Ras-related proteins (Rab) are key proteins related to male fertility following a unique activation mechanism

Jeong Won Bae, So Hye Kim, Dae Hyun Kim, Jae Jung Ha, Jun Koo Yi, Seongsoo Hwang, Buom Yong Ryu, Myung Geol Pang, Woo Sung Kwon

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

28 Scopus citations

Abstract

Ras-related protein Rab (Rab) proteins, member of Ras superfamily of monomeric G proteins, are well known key regulators of intracellular vesicular transport. Recently, it has been reported that Rab 2A and 3A are related to acrosomal exocytosis in spermatozoa and Rab 2A can be used to fertility-related biomarker in male. However, the role and mechanism of Rab proteins in spermatozoa has not been fully understood yet. Therefore, the study to analyze the expression and location of various Rab proteins in spermatozoa is required to understand the role and mechanism of Rab proteins in spermatozoa. In present study, to analyze the expression level and location of various Rab proteins (Rab 2A, Rab3A, Rab4, Rab5, Rab8A, Rab9, Rab11, Rab14, Rab25, Rab27A, and Rab34) and Rab protein regulators (RabGAP, RabGDI, RabGEF) in spermatozoa following capacitation, immunofluorescence and western blot analysis were performed. All of 11 Rab proteins were expressed in acrosomal region and tail of spermatozoa. Furthermore, all Rab proteins and Rab protein regulators, except RabGAP, have decreased expression patterns after capacitation. Taken together, Rab proteins were located in sperm head and tail. In addition, expression patterns of Rab proteins in spermatozoa were altered following capacitation. Therefore, our results suggested that Rab proteins may be key proteins related with capacitation as well as playing important role with uniquely activation pathway for male fertility.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)356-362
Number of pages7
JournalReproductive Biology
Volume19
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2019

Keywords

  • Acrosome reaction
  • Capacitation
  • Male fertility
  • Rab proteins
  • Spermatozoa

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