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Comparative analysis of macaque and human sperm proteomes: Insights into sperm competition

Tao Zhou1, Gaigai Wang, Minjian Chen

  • 1State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, P. R. China.

Proteomics
|December 30, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Male macaques have faster sperm than humans due to intense sperm competition. Researchers identified key genes and ultrastructural differences in macaque sperm, offering insights into male fertility and reproductive strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive biology
  • Comparative genomics
  • Molecular evolution

Background:

  • Male macaques exhibit significantly faster sperm motility compared to humans.
  • This difference is hypothesized to be driven by higher levels of sperm competition in macaques.
  • Understanding the molecular underpinnings can elucidate evolutionary adaptations in reproduction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the molecular basis for the difference in sperm speed between macaques and humans.
  • To identify specific genes and cellular structures contributing to enhanced sperm motility in macaques.

Main Methods:

  • Construction of macaque and human sperm proteomes using Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry/Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
  • Identification of positively selected genes on the macaque lineage using a branch-site likelihood method.
  • Comparative analysis of sperm ultrastructure, particularly the midpiece, using transmission electron microscopy.

Main Results:

  • 197 positively selected genes were identified specifically in the macaque lineage, with no selection in human orthologs.
  • These identified genes are significantly associated with mitochondrial function and axoneme structure, critical for sperm motility.
  • Ultrastructural examination revealed distinct differences in the midpiece of macaque sperm compared to human sperm.

Conclusions:

  • The study provides potential molecular targets for understanding phenotypic variations in sperm competition between macaques and humans.
  • Findings offer valuable resources for future research into male fertility and the evolution of sperm traits.
  • Positively selected genes related to mitochondria and axoneme highlight key adaptations driving enhanced sperm motility in macaques.
Keywords:
Animal proteomicsPositive selectionRhesus macaqueSperm competitionSperm motilitySperm proteome

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