Kinesin-14 KIFC1 promotes acrosome formation and chromatin maturation during mouse spermiogenesis

Ya-Lan Wei; Xiao-Jing Fan; Xin-Chen Lin; Ai-Zhu Lin; Zhen-Yu She; Xin-Rui Wang

doi:10.1016/j.bbamcr.2023.119555

Kinesin-14 KIFC1 promotes acrosome formation and chromatin maturation during mouse spermiogenesis

Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res. 2023 Oct;1870(7):119555. doi: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2023.119555. Epub 2023 Jul 30.

Authors

Ya-Lan Wei¹, Xiao-Jing Fan¹, Xin-Chen Lin¹, Ai-Zhu Lin¹, Zhen-Yu She², Xin-Rui Wang³

Affiliations

¹ NHC Key Laboratory of Technical Evaluation of Fertility Regulation for Non-human Primate (Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital), Fuzhou, Fujian 350013, China; College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China; Medical Research Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, China.
² Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, The School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China. Electronic address: zhenyushe@fjmu.edu.cn.
³ NHC Key Laboratory of Technical Evaluation of Fertility Regulation for Non-human Primate (Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital), Fuzhou, Fujian 350013, China; College of Clinical Medicine for Obstetrics & Gynecology and Pediatrics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China; Medical Research Center, Fujian Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Fuzhou, Fujian 350001, China. Electronic address: wanxiru@sjtu.edu.cn.

PMID: 37524262
DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2023.119555

Abstract

KIFC1, a member of kinesin-14 subfamily motors, is essential for meiotic cell division and acrosome formation during spermatogenesis. However, the functions of KIFC1 in the formation and maintenance of the acrosome in male germ cells remain to be elucidated. In this study, we report the structural deformities of acrosomes in the in vivo KIFC1 inhibition mouse models. The proacrosomal vesicles diffuse into the cytoplasm and form atypical acrosomal granules. This phenotype is consistent with globozoospermia patients and probably results from the failure of the Golgi-derived vesicle trafficking and actin filament organization. Moreover, the multinucleated and undifferentiated spermatogenic cells in the epidydimal lumen after KIFC1 inhibition reveal the specific roles of KIFC1 in regulating post-meiotic maturation. Overall, our results uncover KIFC1 as an essential regulator in the trafficking, fusion and maturation of acrosomal vesicles during spermiogenesis.

Keywords: Acrosome; Globozoospermia; KIFC1; Spermiogenesis; The Golgi complex.