@article{d78bf5e12e83444db8ad95131403e03d,
title = "Intraflagellar transporter protein 140 (IFT140), a component of IFT-A complex, is essential for male fertility and spermiogenesis in mice",
abstract = "Intraflagellar transport (IFT) is a conserved mechanism essential for the assembly and maintenance of most eukaryotic cilia and flagella. However, little is known about its role in sperm flagella formation and male fertility. IFT140 is a component of IFT-A complex. In mouse, it is highly expressed in the testis. Ift140 gene was inactivated specifically in mouse spermatocytes/spermatids. The mutant mice did not show any gross abnormalities, but all were infertile and associated with significantly reduced sperm number and motility. Multiple sperm morphological abnormalities were discovered, including amorphous heads, short/bent flagella and swollen tail tips, as well as vesicles along the flagella due to spermiogenesis defects. The epididymides contained round bodies of cytoplasm derived from the sloughing of the cytoplasmic lobes and residual bodies. Knockout of Ift140 did not significantly affect testicular expression levels of selective IFT components but localization of IFT27 and IFT88, two components of IFT-B complex, was changed. Our findings demonstrate that IFT140 is a key regulator for male fertility and normal spermiogenesis in mice. It not only plays a role in sperm flagella assembling, but is also involved in critical assembly of proteins that interface between the germ cell plasma and the Sertoli cell.",
keywords = "intraflagellar transport, male fertility, spermatogenesis",
author = "Yong Zhang and Hong Liu and Wei Li and Zhengang Zhang and Shiyang Zhang and Teves, {Maria E.} and Courtney Stevens and Foster, {James A.} and Campbell, {Gregory E.} and Windle, {Jolene J.} and Hess, {Rex A.} and Pazour, {Gregory J.} and Zhibing Zhang",
note = "Funding Information: We thank Dr. Scott C. Henderson and Judy C. Williamson for their assistance with using the electronic microscopy in Microscopy Core Facility of Virginia Commonwealth University. This research was supported by NIH grant HD076257, HD090306, Virginia Commonwealth University Presidential Research Incentive Program (PRIP) and Massey Cancer Award (to ZZ), NIH grant GM060992 (to GJP), Chenery and Rashkind Grants from Randolph-Macon College (JF). Natural Science Foundation of China (81571428, 81370750), and Special Fund of Wuhan University of Science and Technology for Master Student's short-term studying abroad. Confocal microscopy and SEM were performed in the VCU Microscopy Facility of Virginia Commonwealth University (5P30NS047463). TEM was performed at Randolph-Macon College (NSF1229184). Services in support of the IVF project were provided by the VCU Massey Cancer Center. Transgenic/Knockout Mouse Core, supported in part with funding from NIH-NCI Cancer Center Support Grant P30 CA016059. Funding Information: We thank Dr. Scott C. Henderson and Judy C. Williamson for their assistance with using the electronic microscopy in Microscopy Core Facility of Virginia Commonwealth University. This research was supported by NIH grant HD076257, HD090306, Virginia Commonwealth University Presidential Research Incentive Program (PRIP) and Massey Cancer Award (to ZZ), NIH grant GM060992 (to GJP), Chenery and Rashkind Grants from Randolph-Macon College (JF). Natural Science Foundation of China (81571428, 81370750), and Special Fund of Wuhan University of Science and Technology for Master Student{\textquoteright}s short-term studying abroad. Confocal microscopy and SEM were performed in the VCU Microscopy Facility of Virginia Commonwealth University (5P30NS047463). TEM was performed at Randolph-Macon College (NSF1229184). Services in support of the IVF project were provided by the VCU Massey Cancer Center. Transgenic/Knockout Mouse Core, supported in part with funding from NIH-NCI Cancer Center Support Grant P30 CA016059. Funding Information: NIH, Grant/Award Number: HD076257 and HD090306; Virginia Commonwealth University Presidential Research Incentive Program (PRIP) and Massey Cancer Award; NIH, Grant/Award Number: GM060992; Randolph-Macon College; Natural Science Foundation of China, Grant/Award Number: 81571428 and 81370750); Wuhan University of Science and Technology; VCU Microscopy Facility of Virginia Commonwealth University, Grant/Award Number:5P30NS047463; Randolph-Macon College, Grant/Award Number: NSF1229184; VCU Massey Cancer Center; NIH-NCI Cancer Center, Grant/Award Number: P30 CA016059 Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.",
year = "2018",
month = feb,
doi = "10.1002/cm.21427",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "75",
pages = "70--84",
journal = "Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton",
issn = "1949-3584",
publisher = "Wiley-Liss Inc.",
number = "2",
}