Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
Nat Commun. 2023 Aug 22;14(1):5113. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-40862-1.
The cytoplasmic droplet is a conserved dilated area of cytoplasm situated at the neck of the sperm flagellum. Viewed as residual cytoplasm inherited from late spermatids, the cytoplasmic droplet contains numerous saccular elements as its key content. However, the origin of these saccules and the function of the cytoplasmic droplet have long been speculative. Here, we identify the molecular origin of these cytoplasmic droplet components by uncovering a vesicle pathway essential for formation and sequestration of saccules within the cytoplasmic droplet. This process is governed by a transmembrane protein SYPL1 and its interaction with VAMP3. Genetic ablation of SYPL1 in mice reveals that SYPL1 dictates the formation and accumulation of saccular elements in the forming cytoplasmic droplet. Derived from the Golgi, SYPL1 vesicles are critical for segregation of key metabolic enzymes within the forming cytoplasmic droplet of late spermatids and epididymal sperm, which are required for sperm development and male fertility. Our results uncover a mechanism to actively form and segregate saccules within the cytoplasmic droplet to promote sperm fertility.
细胞质滴是位于精子鞭毛颈部的一个保守的扩张细胞质区域。从晚期精母细胞继承的残留细胞质来看,细胞质滴含有许多囊泡样结构作为其主要内容。然而,这些囊泡的起源和细胞质滴的功能一直是推测性的。在这里,我们通过揭示一个囊泡途径来鉴定这些细胞质滴成分的分子起源,该途径对于囊泡在细胞质滴内的形成和隔离至关重要。这个过程受跨膜蛋白 SYPL1 及其与 VAMP3 的相互作用控制。在小鼠中 SYPL1 的基因缺失表明,SYPL1 决定了形成中的细胞质滴中囊泡样结构的形成和积累。源自高尔基体的 SYPL1 囊泡对于晚期精母细胞和附睾精子形成中的细胞质滴中关键代谢酶的隔离至关重要,这些酶对于精子的发育和雄性生育能力是必需的。我们的结果揭示了一种在细胞质滴内主动形成和隔离囊泡的机制,以促进精子的生育能力。