Caspase activity and a specific cytochrome c are required for sperm differentiation in Drosophila
Caspase activity and a specific cytochrome c are required for sperm differentiation in Drosophila
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DOI：
10.1016/s1534-5807(03)00120-5
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发表时间：
2003-05-01
影响因子：
11.8
通讯作者：
Steller, H
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Arama, E;Agapite, J;Steller, H
精子细胞终末分化的最后阶段包括在称为精子细胞个体化的过程中去除它们的大量细胞质。在这里，我们表明，凋亡蛋白在果蝇精子细胞的个体化过程中发挥了重要作用。精子终末分化的几个方面，包括半胱天冬酶的激活，都让人联想到细胞凋亡。值得注意的是，半胱天冬酶抑制剂阻止精子细胞中大量细胞质的去除，并阻止精子在体内成熟，导致雄性不育。我们进一步确定了果蝇cyt-c基因cyt-c-d中的一个基因的功能缺失突变，该基因阻断了caspase的激活和随后的精子细胞终末分化。最后，需要一种巨大的泛素结合酶dBruce来保护精子核免受过度浓缩和变性。这些观察结果表明果蝇精子细胞分化需要类似细胞凋亡的机制。
The final stage of spermatid terminal differentiation involves the removal of their bulk cytoplasm in a process known as spermatid individualization. Here we show that apoptotic proteins play an essential role during spermatid individualization in Drosophila melanogaster. Several aspects of sperm terminal differentiation, including the activation of caspases, are reminiscent of apoptosis. Notably, caspase inhibitors prevent the removal of bulk cytoplasm in spermatids and block sperm maturation in vivo, causing male sterility. We further identified loss-of-function mutations in one of the two Drosophila cyt-c genes, cyt-c-d, which block caspase activation and subsequent spermatid terminal differentiation. Finally, a giant ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme, dBruce, is required to protect the sperm nucleus against hypercondensation and degeneration. These observations suggest that an apoptosis-like mechanism is required for spermatid differentiation in Drosophila.