Abstract
In order to study the function of kinesin-14 motor protein KIFC1 during spermatogenesis of Procambarus clarkii, the full length of kifc1 was cloned from testes cDNA using Rapid-Amplification of cDNA Ends (RACE). The deduced KIFC1 protein sequence showed the highest similarity between Procambarus clarkii and Eriocheir senensis (similarity rate as 64%). According to the results of in situ hybridization (ISH), the kifc1 mRNA was gathered in the acrosome location above nucleus in the mid- and late-stage spermatids. Immunofluorescence results were partly consistent with the ISH in middle spermatids, while in the late spermatids the KIFC1 was distributed around the nucleus which had large deformation and formed four to six nuclear arms. In the mature sperm, KIFC1 and microtubules were distributed around the sperm, playing a role in maintaining the sperm morphology and normal function. Overexpression of P. clarkii kifc1 in GC1 cells for 24 hours resulted in disorganization of microtubules which changed the cell morphology from circular and spherical into fusiform. In addition, the overexpression also resulted in triple centrosomes during mitosis which eventually led to cell apoptosis. RNAi experiments showed that decreased KIFC1 protein levels resulted in total inhibition of spermatogenesis, with only mature sperm found in the RNAi-testis, implying an indispensable role of KIFC1 during P. clarkii spermiogenesis.
Highlights
Kinesin is a superfamily of motor proteins that goes along the microtubule rails transporting cargoes
In this paper we studied the function of cytoskeletal microtubules and motor protein KIFC1 in the spermiogenesis of P. clarkii
The kinesin 14 protein KIFC1, which is homologous to human HSET [19], Xenopus XCTK2 [20], Drosophila Ncd [21] and yeast Kar3 [22], is reported to be an ancient protein and played a role in various species
Summary
Kinesin is a superfamily of motor proteins that goes along the microtubule rails transporting cargoes. There are various reports illuminating the different roles of KIFC1 plays in different species during spermiogenesis It takes part in the transformation of the acrosome. It is one of the components of the temporary structure acroframosome (AFS) that works as the scaffold for acrosome building in the Crustacea, Natantia such as Expolaemon modestus and Macrobrachium nipponense [3, 4]. It takes part in the formation and maintenance of the Eriocheir sinensis acrosome structure [5]. It is conjectured to participate in the formation of sperm head and tail in Eumeces chinensis [8]
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