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Functional Amyloids in Reproduction.

Aveline Hewetson1, Hoa Quynh Do2, Caitlyn Myers3

  • 1Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX 79430, USA. aveline.hewetson@ttuhsc.edu.

Biomolecules
|June 30, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Functional amyloids play crucial roles in sexual reproduction, including gametogenesis and fertilization. These nonpathological protein aggregates are essential for reproductive processes and can be evolutionarily conserved.

Keywords:
amyloidcystatinsepididymisfertilizationgermline specificationreproductionsemenspermatogenesiszona pellucida

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Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Reproductive Biology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Amyloids are typically viewed as pathological protein aggregates linked to diseases like neurodegeneration.
  • Emerging evidence highlights the existence and importance of nonpathological, functional amyloids in various biological systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the biological roles of functional amyloids specifically within sexual reproduction.
  • To explore their involvement in gametogenesis, germline specification, sperm maturation, and fertilization.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on functional amyloids in reproduction.
  • Analysis of evolutionary conservation of these amyloid structures across taxa.

Main Results:

  • Functional amyloids are integral to key reproductive processes such as gametogenesis and fertilization.
  • Several of these functional amyloids are conserved across species, including humans, underscoring their reproductive importance.
  • Alterations in functional amyloids may lead to pathological conditions.

Conclusions:

  • Functional amyloids are critical for successful sexual reproduction.
  • Their conserved nature emphasizes their fundamental biological significance.
  • Dysregulation of functional amyloids presents a potential link to reproductive pathologies.