Analysis of differentially abundant proteins related to boar fertility in seminal plasma using iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomics

Fanwen Zeng; Yuming Chen; Conghui Guo; Chengde Li; Hengxi Wei; Li Li; Li Meng; Shouquan Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.jprot.2021.104120

Analysis of differentially abundant proteins related to boar fertility in seminal plasma using iTRAQ-based quantitative proteomics

J Proteomics. 2021 Mar 30:236:104120. doi: 10.1016/j.jprot.2021.104120. Epub 2021 Feb 1.

Authors

Fanwen Zeng¹, Yuming Chen², Conghui Guo¹, Chengde Li¹, Hengxi Wei¹, Li Li¹, Li Meng¹, Shouquan Zhang³

Affiliations

¹ National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industryg, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science of South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
² National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industryg, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science of South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China; Guangdong Kaiping Guangsanbao Pig Industry Co., Ltd, Jiangmen 529300, China.
³ National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industryg, Guangdong Provincial Key Lab of Agro-animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science of South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China. Electronic address: sqzhang@scau.edu.cn.

PMID: 33540064
DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2021.104120

Abstract

Animal fertility is one of the most important characteristics for the livestock breeding industry. Conventional semen analysis provides basic information on sperm quality, but the predictive value of such analysis with regard to fertility remains questionable. Therefore, it is important to determine and predict male fertility more accurately in the clinic. To identify seminal plasma proteins involved in fertility, isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) and liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (quantitative proteomic analysis) were used to identify differentially abundant proteins (DAPs) in seminal plasma between high- and low-reproductive-efficiency Landrace boars. A total of 141 DAPs were identified, of which 125 upregulated and 16 downregulated proteins were subjected to bioinformatics analysis. These DAPs were found to be mainly involved in proteolysis, ATP binding, and energy metabolism. We investigated the relevance of three DAPs-ceruloplasmin, carboxypeptidase E (CPE), and serpin family A member 12 (SERPINA12)-in an in vitro fertility assay. This assay revealed that the inhibition of these proteins with antibodies can reduce or increase the fertilization rate. These results indicate possible biomarkers for the selection of high-fertility boars and provide a theoretical basis for the use of protein biomarkers in the livestock breeding industry. SIGNIFICANCE: Our study identified differentially abundant proteins in the seminal plasma of high-reproductive-efficiency and low-reproductive-efficiency Landrace boars. These proteins may be used as biomarkers to screen out high-fertility boars. The study can provide not only a new method for improving the effects of artificial insemination and reproductive efficiency of boars but also an important reference for boar breeding. Meanwhile, because pigs and humans have similar physiological parameters and organ sizes, our findings can also serve as a reference for human reproduction research.

Keywords: Boar; Differentially abundant protein; Fertility; Seminal plasma; iTRAQ.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Fertility
Male
Proteomics*
Semen Analysis / veterinary
Semen*
Seminal Plasma Proteins*
Spermatozoa
Swine

Substances

Seminal Plasma Proteins