STYXL1 Regulates CCT Complex Assembly and Flagellar Tubulin Folding in Sperm Formation

Overview

Journal Nat Commun

Specialty Biology

Date 2024 Jan 3

PMID 38168070

Authors

Yu Chen

Mengjiao Luo

Haixia Tu

Yaling Qi

Yueshuai Guo

Xiangzheng Zhang

Yiqiang Cui

Mengmeng Gao

Xin Zhou

Tianyu Zhu

Hui Zhu

Chenghao Situ

Yan Li

Xuejiang Guo

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Tubulin-based microtubule is a core component of flagella axoneme and essential for sperm motility and male fertility. Structural components of the axoneme have been well explored. However, how tubulin folding is regulated in sperm flagella formation is still largely unknown. Here, we report a germ cell-specific co-factor of CCT complex, STYXL1. Deletion of Styxl1 results in male infertility and microtubule defects of sperm flagella. Proteomic analysis of Styxl1 sperm reveals abnormal downregulation of flagella-related proteins including tubulins. The N-terminal rhodanese-like domain of STYXL1 is important for its interactions with CCT complex subunits, CCT1, CCT6 and CCT7. Styxl1 deletion leads to defects in CCT complex assembly and tubulin polymerization. Collectively, our findings reveal the vital roles of germ cell-specific STYXL1 in CCT-facilitated tubulin folding and sperm flagella development.

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