Journal
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
Volume 40, Issue 4, Pages 3213-3230Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s11033-012-2397-y
Keywords
Ubiquitin; Ubiquitination; Spermatogenesis; Mitochondria; Acrosome; Midpiece
Categories
Funding
- National Natural Science Foundation of China [41276151, 31072198]
- National Basic Research Program of China (973 Program) [2012CB967902]
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Spermatogenesis is a complicated and highly ordered process which begins with the differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells and ends with the formation of mature sperm. After meiosis, several morphological changes occur during spermatogenesis. During spermatogenesis, many proteins and organelles are degraded, and the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) plays a key role in the process which facilitates the formation of condensed sperm. UPP contains various indispensable components: ubiquitin, ubiquitin-activating enzyme E1, ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2, ubiquitin ligase enzyme E3 and proteasomes. At some key stages of spermatogenesis, such as meiosis, acrosome biogenesis, and spermatozoa maturation, the ubiquitin-related components (including deubiquitination enzymes) exert positive and active functions. Generally speaking, deficient UPP will block spermatogenesis which may induce infertility at various degrees. Although ubiquitination during spermatogenesis has been widely investigated, further detailed aspects such as the mechanism of ubiquitination during the formation of midpiece and acrosome morphogenesis still remains unknown. The present review will overview current progress on ubiquitination during spermatogenesis, and will provide some suggestions for future studies on the functions of UPP components during spermatogenesis.
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