title: Glutathione peroxidases at work on epididymal spermatozoa: an example of the dual effect of reactive oxygen species on mammalian male fertilizing ability.
abstract: The mammalian glutathione peroxidase (GPx) gene family encodes bifunctional  enzymes that can work either as classical reactive oxygen species (ROS)  scavengers or as thiol peroxidases, thereby introducing disulfide bridges in  thiol-containing proteins. These dual effects are nowhere better demonstrated  than in epididymal maturing spermatozoa, where the concomitant actions of  several GPx ensure the achievement of the structural maturation of sperm cells  as well as their protection against ROS-induced damage. We review here the  roles played by the sperm-associated forms of GPx4 (mitochondrial GPx4 and  nuclear GPx4), the secreted GPx5 protein, and the epithelial proteins GPx1,  GPx3, and cellular GPx4, all functioning in the mammalian epididymis at  different stages of the sperm's epididymal journey, and in different  epididymis compartments.
authors: CNRS 6247-INSERM U931-Clermont Université, 24 avenue des Landais, Aubière cedex, France.
authors: Anaïs
authors: A
authors: Noblanc
authors: Ayhan
authors: A
authors: Kocer
authors: Eléonore
authors: E
authors: Chabory
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Vernet
authors: Fabrice
authors: F
authors: Saez
authors: Rémi
authors: R
authors: Cadet
authors: Marcus
authors: M
authors: Conrad
authors: Joël R
authors: JR
authors: Drevet
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004822:Epididymis / Q000201:enzymology*; D005306:Fertilization; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D051381:Rats; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D013079:Sperm Maturation; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase