The long range objective of our studies is to determine the biological significance of amyloid-type protein aggregation and mechanisms for its control in the epididymal lumen using the cystatins as molecular models. The abnormal accumulation of aggregated protein, also known as amyloid, is common in degenerative diseases including Alzheimer's disease. Amyloid in the testis and epididymis has also been implicated in human infertility. Proteins, including the cystatins, which can self-aggregate and form amyloid adopt a common cytotoxic structure during their aggregation. Because of the active secretion of proteins and profound removal of fluid by the epithelium, macromolecular crowding is likely to occur in the tubular lumen of the epididymis causing amyloid-type protein aggregation. However, because of its critical role in sperm maturation, surveillance/clearance mechanisms must be in place to control this process and prevent a pathological accumulation of cytotoxic aggregates. We have established that the cystatins CRES and cystatin C are present in the caput lumen as high molecular mass oligomeric complexes. We have also shown that CRES is associated with defined structures in the epididymal lumen. Furthermore, in vitro CRES and cystatin C form soluble amyloid precursors, which may be cytotoxic, as well as amyloid fibrils. We have also determined that male mice expressing the mutant L68Q cystatin C, an unstable and highly amyloidogenic form, are infertile possibly due to excess cystatin C oligomeric complexes in the lumen. These novel findings emphasize the critical nature of controlling protein aggregation in the epididymis. One mechanism by which the epididymis may control aggregation is by transglutaminase (TG) crosslinking resulting in protein aggregates in a nontoxic conformation. In support we have shown TG activity in the lumen, that CRES is a substrate for TG, and that TG will form CRES oligomers in caput fluid. Based on these studies we propose that amyloid-type protein aggregation occurs in the epididymal lumen and that quality control mechanisms, such as TG crosslinking, prevent the accumulation of toxic protein aggregates thereby maintaining normal epididymal function. We also propose that conditions that impair these protective mechanisms can negatively impact sperm maturation and function. We will address this hypothesis by: 1) characterizing amyloid-type aggregation in the epididymal lumen;2) examine the pathological consequences of excessive amyloid aggregation;and 3) examine mechanisms of extracellular quality control in the epididymis.

Public Health Relevance

The objective of our studies is to determine the biological significance of amyloid-type protein aggregation and mechanisms for its control in the epididymal lumen using the cystatins as molecular models. A completion of our aims will provide valuable information for our understanding of amyloid formation not only in the reproductive tract and its potential role in infertility but in general and as such may lead to new therapies and/or markers for diseases associated with extracellular aggregated proteins such as Alzheimer's disease.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01HD056182-02
Application #
7742672
Study Section
Cellular, Molecular and Integrative Reproduction Study Section (CMIR)
Program Officer
Moss, Stuart B
Project Start
2008-12-01
Project End
2013-11-30
Budget Start
2009-12-01
Budget End
2010-11-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2010
Total Cost
$311,378
Indirect Cost
Name
Texas Tech University
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
609980727
City
Lubbock
State
TX
Country
United States
Zip Code
79430
Whelly, Sandra; Muthusubramanian, Archana; Powell, Jonathan et al. (2016) Cystatin-related epididymal spermatogenic subgroup members are part of an amyloid matrix and associated with extracellular vesicles in the mouse epididymal lumen. Mol Hum Reprod 22:729-744
Egge, Nathan; Muthusubramanian, Archana; Cornwall, Gail A (2015) Amyloid properties of the mouse egg zona pellucida. PLoS One 10:e0129907
Whelly, Sandra; Serobian, Gaiane; Borchardt, Clinton et al. (2014) Fertility defects in mice expressing the L68Q variant of human cystatin C: a role for amyloid in male infertility. J Biol Chem 289:7718-29
Guyonnet, Benoit; Egge, Nathan; Cornwall, Gail A (2014) Functional amyloids in the mouse sperm acrosome. Mol Cell Biol 34:2624-34
Tardif, Steve; Guyonnet, Benoit; Cormier, Nathaly et al. (2012) Alteration in the processing of the ACRBP/sp32 protein and sperm head/acrosome malformations in proprotein convertase 4 (PCSK4) null mice. Mol Hum Reprod 18:298-307
Whelly, Sandra; Johnson, Seethal; Powell, Jonathan et al. (2012) Nonpathological extracellular amyloid is present during normal epididymal sperm maturation. PLoS One 7:e36394
Parent, Adam D; Cornwall, Gail A; Liu, Lauren Y et al. (2011) Alterations in the testis and epididymis associated with loss of function of the cystatin-related epididymal spermatogenic (CRES) protein. J Androl 32:444-63
Cornwall, Gail A; Von Horsten, H Henning; Whelly, Sandra (2011) Cystatin-related epididymal spermatogenic aggregates in the epididymis. J Androl 32:679-85
Chau, Kim M; Cornwall, Gail A (2011) Reduced fertility in vitro in mice lacking the cystatin CRES (cystatin-related epididymal spermatogenic): rescue by exposure of spermatozoa to dibutyryl cAMP and isobutylmethylxanthine. Biol Reprod 84:140-52