Cytochemical localization of enzymes in the spermatid and the spermatozoon of Culex quinquefasciatus say (Diptera : Culicidae)

Abstract

Ultrastructural cytochemical techniques were used for the localization of phosphatases in spermatid and spermatozoon of the mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus (Diptera : Culicidae). Acid phosphatase was found mainly in the trans-most portion of the Golgi complex. Thiamine pyrophosphotase was preferentially located in the cis-most portion of the Golgi complex. Glucose-6-phosphatase was located in the endoplasmic reticulum and cisternae of the transition zone between the endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi complex. The complex membrane of the anterior acrosomal region and the axoneme showed acid phosphatase activity. Reaction products indicating the presence of acid phosphatase, thiamine pyrophosphatase, and glucose-6-phosphatase, were observed on the spermatozoon surface at the head and tail regions. These observations support the idea that various phosphatases may play some role in spermatid differentiation.

Proteins, Transcripts, and Genetic Architecture of Seminal Fluid and Sperm in the Mosquito Aedes aegypti

“…Analysis of the functional composition of our proteomes revealed that they were closely aligned with the results of previous sperm (32)(33)(34)68) and SFP studies in insects (30,36). For example, our expanded sperm proteome was highly enriched for proteins related to flagellar structure, including microtubules, dynein complexes, and ciliar components, and proteins likely associated with the mitochondrial derivatives, which are a predominant structure in mosquito sperm (75,76) and that of other insects. Consistent with what was described by Sirot et al (27), as well as in other insects (reviewed in 29,30,36) and humans (77), proteases were highly enriched among our high-confidence SFPs, supporting the likely accuracy of our expanded characterization (reviewed in 69).…”

Reproductive functions and genetic architecture of the seminal fluid and sperm proteomes of the mosquitoAedes aegypti

“…Additionally, 522 analysis of the functional composition of our proteomes revealed that they were closely 523 aligned with the results of previous sperm [32][33][34]63] and SFP studies in insects [30,57]. 524 For example, our expanded sperm proteome was highly enriched for proteins related to 525 flagellar structure, including microtubules, dynein complexes, and ciliar components, 526 and proteins likely associated with the mitochondrial derivatives, which are a 527 predominant structure in mosquito sperm [68,69] and that of other insects. Consistent 528 with what has been described by Sirot et al [27], as well as in other insects (reviewed 529 in [29,30,57]) and humans [70], proteases were highly enriched amongst our 530 high-confidence SFPs, supporting the likely accuracy of our expanded characterization 531 (reviewed in [64]).…”

Axoneme specialization embedded in a “Generalist” β‐tubulin

“…There are many examples of motile 9 1 0 or other noncentral pair-containing axoneme variants, including the 9 1 0 neuronal cilia in the many larval and adult Drosophila mechanosensory organs, all of which have both inner and outer dynein arms (see Fig. 3g in Sarpal et al [2003]) and are inferred to function by virtue of their motility [Han et al, 2003;Sarpal et al, 2003;Witman, 2003]; sperm tail axonemes of mosquitos, mayflies, and some other dipterans, which resemble other insect sperm but lack central pair microtubules [Phillips, 1970;Dallai and Afzelius, 1990;Bao and De Souza, 1993;Mencarrelli et al, 2005]; the 9 1 0 sperm of eels [Gibbons et al, 1983;Gwo et al, 1999;Okamura and Motonobu, 1999]; mammalian nodal cilia, which are motile and include both 9 1 0 and central pair-containing forms [Hirokawa et al, 2006;Feistel and Blum, 2006]; and the motile sperm tail axonemes of parasitic gregarine protists, which include 6 1 0 and 3 1 0 forms [Schrével and Besse, 1975;Prensier et al, 1980]. Unfortunately, few sequences are available for b-tubulins known to be utilized in motile axonemes lacking central pair microtubules, so a rigorous test of the correlation of the axoneme motif and the central pair is not possible.…”