Essential Regulation of YAP1 in Fate Determinations of Spermatogonial Stem Cells and Male Fertility by Interacting with RAD21 and Targeting NEDD4 in Humans and Mice

Spermatogenesis is a sophisticated biological process by which spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) undergo self-renewal and differentiation into spermatozoa. Molecular mechanisms underlying fate determinations of human SSCs by key genes and signaling pathways remain elusive. Here, we report for the fir...

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Main Authors: Chunyun Li, Wei Chen, Yinghong Cui, Dong Zhang, Qingqing Yuan, Xing Yu, Zuping He
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) 2024-01-01
Series:Research
Online Access:https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/research.0544
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author Chunyun Li
Wei Chen
Yinghong Cui
Dong Zhang
Qingqing Yuan
Xing Yu
Zuping He
author_facet Chunyun Li
Wei Chen
Yinghong Cui
Dong Zhang
Qingqing Yuan
Xing Yu
Zuping He
author_sort Chunyun Li
collection DOAJ
description Spermatogenesis is a sophisticated biological process by which spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) undergo self-renewal and differentiation into spermatozoa. Molecular mechanisms underlying fate determinations of human SSCs by key genes and signaling pathways remain elusive. Here, we report for the first time that Yes1-associated transcriptional regulator (YAP1) is required for fate determinations of SSCs and male fertility by interacting with RAD21 and targeting NEDD4 in humans and mice. YAP1 was mainly located at cell nuclei of human SSCs. YAP1 silencing resulted in the decreases in proliferation and DNA synthesis as well as an enhancement in apoptosis of human SSCs both in vivo and in vitro. RNA sequencing and real-time polymerase chain reaction assays identified NEDD4 as a target of YAP1, and NEDD4 knockdown inhibited the proliferation of human SSCs and increased their apoptosis. Furthermore, YAP1 interacted with RAD21 to regulate NEDD4 transcription in human SSCs. Importantly, YAP1 abnormalities were found to be associated with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) as manifested as lower expression level of YAP1 in testicular tissues of NOA patients and YAP1 single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) in 777 NOA patients. Finally, Yap1 germline conditional knockout (cKO) mice assumed mitotic arrest, low sperm count, and motility. Collectively, these results highlight a critical role of YAP1 in determining the fate determinations of human SSCs and male infertility through the YAP1/RAD21/NEDD4 pathway. This study provides new insights into the genetic regulatory mechanisms underlying human spermatogenesis and the pathogenesis of NOA, and it offers new targets for gene therapy of male infertility.
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spelling doaj-art-78bf246c6bc04075b9547ec3e6dc03032025-08-20T02:38:26ZengAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)Research2639-52742024-01-01710.34133/research.0544Essential Regulation of YAP1 in Fate Determinations of Spermatogonial Stem Cells and Male Fertility by Interacting with RAD21 and Targeting NEDD4 in Humans and MiceChunyun Li0Wei Chen1Yinghong Cui2Dong Zhang3Qingqing Yuan4Xing Yu5Zuping He6Key Laboratory of Model Animals and Stem Cell Biology in Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University School of Medicine; Engineering Research Center of Reproduction and Translational Medicine of Hunan Province; Manufacture-Based Learning and Research Demonstration Center for Human Reproductive Health New Technology of Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China.Key Laboratory of Model Animals and Stem Cell Biology in Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University School of Medicine; Engineering Research Center of Reproduction and Translational Medicine of Hunan Province; Manufacture-Based Learning and Research Demonstration Center for Human Reproductive Health New Technology of Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China.Key Laboratory of Model Animals and Stem Cell Biology in Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University School of Medicine; Engineering Research Center of Reproduction and Translational Medicine of Hunan Province; Manufacture-Based Learning and Research Demonstration Center for Human Reproductive Health New Technology of Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China.Key Laboratory of Model Animals and Stem Cell Biology in Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University School of Medicine; Engineering Research Center of Reproduction and Translational Medicine of Hunan Province; Manufacture-Based Learning and Research Demonstration Center for Human Reproductive Health New Technology of Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China.Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200135, China.Key Laboratory of Model Animals and Stem Cell Biology in Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University School of Medicine; Engineering Research Center of Reproduction and Translational Medicine of Hunan Province; Manufacture-Based Learning and Research Demonstration Center for Human Reproductive Health New Technology of Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China.Key Laboratory of Model Animals and Stem Cell Biology in Hunan Province, Hunan Normal University School of Medicine; Engineering Research Center of Reproduction and Translational Medicine of Hunan Province; Manufacture-Based Learning and Research Demonstration Center for Human Reproductive Health New Technology of Hunan Normal University, Changsha 410013, China.Spermatogenesis is a sophisticated biological process by which spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) undergo self-renewal and differentiation into spermatozoa. Molecular mechanisms underlying fate determinations of human SSCs by key genes and signaling pathways remain elusive. Here, we report for the first time that Yes1-associated transcriptional regulator (YAP1) is required for fate determinations of SSCs and male fertility by interacting with RAD21 and targeting NEDD4 in humans and mice. YAP1 was mainly located at cell nuclei of human SSCs. YAP1 silencing resulted in the decreases in proliferation and DNA synthesis as well as an enhancement in apoptosis of human SSCs both in vivo and in vitro. RNA sequencing and real-time polymerase chain reaction assays identified NEDD4 as a target of YAP1, and NEDD4 knockdown inhibited the proliferation of human SSCs and increased their apoptosis. Furthermore, YAP1 interacted with RAD21 to regulate NEDD4 transcription in human SSCs. Importantly, YAP1 abnormalities were found to be associated with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) as manifested as lower expression level of YAP1 in testicular tissues of NOA patients and YAP1 single-nucleotide variants (SNVs) in 777 NOA patients. Finally, Yap1 germline conditional knockout (cKO) mice assumed mitotic arrest, low sperm count, and motility. Collectively, these results highlight a critical role of YAP1 in determining the fate determinations of human SSCs and male infertility through the YAP1/RAD21/NEDD4 pathway. This study provides new insights into the genetic regulatory mechanisms underlying human spermatogenesis and the pathogenesis of NOA, and it offers new targets for gene therapy of male infertility.https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/research.0544
spellingShingle Chunyun Li
Wei Chen
Yinghong Cui
Dong Zhang
Qingqing Yuan
Xing Yu
Zuping He
Essential Regulation of YAP1 in Fate Determinations of Spermatogonial Stem Cells and Male Fertility by Interacting with RAD21 and Targeting NEDD4 in Humans and Mice
Research
title Essential Regulation of YAP1 in Fate Determinations of Spermatogonial Stem Cells and Male Fertility by Interacting with RAD21 and Targeting NEDD4 in Humans and Mice
title_full Essential Regulation of YAP1 in Fate Determinations of Spermatogonial Stem Cells and Male Fertility by Interacting with RAD21 and Targeting NEDD4 in Humans and Mice
title_fullStr Essential Regulation of YAP1 in Fate Determinations of Spermatogonial Stem Cells and Male Fertility by Interacting with RAD21 and Targeting NEDD4 in Humans and Mice
title_full_unstemmed Essential Regulation of YAP1 in Fate Determinations of Spermatogonial Stem Cells and Male Fertility by Interacting with RAD21 and Targeting NEDD4 in Humans and Mice
title_short Essential Regulation of YAP1 in Fate Determinations of Spermatogonial Stem Cells and Male Fertility by Interacting with RAD21 and Targeting NEDD4 in Humans and Mice
title_sort essential regulation of yap1 in fate determinations of spermatogonial stem cells and male fertility by interacting with rad21 and targeting nedd4 in humans and mice
url https://spj.science.org/doi/10.34133/research.0544
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