Mouse SPAG6L, a Key Cytoskeleton Modulator Essential for Male Germ Cell Development, Is Not Required for Sertoli Cell Function
Mouse sperm-associated antigen 6-like (SPAG6L) evolved from SPAG6, the mammalian ortholog of Chlamydomonas PF16, which is localized in the central apparatus of the motile cilia and is essential for ciliary motility. Even though the amino acid sequences of the two SPAG6 proteins are highly similar, t...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Cells |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/11/783 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849330844096790528 |
|---|---|
| author | Tao Li Wei Li Cheng Zheng Jannette M. Dufour William H. Walker Shuiqiao Yuan Zhibing Zhang |
| author_facet | Tao Li Wei Li Cheng Zheng Jannette M. Dufour William H. Walker Shuiqiao Yuan Zhibing Zhang |
| author_sort | Tao Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mouse sperm-associated antigen 6-like (SPAG6L) evolved from SPAG6, the mammalian ortholog of Chlamydomonas PF16, which is localized in the central apparatus of the motile cilia and is essential for ciliary motility. Even though the amino acid sequences of the two SPAG6 proteins are highly similar, the two proteins have different biological expression patterns in vivo. No major phenotypes were discovered in the global <i>Spag6</i> knockout mice. However, the global <i>Spag6l</i> knockout mice demonstrated multiple phenotypes in tissues with and without cilia. Since SPAG6L decorates microtubules and modulates cytoskeleton function, and Sertoli cells have a well-developed microtubule transport network, the potential function of SPAG6L in Sertoli cells was evaluated. The floxed <i>Spag6l</i> mice were crossed with <i>Amh-Cre</i> transgenic mice to inactivate the <i>Spag6l</i> gene specifically in Sertoli cells. Surprisingly, the fertility of the homozygous mutant males was not reduced. The testis size and sperm number and motility showed no significant difference to those of the control mice. Testicular histology also showed normal spermatogenesis. No significant changes were observed in the number of Sertoli cells and blood–testis barrier function. Our study showed that the inactivation of only <i>Spag6l</i> does not affect Sertoli cell function during the first 6 months of life. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7682a7f0a4fc4bd09c3aa103f896a312 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2073-4409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cells |
| spelling | doaj-art-7682a7f0a4fc4bd09c3aa103f896a3122025-08-20T03:46:48ZengMDPI AGCells2073-44092025-05-01141178310.3390/cells14110783Mouse SPAG6L, a Key Cytoskeleton Modulator Essential for Male Germ Cell Development, Is Not Required for Sertoli Cell FunctionTao Li0Wei Li1Cheng Zheng2Jannette M. Dufour3William H. Walker4Shuiqiao Yuan5Zhibing Zhang6Institute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, ChinaDepartment of Physiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USADepartment of Physiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USADepartment of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USADepartment of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Magee Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USAInstitute of Reproductive Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, ChinaDepartment of Physiology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USAMouse sperm-associated antigen 6-like (SPAG6L) evolved from SPAG6, the mammalian ortholog of Chlamydomonas PF16, which is localized in the central apparatus of the motile cilia and is essential for ciliary motility. Even though the amino acid sequences of the two SPAG6 proteins are highly similar, the two proteins have different biological expression patterns in vivo. No major phenotypes were discovered in the global <i>Spag6</i> knockout mice. However, the global <i>Spag6l</i> knockout mice demonstrated multiple phenotypes in tissues with and without cilia. Since SPAG6L decorates microtubules and modulates cytoskeleton function, and Sertoli cells have a well-developed microtubule transport network, the potential function of SPAG6L in Sertoli cells was evaluated. The floxed <i>Spag6l</i> mice were crossed with <i>Amh-Cre</i> transgenic mice to inactivate the <i>Spag6l</i> gene specifically in Sertoli cells. Surprisingly, the fertility of the homozygous mutant males was not reduced. The testis size and sperm number and motility showed no significant difference to those of the control mice. Testicular histology also showed normal spermatogenesis. No significant changes were observed in the number of Sertoli cells and blood–testis barrier function. Our study showed that the inactivation of only <i>Spag6l</i> does not affect Sertoli cell function during the first 6 months of life.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/11/783<i>Spag6l</i>axonemecentral apparatusciliaSertoli cellsspermatogenesis |
| spellingShingle | Tao Li Wei Li Cheng Zheng Jannette M. Dufour William H. Walker Shuiqiao Yuan Zhibing Zhang Mouse SPAG6L, a Key Cytoskeleton Modulator Essential for Male Germ Cell Development, Is Not Required for Sertoli Cell Function Cells <i>Spag6l</i> axoneme central apparatus cilia Sertoli cells spermatogenesis |
| title | Mouse SPAG6L, a Key Cytoskeleton Modulator Essential for Male Germ Cell Development, Is Not Required for Sertoli Cell Function |
| title_full | Mouse SPAG6L, a Key Cytoskeleton Modulator Essential for Male Germ Cell Development, Is Not Required for Sertoli Cell Function |
| title_fullStr | Mouse SPAG6L, a Key Cytoskeleton Modulator Essential for Male Germ Cell Development, Is Not Required for Sertoli Cell Function |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mouse SPAG6L, a Key Cytoskeleton Modulator Essential for Male Germ Cell Development, Is Not Required for Sertoli Cell Function |
| title_short | Mouse SPAG6L, a Key Cytoskeleton Modulator Essential for Male Germ Cell Development, Is Not Required for Sertoli Cell Function |
| title_sort | mouse spag6l a key cytoskeleton modulator essential for male germ cell development is not required for sertoli cell function |
| topic | <i>Spag6l</i> axoneme central apparatus cilia Sertoli cells spermatogenesis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4409/14/11/783 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT taoli mousespag6lakeycytoskeletonmodulatoressentialformalegermcelldevelopmentisnotrequiredforsertolicellfunction AT weili mousespag6lakeycytoskeletonmodulatoressentialformalegermcelldevelopmentisnotrequiredforsertolicellfunction AT chengzheng mousespag6lakeycytoskeletonmodulatoressentialformalegermcelldevelopmentisnotrequiredforsertolicellfunction AT jannettemdufour mousespag6lakeycytoskeletonmodulatoressentialformalegermcelldevelopmentisnotrequiredforsertolicellfunction AT williamhwalker mousespag6lakeycytoskeletonmodulatoressentialformalegermcelldevelopmentisnotrequiredforsertolicellfunction AT shuiqiaoyuan mousespag6lakeycytoskeletonmodulatoressentialformalegermcelldevelopmentisnotrequiredforsertolicellfunction AT zhibingzhang mousespag6lakeycytoskeletonmodulatoressentialformalegermcelldevelopmentisnotrequiredforsertolicellfunction |