Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Graduate Institute of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Reproduction. 2021 Apr 20;161(5):593-602. doi: 10.1530/REP-20-0629.
The epididymis is an androgen-responsive organ, whose structure and functions are modulated by the coordination between androgen and epididymal cues. Highly regulated molecular interaction within the epididymis is required to support viable sperm development necessary for subsequent fertilization. In the present study, we extended our earlier findings on a promising epididymal protein, quiescin sulfhydryl oxidase 2 (QSOX2), and demonstrated a positive correlation between testosterone and QSOX2 protein synthesis through the use of loss- and restore-of-function animal models. Moreover, based on transcriptomic analyses and 2D culture system, we determined that an additional polarized effect of glutamate is indispensable for the regulatory action of testosterone on QSOX2 synthesis. In conclusion, we propose noncanonical testosterone signaling supports epididymal QSOX2 protein synthesis, providing a novel perspective on the regulation of sperm maturation within the epididymis.
附睾是雄激素反应性器官，其结构和功能受雄激素和附睾信号的协调调节。附睾内高度调控的分子相互作用对于支持后续受精所需的有活力的精子发育是必需的。在本研究中，我们扩展了之前关于一种有前途的附睾蛋白——卷曲螺旋结构域蛋白 72（QSOX2）的发现，并通过使用功能丧失和功能恢复的动物模型证明了睾酮与 QSOX2 蛋白合成之间存在正相关。此外，基于转录组分析和二维培养系统，我们确定谷氨酸的另一种极化效应对于睾酮对 QSOX2 合成的调节作用是必不可少的。总之，我们提出非典型的睾酮信号支持附睾 QSOX2 蛋白合成，为精子在附睾中的成熟调节提供了新的视角。
