Relationship between protamine type and endonuclease activity in the protection of the bovine sperm DNA

• Grant number: 11/19551-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Mayra Elena Ortiz D' Avila Assumpcao
• Grantee: Mayra Elena Ortiz D' Avila Assumpcao
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project aim to establish a relationship between the sensitivity of bovine sperm in the process of sperm DNA fragmentation with the type of protamination and the amount or effectiveness in activate endonuclease. It is known that the integrity of sperm chromatin is essential for the transmission of paternal genetic information, and that changes in DNA can lead can lead to failure in reproductive processes. Protamine has the function to compact, stabilize and protect the genetic material in the nucleus of the sperm. This protection ensures that after penetration, the oocyte is able to begin embryonic development and to express correct genetic information. In humans, the knowledge on these nucleoproteins is vast, however in bovine species the gene expression, function and mechanism of these proteins is not yet fully elucidated. Nuclease activities are induced in sperm cells in response to their interaction with foreign DNA. Nuclease activation is DNA dose-dependent, as essentially intact molecules are observed in the nuclei of sperm cells challenged with low amounts of DNA, whereas higher DNA amounts induce a significant fragmentation reaction.Such work provides knowledge in basic physiology and biology of the cell, but in addition is applicable to improve strategies in sperm mediated gene transfer techniques. We can hypothize that the morphological, physiological and molecular structure of bovine spermatozoa is different from the ones recognized for other species, being the cause of the low results of SMGT protocols. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

DOS SANTOS HAMILTON, THAIS ROSE; PEREZ SIQUEIRA, ADRIANO FELIPE; DE CASTRO, LETICIA SIGNORI; MENDES, CAMILLA MOTA; DELGADO, JULIANA DE CARVALHO; DE ASSIS, PATRICIA MONKEN; MESQUITA, LEONARDO PEREIRA; MAIORKA, PAULO CESAR; NICHI, MARCILIO; GOISSIS, MARCELO DEMARCHI; et al. Effect of Heat Stress on Sperm DNA: Protamine Assessment in Ram Spermatozoa and Testicle. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY, 2018. (11/11231-8, 13/05025-1, 11/19551-1, 12/16157-3)

HAMILTON, T. R. S.; SIMOES, R.; MENDES, C. M.; GOISSIS, M. D.; NAKAJIMA, E.; MARTINS, E. A. L.; VISINTIN, J. A.; ASSUMPCAO, M. E. O. A.. Detection of protamine 2 in bovine spermatozoa and testicles. ANDROLOGY, v. 7, n. 3, p. 373-381, MAY 2019. (11/19551-1)

DOS SANTOS HAMILTON, THAIS ROSE; PEREZ SIQUEIRA, ADRIANO FELIPE; DE CASTRO, LETICIA SIGNORI; MENDES, CAMILLA MOTA; DELGADO, JULIANA DE CARVALHO; DE ASSIS, PATRICIA MONKEN; MESQUITA, LEONARDO PEREIRA; MAIORKA, PAULO CESAR; NICHI, MARCILIO; GOISSIS, MARCELO DEMARCHI; et al. Effect of Heat Stress on Sperm DNA: Protamine Assessment in Ram Spermatozoa and Testicle. OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY, v. 2018, p. 14-pg., 2018-01-01. (12/16157-3, 13/05025-1, 11/11231-8, 11/19551-1)