Dataset Information

Immortalized mouse caput epididymal (mECap18) cell line recapitulates in vivo environment

ABSTRACT: Between the testes and the vas deferens lies the epididymis, a highly convoluted tubule whose unique environmental characteristics are crucial for the functional maturation of spermatozoa. Within the epididymal epithelium, the secretory system releases small non-coding RNA molecules (sncRNAs) and proteins housed within extracellular vesicles (epididymosomes) that are destined for delivery to recipient sperm cells which play key roles in fertility success and act as major conduits of epigenetic information delivered to the oocyte. The epithelial cells of the epididymis have proven to be highly sensitive to environmental stressors which can influence the sperm epigenome. Utilizing a label-free mass spectrometry proteomic approach we sought to characterize an immortalized mouse caput epididymal epithelial cell line (mECap18) and sequenced >5,100 proteins. When compared to a previous in-vivo mouse caput epithelial proteomic profile, a significant overlap (>75%) and proportionally similar patterns of protein classification were observed. Furthermore, key pathways associated with protein synthesis (e.g. EIF2 signaling) and cellular protection in the male reproductive tract (e.g. sirtuin signaling) were enriched in both proteomes. Leveraging this comparison supports mECap18 cells as a promising in-vitro model for recapitulating the in-vivo environment, providing a platform for testing therapeutic invention.

INSTRUMENT(S):

ORGANISM(S): Mus Musculus (mouse)

TISSUE(S): Caput Epididymis

SUBMITTER: David Skerrett-Byrne