Expression and Regulation of Gelsolin in the Mouse Epididymis: A Study of its Role in the Sperm Maturation

Dwi Ari Pujianto; Syaifiyatul H; Silvani Permatasari; Luluk Yunaini

doi:10.22435/jbmi.v10i1.5027

Dwi Ari Pujianto Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
Syaifiyatul H 2Graduate of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
Silvani Permatasari Graduate of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
Luluk Yunaini Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22435/jbmi.v10i1.5027

Keywords: expression, regulation, epididymis, gelsolin, sperm maturation

Abstract

Abstrak

Pematangan sperma melibatkan interaksi antara protein yang disekresikan oleh epitel epididimis dengan spermatozoa yang diregulasi oleh androgen dan faktor testis di regio epididimis. Androgen-dependent gene hanya terekspresi di region tertentu, yang mengisyaratkan peran androgen reseptor (AR) ko-regulator. Gelsolin (Gsn) adalah AR ko-regulator yang banyak ditemukan di epididimis. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengkarakterisasi Gsn pada epididimis mencit. Analisis in silico dilakukan untuk memprediksi struktur gen dan domain fungsional. Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) memfasilitasi analisis sebaran jaringan, ketergantungan terhadap faktor endokrin dan faktor testikular, dan regulasi postnatal. Analisis data menggunakan Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) Anova One Way dilanjutkan dengan uji Post Hoc untuk menilai tingkat signifikansi antar perlakuan. Asam amino Gsn mengandung signal peptida pada bagian N-terminus yang menandakan Gsn merupakan protein sekretorik. Ekspresi Gsn tidak spesifik di epididimis dan dipengaruhi oleh androgen dan faktor testikular. Ketergantungan androgen juga dikonfirmasi dengan memblok AR, yang menghasilkan ekspresi Gsn dalam kadar rendah. Ekspresi Gsn pada perkembangan individu naik secara bertahap hingga hari ke-40. Gsn adalah protein yang disekresikan oleh epitel epididimis dan diatur oleh androgen. Penelitian lanjut diperlukan untuk mengetahui peran Gsn dalam menentukan ekspresi gen-gen yang terlibat dalam pematangan sperma.

Kata kunci: ekspresi, epididimis, gelsolin, pematangan sperma, regulasi

Abstract
Sperm maturation involves the interaction of proteins secreted by the epididymal epithelium and spermatozoa that are regulated by androgens and testicular factors in the epididymal region. Androgen-dependent genes are only expressed in certain regions, suggesting the role of the androgen receptor (AR) co-regulator. Gelsolin (Gsn) is a co-regulatory AR found to be predominant in the epididymis. This study aimed to characterize Gsn in the epididymis of mice. In silico analysis was performed to predict gene structure and functional domains. Quantitative Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR) facilitated analysis of tissue distribution, dependence on endocrine and testicular factors, and postnatal regulation. Data analysis used Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) Anova One Way followed by the Post Hoc test to assess the level of significance between treatments. The amino acid Gsn contains a signal peptide at the N-terminus, which indicates that Gsn is a secretory protein. Expression of Gsn is not epididymal and is influenced by androgens and testicular factors. Androgen dependence was also confirmed by blocking AR resulting in low Gsn expression. The expression of Gsn in individual development increased gradually up to the 40th day. Gsn is a protein secreted by the epididymal epithelium and regulated by androgens. Further research is needed to determine the role of Gsn in determining the expression of genes involved in sperm maturation.

Keywords: expression, regulation, epididymis, gelsolin, sperm maturation