title: Proteome analysis of round-headed and normal spermatozoa by 2-D fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis and mass spectrometry.
abstract: Globozoospermia is a severe form of teratozoospermia characterized by round-headed spermatozoa with an absent acrosome, an aberrant nuclear membrane and midpiece defects. Globozoospermia is diagnosed by the presence of 100% round-headed spermatozoa on semen analysis, and patients with this condition are absolutely infertile. The objective of this study was to investigate the differences in protein expression between human round-headed and normal spermatozoa. Two-dimensional (2-D) fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (DIGE) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) was used in this study. Over 61 protein spots were analysed in each paired normal/round-headed comparison, using DIGE technology along with an internal standard. In total, 35 protein spots identified by tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) exhibited significant changes (paired t-test, P < 0.05) in the expression level between normal and round-headed spermatozoa. A total of nine proteins were found to be upregulated and 26 proteins were found to be downregulated in round-headed spermatozoa compared with normal spermatozoa. The differentially expressed proteins that we identified may have important roles in a variety of cellular processes and structures, including spermatogenesis, cell skeleton, metabolism and spermatozoa motility.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Reproduction and Stem Cell Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.
authors.forename: Ting-Ting
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.forename: Wen-Bing
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Li-Qing
authors.initials: LQ
authors.lastname: Fan
mesh_terms: D015536:Down-Regulation; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D020543:Proteome; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D013077:Sperm Head / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000378:metabolism; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D020543:Proteome