Differential Distribution and Activity Profile of Acylpeptide Hydrolase in the Rat Seminiferous Epithelium

Acylpeptide hydrolase (APEH) is a serine protease involved in amino acid recycling from acylated peptides (exopeptidase activity) and degradation of oxidized proteins (endoproteinase activity). This enzyme is inhibited by dichlorvos (DDVP), an organophosphate compound used as an insecticide. The rol...

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Main Authors: Alejandra A. Covarrubias, Erwin De la Fuente-Ortega, Gabriela Rossi, Ennio Cocca, Mosè Rossi, Gianna Palmieri, Floria C. Pancetti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-07-01
Series:Biomedicines
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/10/7/1591
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author Alejandra A. Covarrubias
Erwin De la Fuente-Ortega
Gabriela Rossi
Ennio Cocca
Mosè Rossi
Gianna Palmieri
Floria C. Pancetti
author_facet Alejandra A. Covarrubias
Erwin De la Fuente-Ortega
Gabriela Rossi
Ennio Cocca
Mosè Rossi
Gianna Palmieri
Floria C. Pancetti
author_sort Alejandra A. Covarrubias
collection DOAJ
description Acylpeptide hydrolase (APEH) is a serine protease involved in amino acid recycling from acylated peptides (exopeptidase activity) and degradation of oxidized proteins (endoproteinase activity). This enzyme is inhibited by dichlorvos (DDVP), an organophosphate compound used as an insecticide. The role of APEH in spermatogenesis has not been established; therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the distribution and activity profile of APEH during this process. For this purpose, cryosections of male reproductive tissues (testis and epididymis) and isolated cells (Sertoli cells, germ cells, and spermatozoa) were obtained from adult rats in order to analyze the intracellular localization of APEH by indirect immunofluorescence. In addition, the catalytic activity profiles of APEH in the different male reproductive tissues and isolated cells were quantified. Our results show that APEH is homogeneously distributed in Sertoli cells and early germ cells (spermatocytes and round spermatids), but this pattern changes during spermiogenesis. Specifically, in elongated spermatids and spermatozoa, APEH was localized in the acrosome and the principal piece. The exopeptidase activity was higher in the germ cell pool, compared to sperm and Sertoli cells, while the endoproteinase activity in epididymal homogenates was higher compared to testis homogenates at 24 h of incubation. In isolated cells, this activity was increased in Sertoli and germ cell pools, compared to spermatozoa. Taken together, these results indicate that APEH is differentially distributed in the testicular epithelium and undergoes re-localization during spermiogenesis. A possible role of APEH as a component of a protection system against oxidative stress and during sperm capacitation is discussed.
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spelling doaj.art-3e7afbaa181844cdb55ed6ad8416b6252023-12-03T14:41:48ZengMDPI AGBiomedicines2227-90592022-07-01107159110.3390/biomedicines10071591Differential Distribution and Activity Profile of Acylpeptide Hydrolase in the Rat Seminiferous EpitheliumAlejandra A. Covarrubias0Erwin De la Fuente-Ortega1Gabriela Rossi2Ennio Cocca3Mosè Rossi4Gianna Palmieri5Floria C. Pancetti6Laboratorio de Neurotoxicología Ambiental, Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo 1781421, ChileDepartamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo 1781421, ChileLaboratorio de Neurotoxicología Ambiental, Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo 1781421, ChileInstitute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council (CNR-IBBR), 80131 Naples, ItalyInstitute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council (CNR-IBBR), 80131 Naples, ItalyInstitute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council (CNR-IBBR), 80131 Naples, ItalyLaboratorio de Neurotoxicología Ambiental, Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Católica del Norte, Coquimbo 1781421, ChileAcylpeptide hydrolase (APEH) is a serine protease involved in amino acid recycling from acylated peptides (exopeptidase activity) and degradation of oxidized proteins (endoproteinase activity). This enzyme is inhibited by dichlorvos (DDVP), an organophosphate compound used as an insecticide. The role of APEH in spermatogenesis has not been established; therefore, the aim of this study was to characterize the distribution and activity profile of APEH during this process. For this purpose, cryosections of male reproductive tissues (testis and epididymis) and isolated cells (Sertoli cells, germ cells, and spermatozoa) were obtained from adult rats in order to analyze the intracellular localization of APEH by indirect immunofluorescence. In addition, the catalytic activity profiles of APEH in the different male reproductive tissues and isolated cells were quantified. Our results show that APEH is homogeneously distributed in Sertoli cells and early germ cells (spermatocytes and round spermatids), but this pattern changes during spermiogenesis. Specifically, in elongated spermatids and spermatozoa, APEH was localized in the acrosome and the principal piece. The exopeptidase activity was higher in the germ cell pool, compared to sperm and Sertoli cells, while the endoproteinase activity in epididymal homogenates was higher compared to testis homogenates at 24 h of incubation. In isolated cells, this activity was increased in Sertoli and germ cell pools, compared to spermatozoa. Taken together, these results indicate that APEH is differentially distributed in the testicular epithelium and undergoes re-localization during spermiogenesis. A possible role of APEH as a component of a protection system against oxidative stress and during sperm capacitation is discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/10/7/1591spermatogenesisacylpeptide hydrolasespermatozoaacrosome
spellingShingle Alejandra A. Covarrubias
Erwin De la Fuente-Ortega
Gabriela Rossi
Ennio Cocca
Mosè Rossi
Gianna Palmieri
Floria C. Pancetti
Differential Distribution and Activity Profile of Acylpeptide Hydrolase in the Rat Seminiferous Epithelium
Biomedicines
spermatogenesis
acylpeptide hydrolase
spermatozoa
acrosome
title Differential Distribution and Activity Profile of Acylpeptide Hydrolase in the Rat Seminiferous Epithelium
title_full Differential Distribution and Activity Profile of Acylpeptide Hydrolase in the Rat Seminiferous Epithelium
title_fullStr Differential Distribution and Activity Profile of Acylpeptide Hydrolase in the Rat Seminiferous Epithelium
title_full_unstemmed Differential Distribution and Activity Profile of Acylpeptide Hydrolase in the Rat Seminiferous Epithelium
title_short Differential Distribution and Activity Profile of Acylpeptide Hydrolase in the Rat Seminiferous Epithelium
title_sort differential distribution and activity profile of acylpeptide hydrolase in the rat seminiferous epithelium
topic spermatogenesis
acylpeptide hydrolase
spermatozoa
acrosome
url https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9059/10/7/1591
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