• PMID: 24268707
• Gene Name: TUBA8
• Condition: Asthenozoospermia
• Association: A statistically significant decrease in the expression of acetylated ?-tubulin in asthenozoosperm was seen with Western blot analysis, double immunostaining by direct immunofluorescence, and flow cytometric analysis. The transcript and protein of testis-s
• Population size: 100
• Population details: 100 (50 men with normal sperm parameters, 50 men with asthenozoospermia)
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Associated genes: UBA3C, TUBA4A, and TUBA8
• Other associated phenotypes: Asthenozoospermia

Acetylated ?-tubulin is reduced in individuals with poor sperm motility

Bhagwat S, Dalvi V, Chandrasekhar D, Matthew T, Acharya K, Gajbhiye R, Kulkarni V, Sonawane S, Ghosalkar M, Parte P.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the status of α-tubulin acetylation and of testis-specific acetylable α-tubulin isoforms in asthenozoospermia. DESIGN: Research study. SETTING: Research institute and an infertility clinic. PATIENT(S): 50 men with normal sperm parameters, and 50 men with asthenozoospermia. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Western blot analyses of α-tubulin, acetylated α-tubulin, and isoforms TUBA3C, TUBA4A, and TUBA8 in Percoll separated sperm and flow cytometry, real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction, and immunofluorescent localization. RESULT(S): A statistically significant decrease in the expression of acetylated α-tubulin in asthenozoosperm was seen with Western blot analysis, double immunostaining by direct immunofluorescence, and flow cytometric analysis. The transcript and protein of testis-specific acetylable α-tubulin isoform TUBA3C was decreased and TUBA4A was statistically significantly increased in asthenozoosperm as compared with normal spermatozoa. TUBA8 was reduced in asthenozoosperm. Similar observations were noted by indirect immunofluorescent localization. The potential transcription factors involved in the differential expression of TUBA4A and TUBA3C have been identified. CONCLUSION(S): Data suggest an association of α-tubulin acetylation with asthenozoospermia. Ours is the first report to demonstrate α-tubulin isoforms in sperm, implicating their role in motility. The differential expression of TUBA3C and TUBA4A suggests that tubulin acetylation may be governed by the isoform of α-tubulin that is expressed or silenced and that this in turn is transcriptionally controlled. CI - Copyright © 2014 American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. FAU - Bhagwat, Shweta AU - Bhagwat S AD - Department of Gamete Immunobiology, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (ICMR), Mumbai, India. FAU - Dalvi, Veena AU - Dalvi V AD - Department of Gamete Immunobiology, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (ICMR), Mumbai, India. FAU - Chandrasekhar, Darshan AU - Chandrasekhar D AD - Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB), Biotech Park, Bengaluru, India. FAU - Matthew, Tinsu AU - Matthew T AD - Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB), Biotech Park, Bengaluru, India. FAU - Acharya, Kshitish AU - Acharya K AD - Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB), Biotech Park, Bengaluru, India; Shodhaka Life Sciences, Pvt. Ltd., IBAB, Bengaluru, India. FAU - Gajbhiye, Rahul AU - Gajbhiye R AD - Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (ICMR), Mumbai, India. FAU - Kulkarni, Vijay AU - Kulkarni V AD - Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (ICMR), Mumbai, India. FAU - Sonawane, Shobha AU - Sonawane S AD - Confocal Microscopy Laboratory, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (ICMR), Mumbai, India. FAU - Ghosalkar, Manish AU - Ghosalkar M AD - Department of Gamete Immunobiology, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (ICMR), Mumbai, India.