scholarly journals Mass spectrometry reveals distinct proteomic profiles in high- and low-quality stallion spermatozoa

Reproduction ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 160 (5) ◽  
pp. 695-707
Author(s):  
Róisín A Griffin ◽  
Aleona Swegen ◽  
Mark Baker ◽  
Robert John Aitken ◽  
David A Skerrett-Byrne ◽  
...  

The horse breeding industry relies upon optimal stallion fertility. Conventional sperm assessments provide limited information regarding ejaculate quality and are not individually predictive of fertilizing potential. The aim of this study was to harness mass spectrometry to compare the proteomic profiles of high- and low-quality stallion spermatozoa, with the ultimate goal of identifying fertility biomarker candidates. Extended stallion semen (n = 12) was fractionated using Percoll density gradients to isolate low-quality and high-quality sperm populations. Motility and morphological assessments were carried out, and proteomic analyses was conducted using UHPLC-MS/MS. High-quality spermatozoa recorded higher total (95.2 ± 0.52% vs 70.6 ± 4.20%; P ≤ 0.001) and progressive motilities (43.4 ± 3.42% vs 27.3 ± 4.32%; P ≤ 0.05), and a higher proportion of morphologically normal cells (50.2 ± 4.34% vs 38.8 ± 2.72%; P ≤ 0.05). In total, 1069 proteins were quantified by UHPLC-MS/MS, of which 22 proteins were significantly more abundant in the high-quality sperm population (P ≤ 0.05). A-kinase anchor protein 4 (AKAP4) and Hexokinase 1 (HK1) were considered possible biomarker candidates and their differential expression was confirmed by immunoblot. Protein expression was significantly correlated with total (AKAP4 R2 = 0.38, P ≤ 0.01; HK1 R2 = 0.46, P ≤ 0.001) and progressive motilities (AKAP4 R 2 = 0.51, P ≤ 0.001; HK1 R2 = 0.55, P ≤ 0.01), percentage rapid (AKAP4 R2 = 0.29, P ≤ 0.05; HK1 R2 = 0.58, P ≤ 0.001), straight-line velocity (HK1 R2 = 0.50, P ≤ 0.01) and straightness (HK1 R2 = 0.40, P ≤ 0.01). Furthermore, AKAP4 was highly susceptible to adduction by 4-hydroxynonenal (4HNE), which resulted in a global reduction in the phosphorylation profiles following capacitation. In conclusion, the proteomic profiles of high- and low-quality stallion spermatozoa differ substantially, and proteins such as AKAP4 and HK1 could serve as biomarkers of ejaculate quality.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balyn W. Zaro ◽  
Joseph J. Noh ◽  
Victoria L. Mascetti ◽  
Janos Demeter ◽  
Benson M. George ◽  
...  

SummaryHematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are responsible for the generation of blood and immune cells throughout life. They have the unique ability to self-renew and generate more HSCs or differentiate into a progenitor cell in response to cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic stimuli. The balance of HSC fate commitment is critical for a healthy blood supply. Imbalances during hematopoiesis, which are frequent in aging, can result in hematological malignancies and pre-malignancies as well as increase risk of atherosclerosis. Given the importance of HSCs and their progenitors, they have been extensively characterized in genomic and transcriptomic studies. However, an understanding of protein expression within the HSC compartment and more broadly throughout hematopoiesis remains poorly understood, and it has been widely reported that the correlation between mRNA and proteins is more complicated than previously thought. Previous mouse mass spectrometry studies have focused either specifically on stem and the first early progenitor or broadly across mixed populations of stem and progenitor cells, which do not allow for cell-type specific protein resolution across stages of differentiation. Mass cytometry has been employed to characterize transcription factor expression in human HSCs and progenitors but does not apply an unbiased discovery approach. New mass spectrometry technology now allows for deep proteomic coverage with no more than 200 ng of sample input. We report here a proteomics resource characterizing protein expression in mouse adult and aged HSCs, multipotent progenitors and oligopotent progenitors, 12 cell types in total. We validated differential expression by flow cytometry analysis and immunofluorescence staining. Additionally, we investigated the relationship between mRNA and protein levels of individual genes in HSCs compared to progenitors through RNA sequencing studies and identified two proteins that appear to be uniquely regulated in the HSC compartment, Cpin1 and Adnp. In summary, this resource provides proteomic coverage of adult and aged hematopoietic stem cells and their progenitors and reveals changes in protein abundance between cell types, with potential future implications in understanding mechanisms for stem-cell maintenance, niche interactions and fate determination.


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 559
Author(s):  
Tipparat Thiangtrongjit ◽  
Nattapon Simanon ◽  
Poom Adisakwattana ◽  
Yanin Limpanont ◽  
Phiraphol Chusongsang ◽  
...  

Schistosoma mekongi is found in the lower Mekong river region and causes schistosomiasis. Low sensitivity of diagnosis and development of drug resistance are problems to eliminate this disease. To develop novel therapies and diagnostics for S. mekongi, the basic molecular biology of this pathogen needs to be explored. Bioactive peptides have been reported in several worms and play important roles in biological functions. Limited information is available on the S. mekongi peptidome. Therefore, this study aimed to identify S. mekongi peptides using in silico transcriptome mining and mass spectrometry approaches. Schistosoma peptide components were identified in adult worms, eggs, and infected mouse sera. Thirteen neuropeptide families were identified using in silico predictions from in-house transcriptomic databases of adult S. mekongi worms. Using mass spectrometry approaches, 118 peptides (from 54 precursor proteins) and 194 peptides (from 86 precursor proteins) were identified from adult worms and eggs, respectively. Importantly, eight unique peptides of the S. mekongi ubiquitin thioesterase, trabid, were identified in infected mouse sera 14, 28, and 56 days after infection. This protein may be a potential target for diagnosis of schistosomiasis. The S. mekongi peptide profiles determined in this study could be used for further drug and diagnostic development.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (23) ◽  
pp. 12791
Author(s):  
Alexia Grangeon ◽  
Valérie Clermont ◽  
Azemi Barama ◽  
Fleur Gaudette ◽  
Jacques Turgeon ◽  
...  

The human small intestine can be involved in the first-pass metabolism of drugs. Under this condition, members of the CYP450 superfamily are expected to contribute to drug presystemic biotransformation. The aim of this study was to quantify protein expression levels of 16 major CYP450 isoforms in tissue obtained from nine human organ donors in seven subsections of the small intestine, i.e., duodenum (one section, N = 7 tissue samples), jejunum (three subsections (proximal, mid and distal), N = 9 tissue samples) and ileum (three subsections, (proximal, mid and distal), N = 9 tissue samples), using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) based targeted proteomics. CYP450 absolute protein expression levels were compared to mRNA levels and enzyme activities by using established probe drugs. Proteins corresponding to seven of sixteen potential CYP450 isoforms were detected and quantified in various sections of the small intestine: CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6, CYP2J2, CYP3A4, CYP3A5 and CYP4F2. Wide inter-subject variability was observed, especially for CYP2D6. CYP2C9 (p = 0.004) and CYP2C19 (p = 0.005) expression levels decreased along the small intestine. From the duodenum to the ileum, CYP2J2 (p = 0.001) increased, and a trend was observed for CYP3A5 (p = 0.13). CYP3A4 expression was higher in the jejunum than in the ileum (p = 0.03), while CYP4F2 expression was lower in the duodenum compared to the jejunum and the ileum (p = 0.005). CYP450 protein levels were better correlated with specific isoform activities than with mRNA levels. This study provides new data on absolute CYP450 quantification in human small intestine that could improve physiologically based pharmacokinetic models. These data could better inform drug absorption profiles while considering the regional expression of CYP450 isoforms.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Ngao Mule ◽  
Andrè Guillherme da Costa Martins ◽  
Livia Rosa-Fernandes ◽  
Gilberto Santos de Oliveira ◽  
Carla Monadeli Rodrigues ◽  
...  

AbstractThe etiological agent of Chagas disease, Trypanosoma cruzi, is subdivided into seven genetic subdivisions termed discrete typing units (DTUs), TcI-TcVI and Tcbat. The relevance of T. cruzi genetic diversity to the variable clinical course of the disease, virulence, pathogenicity, drug resistance, transmission cycles and ecological distribution justifies the concerted efforts towards understanding the population structure of T. cruzi strains. In this study, we introduce a novel approach termed ‘phyloquant’ to infer the evolutionary relationships and assignment of T. cruzi strains to their DTUs based on differential protein expression profiles evidenced by bottom up large scale mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomic features. Mass spectrometry features analyzed using parsimony (MS1, iBAQ and LFQ) showed a close correlation between protein expression and T. cruzi DTUs and closely related trypanosome species. Although alternative topologies with minor differences between the three MS features analyzed were demonstrated, we show congruence to well accepted evolutionary relationships of T. cruzi DTUs; in all analyses TcI and Tcbat were sister groups, and the parental nature of genotype TcII and the hybrid genotypes TcV/TcVI were corroborated. Character mapping of genetic distance matrices based on phylogenetics and phyloquant clustering showed statistically significant correlations. We propose the first quantitative shotgun proteomics approach as a complement strategy to the genetic-based assignment of T. cruzi strains to DTUs and evolutionary inferences. Moreover, this approach allows for the identification of differentially regulated and strain/DTU/species-specific proteins, with potential application in the identification of strain/DTU specific biomarkers and candidate therapeutic targets. In addition, the correlation between multi-gene protein expression and divergence of trypanosome species was evaluated, adding another level to understand the genetic subdivisions among T. cruzi DTUs.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Koen Kole ◽  
Tansu Celikel

AbstractThe heterogeneous organization of the mammalian neocortex poses a challenge to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying its physiological processes. Although high-throughput molecular methods are increasingly deployed in neuroscience, their anatomical specificity is often lacking. Here we introduce a targeted microdissection technique that enables extraction of high-quality RNA and proteins at high anatomical resolution from acutely prepared brain slices. We exemplify its utility by isolating single cortical columns and laminae from the mouse primary somatosensory (barrel) cortex. Tissues can be isolated from living slices in minutes, and the extracted RNA and protein are of sufficient quantity and quality to be used for RNA-sequencing and mass spectrometry. This technique will help to increase the anatomical specificity of molecular studies of the neocortex, and the brain in general as it is applicable to any brain structure that can be identified using optical landmarks in living slices.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoqing Zhang ◽  
Qi He ◽  
Leiqin Sun ◽  
Yanfei Zhang ◽  
Shengying Qin ◽  
...  

Background. HER-2 is a key molecule serving as the therapeutic target, prognostic biomarker, and classification marker in breast cancer. Accurate microRNA profilings had not been conducted in purified tumor cells of HER-2-negative and HER-2-positive tissue specimens obtained from breast cancer patients. Methods. (i) Differential expression microRNA discovery using laser capture microdissection- (LCM-) assisted specimen preparation and microRNA array chips on HER-2 overexpressing and triple-negative breast carcinoma (TNBC) subtype tissues, (ii) differential expression microRNA validation by quantitative real-time PCR, and (iii) independent validation on tissue microarray. Results. Five microRNAs (miR-20a-5p, miR-221-3p, miR-362-5p, miR-502-3p, and miR-222-3p) were screened and validated as upregulated microRNAs in TNBC cells comparing to HER-2 overexpressing cells using a microRNA array (5 cases in each group) and quantitative real-time PCR (20 cases in each group). The expression difference of miR-362-5p had the most significant statistical significance (p=0.0016) among the five microRNAs. The expression of miR-362-5p and its target gene Sema3A was further analyzed using in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry on standard tissue sections (n=150). 70.8% of HER-2-negative cells showed moderate expression of miR-362-5p whereas 20.4% HER-2-negative cells correlated with strong expression of miR-362-5p (p<0.0001). The proportion of patients with moderate/strong miR-362-5p expression in luminal, HER-2 overexpressing, and TNBC subtypes were 53.2%, 22.2%, and 74.3%, respectively (p=0.0002). High miR-362-5p expressers had shorter overall survival in the univariate analysis (p=0.046). There was a significant negative correlation between miR-362-5p and Sema3A expression (p<0.0001). The patients with negative/weak Sema3A protein expression had poorer prognosis than those with moderate (HR: 3.723, p=0.021) or strong (HR: 3.966, p=0.013) Sema3A protein expression in the multivariate analysis. Conclusions. miR-362-5p/Sema3A might provide a promising therapeutic pathway and represents a candidate therapeutic target of the TNBC subtype.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathamon Yimpring ◽  
Sittiruk Roytrakul ◽  
Janthima Jaresitthikunchai ◽  
Narumon Phaonakrop ◽  
Sucheewin Krobthong ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cryptorchidism is a condition that occurs when one or both testes fail to descend into the scrotum. It is a common congenital disorder, causing economic loss in pig production. However, there have been only limited studies of differential protein expression profiles in undescended testes (UDTs) in the abdomen and descended testes (DTs) in cryptorchid pigs, especially at the peptidome and proteome levels. The present study aimed to analyze the peptidome of UDTs and DTs in unilateral cryptorchid pigs aged 1–2, 6, 15 and 20 weeks and in normal testes of healthy pigs aged 1–2 and 12 weeks, using peptide mass fingerprinting and three-dimensional principal component analysis (3D-PCA) with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and to identify potential protein candidates, using in-gel digestion coupled with mass spectrometry (GeLC-MS/MS). Western blot analysis was used to verify protein expression. Protein sequence was affirmed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Results A PCA plot showed a discrete cluster for each sample group. Peptide mass fingerprints (PMFs) demonstrated unique peptide fragments in UDTs at different ages. A number of markedly expressed proteins from GeLC-MS/MS were identified, including the multifunctional tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 18 (TNFRSF18), in DTs at 1–2 and 6 weeks and in UDTs at 15 and 20 weeks of age. Using western blot analysis, high expression of TNFRSF18 was observed in the UDTs at 15 weeks. Using the STITCH database, this protein was found to be related to apoptosis, corresponding to the previous report in the UDTs at the same age. Conclusions The present study revealed the specific PMFs and clusters for porcine cryptorchidism, and a novel protein, TNFRSF18, associated with the disease mechanism. These results could provide further insights into the pathogenesis of the disease.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Eid I. Brima

In terms of nutrition, dates are an important commodity because they are a source of carbohydrates and minerals. Saudi Arabia is the second largest producer of dates worldwide. Khalas is the tenth most popular date type in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), but only limited information related to the levels of essential nutrients in Khalas dates is available. The concentrations of Mn, Cu, Zn, and Se were determined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). The average concentrations in wet weight were as follows (mg/kg): Mn (2.90 ± 0.54), Cu (1.78 ± 0.64), Zn (1.72 ± 0.42), and Se (0.10 ± 0.06). The calculated intakes (μg/kg bw day) per 100 g dates for each element were as follows: Mn (4.14), Cu (2.54), Zn (2.46), and Se (0.14), which represent 0.14%, 0.51%, 0.25%, and 0.2%, respectively, of the provisional maximum tolerable daily intake (PMTDI) recommended by the EFSA/WHO. It was found that levels of the analysed essential elements in up to 100 g of Khalas dates do not exceed the level set by the EFSA/WHO.


2009 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 455-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
KN Rithidech ◽  
L Honikel ◽  
M Milazzo ◽  
D Madigan ◽  
R Troxell ◽  
...  

The diagnosis of pediatric multiple sclerosis (MS) is challenging due to its low frequency and the overlap with other acquired childhood demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system. To identify potential protein biomarkers which could facilitate the diagnosis, we used two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) in combination with mass spectrometry to identify proteins associated with pediatric MS. Plasma samples from nine children with MS and nine healthy subjects, matched in aggregate by age and gender, were analyzed for differences in their patterns of protein expression. We found 12 proteins that were significantly up regulated in the pediatric MS group: alpha-1-acid-glycoprotein 1, alpha-1-B-glycoprotein, transthyretin, apoliprotein-C-III, serum amyloid P component, complement factor-I, clusterin, gelsolin, hemopexin, kininogen-1, hCG1993037-isoform, and vitamin D-binding protein. These results show that 2-DE in combination with mass spectrometry is a highly sensitive technique for the identification of blood-based biomarkers. This proteomic approach could lead to a new panel of diagnostic and prognostic markers in pediatric MS.


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