title: Formin 1 Regulates Microtubule and F-Actin Organization to Support Spermatid Transport During Spermatogenesis in the Rat Testis.
abstract: Formin 1 confers actin nucleation by generating long stretches of actin microfilaments to support cell movement, cell shape, and intracellular protein trafficking. Formin 1 is likely involved in microtubule (MT) dynamics due to the presence of a MT binding domain near its N terminus. Here, formin 1 was shown to structurally interact with α-tubulin, the building block of MT, and also end-binding protein 1 (a MT plus [+]-end-binding protein that stabilizes MT) in the testis. Knockdown of formin 1 in Sertoli cells with an established tight junction barrier was found to induce down-regulation of detyrosinated MT (a stabilized form of MT), and disorganization of MTs, in which MTs were retracted from the cell cortical zone, mediated through a loss of MT polymerization and down-regulation of Akt1/2 signaling kinase. An efficient knockdown of formin 1 in the testis reduced the number of track-like structures conferred by MTs and F-actin considerably, causing defects in spermatid and phagosome transport across the seminiferous epithelium. In summary, formin1 maintains MT and F-actin track-like structures to support spermatid and phagosome transport across the seminiferous epithelium during spermatogenesis.
authors.affiliation: The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research (N.L., D.D.M., E.I.T., C.Y.C.), Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065-6307; College of Life Sciences and Oceanography (N.L.), Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; School of Biological Sciences (W.M.L.), University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; and Department of Biology (C.K.C.W.), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research (N.L., D.D.M., E.I.T., C.Y.C.), Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065-6307; College of Life Sciences and Oceanography (N.L.), Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; School of Biological Sciences (W.M.L.), University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; and Department of Biology (C.K.C.W.), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Dolores D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Mruk
authors.affiliation: The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research (N.L., D.D.M., E.I.T., C.Y.C.), Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065-6307; College of Life Sciences and Oceanography (N.L.), Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; School of Biological Sciences (W.M.L.), University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; and Department of Biology (C.K.C.W.), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Elizabeth I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research (N.L., D.D.M., E.I.T., C.Y.C.), Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065-6307; College of Life Sciences and Oceanography (N.L.), Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; School of Biological Sciences (W.M.L.), University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; and Department of Biology (C.K.C.W.), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Will M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research (N.L., D.D.M., E.I.T., C.Y.C.), Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065-6307; College of Life Sciences and Oceanography (N.L.), Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; School of Biological Sciences (W.M.L.), University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; and Department of Biology (C.K.C.W.), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Chris K C
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research (N.L., D.D.M., E.I.T., C.Y.C.), Center for Biomedical Research, Population Council, New York, New York 10065-6307; College of Life Sciences and Oceanography (N.L.), Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; School of Biological Sciences (W.M.L.), University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; and Department of Biology (C.K.C.W.), Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: C Yan
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005326:Fetal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000080865:Formins; D008297:Male; D008840:Microfilament Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008870:Microtubules / Q000378:metabolism*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012708:Sertoli Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013087:Spermatids / Q000378:metabolism*; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014404:Tubulin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D005326:Fetal Proteins; D000080865:Formins; D008840:Microfilament Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014404:Tubulin