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The sperm centrioles have unique structures and require poc1 for proper formation in Drosophila melanogaster

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2018, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, Biology (Cell-Molecular Biology).
The centrosome is one of the most important organelle in animal cells. Most animal cells have centrosomes that serve as major microtubule organizing centers (MTOCs). In dividing cells, the centrosome serves as an MTOC to assist in cell polarity and proper segregation of chromosomes. In differentiating cells, the centriole serves as a basal body to form a cilia or flagellum, which are important for cellular signaling and motility (Avidor-Reiss and Gopalakrishnan 2013). It is acknowledged that the centriole number is strictly regulated to have two centrioles per cell in dividing cells (Delattre and Gonczy 2004). Disruption in this number regulation will results in abnormal cell division, which can lead to aneuploidy, the origin of different diseases (Kirkham, Muller-Reichert et al. 2003, Ganem, Godinho et al. 2009, Mahjoub and Stearns 2012). Centrioles are mainly distinguished by their typical barrel-shaped structure consisting of microtubules organized in nine-fold symmetry as observed by electron microscopy. We refer to this structure as a “typical centriole.” During fertilization, the sperm provides the first pair of centrioles to the ovum (Sutovsky and Schatten 2000, Schatten, Rawe et al. 2011). The inherited centrioles then duplicate to form two centrosomes and each centrosome at each pole assists in first zygotic division (Sathananthan, Ratnam et al. 1996, O'Connell, Caron et al. 2001, Stevens, Raposo et al. 2007, Varmark, Llamazares et al. 2007). Therefore, the first pair of centrioles in the sperm is crucial to healthy embryo development. However, previous studies have claimed that the sperm centrioles are degenerated and cannot function after fertilization. Through dedicated research on sperm centrioles in Drosophila, Tribolium, and Homo sapiens, we found that they have two centrioles but their structure can vary from one animal to another. In Drosophila, Tribolium, and Homo sapien, there are two centrioles: one typical centriole and one atypical centriole with structure that deviates from conventional centriole structure. We discovered that the sperm centrioles are not simply degenerated, but they are remodeled to serve proper functions in the zygote after fertilization. In addition, we discovered a novel function for a conserved centriolar protein, Poc1. In flies, Poc1 gene codes for Poc1A that localizes to the typical centriole and Poc1B that localizes to the atypical centriole. For the first time, we found that Poc1B and Sas-6 function together during the initial stage of atypical centriole formation in Drosophila. Since fly Poc1B isoform shares conserved coiled coil domain with human Poc1 proteins, we speculate that the Poc1B and Sas-6 could function together not only in flies but also in other animals during centriole formation. Our studies can provide new insights to reproductive biology and centriole biogenesis studies in animals. Since all animal life begins with a single cell (zygote), it is crucial to further investigate and decipher the unknown in centriole inheritance and early zygotic development.
Tomer Avidor-Reiss (Committee Chair)
Sung Tao Liu (Committee Member)
Guofa Liu (Committee Member)
William Gunning (Committee Member)
Jacob Mueller (Committee Member)
160 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Jo, Jo, K. H. (2018). The sperm centrioles have unique structures and require poc1 for proper formation in Drosophila melanogaster [Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1543408971319716

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Jo, Jo, Kyoung. The sperm centrioles have unique structures and require poc1 for proper formation in Drosophila melanogaster. 2018. University of Toledo, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1543408971319716.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Jo, Jo, Kyoung. "The sperm centrioles have unique structures and require poc1 for proper formation in Drosophila melanogaster." Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1543408971319716

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)