title: ERK is involved in the process of acrosome reaction in vitro of the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis.
abstract: Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), also termed extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs), are cytoplasmic and nuclear serine/threonine kinases involved in signal transduction of several extracellular effectors. In mammals, ERKs participate in the regulation of spermatogenesis, mature spermatozoa motility, hyperactivation, and the acrosome reaction. To investigate ERK functions in Eriocheir sinensis reproduction, we successfully cloned the full-length ERK from the testis of E. sinensis (ES-ERK). The 1098-nucleotide open reading frame encodes a 365-amino-acid protein with a predicted molecular weight of 42 kDa. Expressions of ES-ERK in different tissues and testis development stages were detected by the quantitative RT-PCR and Western blotting. ES-ERK is expressed relatively highly in the testis. The expression of ES-ERK protein gradually increased in the spermatid stage, reaching a peak in sperm stage. Western blotting showed a similar expression pattern for the total ES-ERK protein, but phospho-ERK (p-ERK) showed the higher expression in spermatid than sperm stage. We also used trypan blue and hematoxylin and eosin staining to identify structural changes in E. sinensis spermatozoa during the process of acrosome reaction (AR). After stimulating the process of AR, the ES-ERK has translocated from the nucleus to the acrosomal tubule. This result suggested that the ERK MAPK might be involved in the regulation of the E. sinensis acrosome reaction.
authors: School of Life Science, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China.
authors: Wen-Juan
authors: WJ
authors: Sun
authors: Ming
authors: M
authors: Zhu
authors: Yuan-Li
authors: YL
authors: Wang
authors: Qing
authors: Q
authors: Li
authors: Hong-Dan
authors: HD
authors: Yang
authors: Ze-Lin
authors: ZL
authors: Duan
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: He
authors: Qun
authors: Q
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D060829:Arthropod Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D003386:Brachyura / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D061207:Calcium Ionophores / Q000494:pharmacology; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D008297:Male; D008970:Molecular Weight; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D013737:Testis / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D060829:Arthropod Proteins; D061207:Calcium Ionophores; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D000001:Calcimycin; D048049:Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases