Remarkably high activities of testicular cytochrome c in destroying reactive oxygen species and in triggering apoptosis

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0603327103
• Publication Date: 2006-06-07T02:07:29Z
• Authors: Zhe Liu; Hao Lin; Sheng Ye; Qin-ying Liu; Zhaohui Meng; Chuan-mao Zhang; Yongjing Xia; Emanuel Margoliash; Zihe Rao; Xiang-jun Liu
• Keywords: Mitochondrial respiratory chain; Apoptosome

Hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) is the major reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced in sperm. High concentrations of H(2)O(2) sperm induce nuclear DNA fragmentation and lipid peroxidation result cell death. The respiratory chain mitochondrion one most productive ROS generating systems sperm, thus destruction mitochondria critical for cell. It was recently reported that generated by can be efficiently destroyed cytochrome c-mediated electron-leak pathway where electron ferrocytochrome c migrates directly to instead oxidase. In our studies, we found mouse testis-specific (T-Cc) catalyze reduction three times faster than its counterpart somatic cells (S-Cc) T-Cc heme has greater resistance being degraded H(2)O(2). Together, these findings strongly imply protect from damages caused Moreover, apoptotic activity five S-Cc a well established apoptosis measurement system using Xenopus egg extract. dramatically stronger might important suicide male germ cells, considered physiological mechanism regulates number eliminates those with damaged DNA. Thus, it very likely evolved guarantee biological integrity mammalian testis.