title: Retromer vesicles interact with RNA granules in haploid male germ cells.
abstract: Spermatozoa are produced during spermatogenesis as a result of mitotic proliferation, meiosis and cellular differentiation. Postmeiotic spermatids are exceptional cells given their haploid genome and remarkable sperm-specific structural transformations to compact and reshape the nucleus and to construct the flagellum and acrosome. These processes require delicate coordination and active communication between distinct cellular compartments. In this study, we elucidated the interplay between the haploid RNA regulation and the vesicular transport system. We identified a novel interaction between VPS26A/VPS35-containing retromer vesicles and the chromatoid body (CB), which is a large ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granule unique to haploid male germ cells. VPS26A/VPS35-positive vesicles were shown to be involved in the endosomal pathway, as well as in acrosomal formation that is dependent on the Golgi complex-derived vesicular trafficking. While the exact role of the retromer vesicles in the CB function remains unclear, our results suggest a direct functional link between vesicle transport and CB-mediated RNA regulation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Physiology, University of Turku, Turku FIN-20520, Finland.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Da Ros
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Physiology, University of Turku, Turku FIN-20520, Finland.
authors.forename: Noora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hirvonen
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Physiology, University of Turku, Turku FIN-20520, Finland.
authors.forename: Opeyemi
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Olotu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Physiology, University of Turku, Turku FIN-20520, Finland; Department of Pediatrics, University of Turku, Turku FIN-20520, Finland.
authors.forename: Jorma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Toppari
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biomedicine, Department of Physiology, University of Turku, Turku FIN-20520, Finland. Electronic address: noora.kotaja@utu.fi.
authors.forename: Noora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kotaja
mesh_terms: D000736:Androstenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D020126:Brefeldin A / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006238:Haploidy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism*; D012671:Seminiferous Tubules / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D013091:Spermatogenesis; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000736:Androstenes; D033921:Vesicular Transport Proteins; D020126:Brefeldin A; C006261:3-beta-(2-(diethylamino)ethoxy)androst-5-en-17-one; D012313:RNA
keywords: Acrosome; Chromatoid body; Germ cell; Retromer; Spermatid