title: Investigation of the stallion sperm proteome by mass spectrometry.
abstract: Stallion spermatozoa continue to present scientific and clinical challenges with regard to the biological mechanisms responsible for their survival and function. In particular, deeper understanding of sperm energy metabolism, defence against oxidative damage and cell-cell interactions should improve fertility assessment and the application of advanced reproductive technologies in the equine species. In this study, we used highly sensitive LC-MS/MS technology and sequence database analysis to identify and characterise the proteome of Percoll-isolated ejaculated equine spermatozoa, with the aim of furthering our understanding of this cell's complex biological machinery. We were able to identify 9883 peptides comprising 1030 proteins, which were subsequently attributed to 975 gene products. Gene ontology analysis for molecular and cellular processes revealed new information about the metabolism, antioxidant defences and receptors of stallion spermatozoa. Mitochondrial proteins and those involved in catabolic processes constituted dominant categories. Several enzymes specific to β-oxidation of fatty acids were identified, and further experiments were carried out to ascertain their functional significance. Inhibition of carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1, a rate-limiting enzyme of β-oxidation, reduced motility parameters, indicating that β-oxidation contributes to maintenance of motility in stallion spermatozoa.
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Reproductive ScienceSchool of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, AustraliaAnalytical and Biomedical Research FacilityResearch Division, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia aleona.swegen@uon.edu.au.
authors.forename: Aleona
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Swegen
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Reproductive ScienceSchool of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, AustraliaAnalytical and Biomedical Research FacilityResearch Division, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Curry
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Reproductive ScienceSchool of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, AustraliaAnalytical and Biomedical Research FacilityResearch Division, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Zamira
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gibb
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Reproductive ScienceSchool of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, AustraliaAnalytical and Biomedical Research FacilityResearch Division, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lambourne
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Reproductive ScienceSchool of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, AustraliaAnalytical and Biomedical Research FacilityResearch Division, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Nathan D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Reproductive ScienceSchool of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales 2308, AustraliaAnalytical and Biomedical Research FacilityResearch Division, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: R John
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Aitken
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D006736:Horses / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D020543:Proteome / Q000032:analysis*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D020543:Proteome