ATP synthase is required for male fertility and germ cell maturation in Drosophila testes

Yu,Jun; Chen,Binghai; Zheng,Bo; Qiao,Chen; Chen,Xia; Yan,Yidan; Luan,Xiaojin; Xie,Bing; Liu,Jiajia; Shen,Cong; He,Zeyu; Hu,Xing; Liu,Mingxi; Li,Hong; Shao,Qixiang; Fang,Jie

doi:10.3892/mmr.2019.9834

ATP synthase is required for male fertility and germ cell maturation in Drosophila testes

Authors:
- Jun Yu
- Binghai Chen
- Bo Zheng
- Chen Qiao
- Xia Chen
- Yidan Yan
- Xiaojin Luan
- Bing Xie
- Jiajia Liu
- Cong Shen
- Zeyu He
- Xing Hu
- Mingxi Liu
- Hong Li
- Qixiang Shao
- Jie Fang
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Affiliations: Department of Gynecology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212001, P.R. China, Department of Urology, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 21200, P.R. China, Department of Histology and Embryology, State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211166, P.R. China, Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212001, P.R. China, Center for Reproduction and Genetics, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Nanjing Medical University Affiliated Suzhou Hospital, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215002, P.R. China, Department of Clinical Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, P.R. China, Reproductive Sciences Institute of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu 212001, P.R. China
Published online on: January 8, 2019 https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2019.9834
Pages: 1561-1570
Copyright: © Yu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Germ cell maturation is essential for spermatogenesis and testis homeostasis. ATP synthase serves significant roles in energy storage in germ cell survival and is catalyzed by alterations in the mitochondrial membrane proton concentration. The intrinsic cellular mechanisms governing stem cell maturation remain largely unknown. In the present study, in vivo RNA interference (RNAi) screening of major ATP synthase subunits was performed, and the function of ATP synthase for male fertility and spermatogenesis in Drosophila was explored. A Upstream Activation Sequence/Gal4 transcription factor system was used to knock down gene expression in specific cell types, and immunofluorescence staining was conducted to assess the roles of ATP synthase subunits in Drosophila testes. It was identified that knockdown of ATP synthase resulted in male infertility and abnormal spermatogenesis in Drosophila testes. In addition, knockdown of the ATP synthase β subunit in germ cells resulted in defects in male infertility and germ cell maturation, while the hub and cyst cell populations were maintained. Other major ATP synthase subunits were also examined and similar phenotypes in Drosophila testes were identified. Taken together, the data from the present study revealed that ATP synthase serves important roles for male fertility during spermatogenesis by regulating germ cell maturation in Drosophila testes.

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