Testis-specific serine/threonine kinase dTSSK2 regulates sperm motility and male fertility in Drosophila
Abstract Serine/threonine kinases of the TSSK (Testis-Specific Serine/Threonine Kinase) family play crucial roles in spermatogenesis and male fertility across species, but the underlying regulatory mechanism remains incompletely understood. In this study, we identified and characterized a novel TSSK...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Communications Biology |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08163-z |
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| author | Ju Peng Angyang Sun Jie Zheng Na Zhang Xuedi Zhang Guanjun Gao |
| author_facet | Ju Peng Angyang Sun Jie Zheng Na Zhang Xuedi Zhang Guanjun Gao |
| author_sort | Ju Peng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Serine/threonine kinases of the TSSK (Testis-Specific Serine/Threonine Kinase) family play crucial roles in spermatogenesis and male fertility across species, but the underlying regulatory mechanism remains incompletely understood. In this study, we identified and characterized a novel TSSK homolog in Drosophila, named dTSSK2 (CG9222), which functions as the ortholog of human TSSK4. dTSSK2 is specifically expressed in the testis and localizes to individualization complexes during spermiogenesis. Disruption of dTSSK2 severely compromises sperm motility, leading to failed sperm transit into the seminal vesicle and male infertility. Phosphoproteomic analyses reveal that dTSSK2 coordinates sperm flagella assembly and motility by phosphorylating proteins involved in microtubule organization, organelle assembly, and flagella structure. Notably, dTSSK2 phosphorylates the substrate Gudu at Ser9, which partially contributes to individualization complex integrity and sperm motility. These findings elucidate the critical role of dTSSK2-mediated phosphorylation in regulating Drosophila male fertility. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-cf0758e6f6a94021a52da20ea0fcbbd9 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2399-3642 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Communications Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-cf0758e6f6a94021a52da20ea0fcbbd92025-08-20T03:52:55ZengNature PortfolioCommunications Biology2399-36422025-05-018111010.1038/s42003-025-08163-zTestis-specific serine/threonine kinase dTSSK2 regulates sperm motility and male fertility in DrosophilaJu Peng0Angyang Sun1Jie Zheng2Na Zhang3Xuedi Zhang4Guanjun Gao5School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech UniversitySchool of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech UniversitySchool of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech UniversitySchool of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech UniversitySchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Suzhou Medical College, Soochow UniversitySchool of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech UniversityAbstract Serine/threonine kinases of the TSSK (Testis-Specific Serine/Threonine Kinase) family play crucial roles in spermatogenesis and male fertility across species, but the underlying regulatory mechanism remains incompletely understood. In this study, we identified and characterized a novel TSSK homolog in Drosophila, named dTSSK2 (CG9222), which functions as the ortholog of human TSSK4. dTSSK2 is specifically expressed in the testis and localizes to individualization complexes during spermiogenesis. Disruption of dTSSK2 severely compromises sperm motility, leading to failed sperm transit into the seminal vesicle and male infertility. Phosphoproteomic analyses reveal that dTSSK2 coordinates sperm flagella assembly and motility by phosphorylating proteins involved in microtubule organization, organelle assembly, and flagella structure. Notably, dTSSK2 phosphorylates the substrate Gudu at Ser9, which partially contributes to individualization complex integrity and sperm motility. These findings elucidate the critical role of dTSSK2-mediated phosphorylation in regulating Drosophila male fertility.https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08163-z |
| spellingShingle | Ju Peng Angyang Sun Jie Zheng Na Zhang Xuedi Zhang Guanjun Gao Testis-specific serine/threonine kinase dTSSK2 regulates sperm motility and male fertility in Drosophila Communications Biology |
| title | Testis-specific serine/threonine kinase dTSSK2 regulates sperm motility and male fertility in Drosophila |
| title_full | Testis-specific serine/threonine kinase dTSSK2 regulates sperm motility and male fertility in Drosophila |
| title_fullStr | Testis-specific serine/threonine kinase dTSSK2 regulates sperm motility and male fertility in Drosophila |
| title_full_unstemmed | Testis-specific serine/threonine kinase dTSSK2 regulates sperm motility and male fertility in Drosophila |
| title_short | Testis-specific serine/threonine kinase dTSSK2 regulates sperm motility and male fertility in Drosophila |
| title_sort | testis specific serine threonine kinase dtssk2 regulates sperm motility and male fertility in drosophila |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-025-08163-z |
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