Autophagy mediated tubulobulbar complex components degradation is required for spermiation

Spermiation is the process that releases mature spermatids from Sertoli cells into the lumen of the seminiferous tubule. Tubulobulbar complexes (TBCs) are elaborate cytoskeleton-related structures that are indispensable for spermiation. Despite well-defined ultrastructural events, the molecular regu...

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Main Authors: Liying Wang, Ruidan Zhang, Bingbing Wu, Yang Yu, Wei Li, Shiguo Li, Chao Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: KeAi Communications Co. Ltd. 2024-11-01
Series:Fundamental Research
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667325822004186
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author Liying Wang
Ruidan Zhang
Bingbing Wu
Yang Yu
Wei Li
Shiguo Li
Chao Liu
author_facet Liying Wang
Ruidan Zhang
Bingbing Wu
Yang Yu
Wei Li
Shiguo Li
Chao Liu
author_sort Liying Wang
collection DOAJ
description Spermiation is the process that releases mature spermatids from Sertoli cells into the lumen of the seminiferous tubule. Tubulobulbar complexes (TBCs) are elaborate cytoskeleton-related structures that are indispensable for spermiation. Despite well-defined ultrastructural events, the molecular regulation of TBCs during spermiation remains largely unknown. Here, we show that autophagy is active in TBC regions, and impaired autophagy in Sertoli cells affects spermiation. Further studies demonstrated that many TBC components bound to LC3 and could be selectively degraded through the autophagy-lysosome pathway. Perturbed autophagy impaired the degradation of some TBC components in Sertoli cells, such as VCL and CTTN, and led to the accumulation of TBC components surrounding the spermatid head, which may be associated with the sperm-releasing defect. Together, our results reveal that autophagy is essential for the TBC components degradation in mouse Sertoli cells and define a functional role of autophagy during spermiation.
format Article
id doaj-art-e2f6b4764af74f459da0d9c0843b9089
institution Kabale University
issn 2667-3258
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher KeAi Communications Co. Ltd.
record_format Article
series Fundamental Research
spelling doaj-art-e2f6b4764af74f459da0d9c0843b90892024-12-01T05:08:47ZengKeAi Communications Co. Ltd.Fundamental Research2667-32582024-11-014615571567Autophagy mediated tubulobulbar complex components degradation is required for spermiationLiying Wang0Ruidan Zhang1Bingbing Wu2Yang Yu3Wei Li4Shiguo Li5Chao Liu6Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510623, China; State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Innovation Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Innovation Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Innovation Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, ChinaGuangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510623, ChinaGuangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510623, China; State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Innovation Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Corresponding authors.Department of Radiology, State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100037, China; Corresponding authors.Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510623, China; State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Innovation Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Corresponding authors.Spermiation is the process that releases mature spermatids from Sertoli cells into the lumen of the seminiferous tubule. Tubulobulbar complexes (TBCs) are elaborate cytoskeleton-related structures that are indispensable for spermiation. Despite well-defined ultrastructural events, the molecular regulation of TBCs during spermiation remains largely unknown. Here, we show that autophagy is active in TBC regions, and impaired autophagy in Sertoli cells affects spermiation. Further studies demonstrated that many TBC components bound to LC3 and could be selectively degraded through the autophagy-lysosome pathway. Perturbed autophagy impaired the degradation of some TBC components in Sertoli cells, such as VCL and CTTN, and led to the accumulation of TBC components surrounding the spermatid head, which may be associated with the sperm-releasing defect. Together, our results reveal that autophagy is essential for the TBC components degradation in mouse Sertoli cells and define a functional role of autophagy during spermiation.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667325822004186AutophagySpermiationTubulobulbar complexesCytoskeleton degradationSertoli cellsLysosome
spellingShingle Liying Wang
Ruidan Zhang
Bingbing Wu
Yang Yu
Wei Li
Shiguo Li
Chao Liu
Autophagy mediated tubulobulbar complex components degradation is required for spermiation
Fundamental Research
Autophagy
Spermiation
Tubulobulbar complexes
Cytoskeleton degradation
Sertoli cells
Lysosome
title Autophagy mediated tubulobulbar complex components degradation is required for spermiation
title_full Autophagy mediated tubulobulbar complex components degradation is required for spermiation
title_fullStr Autophagy mediated tubulobulbar complex components degradation is required for spermiation
title_full_unstemmed Autophagy mediated tubulobulbar complex components degradation is required for spermiation
title_short Autophagy mediated tubulobulbar complex components degradation is required for spermiation
title_sort autophagy mediated tubulobulbar complex components degradation is required for spermiation
topic Autophagy
Spermiation
Tubulobulbar complexes
Cytoskeleton degradation
Sertoli cells
Lysosome
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2667325822004186
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