title: TSKS concentrates in spermatid centrioles during flagellogenesis.
abstract: Centrosomal coiled-coil proteins paired with kinases play critical roles in centrosomal functions within somatic cells, however knowledge regarding gamete centriolar proteins is limited. In this study, the substrate of TSSK1 and 2, TSKS, was localized during spermiogenesis to the centrioles of post-meiotic spermatids, where it reached its greatest concentration during the period of flagellogenesis. This centriolar localization persisted in ejaculated human spermatozoa, while centriolar TSKS diminished in mouse sperm, where centrioles are known to undergo complete degeneration. In addition to the centriolar localization during flagellogenesis, mouse TSKS and the TSSK2 kinase localized in the tail and acrosomal regions of mouse epididymal sperm, while TSSK2 was found in the equatorial segment, neck and the midpiece of human spermatozoa. TSSK2/TSKS is the first kinase/substrate pair localized to the centrioles of spermatids and spermatozoa. Coupled with the infertility due to haploinsufficiency noted in chimeric mice with deletion of Tssk1 and 2 (companion paper) this centriolar kinase/substrate pair is predicted to play an indispensable role during spermiogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Center for Research in Contraceptive and Reproductive Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
authors.forename: Bingfang
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zhonglin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.forename: Kula N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Jha
authors.forename: Zhibing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Urekar
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Digilio
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pulido
authors.forename: Jerome F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: Charles J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Flickinger
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Herr
mesh_terms: D020101:Acrosome Reaction; D000818:Animals; D002502:Centrioles / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D005407:Flagella / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D013087:Spermatids / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C530613:TSKS protein, mouse; C475219:Tsk1 protein, mouse; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; C529882:Tssk2 protein, mouse