Background/aims: Androgen and its receptor (AR) play an important role in maintaining spermatogenesis and male fertility. Our previous studies showed that testosterone at a physiological concentration induces cytoplasmic AR translocation to the Sertoli cell plasma membrane of within 5 minutes.
Methods: In this study, mass spectrometry (MS) and bioinformatic analyses were applied to identify candidate proteins mediating AR trafficking. The candidate proteins were knocked down by shRNA transfection.
Results: Nine candidate proteins were identified by MS. The data was verified by co-immunoprecipitation and Western blot. Of the candidates, CSN6 regulated AR transport through the phosphorylation signaling pathway and Rab34 affected AR trafficking by regulating Ras activity.
Conclusions: CSN6 and Rab34 are involved in AR trafficking by regulating the phosphorylation signaling pathway. These findings provide new insights into the testosterone signaling pathway in Sertoli cells that mediates spermatogenesis.
Keywords: Androgen receptor; CSN6; Phosphorylation signaling pathway; Rab34; Sertoli cells.
© 2018 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.