ClpP/ClpX deficiency impairs mitochondrial functions and mTORC1 signaling during spermatogenesis.

ABSTRACT: Caseinolytic protease proteolytic subunit (ClpP) and caseinolytic protease X (ClpX) are mitochondrial matrix peptidases that activate mitochondrial unfolded protein response to maintain protein homeostasis in the mitochondria. However, the role of ClpP and ClpX in spermatogenesis remains largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrated the importance of ClpP/ClpX for meiosis and spermatogenesis with two conditional knockout (cKO) mouse models. We found that ClpP/ClpX deficiency reduced mitochondrial functions and quantity in spermatocytes, affected energy supply during meiosis and attenuated zygotene-pachytene transformation of the male germ cells. The dysregulated spermatocytes finally underwent apoptosis resulting in decreased testicular size and vacuolar structures within the seminiferou

SUBMITTER: Guo C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10556007 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature