Loss of Profilin3 Impairs Spermiogenesis by Affecting Acrosome Biogenesis, Autophagy, Manchette Development and Mitochondrial Organization.

ABSTRACT: Profilins (PFNs) are key regulatory proteins for the actin polymerization in cells and are encoded in mouse and humans by four Pfn genes. PFNs are involved in cell mobility, cell growth, neurogenesis, and metastasis of tumor cells. The testes-specific PFN3 is localized in the acroplaxome-manchette complex of developing spermatozoa. We demonstrate that PFN3 further localizes in the Golgi complex and proacrosomal vesicles during spermiogenesis, suggesting a role in vesicle transport for acrosome formation. Using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, we generated mice deficient for Pfn3. Pfn3^-/- males are subfertile, displaying a type II globozoospermia. We revealed that Pfn3^-/- sperm display abnormal manchette development leading to an amorphous sperm

SUBMITTER: Umer N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8632698 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature