Protein network linked to cancer is critical to male fertility

image source

"Researchers studying reproductive science identified a network of proteins often linked to cancer as also important to male fertility and the birth of healthy offspring, according to a study in the Oct. 18 online issue of Cell Reports.

The study by Satoshi Namewaka, PhD, and colleagues at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center focuses on the precise epigenetic regulation of the sex chromosomes, which is important to germline cells that make male sperm.

Epigenetics involves changes in organisms caused by modifications to gene expression, rather than alterations in the genetic code. Scientists increasingly study the epigenetics of reproduction to learn how environmental exposures or lifestyle may affect fertility or inherited traits in offspring.

The current study looks at the Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway, a network of 21 proteins that normally work to repair DNA damage in the body's cells. Mutations in the FA pathway can lead to severe anemia, genetic instability and different cancers. But the current study also uncovers roles in ensuring healthy human reproduction..."

Learn more:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/10/161018132611.htm

Scientists identify protein which could improve treatments for recurrent miscarriages

via dujs.dartmouth.edu

"Scientists at the University of Sheffield have identified a protein, involved in the development of the human placenta, may also help embryos implant in the womb - something which could improve treatments for recurrent miscarriages and pre-eclampsia.

The pioneering study shows that a protein called Syncytin-1, which was the result of a viral infection of our primate ancestors 25 million years ago, is first secreted on the surface of a developing embryo even before it implants in the womb.

This means the protein is likely to play a major role in helping embryos stick to the womb as well as the formation of the placenta.

This fundamental understanding of the earliest stages of human embryo development is crucial for improving current treatments for a variety of stressful complications during pregnancy such as recurrent miscarriages, foetal growth restriction syndrome and pre-eclampsia - a life-threatening condition of elevated maternal blood pressure during pregnancy.

Professor Harry Moore, Co-Director for the University's Centre for Stem Cell Biology and lead author of the study, said: "Recurrent miscarriages, foetal growth restriction syndrome and pre-eclampsia are all significant and very stressful complications of pregnancy..."

Read more here:

http://medicalxpress.com/news/2016-05-scientists-protein-treatments-recurrent-miscarriages.html

Underappreciated protein plays critical role in RNA regulation, male fertility

Source: University of California - San Diego | Summary: A protein once thought to be of little consequence has been found to be a central player in processes ranging from male fertility to early embryonic development, according to a new study.

"In experimental mice, researchers found that sperm production is dramatically reduced when the NMD repressor, UPF3A, is prevented from being expressed in the cells that give rise to sperm.

A protein once thought to be of little consequence has been found to be a central player in processes ranging from male fertility to early embryonic development, according to a study published in the March 31 online issue of Cell by researchers at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine.

"We've obtained several lines of evidence that the UPF3A protein is a potent suppressor of the nonsense-mediated RNA decay (NMD) pathway," said Miles Wilkinson, PhD, senior author and professor in the Department of Reproductive Medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine. "UPF3A was previously thought to be just the opposite -- a promoter of the NMD pathway, but a weak one that had little effect. Thus, UPF3A was largely ignored by the field."

The NMD pathway is a critical quality control mechanism used by cells to eliminate faulty messenger RNAs (mRNAs) -- the molecules responsible for transmitting genetic code. If not degraded, these aberrant mRNAs lead to the formation of short versions of proteins that can raise havoc in cells. "By preventing the production of these truncated proteins, NMD is thought to protect against many diseases, including cancer, diabetes and a wide variety of genetic diseases," said Wilkinson..."

Read more here:

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/03/160331133417.htm