Expression pattern of prohibitin, capping actin protein of muscle Z-line beta subunit and tektin-2 gene in Murrah buffalo sperm and its relationship with sperm motility

• Main Authors: Zhaocheng Xiong, Haihang Zhang, Ben Huang, Qingyou Liu, Yingqun Wang, Deshun Shi, Xiangping Li
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies 2018-11-01
• Series: Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• Subjects: Murrah Buffaloes; Prohibitin; Capping Actin Protein of Muscle Z-line Beta Subunit; Tektin-2; Sperm Motility
• Online Access: http://www.ajas.info/upload/pdf/ajas-18-0025.pdf

Objective The aim of the current study is to investigate the relationship between prohibitin (PHB), capping actin protein of muscle Z-line beta subunit (CAPZB), and tektin-2 (TEKT2) and sperm motility in Murrah buffalo. Methods We collected the high-motility and low-motility semen samples, testis, ovary, muscle, kidney, liver, brain and pituitary from Murrah buffalo, and analysed the expression of PHB, CAPZB, and TEKT2 in mRNA (message RNA) and protein level. Results Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) result showed that the expression of PHB was higher and CAPZB, TEKT2 were specifically expressed in testis as compared to the other 6 tissues, and that in testis, the expression of TEKT2 was higher than that of CAPZB and PHB. Immunohistochemistry test revealed that all three genes were located on the convoluted seminiferous tubule and enriched in spermatogenic cells. Both qRT-PCR and Western Blot results showed that the expression levels of PHB, CAPZB, and TEKT2 were significantly lower in the low-motility semen group compared to the high-motility semen group (p<0.05). Conclusion The expression levels of PHB, CAPZB, and TEKT2 in Murrah buffalo sperm have a high positive correlation with sperm motility. And the three genes may be potential molecular markers for the decline of buffalo sperm motility.