Polydopamine-based nano-protectant for prolonged boar semen preservation by eliminating ROS and regulating protein phosphorylation via D2DR-mediated cAMP/PKA signaling pathway

Abstract Introduction Preservation of porcine semen is essential for artificial insemination and genetic improvement in pig breeding programs. However, the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lower levels of protein phosphorylation emerge as two challenges during semen preservation....

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Main Authors: Lirui Wang, Manyi Xiong, Jian Zhang, Sisi Li, Sheng Ma, Shengyao Jiang, Yanping Jiang, Xinhong Li
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:Journal of Nanobiotechnology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-025-03215-2
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author Lirui Wang
Manyi Xiong
Jian Zhang
Sisi Li
Sheng Ma
Shengyao Jiang
Yanping Jiang
Xinhong Li
author_facet Lirui Wang
Manyi Xiong
Jian Zhang
Sisi Li
Sheng Ma
Shengyao Jiang
Yanping Jiang
Xinhong Li
author_sort Lirui Wang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction Preservation of porcine semen is essential for artificial insemination and genetic improvement in pig breeding programs. However, the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lower levels of protein phosphorylation emerge as two challenges during semen preservation. Inspired by the innate ligand-receptor binding biofunction of dopamine, herein, a dual-task nano-protectant that combines ROS-scavenging and protein phosphorylation-regulating properties via incorporating the natural antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) into polydopamine nanoparticles (EGCG@PDA NPs) was proposed to enhance the quality of pig semen during storage at 4 ℃. The results suggested that EGCG@PDA NPs significantly maintained sperm motility, acrosome integrity and mitochondrial membrane potential, extending semen storage time from 3 days to 10 days. Furthermore, EGCG@PDA NPs effectively scavenged excess ROS and inhibited ROS-mediated sperm apoptosis through the extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) signaling pathway. Intriguingly, EGCG@PDA NPs could degrade into ultrasmall particles (< 10 nm) in the semen or H2O2 systems. These particles could target and activate the dopamine D2 receptor (D2DR) on membrane surface of sperm midpiece, thereby enhancing protein phosphorylation via the downstream cyclic adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A (cAMP/PKA) signaling pathway, ultimately improving sperm motility parameters. This study presents a novel nano-strategy to boost the quality of pig semen, offering significant implications for the pig industry. Graphical Abstract
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issn 1477-3155
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publishDate 2025-02-01
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spelling doaj-art-6435c6a4197e4ff2884d7e2e9a96394b2025-08-20T02:59:29ZengBMCJournal of Nanobiotechnology1477-31552025-02-0123111910.1186/s12951-025-03215-2Polydopamine-based nano-protectant for prolonged boar semen preservation by eliminating ROS and regulating protein phosphorylation via D2DR-mediated cAMP/PKA signaling pathwayLirui Wang0Manyi Xiong1Jian Zhang2Sisi Li3Sheng Ma4Shengyao Jiang5Yanping Jiang6Xinhong Li7Shanghai Key Laboratory for Veterinary and Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai Key Laboratory for Veterinary and Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityDepartment of Agriculture, Hetao CollegeShanghai Key Laboratory for Veterinary and Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai Key Laboratory for Veterinary and Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai Key Laboratory for Veterinary and Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai Key Laboratory for Veterinary and Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai Key Laboratory for Veterinary and Biotechnology, School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityAbstract Introduction Preservation of porcine semen is essential for artificial insemination and genetic improvement in pig breeding programs. However, the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lower levels of protein phosphorylation emerge as two challenges during semen preservation. Inspired by the innate ligand-receptor binding biofunction of dopamine, herein, a dual-task nano-protectant that combines ROS-scavenging and protein phosphorylation-regulating properties via incorporating the natural antioxidant epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) into polydopamine nanoparticles (EGCG@PDA NPs) was proposed to enhance the quality of pig semen during storage at 4 ℃. The results suggested that EGCG@PDA NPs significantly maintained sperm motility, acrosome integrity and mitochondrial membrane potential, extending semen storage time from 3 days to 10 days. Furthermore, EGCG@PDA NPs effectively scavenged excess ROS and inhibited ROS-mediated sperm apoptosis through the extracellular regulated protein kinases (ERK) signaling pathway. Intriguingly, EGCG@PDA NPs could degrade into ultrasmall particles (< 10 nm) in the semen or H2O2 systems. These particles could target and activate the dopamine D2 receptor (D2DR) on membrane surface of sperm midpiece, thereby enhancing protein phosphorylation via the downstream cyclic adenosine monophosphate/protein kinase A (cAMP/PKA) signaling pathway, ultimately improving sperm motility parameters. This study presents a novel nano-strategy to boost the quality of pig semen, offering significant implications for the pig industry. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-025-03215-2Semen preservationPolydopamine nanoparticlesROSProtein phosphorylationD2DR
spellingShingle Lirui Wang
Manyi Xiong
Jian Zhang
Sisi Li
Sheng Ma
Shengyao Jiang
Yanping Jiang
Xinhong Li
Polydopamine-based nano-protectant for prolonged boar semen preservation by eliminating ROS and regulating protein phosphorylation via D2DR-mediated cAMP/PKA signaling pathway
Journal of Nanobiotechnology
Semen preservation
Polydopamine nanoparticles
ROS
Protein phosphorylation
D2DR
title Polydopamine-based nano-protectant for prolonged boar semen preservation by eliminating ROS and regulating protein phosphorylation via D2DR-mediated cAMP/PKA signaling pathway
title_full Polydopamine-based nano-protectant for prolonged boar semen preservation by eliminating ROS and regulating protein phosphorylation via D2DR-mediated cAMP/PKA signaling pathway
title_fullStr Polydopamine-based nano-protectant for prolonged boar semen preservation by eliminating ROS and regulating protein phosphorylation via D2DR-mediated cAMP/PKA signaling pathway
title_full_unstemmed Polydopamine-based nano-protectant for prolonged boar semen preservation by eliminating ROS and regulating protein phosphorylation via D2DR-mediated cAMP/PKA signaling pathway
title_short Polydopamine-based nano-protectant for prolonged boar semen preservation by eliminating ROS and regulating protein phosphorylation via D2DR-mediated cAMP/PKA signaling pathway
title_sort polydopamine based nano protectant for prolonged boar semen preservation by eliminating ros and regulating protein phosphorylation via d2dr mediated camp pka signaling pathway
topic Semen preservation
Polydopamine nanoparticles
ROS
Protein phosphorylation
D2DR
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12951-025-03215-2
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