scholarly journals Protein phosphatase-type 2B is involved in the regulation of the acrosome reaction but not in the temperature-dependent flagellar movement of fowl spermatozoa

Reproduction ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 128 (6) ◽  
pp. 783-787 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Ashizawa ◽  
G J Wishart ◽  
A R A H Ranasinghe ◽  
S Katayama ◽  
Y Tsuzuki

The motility and acrosomal integrity of fowl spermatozoa in TES/NaCl buffer, with or without homogenized inner perivitelline layers (IPVL) prepared from laid fowl eggs, was almost negligible at 40 °C. However, motility became vigorous even at 40 °C when 2 mmol CaCl2/l was added, and the acrosome reaction was also stimulated in the presence, but not in the absence, of IPVL. The presence of deltamethrin or fenvalerate, specific inhibitors of protein phosphatase-type 2B (PP2B), did not permit the restoration of motility at 40 °C but, in the presence of IPVL, these compounds stimulated the acrosome reaction in a dose-dependent manner in the range of 1–1000 nmol/l. These results suggest that IPVL is necessary for the activation of the acrosome reaction in fowl spermatozoa and that Ca2+ plays an important role in the stimulation of motility and acrosomal exocytosis. Furthermore, it appears that the intracellular molecular mechanisms for the regulation of the acrosome reaction of fowl spermatozoa are different from those for the restoration of motility, i.e. protein dephosphorylation by PP2B in the former but not in the latter case.

Reproduction ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 131 (6) ◽  
pp. 1017-1024 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Ashizawa ◽  
G J Wishart ◽  
S Katayama ◽  
D Takano ◽  
A R A H Ranasinghe ◽  
...  

The signal transduction pathways involved in the regulation of the acrosome reaction and motility of fowl spermatozoa were investigated. The motility and acrosomal integrity of fowl spermatozoa in TES/NaCl buffer, with or without homogenised inner perivitelline layers (IPVL), prepared from laid fowl eggs, was almost negligible at 40 °C. In the presence of 2 mmol CaCl2/l at 40 °C, motility became vigorous and the acrosome reaction was stimulated when IPVL was added. In the absence of Ca2+, motility was stimulated by the addition of calyculin A and okadaic acid, both specific inhibitors of protein phosphatase-type 1 (PP1) and -type 2A (PP2A), but Okadaic acid, which is a weaker inhibitor of PP1, did not completely restore motility at 40 °C. However, the acrosome reaction was significantly and equally stimulated in a dose-dependent manner by both inhibitors in the range of 10–1000 nmol/l, when spermatozoa were incubated with IPVL but without Ca2+. These inhibitors did not stimulate the acrosome reaction in the absence of IPVL. The vigorous motility of spermatozoa, stimulated by the addition of Ca2+, was reduced gradually as the concentrations of SC-9, a selective activator of protein kinase C (PKC), were increased and a similar SC-9-induced inhibition was observed in the acrosome reaction in the presence of Ca2+ and IPVL. These results confirm that IPVL is necessary for the activation of the acrosome reaction in fowl spermatozoa and that Ca2+ plays an important role in the stimulation of motility and acrosomal exocytosis. Furthermore, it appears that the intracellular molecular mechanisms for the regulation of acrosome reaction of fowl spermatozoa are different from those for the restoration of motility, i.e., protein dephosporylation involving PP1 and/or PP2A in the former, and PP1 alone in the latter case. In addition, the activation of PKC may contribute to a decrease in the flagellar movement and acrosome reaction of fowl spermatozoa.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 307
Author(s):  
Hyun-Jung Park ◽  
Ran Lee ◽  
Hyunjin Yoo ◽  
Kwonho Hong ◽  
Hyuk Song

Nonylphenol (NP) is an endocrine-disruptor chemical that negatively affects reproductive health. Testes exposure to NP results in testicular structure disruption and a reduction in testicular size and testosterone levels. However, the effects of NP on spermatogonia in testes have not been fully elucidated. In this study, the molecular mechanisms of NP in GC-1 spermatogonia (spg) cells were investigated. We found that cell viability significantly decreased and apoptosis increased in a dose-dependent manner when GC-1 spg cells were exposed to NP. Furthermore, the expression levels of the pro-apoptotic proteins increased, whereas anti-apoptosis markers decreased in NP-exposed GC-1 spg cells. We also found that NP increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, suggesting that ROS-induced activation of the MAPK signaling pathway is the molecular mechanism of NP-induced apoptosis in GC-1 spg cells. Thus, NP could induce c-Jun phosphorylation; dose-dependent expression of JNK, MKK4, p53, and p38; and the subsequent inhibition of ERK1/2 and MEK1/2 phosphorylation. The genes involved in apoptosis and JNK signaling were also upregulated in GC-1 spg cells treated with NP compared to those in the controls. Our findings suggest that NP induces apoptosis through ROS/JNK signaling in GC-1 spg cells.


Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nunzia Limatola ◽  
Filip Vasilev ◽  
Luigia Santella ◽  
Jong Tai Chun

While alkaloids often exert unique pharmacological effects on animal cells, exposure of sea urchin eggs to nicotine causes polyspermy at fertilization in a dose-dependent manner. Here, we studied molecular mechanisms underlying the phenomenon. Although nicotine is an agonist of ionotropic acetylcholine receptors, we found that nicotine-induced polyspermy was neither mimicked by acetylcholine and carbachol nor inhibited by specific antagonists of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Unlike acetylcholine and carbachol, nicotine uniquely induced drastic rearrangement of egg cortical microfilaments in a dose-dependent way. Such cytoskeletal changes appeared to render the eggs more receptive to sperm, as judged by the significant alleviation of polyspermy by latrunculin-A and mycalolide-B. In addition, our fluorimetric assay provided the first evidence that nicotine directly accelerates polymerization kinetics of G-actin and attenuates depolymerization of preassembled F-actin. Furthermore, nicotine inhibited cofilin-induced disassembly of F-actin. Unexpectedly, our results suggest that effects of nicotine can also be mediated in some non-cholinergic pathways.


1999 ◽  
Vol 344 (3) ◽  
pp. 837-844 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atsushi MITSUMOTO ◽  
Kwi-Ryeon KIM ◽  
Genichiro OSHIMA ◽  
Manabu KUNIMOTO ◽  
Katsuya OKAWA ◽  
...  

To clarify the molecular mechanisms of nitric oxide (NO) signalling, we examined the NO-responsive proteins in cultured human endothelial cells by two-dimensional (2D) PAGE. Levels of two proteins [NO-responsive proteins (NORPs)] with different pI values responded to NO donors. One NORP (pI 5.2) appeared in response to NO, whereas another (pI 5.0) disappeared. These proteins were identified as a native form and a modified form of human glyoxalase I (Glox I; EC 4.4.1.5) by peptide mapping, microsequencing and correlation between the activity and the isoelectric shift. Glox I lost activity in response to NO, and all NO donors tested inhibited its activity in a dose-dependent manner. Activity and normal electrophoretic mobility were restored by dithiothreitol and by the removal of sources of NO from the culture medium. Glox I was selectively inactivated by NO; compounds that induce oxidative stress (H2O2, paraquat and arsenite) failed to inhibit this enzyme. Our results suggest that NO oxidatively modifies Glox I and reversibly inhibits the enzyme's activity. The inactivation of Glox I by NO was more effective than that of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH), another NO-sensitive enzyme. Thus Glox I seems to be a novel NO-responsive protein that is more sensitive to NO than G3PDH.


1987 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 405
Author(s):  
David Mann ◽  
Audrey M Bersten

The incorporation of long-chain fatty acids into phospholipids has been detected in adipocyte ghosts that were incubated with [1_14 C] stearic, [1_14 C] linoleic or [l_14C] arachidonic acid. Adrenaline and adenosine activated this incorporation within 15 s of exposure of the ghosts to the hormones and the response was dose dependent. Maximum incorporation of labelled linoleic acid occurred at 10-5 M adrenaline and 10-7 M adenosine. The a-agonist phenylephrine and the ~-agonist isoproterenol were also shown to stimulate the incorporation of fatty acid in a dose dependent manner. Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol were each labelled preferentially with linoleic or arachidonic acid. p-Bromophenacylbromide, quinacrine and centrophenoxine inhibited the adrenaline-stimulated incorporation of fatty acids into ghost membrane phospholipids, and p-bromophenacylbromide also reduced the activation of adenylate cyclase by adrenaline. NaF, an activator of adenylate cyclase, like adrenaline, stimulated the incorporation of linoleic acid into ghost membrane phospholipids.


2000 ◽  
Vol 149 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Bloecher ◽  
Kelly Tatchell

Protein phosphatase type I (PP1), encoded by the single essential gene GLC7 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, functions in diverse cellular processes. To identify in vivo subcellular location(s) where these processes take place, we used a functional green fluorescent protein (GFP)–Glc7p fusion protein. Time-lapse fluorescence microscopy revealed GFP–Glc7p localizes predominantly in the nucleus throughout the mitotic cell cycle, with the highest concentrations in the nucleolus. GFP–Glc7p was also observed in a ring at the bud neck, which was dependent upon functional septins. Supporting a role for Glc7p in bud site selection, a glc7-129 mutant displayed a random budding pattern. In α-factor treated cells, GFP–Glc7p was located at the base of mating projections, again in a septin-dependent manner. At the start of anaphase, GFP–Glc7p accumulated at the spindle pole bodies and remained there until cytokinesis. After anaphase, GFP–Glc7p became concentrated in a ring that colocalized with the actomyosin ring. A GFP–Glc7-129 fusion was defective in localizing to the bud neck and SPBs. Together, these results identify sites of Glc7p function and suggest Glc7p activity is regulated through dynamic changes in its location.


1989 ◽  
Vol 256 (5) ◽  
pp. E619-E623
Author(s):  
T. Yoshimura ◽  
J. Ishizuka ◽  
G. H. Greeley ◽  
J. C. Thompson

We have examined the effect of galanin infusion on glucose-stimulated release of insulin from the isolated perfused pancreas of the rat to better characterize the effect of galanin on the first and second phases of insulin release. The effects of galanin on insulin release stimulated by L-arginine or high concentrations of potassium were also examined. When perfusion of galanin was started 4 min before the start of perfusion of high glucose (16.7 mM), galanin (10(-8)-10(-11) M) inhibited both the first and second phases of insulin release in a dose-dependent manner. When perfusion of galanin (10(-8) or 10(-9) M) was started simultaneously with high glucose (16.7 mM), only the second phase of insulin release was suppressed (P less than 0.05). Galanin (10(-9) M) failed to inhibit insulin release stimulated by L-arginine (10 and 5 mM) or potassium (25 and 20 mM). These findings suggest that the inhibitory action of galanin on glucose-stimulated insulin release is exerted on early intracellular events that occur during the stimulation of insulin release and that are common to both phases. Because galanin does not inhibit insulin release stimulated by L-arginine or potassium, galanin may inhibit glucose-stimulated closure of potassium channels.


1996 ◽  
Vol 270 (5) ◽  
pp. E873-E881 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. S. Kansara ◽  
A. K. Mehra ◽  
J. Von Hagen ◽  
E. Kabotyansky ◽  
P. J. Smith

Acyl-CoAsynthetase (ACS) is a key gene for cellular utilization of long-chain fatty acids. We characterized its regulation by physiological concentrations of insulin that acutely regulate metabolism. Our results demonstrate that subnanomolar insulin rapidly and maximally stimulates ACS gene transcription in the absence of protein synthesis; 0.5 nM insulin produced a 2.3 +/- 0.1-fold increase in ACS mRNA levels and induced ACS gene transcription 2.4 +/- 0.3-fold. The insulin sensitivity of ACS was compared with lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and stearoyl-CoA desaturase-1 (SCD-1), which were both less sensitive to insulin. Physiological triiodothyronine (10 nm) also induced ACS mRNA 2.4 +/- 0.1-fold and gene transcription 2.8 +/- 0.3-fold and coordinately induced LPL and SCD-1 mRNA and gene transcription. Because insulin and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate often regulate genes involved in lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in a reciprocal manner, we evaluated effects of 1-methyl-3-isobutylxanthine (MIX).ACS mRNA levels were strongly downregulated by MIX in a dose-dependent manner, and ACS gene transcription inhibited in a coordinate manner with LPL and SCD-1. These data demonstrate a uniquely sensitive pattern of stimulation of ACS gene transcription by insulin with reciprocal regulation by MIX, and they suggest a significant role for ACS as a tightly regulated “gatekeeper” gene participating in the control of adipocyte metabolism.


1983 ◽  
Vol 245 (4) ◽  
pp. G463-G469
Author(s):  
B. Richelsen ◽  
J. F. Rehfeld ◽  
L. I. Larsson

A technique for studying in vitro release of gastric hormones has been developed. The system utilizes nonenzymatically isolated antropyloric glands from humans or rats, which are perifused in a Bio-Gel P-2 column. The system permits the study of kinetics and dose-response characteristics using the glands as their own control. The glands were stimulated with carbachol and bombesin, and the antral peptides gastrin and somatostatin were measured. Bombesin and carbachol both evoked a dose-dependent stimulation of gastrin release, beginning at below 10(-10) M (bombesin) and 10(-7) M (carbachol). Carbachol inhibited the release of somatostatin in a dose-dependent manner, being maximally effective at 10(-6) M and then producing 60% inhibition of somatostatin release. Bombesin was without effect on antropyloric somatostatin release. These data suggest that the gastrin-stimulating effect of carbachol is partially or totally due to inhibition of somatostatin release, whereas bombesinergic stimulation of gastrin release must work in an independent manner. In addition, data on the effects of these substances on the release of gastrin and ACTH-like peptides from human antropyloric glands are presented. Due to the absence of local neural reflexes, this system is a useful supplement to the isolated perfused stomach model.


1990 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. B. O'Toole ◽  
K.J. Armour ◽  
C. Decourt ◽  
N. Hazon ◽  
B. Lahlou ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT An isolated in-vitro perifused interrenal gland preparation from the dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula was used to study production of quantitatively the major corticosteroid 1α-hydroxycorticosterone (1α-OH-B), measured by radioimmunoassay. Basal secretory rates were 877·1 ± 145 (s.e.m.) fmol/mg per 15 min (n=14) and the preparation remained viable for up to 22 h, as reflected in a brisk response to 10 μm cyclic AMP (cAMP) after this time. Steroid production responded in a dose-dependent manner to porcine ACTH, with 10 μm producing a maximum stimulation of 225% above the basal secretory rate. cAMP (10 μm) produced an increase of 278% above basal, while 1 μm forskolin increased basal secretory rates by 127%. [Val5]- and [Ile5]-angiotensin II (0·1 μm) increased 1α-OH-B production by 120 and 372% respectively over basal secretory rates. Increasing the concentration of K+ in the perfusate from 8 mm to 12, 18, 28 and 40 mm produced a significant rise only at 28 mm. Alterations in the concentration of Na+ and osmolarity of the perifusion medium had inconsistent effects on steroid production. Increased concentrations of urea (from 360 to 720 mm) increased the basal secretory rate by 121%, whilst reducing the concentration of urea (from 360 to 90 mm) had no effect.


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