Doublet microtubule-associated tektins and enzymes differentially regulate sperm flagellar integrity and motility - PubMed
3 hours ago
- #sperm motility
- #doublet microtubule
- #male infertility
- Doublet microtubule (DMT)-associated proteins are crucial for sperm flagella assembly and motility, essential for fertilization.
- Study generated four gene-knockout mice targeting distinct DMT components: TEKT1, TEKT5 (tektins), TSSK6, and DUSP21 (enzymes).
- TEKT1 depletion leads to male infertility due to impaired sperm motility and loss of tektin bundle, while TEKT5 knockout mice remain fertile.
- TSSK6 knockout results in severe sperm morphology and motility defects, causing homozygote infertility and heterozygote subfertility.
- Phosphoproteomics reveals dysregulated phosphorylation of axonemal proteins in TSSK6 knockout, emphasizing kinase-mediated signaling in sperm motility.
- DUSP21 knockout shows no fertility or motility defects, suggesting compensatory phosphatase activity.
- TEKT1 and TSSK6 knockouts are linked to distinct subtypes of asthenozoospermia.
- Study highlights divergent mechanisms of filamentous and enzymatic DMT proteins in sperm function, aiding molecular diagnosis of male infertility.