Live-cell labeling and imaging visualize spermatid differentiation in vitro

In previously reported in vitro culture conditions, primary spermatocytes develop to form spermatids, but most spermatids remain attached to the residual body (RB), which prevents further characterization of spermatid detachment [1]. Here, we optimized the culture medium so that it can support development of spermatocytes until spermatid release (Materials and methods: “In vitro culture of C. elegans spermatocytes and live-cell imaging”). The control strain in this study was him-5, because him-5 mutant hermaphrodites produce a much higher percentage of male progeny than the wild-type N2 strain [29]. We cultured primary or secondary spermatocytes dissected from him-5 males in the optimized culture medium and followed spermatid differentiation by time-lapse recordings (Fig 1A). Consistent with a previous report [1], we observed that 1 primary spermatocyte divided into 2 connected secondary spermatocytes in meiosis I, and each secondary spermatocyte initiated meiosis II to produce 2 connected spermatids that undergo differentiation, leading to generation of 2 individual spermatids and 1 residual body (RB) (Fig 1B, dashed boxes, C, S1A Fig and S1 Video). RBs derived from 2 connected secondary spermatocytes fused spontaneously, forming a large RB (Fig 1B). When cultured in the optimized medium at 20°C, all spermatocytes followed by time-lapse recording developed to produce released spermatids, while on average, 3 out of the 4 spermatids derived from each primary spermatocyte separated from the RB in vitro (Fig 1B). When cultured at 25°C, spermatocytes appeared to develop normally, but spermatid release was reduced significantly, which suggests that elevated temperature affects spermatid release in vitro (Figs 2B and S2D).

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Fig 1. Live-cell imaging visualizes dynamics of meiosis and spermatid differentiation.

(A) A diagram showing the spermatid differentiation process in C. elegans. (B) Time-lapse analysis of meiosis and differentiation in 2 connected secondary spermatocytes dissected from him-5 males. White arrow indicates the pseudo-cleavage furrow between 2 undifferentiated spermatids. Double-headed arrow indicates RB expansion during spermatid differentiation. Yellow arrows point to cleavage furrows between spermatids and RB. Dashed line boxes indicate 1 haploid spermatid at each differentiation step. Numbers of released spermatids/total spermatids were quantified and are shown in the top right corner. (C–F) Time-lapse analysis of meiosis and differentiation in 2 connected secondary spermatocytes dissected from him-5 males. Spermatocytes in (C) and (E) are from animals expressing Histone::GFP and RPL-5::GFP, respectively. Spermatocytes in (D) and (F) are stained by MitoTracker Red and SiR-actin, respectively. White arrow in (C) indicates the pseudo-cleavage furrow. In (F), white lines indicate the distribution and enrichment of SiR-actin signal during RB formation. The inset and white arrow show an enlarged view of a moving SiR-actin punctum with a magnification of 4×, and yellow arrows indicate the closure of SiR-actin at the scission site. Scale bars: 5 μm. GFP, green fluorescent protein; RB, residual body; RPL-5, ribosomal protein 5, large subunit; SiR, silicon-rhodamine.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000211.g001

By time-lapse recording, we found that a cleavage furrow was formed at the midpoint of the 2 haploid nuclei in meiosis II (Fig 1B and 1C, white arrows). Instead of further contracting, the furrow extended towards the 2 spermatid poles (Fig 1B, double-headed arrow), leading to gradual expansion of the RB (Fig 1B and S1 Video). Later on, new cleavage furrows formed between the spermatids and the RB, which contracted continuously to separate the individual spermatids from the RB (Fig 1B, yellow arrow, S1 Video). Because the first cleavage furrow did not result in membrane fission, it is referred to as the pseudo-cleavage furrow from now on and is thus distinguished from the cleavage furrow formed at the final cytokinesis step.

The differential partitioning of cellular components during spermatid differentiation has been observed previously by electron microscopy and immunohistochemistry [1, 3, 4, 16]. However, it is unclear whether and how the cytoplasm segregation coordinates with RB formation. By live-cell labeling and time-lapse recording, we observed that chromosomes labeled by green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged histone 2B (H2B) divided normally in meiosis and were efficiently segregated into differentiating spermatids in vitro (Fig 1C). Mitochondria were first partitioned into 2 domains separated by the pseudo-cleavage furrow and were excluded from RBs during RB expansion (Fig 1D and S2 Video). Ribosomes labeled by ribosomal protein 5, large subunit (RPL-5)::GFP were observed in the cytoplasm and at the cortex of spermatocytes (Fig 1E). RPL-5::GFP became enriched at the pseudo-furrow site and was fully segregated into the expanding RB (Fig 1E and S3 Video). We followed cytoskeleton dynamics in this process by silicon-rhodamine (SiR)-actin or SiR-tubulin staining, which had no notable effect on the progression of RB formation and spermatid release in vitro (S1B Fig). F-actin labeled by SiR-actin or Lifeact was observed throughout the entire cortex of the dividing secondary spermatocytes. Actin filaments became enriched at the pseudo-furrow site and the cortex of the RB during furrow ingression and RB expansion, which appeared to involve continuous centripetal movement of F-actin from the spermatid poles (Fig 1F, white line and white arrow, S1C Fig and S4 Video). Sealing of the cortical actin in the RB occurred when all the actin had moved into the RB (Fig 1F, yellow arrow, S1C Fig), which explains the extremely low levels of actin in released spermatids. We labeled microtubules by SiR-tubulin or GFP fusion of tubulin beta 2 (GFP::TBB-2) and found that increasing amounts of microtubules emanated from the gamma tubulin (TBG-1)-positive microtubule organizing center (MTOC) while the signal from the spindle gradually diminished (S1D and S1E Fig). The microtubule bundles were subsequently released from the MTOC and transported into the RB (S1D and S1E Fig), consistent with previous observations in fixed and live spermatocytes [30, 31]. Most TBG-1 was also transported into RBs, leaving only weak TBG-1 spots in spermatids (S1E Fig, yellow arrow). Altogether, our live-cell imaging of in vitro cultured spermatocytes reveals previously unobserved dynamic processes during spermatid differentiation, including expansion of the pseudo-cleavage furrow, segregation of mitochondria and ribosomes during RB expansion, dynamics of cytoskeleton components, and cytokinesis that separates spermatids from the RB.

Myosin II and myosin VI play distinct roles to regulate RB formation

Our data suggest that the pseudo-cleavage furrow expands to promote RB formation (Fig 1B and S1 Video). We examined the dynamics of non-muscle myosin 2 (NMY-2), the heavy chain of non-muscle myosin II, which is required for cleavage furrow formation in cytokinesis. After the onset of meiosis II, NMY-2 puncta were observed throughout the entire cell cortex but were concentrated at the spot where 2 secondary spermatocytes were connected (Fig 2A). NMY-2 was then enriched at the site where the pseudo-cleavage furrow formed (Fig 2A, white arrow). The cortical NMY-2 at the pseudo-cleavage furrow extended towards the 2 spermatid poles (Fig 2A, double-headed arrow), concomitant with RB expansion (Fig 2A and S5 Video). nmy-2(ne3409) is a temperature-sensitive mutant allele of nmy-2, which results in strong loss-of-function (lf) phenotypes in embryogenesis [32]. We found that pseudo-cleavage furrow formation was abolished in nmy-2(ne3409) spermatocytes at the nonpermissive temperature of 25°C, indicating that NMY-2 function is required for formation of the pseudo-cleavage furrow (Fig 2B, arrows, S6 Video).

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Fig 2. Myosin II and myosin VI play distinct roles to regulate spermatid and RB formation.

(A) Time-lapse analysis of meiosis and differentiation in 2 connected secondary spermatocytes dissected from him-5 males expressing NMY-2::GFP. Arrow indicates accumulation of NMY-2 at the pseudo-cleavage furrow between 2 undifferentiated spermatids. Double-headed arrow indicates expansion of RB and NMY-2 during spermatid differentiation. (B) Time-lapse analysis of meiosis and differentiation in secondary spermatocytes dissected from him-5 or nmy-2;him-5 males at the nonpermissive temperature of 25°C. White arrows indicate pseudo-cleavage furrow ingression in the middle of the dividing him-5 secondary spermatocyte. Double-headed arrow indicates RB expansion in him-5. Yellow arrows point to the midpoint of the dividing secondary spermatocyte in nmy-2;him-5 animals. White lines mark the sperm–RB boundaries and indicate the sites of spermatid budding from the remaining cell body in nmy-2;him-5 animals. (C and D) Time-lapse images of secondary spermatocytes from him-5 males at different developmental stages in the presence of Latrunculin A. White arrows point to the midpoint of a secondary spermatocyte. Yellow arrows indicate the pseudo-cleavage furrow between 2 undifferentiated spermatids. (E) Time-lapse images of 2 connected secondary spermatocytes dissected from spe-15(hc75) nmy-2(ne3409);him-5(e1490) males stained by the DNA label DRAQ5 at the nonpermissive temperature of 25°C. The DRAQ5-labeled chromosomes were segregated, but differentiation of haploid spermatids was blocked. (F) Time-lapse images of meiosis and differentiation in 2 connected secondary spermatocytes dissected from him-5 males expressing GFP::SPE-15. Yellow arrows indicate accumulation of SPE-15 at the spermatid–RB boundary. (G) Time-lapse analysis of meiosis and differentiation in 2 connected secondary spermatocytes dissected from nmy-2(ne3409);him-5(e1490) males expressing GFP::SPE-15 at the nonpermissive temperature (25°C). (H) Time-lapse analysis of differentiation in connected spermatids dissected from spe-15(hc75);him-5(e1490) males expressing NMY-2::GFP at 20°C. White arrows point to NMY-2 puncta that appeared in spermatids when the RB was formed. The percentage of secondary spermatocytes with the representative pattern is shown at the top right corner. “n” indicates the number of secondary spermatocytes that were followed and quantified. Scale bars: 5 μm. DRAQ5, deep red anthraquinone 5; GFP, green fluorescent protein; NMY-2, non-muscle myosin 2; RB, residual body; SPE-15, defective spermatogenesis 15.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000211.g002

We next examined the role of actin in this process as both NMY-2 and F-actin accumulated at the pseudo-furrow site and the cortex of the expanding RB (S2A Fig), and cytochalasin B is reported to inhibit cell division during spermatogenesis [4]. Latrunculin A disrupts actin filaments by inhibiting actin polymerization. We found that Latrunculin A treatment of secondary spermatocytes prior to appearance of the pseudo-cleavage furrow prevented furrow formation (Fig 2C, white arrows), while treatment of secondary spermatocytes that already had a pseudo-cleavage furrow led to suppression of furrow expansion (Fig 2D, yellow arrows). Thus, actin filaments are required for pseudo-cleavage furrow ingression and subsequent expansion. The actin filaments and myosin II may form actomyosin to power the ingression and expansion processes.

In him-5 males, RBs were formed through active expansion of the pseudo-cleavage furrow towards the spermatid poles (Fig 2A and 2B). In nmy-2 mutants, however, pseudo-cleavage furrows did not form, but spermatids budded gradually from the cell body, leaving a structure morphologically similar to the RB (Fig 2B, lines, S6 Video). Thus, myosin II-independent mechanisms may mediate spermatid budding in nmy-2(ne3409). To further test this, we examined whether SPE-15, the C. elegans myosin VI, is involved in this process. SPE-15 is highly expressed during spermatogenesis and has been implicated in cytoplasm segregation [16, 33]. We constructed double mutants that lack functions of both NMY-2 and SPE-15 and found that spermatid budding was completely suppressed (Figs 2E and S2B). This suggests that SPE-15 function is important for spermatid budding in nmy-2 mutants. In spe-15(hc75) nmy-2(ne3409) double mutants, meiosis II was initiated, and chromosomes were segregated, but formation of spermatids and the RB was completely blocked (Fig 2E and S7 Video). We next generated endogenously expressed GFP::SPE-15 by clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated protein 9 nuclease (CRISPR/Cas9). GFP::SPE-15 accumulated mainly in the nucleus of primary spermatocytes, and was released later into the cytosol, probably due to nuclear envelope breakdown (S2C Fig). After the onset of meiosis II, GFP::SPE-15 was recruited to the cell cortex and moved from the spermatid pole to the spermatid–RB boundary during RB expansion (Fig 2F and S8 Video). In nmy-2(ne3409), SPE-15 movement to the spermatid–RB boundary was unaffected, and it occurred concomitantly with spermatid budding (Fig 2G and S9 video). These data suggest that directional movement of myosin VI may promote spermatid budding in nmy-2 mutants. Similarly, loss of SPE-15 did not affect enrichment of NMY-2 at the pseudo-furrow site, its expansion towards the spermatid poles, or the accompanying RB expansion (Fig 2H and S10 Video). We found that NMY-2 was completely restricted to the RB in him-5 worms but diffused into spermatids in spe-15 mutants, which indicates that SPE-15 is required to restrict NMY-2 within RBs (Fig 2H). Collectively, these data indicate that myosin II and myosin VI regulate spermatid and residual body formation by mediating RB expansion and spermatid budding, respectively.

Myosin II and myosin VI regulate partitioning of cellular components in different manners

We found that differential partitioning of cellular components occurs during residual body formation, leading to segregation of mitochondria into spermatids and ribosomes into RBs (Fig 1D and 1E and S2 and S3 Videos). In him-5 worms, mitochondria were excluded from RBs during NMY-2/RB expansion (S3A Fig). In nmy-2(ne3409), RB expansion was disrupted, and significantly more mitochondria were retained in RB-like structures than in him-5 (Fig 3A and S11 Video). Mitochondria in spe-15(hc75) were segregated normally into spermatids during RB expansion but returned to RBs at a later stage (Fig 3B). Thus, myosin II but not myosin VI is required for the initial segregation of mitochondria into spermatids. RPL-5::GFP was quickly sorted into RBs in him-5, and the sorting was not impaired during spermatid budding in nmy-2(ne3409) (Fig 3C). In spe-15 mutants, however, a significant proportion of RPL-5::GFP was retained in the cortex and cytosol of spermatids during residual body formation, indicating that ribosome segregation into RBs is impaired (Figs 3D and S3B and S12 Video). The cytoskeleton components actin and tubulin were moved to and enriched in RBs in him-5 worms. However, actin and tubulin were present in spermatids in spe-15 mutants (S3C Fig). This is consistent with the previous report [16] and suggests that segregation of actin and tubulin into RBs is affected in spe-15(lf). In line with this, transport of microtubules to RBs was impaired in spe-15, but it was not obviously affected in nmy-2(ne3409) mutants (S3D and S3E Fig). Collectively, these data indicate that myosin II and myosin VI have distinct effects on cytoplasm segregation, which is in good agreement with the directional movement of the 2 myosins during spermatid budding and RB expansion. Myosin II extends towards the 2 spermatid poles and is required for segregation of mitochondria into spermatids, while myosin VI moves from the spermatid poles to the RB and is involved in transporting ribosomes and cytoskeleton components into the RB.

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Fig 3. Myosin II and myosin VI regulate cytoplasm segregation in different manners.

(A) Time-lapse analysis of meiosis and differentiation in 2 connected secondary spermatocytes dissected from him-5(e1490) and nmy-2(ne3409);him-5(e1490) males expressing Histone::GFP and stained by MitoTracker Red at the nonpermissive temperature (25°C). Numbers of mitochondria in RBs were quantified, and the results are shown in the table below the images. Underlying data can be found in S1 Data. (B) Time-lapse images of meiosis and differentiation in 2 connected secondary spermatocytes dissected from him-5(e1490) and spe-15(hc75);him-5(e1490) males expressing Histone::GFP and stained by MitoTracker Red at 20°C. Numbers of mitochondria in newly formed RBs and late RBs were quantified, and the results are shown in the table below the images. Underlying data can be found in S1 Data. (C and D) Time-lapse images of meiosis and differentiation in 2 connected secondary spermatocytes dissected from the indicated strains expressing RPL-5::GFP at 25°C (C) or 20°C (D). Arrows point to cortical ribosomes retained in spermatids of spe-15(hc75);him-5(e1490) animals. The percentage of secondary spermatocytes with the representative pattern is shown at the top right corner. n indicates the number of secondary spermatocytes that were followed. Scale bars: 5 μm. GFP, green fluorescent protein; RB, residual body; RPL-5, ribosomal protein 5, large subunit.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000211.g003

Myosin VI but not myosin II is important for cytokinesis that separates spermatids from the RB

In nmy-2 mutants, spermatids budded and eventually separated from the RB-like structure as in him-5, suggesting that the final cytokinesis may occur independent of NYM-2 (Figs 2B and S2D). We examined spermatid differentiation in spe-15 mutants. In spe-15(lf), both pseudo-cleavage furrow formation and RB expansion were unaffected (Fig 4A, white arrows), but membrane constriction between spermatids and RBs was not completed (Fig 4A, yellow arrows, S13 Video). We further examined membrane constriction as indicated by the closure of cortical actin visualized through SiR-actin staining (Fig 1F). In him-5 worms, all spermatid–RB connections (24 of 24) were sealed quickly, whereas none of them (0 of 36) was sealed in spe-15 mutants (Fig 4B). The closure of cortical actin was unaffected in nmy-2(ne3409) (23 of 24), suggesting that membrane constriction between spermatids and RBs was normal (Fig 4B). Similar results were observed when cortical actin was detected by Lifeact (S4 Fig). Consistent with this, SPE-15, but not NMY-2, was enriched on the actin patch at the cleavage site (Fig 4C and 4D).

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Fig 4. Spermatid release is achieved through myosin VI–mediated cytokinesis.

(A) Time-lapse analysis of meiosis and differentiation in 2 connected secondary spermatocytes dissected from spe-15(hc75);him-5(e1490) and spe-15(ok153);him-5(e1490) males. White arrows indicate the pseudo-cleavage furrow between 2 undifferentiated spermatids. Double-headed arrows indicate RB expansion during spermatid differentiation. Yellow arrows point to the spermatid–RB boundary and indicate defective cytokinesis. Numbers of released spermatids/total spermatids were quantified and are shown in the top right corner. (B) Time-lapse analysis of spermatids and RBs that undergo cytokinesis in the indicated strains expressing Histone::GFP and stained by SiR-actin. White arrows indicate sites of cytokinesis. Numbers of sealed spermatids/total spermatids were quantified and are shown in the top right corner. DIC images of spermatids and RBs at the start time point (0 min, insets) are shown. (C and D) Light and fluorescence images of an RB with 4 attached spermatids stained by anti-SPE-15 antibody and phalloidin (C) or expressing NMY-2::GFP and stained by SiR-actin (D). Arrows point to the connection between the spermatid and RB. (E) Time-lapse images of meiosis and differentiation in 2 connected secondary spermatocytes dissected from him-5 males expressing GFP::SPE-15 and NMY-2::mCherry. White arrows indicate the pseudo-cleavage furrow with enriched NMY-2. Yellow arrows indicate accumulation of SPE-15 at the cleavage furrow between spermatids and RB. Scale bars: 5 μm. DIC, differential interference contrast; GFP, green fluorescent protein; NMY-2, non-muscle myosin 2; RB, residual body; SiR, silicon-rhodamine; SPE-15, defective spermatogenesis 15.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000211.g004

By monitoring the dynamics of GFP::SPE-15, we found that SPE-15 migrated from the spermatid poles to the RB during spermatid budding and was enriched at the site where membrane constriction occurred (Fig 2F, yellow arrows, S8 Video). This temporal localization pattern is consistent with the role of SPE-15 in regulating membrane constriction and spermatid release. We next compared the dynamics of myosin II and myosin VI in worms that carry endogenously expressed NMY-2::mCherry and GFP::SPE-15. NMY-2, but not SPE-15, was enriched at the pseudo-cleavage furrow between 2 haploid spermatids (Fig 4E, white arrows, S14 Video). When the RB was formed, NMY-2 appeared as punctate structures distributed throughout the entire cortex of the RB, whereas SPE-15 was specifically enriched at the constriction and cleavage site at which spermatids and the RB are separated (Fig 4E, yellow arrows, S14 Video). Altogether, these data indicate that myosin VI, but not myosin II, is required for the final cytokinesis.

Defective cytokinesis may lead to retraction of polarized spermatids and generation of nucleus-containing residual bodies. Nucleus-containing RBs may be recognized and removed by the phagocytic pathway, similar to nucleus-free RBs (S5A Fig) [7]. We examined accumulation of nucleus-containing RBs in cell death abnormality 1 (ced-1) mutants, which lack the phagocytic receptor CED-1 and are defective in RB clearance [7]. We found that very few residual bodies contained nuclei in ced-1;him-5 (6%), indicating normal cytokinesis and spermatid release (S5B Fig). By contrast, all RBs in ced-1spe- 15(hc75) contained nuclei, indicating that loss of SPE-15 causes defective cytokinesis in vivo (S5B Fig). Loss of spe-15 also affected spermatid activation in vitro, likely due to incorrect cytoplasm segregation (S5C Fig) [16]. spe-15(lf) hermaphrodites produced much fewer self-progeny than wild-type worms (S5D Fig). After mating with him-5 males, the number of cross progenies derived from wild-type and mutant worms was similar, suggesting that the infertility is caused by defects in spermatids but not oocytes (S5E Fig). In line with this, spe-15(lf) hermaphrodites produced a high percentage of unfertilized eggs, confirming spermatid defects (S5F Fig). These data indicate that myosin VI–mediated cytokinesis is essential for spermatid release and fertility.

Myosin VI and F-actin form an actomyosin VI contractile ring to promote cytokinesis

We found that both Latrunculin A and Jasplakinolide treatment suppressed membrane constriction as in spe-15 mutants, which indicates that membrane constriction requires polymerization and depolymerization of actin filaments (Fig 5A and 5B). We examined the dynamics of GFP::SPE-15 and F-actin simultaneously and found that SPE-15 was recruited to the cell cortex upon entry into meiosis II, concomitant with the temporal increase of cortical actin (S6A Fig). Then, SPE-15 and F-actin comigrated from the spermatid pole to the RB and accumulated at the site where membrane constriction occurred (Figs 5C and S6B and S6C). Thus, SPE-15 and F-actin may act together to regulate cytokinesis between spermatids and the RB. By visualizing SPE-15 and F-actin in 3 dimensions, we observed that SPE-15 formed ring-like structures, and contraction of the ring was concomitant with sealing of the cortical actin (Fig 5D). We treated spermatocytes that contain enriched SPE-15 at the spermatid–RB boundary with 5% NP40. Both spermatids and RBs were permeabilized by NP40, whereas the SPE-15/F-actin rings remained (Fig 5E and S15 Video). We found that the subcortical actin cytoskeleton in RBs disappeared much faster than the SPE-15/F-actin ring during treatment (Fig 5E and S15 Video). This suggests that SPE-15 and the associated actin filaments form stable actomyosin VI rings, which may contract to promote cytokinesis.

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Fig 5. Myosin VI and F-actin form an actomyosin VI contractile ring to control cytokinesis.

(A and B) Time-lapse images of the secondary spermatocytes (dissected from him-5 males) that undergo cytokinesis in the presence of Latrunculin A or Jasplakinolide. Arrows indicate the spermatid–RB connection and defective cytokinesis. The percentage of connections with the representative pattern is shown at the top right corner. n indicates the number of connections that were followed and quantified. (C) Time-lapse images showing differentiation of a spermatid dissected from a him-5 male expressing GFP::SPE-15 and further stained by SiR-actin. White arrows indicate movement of a SPE-15–positive SiR-actin punctum from the spermatid pole to the RB. (D) Reconstituted 3D time-lapse images showing differentiation of connected spermatids dissected from him-5 males expressing GFP::SPE-15 and further stained by SiR-actin. Arrows indicate contraction of the SPE-15 ring and sealing of the cortical actin. (E) Reconstituted 3D time-lapse images showing resistance of the actomyosin VI ring to detergent treatment; 2D images in the bottom row show disruption of spermatids and RBs by detergent. Scale bars: 5 μm. GFP, green fluorescent protein; RB, residual body; SiR, silicon-rhodamine; SPE-15, defective spermatogenesis 15.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000211.g005

GIPC cooperates with myosin VI to regulate actomyosin VI ring formation and spermatid release

Myosin VI regulates various membrane trafficking processes through interactions with different partners. We performed yeast two-hybrid screening to search for SPE-15–interacting proteins and identified GIPC-1 and GIPC-2. They are members of the RGS-GAIP-interacting protein C terminus (GIPC) family, which act as cargo adaptors to load a variety of cargos for myosin VI–dependent endosomal trafficking [34]. GIPC-1 and GIPC-2 are almost identical in amino acid sequence and are highly expressed during spermatogenesis (S6D Fig) [33]. We found that both GIPC-1 and GIPC-2 interacted with SPE-15 through its RRL motif, which is located in the cargo-binding domain (CBD) and is known to mediate the interaction of myosin VI with adaptor proteins (Figs 6A and 6B and S6E) [35, 36]. We used CRISPR/Cas9 to generate premature stop-codon mutations of gipc-1 and gipc-2 and a point mutation of spe-15, qx529, in which the RRL motif is mutated to AAA (S6D and S6E Fig). We found that cytokinesis was impeded in gipc-1;gipc-2 double mutants and in spe-15(qx529). In these worms, the spermatids failed to separate from RBs, and the cortical actin was not sealed (Fig 6C–6E). This suggests that GIPCs and their interactions with SPE-15/myosin VI are important for myosin VI–mediated cytokinesis for spermatid release.

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Fig 6. GIPC interacts with myosin VI to regulate actomyosin VI ring formation and spermatid release.

(A and B) GIPC-1 (A) or GIPC-2 (B) is coprecipitated by the CBD of wild-type SPE-15 but not the AAA SPE-15 mutant (R1067A, R1068A, and L1069A). (C and D) Time-lapse images of meiosis and differentiation in 2 connected secondary spermatocytes dissected from gipc-1;gipc-2;him-5 (C) or spe-15(qx529);him-5(e1490) (D) males. White arrows indicate the pseudo-cleavage furrow between 2 undifferentiated spermatids. Double-headed arrows indicate RB expansion during spermatid differentiation. Yellow arrows point to the spermatid–RB connections and indicate cytokinesis defects. Numbers of released spermatids/total spermatids were quantified and are shown in the top right corner. (E) Time-lapse analysis of the cytokinesis process in SiR-actin–stained spermatids/RBs from the indicated strains. White arrows indicate sites of cytokinesis. Numbers of sealed spermatids/total spermatids were quantified and are shown in the top right corner. DIC images of spermatids and RBs at the start time point (0 min, inset) are shown. (F) Fluorescence images of RBs with attached spermatids in the indicated strains stained by anti-GIPC and anti-SPE-15 antibody. White arrows point to spermatid–RB connections. (G) Fluorescence images of an RB with 4 attached spermatids dissected from him-5 or gipc-1;gipc-2;him-5 males expressing GFP::SPE-15. White arrows point to a spermatid–RB connection. Scale bars: 5 μm. CBD, cargo-binding domain; DIC, differential interference contrast; GFP, green fluorescent protein; GIPC, RGS-GAIP-interacting protein C terminus; IB, immunoblotting; IP, immunoprecipitation; RB, residual body; SiR, silicon-rhodamine; SPE-15, defective spermatogenesis 15.

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000211.g006

We generated an antibody that recognizes both GIPC-1 and GIPC-2 and stained GIPC and SPE-15 simultaneously. GIPC and SPE-15 both accumulated at the constriction region between spermatids and the RB, while only faint signals were detected at the spermatid poles (Figs 6F and S6F). Loss of GIPCs disrupted accumulation of SPE-15 between spermatids and the RB, indicating that GIPC is required for formation of the actomyosin VI contractile ring (Fig 6F and 6G). Enrichment of GIPC at the cleavage region was completely abolished in spe-15(hc75) mutants, indicating that GIPC localization requires SPE-15/myosin VI (Fig 6F). In agreement with this, neither SPE-15 nor GIPC was enriched at the cleavage region in spe-15(qx529) mutants, in which the SPE-15-GIPC interaction is disrupted (Fig 6F). Altogether, these data indicate that GIPC and SPE-15 cooperate to regulate contractile ring formation and spermatid release.

We found that cytoplasm segregation was impaired in gipc-1;gipc-2 double mutants and spe-15(qx529) mutants (S3B, S3C and S3F Fig). Moreover, gipc-1;gipc-2 and spe-15(qx529) contained a high percentage of nucleus-containing RBs, consistent with defective cytokinesis in vivo (S5B Fig). Furthermore, gipc-1;gipc-2 and spe-15(qx529) affected spermatid activation in vitro and caused infertility due to defects in spermatids (S5C–S5F Fig). These phenotypes resembled those in spe-15(lf), which further suggests that GIPCs act as the key regulator of SPE-15/myosin VI in spermatid differentiation.

C. elegans strains

Strains of C. elegans were cultured and maintained using standard protocols. N2 Bristol strain hermaphrodites and him-5(e1490) (linkage group [LG] V) males were used as the wild-type strain. The following mutant strains were used in this work: LG I: spe-15(hc75), spe-15(ok153), spe-15(qx529), nmy-2(ne3409), and ced-1(e1735); LG III: gipc-1(qx478); and LG IV: gipc-2(qx479). The reporter strains used in this study include cp13 (NMY-2::GFP) [49], qx654 (NMY-2::mCherry), qx506 (GFP::SPE-15), qx548(RPL-5::GFP), qxIs91 (P_ced-1CED-1::GFP), zbIs2 (P_pie-1LifeACT::RFP), stIs10027 (P_his-72HIS-72::GFP), tjIs54 (P_pie-1GFP::TBB-2 + P_pie-12xmCherry::TBG-1), and itIs37(P_pie-1mCherry::H2B) [50].

spe-15(qx529), gipc-1(qx478), gipc-2(qx479), qx506, qx654, and qx548 were generated by genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9 according to the method below. spe-15(qx529) contains the amino acid substitutions R1067A, R1068A, and L1069A. gipc-1(qx478) and gipc-2(qx479) contain premature stop codons after E44 and V53, respectively. stIs10027 and itIs37 were kindly provided by Z. Bao (Sloan Kettering Institute, New York, NY). All the other stains were provided by the Caenorhabditis Genetics Center.

spe-15(hc75) contains a premature stop codon (W804stop), and spe-15(ok153) contains a deletion that results in truncation of the motor domain of the SPE-15a isoform [16]. nmy-2(ne3409) is a temperature-sensitive allele that contains the amino acid substitution L981P [32]. The encoded protein is nonfunctional at 25°C. nmy-2(ne3409) worms were maintained at 16°C and were switched to 25°C for time-lapse recording and phenotypic analyses.

Genome editing using CRISPR/Cas9

Genome editing was performed according to the protocol from Paix and colleagues [51]. The 19 bp gene-specific guide sequence was constructed in pDD162 (Addgene #770047)—which has a gRNA backbone and a Cas9 gene—by site-directed mutagenesis using the following primers: PSL129/130 for gipc-1(qx478), PSL139/140 for gipc-2(qx479), PSYC843/844 for spe-15(qx529), PJYH59/60 for qx506, PJYH319/320 for qx654, and PYBL135/136 for qx548. The following repair templates, which are less than 120 nt, were synthesized directly and used as single-stranded templates: PSL131 for gipc-1(qx478), PSL141 for gipc-2(qx479), and PSYC845 for spe-15(qx529). For easier selection of desired mutations, restriction enzyme recognition sites were included in (Xba I in gipc-1, Nco I in gipc-2) or excluded from (EcoR I in spe-15) the repair DNA sequences. Longer double-stranded templates were generated by PCR using primers containing homology arms: PJYH61/62 for qx506, PJYH428/429 for qx654, and PYBL147/PYBL148 for qx548. To prepare the injection mixture, pDD162 containing a gRNA sequence and the Cas9 gene was diluted to a final concentration of 20 ng/μl, short linear DNA templates were diluted to 1 μM, and longer templates were diluted to 50 ng/μl. An oligonucleotide template for dpy-10 repair and a pDD162 construct containing a dpy-10 gRNA were included in the injection mixture for F1 screening. F1 worms showing roller or dumpy phonotypes were singled. Worm lysates were used for PCR or PCR followed by restriction enzyme digestion to identify worms containing the desired DNA changes. All strains generated by genome editing were outcrossed 4 times before use. Primers and oligonucleotide templates used for CRIPSPR/Cas9 are included in S1 Table.

In vitro culture of C. elegans spermatocytes and live-cell imaging

L4-stage males with rounded tails were picked and placed on fresh OP50-seeded plates and grown for 1 to 2 d. The celibate males were then transferred to a new plate without bacteria and allowed to crawl for a few minutes. Three to 5 μl of Leibovitz's L-15 medium (Gibco 21083–027) containing 15% FBS (Pan p11606) was added onto a clean slide. Three to 5 males were quickly dissected in the medium using 2 needles to release the spermatocytes. A clean coverslip was carefully placed over the sample and then sealed with a mixture of beeswax and Vaseline (1:1) for imaging.

Spermatocytes at different developmental stages were distinguished by differential interference contrast (DIC) morphology observed using a 10× objective. Fluorescence images were captured using a 100× objective (CFI Plan Apochromat Lambda; NA 1.45; Nikon) with immersion oil (type NF) on an inverted fluorescence microscope (Eclipse Ti-E; Nikon) equipped with a spinning-disk confocal scanner unit (UltraView; PerkinElmer) with 488 (emission filter 525 [W50]), 561 (dual-band emission filter 445 [W60] and 615 [W70]), and 635 (dual-band emission filter 485 [W60] and 705 [W90]) lasers. For time-lapse recording, images were captured at intervals ranging from 10 s to 1 min (10 s, 15 s, 20 s, 30 s, or 1 min) at 20°C or 25°C. The room temperature was adjusted to 20°C or 25°C before images were taken. The Z stage was adjusted as required to focus on the middle section of spermatocytes. Images were viewed and analyzed using Volocity software (PerkinElmer). For 3D reconstruction, images in 13 z series (0.5 μm/section) were captured every 1 min at 20°C and were viewed and reconstituted using Volocity software (PerkinElmer).

Time-lapse recording with DIC alone was performed using a 100× objective (Plan-Neofluar; NA 1.40; Carl Zeiss) with Immersol 518F oil (Carl Zeiss) on an Axioimager M2 microscope (Carl Zeiss) equipped with an AxioCam monochrome digital camera (Carl Zeiss). Images were captured every 10 s at 20°C or 25°C. The Z stage was adjusted as required to focus on the middle section of spermatocytes. Images were processed and viewed using ZEN 2 software (Carl Zeiss).

nmy-2(ne3490) spermatocytes in the sealed slides were kept at 25°C for at least 2 min before imaging to ensure the protein became nonfunctional. The temperature was maintained at 25°C during time-lapse recording.

Vital stain labeling and drug treatment

SiR-actin (Spirochrome SC001) and SiR-tubulin (Spirochrome SC002) were used for live-cell imaging with a final concentration of 1 μM. Worms were dissected in culture medium containing 1 μM SiR-actin or SiR-tubulin and incubated for 5 min at 20°C in the dark before imaging in the same medium. Mitochondria in the released spermatocytes were labeled and imaged in culture medium containing 50 nM Mitotracker Red CMXRos (ThermoFisher M7512). Nuclei were labeled with 1 μg/ml Hoechst 33342 (ThermoFisher 62249) or 50 nM DRAQ5 (ThermoFisher 62254) in culture medium.

For drug treatment, a final concentration of 0.3 μg/ml Latrunculin A (Sigma L5163) or 5 μM Jasplakinolide (Abcam ab141409) was utilized. Worms were dissected in culture medium containing Latrunculin A or Jasplakinolide and incubated for 1 to 2 min at 20°C before imaging in the same medium. Temperature was maintained at 20°C during time-lapse recording.

Detergent treatment

Three to five celibate young males were dissected in 2 μl culture medium containing 2 μM SiR-actin on a glass-bottom dish (NEST 801002). A piece of wet tissue was placed in the dish to prevent medium evaporation. The dish was kept in the dark for 5 min at 20°C before adding 2 μl Matrigel (Corning 356234) to make the medium solid. Images in 13 z series (0.5 μm/section) were captured every 30 s for 30 min at 20°C using a spinning-disk confocal scanner unit (UltraView; PerkinElmer). The amount of 10 μl 5% NP-40 (Fluka 74358) was added on top of the solid medium after the first time point. Images were viewed and analyzed using Volocity software (PerkinElmer).

Yeast two-hybrid screen

The ProQuest (ThermoFisher) yeast two-hybrid system was used to search for SPE-15 partners using the CBD (Q1031-P1219) of SPE-15 as a bait. SPE-15(CBD)::FLAG was constructed in pDBLeu, and protein expression was determined by western blot. The optimal concentration of 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole was determined by self-activation testing of SPE-15 (CBD). A library of C. elegans cDNA in pPC86 was then screened using pDBleu-SPE-15(CBD)::FLAG. Transformants were selected on synthetic complete (SC) medium lacking leucine, tryptophan, and histidine (SC-Leu-Trp-His) with optimal 3-amino-1,2,4-triazole for the activation of the reporter gene HIS3. The positive transformations were sequenced to identify the gene.

Coimmunoprecipitation

FLAG::SPE-15 (CBD), FLAG::SPE-15(CBD) (RRL to AAA), MYC::GIPC-1, and MYC::GIPC-2 were all constructed in pET21b. Proteins were expressed in and purified from Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3) using Ni-NTA resin (Qiagen 30210). For coimmunoprecipitation, 4 μg FLAG::SPE-15(CBD) or 8 to 12 μg FLAG::SPE-15(CBD) (RRL to AAA) was mixed with 4 μg MYC::GIPC-1 or MYC::GIPC-2 in 400 μl TBST (50 mM Tris-HCl [pH 7.5], 300 mM NaCl, and 0.1% Tween 20) and rotated at 4°C for 2 h. The amount of 20 μl anti-FLAG M2 magnetic beads (Sigma M8823) was added to each tube and rotated at 4°C for another 4 h. Beads were collected by applying the tube to a magnetic separator. Supernatant was removed carefully. Beads were washed 3 times for 10 min each in TBST before bound proteins were resolved with SDS-PAGE and revealed by western blotting with anti-MYC antibody (rabbit, sc-789; Santa Cruz).

Antibody generation

Full-length GIPC-2 protein with six histidine residues (plasmid pET21b-MYC::GIPC-2) was expressed in and purified from E. coli BL21 (DE3) using Ni-NTA resin (Qiagen 30210), then used to raise rabbit polyclonal antibody. The anti-GIPC-2 antibody recognized both GIPC-1 and GIPC-2 in a western blot analysis using recombinant proteins. The antibody was further purified as described previously [52]. A C-terminal fragment of SPE-15a protein (amino acids 838–1219) fused with 6 histidine residues was expressed in and purified from E. coli BL21 (DE3) using Ni-NTA resin (Qiagen 30210), then used to raise mouse monoclonal antibody.

Immunostaining

Slides were coated with poly-lysine (5%) and marked with a small circle using a PAP pen after drying. Twenty males were dissected in 20 μl SM buffer (50 mM HEPES, 25 mM KCl, 45 mM NaCl, 1 mM MgSO₄, 5 mM CaCl₂, 10 mM dextrose [pH 7.8]) to release spermatocytes and sperm. 20 μl 4% paraformaldehyde (PFA) was added after removal of extra SM buffer, and the slides were kept at room temperature for 15 min. After removal of PFA, 20 μl 4% PFA containing 5% Triton X-100 was added, and the slides were kept for a further 10 min at room temperature. A coverslip was placed on top of the sample, and the slide was frozen on a block that had been cooled in liquid nitrogen while applying gentle pressure to remove the coverslip. The amount of 40 μl PBS (137 mM NaCl, 2.7 mM KCl, 10 mM Na₂HPO₄, 1.8 mM KH₂PO₄ [pH 7.4]) containing 1% BSA and 10% serum was added to each sample and kept for 1 h to block nonspecific antigens. After removing the blocking buffer, 50 μl fresh primary antibodies (1:200) diluted in blocking buffer was added to each sample and kept overnight at 4°C or 2 h at room temperature. The samples were rinsed 3 times for 10 min each in PBST (PBS containing 0.2% Tween 20), and then were incubated with fluorescently labeled secondary antibodies (1:500) and/or rhodamine-conjugated phalloidin (ThermoFisher R415) (1:10,000) for 45 min in the dark. After 3 rinses with PBST, a drop of mounting medium with DAPI was added to each sample, and a coverslip was placed on top and sealed with nail polish. Images were taken using a spinning-disk confocal microscope.

Quantification of nucleus-containing residual bodies

Males were dissected in culture medium containing 1 μg/ml Hoechst 33342, which stains nuclei. Nucleus-containing residual bodies were recognized by their larger size, the small and condensed nuclei, and the inhomogeneous cytoplasm. To confirm the numbers of nuclei in each RB, z-stack images were taken and examined. At least 5 worms were dissected, and more than 50 residual bodies were analyzed in each strain.

Quantification of mitochondria in residual bodies

L4-stage nmy-2;him-5 and him-5 males were picked and placed on fresh OP50-seeded plates and grown for 36 h at 25°C. Males were dissected in culture medium containing 50 nM MitoTracker Red and kept at 25°C for at least 30 min. Confocal images were taken, and the number of mitochondria in RB-like structures with attached sperm was quantified. At least 20 RB-like structures were quantified in each strain.

Time-lapse analyses were performed using spermatocytes dissected from spe-15;him-5 or him-5 males in culture medium containing 50 nM MitoTracker Red. The number of mitochondria in RBs was quantified at 2 time points: (1) when residual body morphology was clearly seen; (2) when spermatids started to be released from the residual body in him-5 (approximately 20 min from time point 1), or when spermatids started to retract in spe-15;him-5 (approximately 15 min from time point 1). At least 20 movies were taken and analyzed for each strain.

Mating assay

L4-stage him-5(e1490) males with rounded tails and L4-stage hermaphrodites from different genetic backgrounds were picked and placed on different fresh OP50-seeded plates for 12 h before mating. The mating assay was carried out by placing 18 celibate him-5(e1490) males and 4 celibate hermaphrodites on the same mating plate for 12 h. Each hermaphrodite was transferred to a new plate, and the progeny produced in the first 24 h were quantified.

Quantification of unfertilized eggs

More than 15 L4-stage hermaphrodites were singled into fresh OP50-seeded plates. Worms were transferred into new plates every 24 h until no eggs were laid. Each time after worms were transferred, the plates were kept for 24 h to allow hatching of the eggs. The progeny were quantified by counting the number of hatched larvae. Unfertilized eggs were stained by adding 5 or 6 drops of 0.025% trypan blue (Amresco k940) onto each plate and were recognized and quantified by their squashy, disc-like shape and their brownish pigmentation because of permeation of the dye. All progeny and unfertilized eggs from the same hermaphrodite were counted, and the percentage of unfertilized eggs was quantified by dividing the total number of unfertilized eggs by the sum of progeny and unfertilized eggs.

In vitro sperm activation assay

L4-stage males with rounded tails were picked and placed on fresh OP50-seeded plates and grown for 1 to 2 d. The celibate males were then transferred to a new plate without bacteria and allowed to crawl for a few minutes. A slide was marked with a small circle using a PAP pen. About 10 males were dissected in 30 to 50 μL SM buffer containing Pronase E (200 μg/ml) in the circle. After activation for 5 min, a coverslip was gently placed on the surface of the dissected sample, and spermatids or spermatozoa with different morphologies were observed using a 100× oil immersion objective.

Quantification of fluorescence intensity in sperm

To quantify fluorescence intensity (reporter or immunostaining) in released sperm, images of the same reporter/antibody in the different strains were taken under the same conditions using a 100× objective on a spinning-disk confocal microscope. Background subtraction was performed manually by subtracting the intensity of a background region with the same size as a sperm. The mean intensity of him-5 sperm was normalized to “1” for comparison. At least 30 sperm were quantified in each strain for RPL-5, actin, and tubulin. At least 15 sperm were quantified for NMY-2.

Statistical analysis

The SD was used as y-axis error bars for bar charts plotted from the mean value of the data. Data derived from different genetic backgrounds were compared by one-way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test as indicated in the figure legends. Data were considered statistically different at P < 0.05, *P < 0.05, and **P < 0.0001.

Plasmid construction

To generate pDBleu-SPE-15(CBD)::FLAG, a cDNA fragment (3091–3660) of the spe-15 a isoform was amplified using primers PSYC728/729 and was ligated into pDBleu through Nhe I/Nco I. To generate pET21b-FLAG::SPE-15(CBD), FLAG::SPE-15(CBD) was amplified from pDBleu-SPE-15(CBD)::FLAG using primers PSYC834/835 and was cloned into pET21b through Nhe I/Hind III. To introduce mutations (R1067A, R1068A, and L1069A) into pET21b-FLAG::SPE-15(CBD), site-directed mutagenesis was performed using primers PSYC846/847. To construct pET21b-MYC::GIPC-1 and pET21b-MYC::GIPC-2, MYC::GIPC-1 and MYC::GIPC-2 were amplified with PSYC874/838 and PSYC840/841, and then ligated into pET21b through Nhe I/Hind III. To generate pET21b-SPE-15a (amino acids 838–1219)∷6xHis, a cDNA fragment (2512–3660) of the spe-15 a isoform was amplified using primers PHBW399/401 and was ligated into pET21b through Nde I/Hind III. Primers used for plasmid construction are included in S2 Table.