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The C-terminal kinesin motor KIFC1 may participate in nuclear reshaping and flagellum formation during spermiogenesis of Larimichthys crocea

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Abstract

Spermatogenesis is a highly ordered process in the differentiation of male germ cells. Nuclear morphogenesis is one of the most fundamental cellular transformations to take place during spermatogenesis. These striking transformations from spermatogonia to spermatozoa are a result of phase-specific adaption of the cytoskeleton and its association with molecular motor proteins. KIFC1 is a C-terminal kinesin motor protein that plays an essential role in acrosome formation and nuclear reshaping during spermiogenesis in mammals. To explore its functions during the same process in Larimichthys crocea, we cloned and characterized the cDNA of a mammalian KIFC1 homolog (termed lc-KIFC1) from the total RNA of the testis. The 2481 bp complete lc-KIFC1 cDNA contained a 53 bp 5′ untranslated region, a 535 bp 3′ untranslated region, and a 1893 bp open reading frame that encoded a special protein of 630 amino acids. The predicted lc-KIFC1 protein possesses a divergent tail region, stalk region, and conserved carboxyl motor region. Protein alignment demonstrated that lc-KIFC1 had 73.2, 49.8, 49.3, 54.6, 56.5, 53.1, and 52.1% identity with its homologs in Danio rerio, Eriocheir sinensis, Octopus tankahkeei, Gallus gallus, Xenopus laevis, Mus musculus, and Homo sapiens, respectively. Tissue expression analysis revealed that lc-kifc1 mRNA was mainly expressed in the testis. The trend of lc-kifc1 mRNA expression at different growth stages of the testis showed that the expression increased first and then decreased, in the stage IV of testis, its expression quantity achieved the highest level. In situ hybridization and immunofluorescence results showed that KIFC1 was localized around the nucleus in early spermatids. As spermatid development progressed, the signals increased substantially. These signals peaked and were concentrated at one end of the nucleus when the spermatids began to undergo dramatic changes. In the mature sperm, the signal for KIFC1 gradually became weak and was mainly localized in the tail. In summary, evaluation of the expression pattern for lc-KIFC1 at specific stages of spermiogenesis has shed light on the potential functions of this motor protein in major cytological transformations. In addition, this study may provide a model for researching the molecular mechanisms involved in spermatogenesis in other teleost species, which will lead to a better understanding of the teleost fertilization process.

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Abbreviations

KIFC1:

C-terminal kinesin C1

KHCs:

Kinesin heave chains

KLCs:

Kinesin light chains

AFS:

Acroframosome

LCx:

Lamellar complex

CTK2:

C-terminal kinesin-2

qRT-PCR:

Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction

RACE:

Rapid amplification of cDNA ends

UTR:

Untranslated region

ORF:

Open reading frame

ISH:

In situ hybridization

IF:

Immunofluorescence

O.C.T:

Optimum cutting temperature

PBS:

Phosphate-buffered saline

DEPC:

Diethyl pyrocarbonate

SSC:

Standard sodium chloride

DIG:

Digoxigenin

PFA:

Paraformaldehyde

BSA:

Albumin from bovine serum

SD:

Standard deviation

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to all members of the Fish Reproduction Physiology Laboratory at Ningbo University for their helpful suggestion. This project was partially supported by the Scientific and Technical Project of Zhejiang Province (2016C02055-7), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31272642), Scientific and Technical Project of Ningbo (No. 2015C110005), Ningbo Natural Science Foundation (No.2016A610081), the Collaborative Innovation Center for Zhejiang Marine High-efficiency and Healthy Aquaculture, K.C. Wong Magna Fund in Ningbo University, and Scientific Research Foundation of Graduate School of Ningbo University.

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  1. Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biotechnology by the Ministry of Education, School of Marine Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315211, China

    Dan-Dan Zhang, Xin-Ming Gao, Yong-Qiang Zhao, Cong-Cong Hou & Jun-Quan Zhu

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  1. Dan-Dan Zhang
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  2. Xin-Ming Gao
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  3. Yong-Qiang Zhao
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Correspondence to Cong-Cong Hou or Jun-Quan Zhu.

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Zhang, DD., Gao, XM., Zhao, YQ. et al. The C-terminal kinesin motor KIFC1 may participate in nuclear reshaping and flagellum formation during spermiogenesis of Larimichthys crocea . Fish Physiol Biochem 43, 1351–1371 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10695-017-0377-9

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