Application of Proteomics to Identify Fertility Markers in Angus Bull Sperm

The goal of the study was to ascertain sperm proteins as fertility markers by identifying sperm proteins in Angus bull sperm using proteomics and validate the markers through comparative sperm biology between Angus and Holstein bulls for which there is reliable fertility data available. We aimed to determine proteins differentially expressed in sperm from Angus bulls with different fertility phenotypes. Two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis with mass-spectrometry, functional gene clusters, canonical pathways and protein networks, using integrated discovery bioinformatics software and ingenuity pathway analysis were used to identify and analyze sperm proteome. We identified 80 proteins that were differentially expressed in sperm of our experimental population. Using computational biology approaches we demonstrated involvement of structural proteins such as outer dense fiber of sperm tails 2 and enzymes including kinases, and phosphatases having functions in essential pathways in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and free scavenging. The results are significant because analyzed proteins in Angus sperm are determinants of fertility, gene-environment interactions, as well as potential biomarkers for animal breeding

Sperm Chromatin Dynamics Associated with Male Fertility in Mammals

Instead of two protamines (PRM1 and PRM2) as in human and mouse sperms, presence of only PRM1 in bull sperm raises an interesting question about the mechanism(s) regulating sperm chromatin structure. During spermatogenesis, spermatozoa that are present in syncytium share mRNA and proteins through cytoplasmic bridges and are phenotypically diploid. Chromatin remodeling occurs during spermatogenesis where linker histones are gradually replaced by testis-specific variants, followed by the replacement of histones with transition proteins and then with protamines. Increased percentage of histone retention is expected to cause infertility in males. Although protamines are involved in sperm chromatin condensation and function, there is restrictive positive selection on only a few functional sites. Improper packaging of sperm DNA caused partly by reduced protamination predisposes sperm DNA to damage, which then interferes with fertilization and early embryonic development. Abnormal chromatin condensation in sperm during spermatogenesis and abnormal chromatin decondensation during pronucleus formation (postfertilization) can result in reproductive problems

Application of proteomics to identify fertility markers in angus bull sperm

The goal of the study was to ascertain sperm proteins as fertility markers in Angus bull sperm using proteomics and validating the markers through comparative sperm biology between Angus and Holstein bulls for which there are reliable fertility data available. We aimed to determine proteins differentially expressed in sperm from Angus bulls with different fertility phenotypes. Two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis with mass-spectrometry, functional gene clusters, canonical pathways and protein networks, using integrated discovery bioinformatics software and ingenuity pathway analysis were used to identify and analyze sperm proteome. We identified 80 proteins that were differentially expressed in sperm of our experimental population. Using computational biology approaches we demonstrated involvement of structural proteins such as outer dense fiber of sperm tails 2 and enzymes including kinases, and phosphatases having functions in essential pathways in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and free scavenging. The results are significant because analyzed proteins in Angus sperm are determinants of fertility, gene-environment interactions, as well as potential biomarkers for animal breeding

Application of proteomics to identify fertility markers in angus bull sperm

The goal of the study was to ascertain sperm proteins as fertility markers in Angus bull sperm using proteomics and validating the markers through comparative sperm biology between Angus and Holstein bulls for which there are reliable fertility data available. We aimed to determine proteins differentially expressed in sperm from Angus bulls with different fertility phenotypes. Two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis with mass-spectrometry, functional gene clusters, canonical pathways and protein networks, using integrated discovery bioinformatics software and ingenuity pathway analysis were used to identify and analyze sperm proteome. We identified 80 proteins that were differentially expressed in sperm of our experimental population. Using computational biology approaches we demonstrated involvement of structural proteins such as outer dense fiber of sperm tails 2 and enzymes including kinases, and phosphatases having functions in essential pathways in glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and free scavenging. The results are significant because analyzed proteins in Angus sperm are determinants of fertility, gene-environment interactions, as well as potential biomarkers for animal breeding

REVIEW: Sperm: Comparative morphology and function related to altered reproductive strategies and fertility in mammals

Reproduction and development are fascinating processes that exhibit significant differences among mammals. Successful propagation of species depends on male fertility and the ability of the sperm to fertilize and activate the egg and support early development. Remarkably, the specifics of how sperm structure and function have evolved and their crucial roles in fertility remain largely unknown. This synthesis provides a concise review of comparative anatomy and physiology of mammalian sperm structure and how inevitable changes regulate fertility

Role of Autophagy in HIV-1 and Drug Abuse-Mediated Neuroinflammaging

Chronic low-grade inflammation remains an essential feature of HIV-1 infection under combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) and contributes to the accelerated cognitive defects and aging in HIV-1 infected populations, indicating cART limitations in suppressing viremia. Interestingly, ~50% of the HIV-1 infected population on cART that develops cognitive defects is complicated by drug abuse, involving the activation of cells in the central nervous system (CNS) and neurotoxin release, altogether leading to neuroinflammation. Neuroinflammation is the hallmark feature of many neurodegenerative disorders, including HIV-1-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND). Impaired autophagy has been identified as one of the underlying mechanisms of HAND in treated HIV-1-infected people that also abuse drugs. Several lines of evidence suggest that autophagy regulates CNS cells’ responses and maintains cellular hemostasis. The impairment of autophagy is associated with low-grade chronic inflammation and immune senescence, a known characteristic of pathological aging. Therefore, autophagy impairment due to CNS cells, such as neurons, microglia, astrocytes, and pericytes exposure to HIV-1/HIV-1 proteins, cART, and drug abuse could have combined toxicity, resulting in increased neuroinflammation, which ultimately leads to accelerated aging, referred to as neuroinflammaging. In this review, we focus on the potential role of autophagy in the mechanism of neuroinflammaging in the context of HIV-1 and drug abuse

REVIEW: Potential of water buffalo in world agriculture: Challenges and opportunities

Purpose: The purpose of this review was to provide a summary of the current agriculture determinants of economically important traits, and solutions for challenges in water buffalo production to maximize benefits for both producers and consumers. Sources: A comprehensive literature search was conducted on the current state of knowledge of water buffalo published in high-quality peer-reviewed journals. The search revealed important progress in generation of knowledge about uses, economically important traits, challenges, and science-based solutions of water buffalo. Molecular determinants of key economically important traits such as longevity, disease resistance, milk production and quality, meat production and quality, growth and development, heat stress, and fertility are deciphered. Synthesis: Water buffalo are important sources of food and fiber for the ever-increasing global human population. Drought-adapted water buffalo provide meat, and highly nutritious milk used to make cream, butter, yogurt, and cheese. Despite valuable contributions to agriculture and human well-being, there are current and emerging challenges and opportunities. High resolution sequencing of breeds and comprehensive annotation of the genomes are not yet available. In addition, there is a lack of fundamental knowledge about economically important traits including longevity, disease resistance, milk production and quality, meat production and quality, growth and development, heat tolerance, and fertility. With the advances in both basic science and technology, the gaps in the knowledge in these areas can be tackled with innovative research and systems biology approaches. In addition, the power of comparative animal and functional genomics can be harnessed to fill in the gaps. The core elements of sustainable solutions include education, innovative, transformative and translational research, and technology transfer. Conclusions and Applications: Knowledge about the fundamental biology of water buffalo gives the power to improve sustainable, efficient, and profitable production. Although a considerable amount of information is available, providing new knowledge about the economically important traits will enable precision farming in water buffalo agriculture. New data and knowledge generated through the genome to phenome will uncover essential molecular, cellular, and physiological markers for marker-assisted selection and breeding to enhance the efficiency of reproduction and production as well as product quality. Future studies using systems physiology approaches will advance the science and technology for water buffalo. These new frontiers are important for empowering the next generation of animal scientists and the public as well as for food security on the global scale

Changes in Plasma Metabolic Signature upon Acute and Chronic Morphine Administration in Morphine-Tolerant Mice

Morphine administration causes system-level metabolic changes. Here, we show that morphine-tolerant mice exhibited distinct plasma metabolic signatures upon acute and chronic administration. We utilized a mouse model of morphine tolerance by exposing mice to increasing doses of the drug over 4 days. We collected plasma samples from mice undergoing acute or chronic morphine or saline injections and analyzed them using targeted GC–MS-based metabolomics to profile approximately 80 metabolites involved in the central carbon, amino acid, nucleotide, and lipid metabolism. Our findings reveal distinct alterations in plasma metabolite concentrations in response to acute or chronic morphine intake, and these changes were linked to the development of tolerance to morphine’s analgesic effects. We identified several metabolites that had been differentially affected by acute versus chronic morphine use, suggesting that metabolic changes may be mitigated by prolonged exposure to the drug. Morphine-tolerant mice showed a restoration of amino acid and glycolytic metabolites. Additionally, we conducted reconstructed metabolic network analysis on the first 30 VIP-ranked metabolites from the PLSDA of the saline, acute, and morphine-tolerant mice groups, which uncovered four interaction networks involving the amino acid metabolism, the TCA cycle, the glutamine-phenylalanine-tyrosine pathway, and glycolysis. These pathways were responsible for the metabolic differences observed following distinct morphine administration regimens. Overall, this study provides a valuable resource for future investigations into the role of metabolites in morphine-induced analgesia and associated effects following acute or chronic use in mice