Testis-specific isozyme of angiotensin converting enzyme (tACE) as a fertility marker in bulls

睾丸特异性血管紧张素转化酶（tACE）同工酶作为公牛生育力标志物

• 批准号: 452216-2013
• 负责人: Thundathil, Jacob
• 金额: $ 3.39万
• 依托单位: University of Calgary
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Collaborative Research and Development Grants
• 财政年份: 2014
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2014-01-01 至 2015-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=554796
• 关键词: Testis; specific; isozyme; angiotensin; converting

Even a modest increase in the reproductive rate in cattle substantially enhances productivity. Therefore, research to improve reproductive efficiency is important for the dairy industry. Fertility varies 20-25% among frozen semen samples classified as satisfactory (based on traditional semen evaluation), implying there are submicroscopic differences in the structure and function of sperm from elite bulls maintained in commercial AI centers. Understanding the molecular basis of these variations in the fertilizing ability of sperm will have numerous applications in the dairy industry, as it will enable us to: 1) incorporate the genetic basis of variations in sperm function into bull selection models to select bulls with high fertility at their earliest possible age; 2) determine novel strategies for bull calf management (for example, nutrition) for modulating the expression of genes regulating fertility; and 3) identify molecular markers for fertility which will enable AI industries to develop laboratory tests for precisely documenting fertility of frozen semen and enable them to remain competitive in the global market. Our laboratory is focused on understanding the molecular basis of sperm function. The objective of this proposal is to investigate the potential of a testis-specific isozyme of Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (tACE; a sperm membrane protein) as a fertility marker in dairy bulls. We expect that this collaborative project with dairy industries will elucidate the role of tACE in bull fertility, train highly qualified individual for academia and industry, and facilitate development of novel laboratory assays for predicting fertility of frozen semen at their earliest possible age. Our long-term goal is to generate new knowledge regarding molecular regulation of sperm function and translate this knowledge to applications at the industry level for bull selection and evaluation of frozen semen.

即使牛的繁殖率略有提高，也会大大提高生产力。因此，提高繁殖效率的研究对乳制品行业至关重要。在被归类为令人满意的冷冻精液样本中，生育力变化20-25%（基于传统的精液评估），这意味着在商业AI中心保存的精英公牛的精子的结构和功能存在亚显微差异。了解这些精子可育性变异的分子基础将在乳制品工业中有许多应用，因为它将使我们能够：1）将精子功能变异的遗传基础纳入公牛选择模型，以在尽可能早的年龄选择具有高生育力的公牛; 2）确定新的公牛小牛管理策略（例如，营养）用于调节调节生育力的基因的表达;以及3）确定生育力的分子标记，这将使人工智能行业能够开发精确记录冷冻精液生育力的实验室测试，并使它们能够在全球市场上保持竞争力。我们的实验室致力于了解精子功能的分子基础。本提案的目的是研究血管紧张素转换酶（tACE;精子膜蛋白）睾丸特异性同工酶作为奶牛生育力标志物的潜力。我们希望这个与乳制品行业的合作项目将阐明tACE在公牛生育力中的作用，为学术界和工业界培养高素质的个人，并促进开发新的实验室检测方法，用于在尽可能早的年龄预测冷冻精液的生育力。我们的长期目标是产生关于精子功能的分子调控的新知识，并将这些知识转化为行业水平的应用，用于公牛选择和冷冻精液的评估。