complex. In addition to previously described proteins, we identified two testis-specific aldolases as substrates for tyrosine phosphorylation. Genomic and EST analyses suggest that these aldolases are retroposons expressed exclusively in the testis, as has been reported elsewhere. Because of the importance of glycolysis for sperm function, we hypothesize that tyrosine phosphorylation of these proteins can play a role in the regulation of glycolysis during capacitation. However, neither the Km nor the Vmax of aldolase changed as a function of capacitation when its enzymatic activity was assayed in vitro, suggesting other levels of regulation for aldolase function.     

Phosphoproteome analysis of capacitated human sperm. Evidence of tyrosine phosphorylation of a kinase-anchoring protein 3 and valosin-containing protein/p97 during capacitation

Before fertilization can occur, mammalian sperm must undergo capacitation, a process that requires a cyclic AMP-dependent increase in tyrosine phosphorylation. To identify proteins phosphorylated during capacitation, two-dimensional gel analysis coupled to anti-phosphotyrosine immunoblots and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was performed. Among the protein targets, valosin-containing protein (VCP), a homolog of the SNARE-interacting protein NSF, and two members of the A kinase-anchoring protein (AKAP) family were found to be tyrosine phosphorylated during capacitation. In addition, immobilized metal affinity chromatography was used to investigate phosphorylation sites in whole protein digests from capacitated human sperm. To increase this chromatographic selectivity for phosphopeptides, acidic residues in peptide digests were converted to their respective methyl esters before affinity chromatography. More than 60 phosphorylated sequences were then mapped by MS/MS, including precise sites of tyrosine and serine phosphorylation of the sperm tail proteins AKAP-3 and AKAP-4. Moreover, differential isotopic labeling was developed to quantify phosphorylation changes occurring during capacitation. The phosphopeptide enrichment and quantification methodology coupled to MS/MS, described here for the first time, can be employed to map and compare phosphorylation sites involved in multiple cellular processes. Although we were unable to determine the exact site of phosphorylation of VCP, we did confirm, using a cross-immunoprecipitation approach, that this protein is tyrosine phosphorylated during capacitation. Immunolocalization of VCP showed fluorescent staining in the neck of noncapacitated sperm. However, after capacitation, staining in the neck decreased, and most of the sperm showed fluorescent staining in the anterior head.     

Bovine sperm capacitation: assessment of phosphodiesterase activity and intracellular alkalinization on capacitation-associated protein tyrosine phosphorylation

Mammalian sperm capacitation is the obligatory maturational process leading to the development of the fertilization-competent state. Heparin is known to be a unique species-specific inducer of bovine sperm capacitation in vitro and glucose a unique inhibitor of this induction. Heparin-induced capacitation of bovine sperm has been shown to correlate with protein kinase A (PKA)-dependent protein tyrosine phosphorylation driven by an increase in intracellular cAMP. This study examines the possible roles of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase (PDE) activity and intracellular alkalinization on bovine sperm capacitation and the protein tyrosine phosphorylation associated with it. Measurement of whole cell PDE kinetics during capacitation reveals neither a substantial change with heparin nor one with glucose: PDE activity is effectively constitutive in maintaining intracellular cAMP levels during capacitation. In contrast to a transient increase in intracellular pH, a sustained increase in medium pH by switching from 5% CO(2)/95% air incubation to 1% CO(2)/99% air incubation over 4 hr in the absence of heparin resulted in an increase in protein tyrosine phosphorylation and in the extent of induced acrosome reaction comparable to that observed following heparin-induced capacitation in 5% CO(2). These results suggest that increased bicarbonate-dependent adenylyl cyclase activity, driven by alkalinization, increases intracellular cAMP and so increases PKA activity mediating protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Quantitative analysis of the lactic acid production rate by bovine sperm glycolysis accounts fully for intracellular acidification sufficient to offset heparin-induced alkalinization, thus inhibiting capacitation. The mechanism by which heparin uniquely induces intracellular alkalinization in bovine sperm leading to capacitation remains obscure, inviting future investigation.