• PMID: 24853953
• Gene Name: ATG7
• Condition: Required for acrosome biogenesis during spermatogenesis
• Association: Associated
• Sex: Male
• Infertility type: Male infertility
• Other associated phenotypes: Required for acrosome biogenesis during spermatogenesis

Atg7 is required for acrosome biogenesis during spermatogenesis in mice

Wang H, Wan H, Li X, Liu W, Chen Q, Wang Y, Yang L, Tang H, Zhang X, Duan E, Zhao X, Gao F, Li W.

The acrosome is a specialized organelle that covers the anterior part of the sperm nucleus and plays an essential role in the process of fertilization. The molecular mechanism underlying the biogenesis of this lysosome-related organelle (LRO) is still largely unknown. Here, we show that germ cell-specific Atg7-knockout mice were infertile due to a defect in acrosome biogenesis and displayed a phenotype similar to human globozoospermia; this reproductive defect was successfully rescued by intracytoplasmic sperm injections. Furthermore, the depletion of Atg7 in germ cells did not affect the early stages of development of germ cells, but at later stages of spermatogenesis, the proacrosomal vesicles failed to fuse into a single acrosomal vesicle during the Golgi phase, which finally resulted in irregular or nearly round-headed spermatozoa. Autophagic flux was disrupted in Atg7-depleted germ cells, finally leading to the failure of LC3 conjugation to Golgi apparatus-derived vesicles. In addition, Atg7 partially regulated another globozoospermia-related protein, Golgi-associated PDZ- and coiled-coil motif-containing protein (GOPC), during acrosome biogenesis. Finally, the injection of either autophagy or lysosome inhibitors into testis resulted in a similar phenotype to that of germ cell-specific Atg7-knockout mice. Altogether, our results uncover a new role for Atg7 in the biogenesis of the acrosome, and we provide evidence to support the autolysosome origination hypothesis for the acrosome. FAU - Wang, Hongna AU - Wang H AD - 1] State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China [2] University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China. FAU - Wan, Haifeng AU - Wan H AD - State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China. FAU - Li, Xixia AU - Li X AD - 1] State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China [2] University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China. FAU - Liu, Weixiao AU - Liu W AD - State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China. FAU - Chen, Qi AU - Chen Q AD - State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China. FAU - Wang, Yaqing AU - Wang Y AD - State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China. FAU - Yang, Lin AU - Yang L AD - State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China. FAU - Tang, Hongmei AU - Tang H AD - College of Life Sciences, Hebei United University, Tangshan, Hebei 063000, China. FAU - Zhang, Xiujun AU - Zhang X AD - College of Life Sciences, Hebei United University, Tangshan, Hebei 063000, China. FAU - Duan, Enkui AU - Duan E AD - State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China. FAU - Zhao, Xiaoyang AU - Zhao X AD - State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China. FAU - Gao, Fei AU - Gao F AD - State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.