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蛋白泛素化调控异常可能是男性生精功能受损的核心途径

Altered Protein Ubiquitination Pathway Might be the Key Factor Leading to Human Spermatogenic Dysfunction

  • 摘要: 为了深入了解男性生精功能低下的分子机制,本研究运用生物信息学方法分析男性生精功能低下患者睾丸的转录组,以探索其潜在的发病机制。从GEO数据库选择数据集GSE4797,利用GEO2R在线软件识别差异表达基因(differential expressed genes, DEGs)。使用DAVID进行基因本体(gene ontology, GO)与KEGG通路富集分析,用STRING构建蛋白与蛋白相互作用(protein-protein interaction, PPI)网络。通过Cytoscape软件MCODE和CytoHubba插件分析DEGs核心模块与Hub基因,并运用TRRUST构建转录因子-靶基因调控网络。结果表明,1 637个基因在生精功能低下患者中差异表达,其中636个上调,1 001个下调。差异基因集中在蛋白泛素化、免疫反应、细胞周期等生物学程序。进一步做CytoHubba分析显示,前10个Hub基因包括SKP1、FBXO6、FBXO32、FBXO31等,均为蛋白泛素修饰相关基因。此前文献报道泛素化修饰在调控免疫、周期等生物学过程中发挥重要作用,结合本研究的分析结果,我们首次提出:泛素化调控异常是男性生精功能低下的核心通路;泛素化酶可能作为治疗男性不育或生精功能低下的靶点。

     

    Abstract: To gain insight into the molecula mechanism of male spermatogenic dysfunction remains. In this study,we aimed to identify potential key pathways that are associated with the development of reproductive disorder through bioinformatic analysis of GEO dataset(GSE4797). Differential expressed genes(DEGs) were identified using the online software GEO2R. DAVID was applied to characterize the significantly enriched Gene Ontology(GO) categories and KEGG pathways for DEGs. Furthermore, the protein-protein interaction(PPI) network was constructed by STRING and the key modules were screened based on the MCODE analysis. Subsequently, we detected hub genes using CytoHubba plugin. In total, 1 637 DEGs were identified in patients with testicular dysfunction relative to healthy controls, including 636 up-regulated genes and 1 001 down-regulated genes. Through MCODE analysis, we found that DEGs are enriched in protein ubiquitination, immune response and cell cycle. Further CytoHubba analysis indicated that the top 10 Hub genes, including SKP1, FBXO6, FBXO32, FBXO31, etc., are involved in protein ubiquitination, all of which share very high connectivity. In combination with previous reports and the details in this analysis, we proposed for the first time that disorder of protein ubiquitination may be critically involved in male spermatogenic dysfunction, and we believe that ubiquitin-related enzymes might be potential drug targets for treating male infertility.

     

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