| Title: | Spermidine promotes mating and fertilization efficiency in model organisms |
| Author(s): | Bauer MA; Carmona-Gutierrez D; Ruckenstuhl C; Reisenbichler A; Megalou EV; Eisenberg T; Magnes C; Jungwirth H; Sinner FM; Pieber TR; Frohlich KU; Kroemer G; Tavernarakis N; Madeo F; |
| Address: | "Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Karl-Franzens University of Graz, Graz, Austria" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1551-4005 (Electronic) 1538-4101 (Print) 1551-4005 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Spermidine is a naturally occurring polyamine involved in multiple biological processes, including DNA metabolism, autophagy and aging. Like other polyamines, spermidine is also indispensable for successful reproduction at several stages. However, a direct influence on the actual fertilization process, i.e., the fusion of an oocyte with a spermatocyte, remains uncertain. To explore this possibility, we established the mating process in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model for fertilization in higher eukaryotes. During human fertilization, the sperm capacitates and the acrosome reaction is necessary for penetration of the oocyte. Similarly, sexually active yeasts form a protrusion called 'shmoo' as a prerequisite for mating. In this study, we demonstrate that pheromone-induced shmoo formation requires spermidine. In addition, we show that spermidine is essential for mating in yeast as well as for egg fertilization in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. In both cases, this occurs independently from autophagy. In synthesis, we identify spermidine as an important mating component in unicellular and multicellular model organisms, supporting an unprecedented evolutionary conservation of the mechanisms governing fertilization-related cellular fusion" |
| Keywords: | "Animals Autophagy/physiology Caenorhabditis elegans Cell Surface Extensions/drug effects/*physiology Chromatography, Liquid Fertilization/*physiology Microscopy, Fluorescence Pheromones/*pharmacology Polyamines/metabolism Reproduction/physiology Saccharom;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineBauer, Maria Anna Carmona-Gutierrez, Didac Ruckenstuhl, Christoph Reisenbichler, Angela Megalou, Evgenia V Eisenberg, Tobias Magnes, Christoph Jungwirth, Helmut Sinner, Frank M Pieber, Thomas R Frohlich, Kai-Uwe Kroemer, Guido Tavernarakis, Nektarios Madeo, Frank eng P 24381/FWF_/Austrian Science Fund FWF/Austria Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't 2012/12/21 Cell Cycle. 2013 Jan 15; 12(2):346-52. doi: 10.4161/cc.23199. Epub 2012 Jan 15" |
