scholarly journals A putative, ubiquitin-dependent mechanism for the recognition and elimination of defective spermatozoa in the mammalian epididymis

2001 ◽  
Vol 114 (9) ◽  
pp. 1665-1675 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Sutovsky ◽  
R. Moreno ◽  
J. Ramalho-Santos ◽  
T. Dominko ◽  
W.E. Thompson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Control Mechanism ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Normal Structure ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Quality Control Mechanism ◽  
And Function ◽  
And Storage ◽  
Dependent Mechanism

The normal structure and function of sperm are prerequisites for successful fertilization and embryonic development, but little is known about how defective sperm are eliminated during mammalian spermatogenesis. Here, we describe a ubiquitin-dependent, sperm quality control mechanism that resides in the mammalian epididymis, the site of sperm maturation and storage. We used immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, western blotting and pulse-chase experiments to show that ubiquitin is secreted by the epididymal epithelium and binds to the surface of defective sperm. Most of the ubiquitinated sperm are subsequently phagocytosed by the epididymal epithelial cells. A portion of defective sperm escapes phagocytosis and can be found in the ejaculate. Cultured epididymal cells maintain their ability to produce ubiquitin and phagocytose the defective sperm, as well as the ubiquitin-coated microspheres, in vitro. The surprising phenomenon of cell-surface ubiquitination in defective sperm provides a possible mechanism for sperm quality control in mammals and a new marker of semen abnormalities in men and animals.

scholarly journals Quality-Control Mechanism for Telomerase RNA Folding in the Cell

Cell Reports ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (13) ◽  
pp. 108568
Author(s):  
Xichan Hu ◽  
Jin-Kwang Kim ◽  
Clinton Yu ◽  
Hyun-Ik Jun ◽  
Jinqiang Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Rna Folding ◽  
Control Mechanism ◽  
Telomerase Rna ◽  
Quality Control Mechanism

Maintenance of Insect Ovarian Microtubular Structure and Function in vitro

1973 ◽  
Vol 242 (121) ◽  
pp. 253-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. STEBBINGS ◽  
N. A. RATCLIFFE
Keyword(s):  
Structure And Function ◽  
And Function

scholarly journals Differences in size, structure and function of free and membrane-bound polyribosomes of rat liver. Evidence for a single class of membrane-bound polyribosomes

1977 ◽  
Vol 168 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
J C Ramsey ◽  
W J Steele
Keyword(s):  
Protein Synthesis ◽  
Rat Liver ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Large Fraction ◽  
Liver Homogenate ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Structural And Functional Properties ◽  
Membrane Bound ◽  
And Function

Free loosely bound and tightly bound polyribosomes were separated from rat liver homogenate by salt extraction followed by differential centrifugation, and several of their structural and functional properties were compared to resolve the existence of loosely bound polyribosomes and verify the specificity of the separation. The free and loosely bound polyribosomes have similar sedimentation profiles and polyribosome contents, their subunit proteins have similar electrophoretic patterns and their products of protein synthesis in vitro show a close correspondence in size and amounts synthesized. In contrast, the tightly bound polyribosomes have different properties from those of the free and loosely bound polyribosomes; their average size is significantly smaller; their polyribosome content is higher; their 60 S-subunit proteins lack two components and contain four or more components not found elsewhere; their products of protein synthesis in vitro differ in size and amounts synthesized. These observations show that rat liver membranes entrap a large fraction of the free polyribosomes at low salt concentrations and that these polyribosomes are similar to those of the free-polyribosome fraction and are different from those of the tightly bound polyribosome fraction in size, structure and function.

In vitro fertilisation of mouse oocytes reconstructed by transfer of metaphase II chromosomes results in live births

Zygote ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min-Kang Wang ◽  
Da-Yuan Chen ◽  
Ji-Long Lui ◽  
Guang-Peng Li ◽  
Qing-Yuan Sun
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Transfer ◽  
Normal Structure ◽  
Human Reproduction ◽  
In Vitro Fertilisation ◽  
Kunming Mouse ◽  
Mouse Oocytes ◽  
Assisted Human Reproduction ◽  
And Function ◽  
Apparatus Transfer

The interaction between nucleus and cytoplasm can be explored through nuclear transfer. We describe here another tool to investigate this interaction: MII meiotic apparatus transfer (MAT) between mouse oocytes. In this study, the MII oocyte meiotic apparatus or spindle from C57BL/6 mice, a black strain, was transferred into an enucleated metaphase oocyte from Kunming mouse, a white strain. The results showed that the enucleation rate by treating oocytes with 3% sucrose was 100%, but the electrofusion efficiency was very low, with only 17.6% of reconstructed karyoplast-recipient cytoplasm pairs fused. When the fused oocytes were exposed to spermatozoa from C57BL/6 mice, 9 of 11 (82%) were fertilised. Eight reconstructed embryos at 1- to 4-cell stages were transferred into the oviducts of two synchronously pregnant Kunming strain fosters and one delivered two normal C57BL/6 offspring. This study indicates that MII meiotic apparatus or spindle sustains normal structure and function after micromanipulation and electrofusion. MAT provides a model for further research on the application of this technique to assisted human reproduction.

scholarly journals Multiplatform Physiologic and Metabolic Phenotyping Reveals Microbial Toxicity

mSystems ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingwei Cai ◽  
Robert G. Nichols ◽  
Imhoi Koo ◽  
Zachary A. Kalikow ◽  
Limin Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
Free Radical ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Structure And Function ◽  
Metabolic Phenotyping ◽  
And Function

ABSTRACTThe gut microbiota is susceptible to modulation by environmental stimuli and therefore can serve as a biological sensor. Recent evidence suggests that xenobiotics can disrupt the interaction between the microbiota and host. Here, we describe an approach that combinesin vitromicrobial incubation (isolated cecal contents from mice), flow cytometry, and mass spectrometry- and1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based metabolomics to evaluate xenobiotic-induced microbial toxicity. Tempol, a stabilized free radical scavenger known to remodel the microbial community structure and functionin vivo, was studied to assess its direct effect on the gut microbiota. The microbiota was isolated from mouse cecum and was exposed to tempol for 4 h under strict anaerobic conditions. The flow cytometry data suggested that short-term tempol exposure to the microbiota is associated with disrupted membrane physiology as well as compromised metabolic activity. Mass spectrometry and NMR metabolomics revealed that tempol exposure significantly disrupted microbial metabolic activity, specifically indicated by changes in short-chain fatty acids, branched-chain amino acids, amino acids, nucleotides, glucose, and oligosaccharides. In addition, a mouse study with tempol (5 days gavage) showed similar microbial physiologic and metabolic changes, indicating that thein vitroapproach reflectedin vivoconditions. Our results, through evaluation of microbial viability, physiology, and metabolism and a comparison ofin vitroandin vivoexposures with tempol, suggest that physiologic and metabolic phenotyping can provide unique insight into gut microbiota toxicity.IMPORTANCEThe gut microbiota is modulated physiologically, compositionally, and metabolically by xenobiotics, potentially causing metabolic consequences to the host. We recently reported that tempol, a stabilized free radical nitroxide, can exert beneficial effects on the host through modulation of the microbiome community structure and function. Here, we investigated a multiplatform phenotyping approach that combines high-throughput global metabolomics with flow cytometry to evaluate the direct effect of tempol on the microbiota. This approach may be useful in deciphering how other xenobiotics directly influence the microbiota.

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