Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40346547›Full record

ArticleCellular & molecular biology letters2025

Multi-omics integration reveals Vha68-3 as a testicular aging-specific factor that coordinates spermatid elongation through mitochondrial metabolic homeostasis.

Jun Yu, Qiuru Huang, Yangbo Fu, Lei He, Cong Shen, Xia Chen, Zhiran Li, Jiaxin Li, Chenyu Wang, Xinda Wang and 9 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cellular & molecular biology letters, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

19 authors.

Jun Yu *Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China. yujun9117@126.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3109-4102
Qiuru Huang *Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
Yangbo Fu *Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
Lei HeInstitute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
Cong ShenState Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Center for Reproduction and Genetics, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215002, China.
Xia ChenInstitute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
Zhiran LiDepartment of Andrology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, 210008, China.
Jiaxin LiInstitute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
Chenyu WangInstitute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
Xinda WangInstitute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
Binbin YangInstitute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
Ziwen LinInstitute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
Chen QiaoDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, China.
Xiaofang TanReproductive Medicine Center, The Affiliated Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
Xiaoqing YangDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China.
Hao ChenGuangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, GMU-GIBH Joint School of Life Science, The Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Cell Fate Regulation and Diseases, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 511495, China.
Ying ZhengDepartment of Histology and Embryology, School of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
Bo ZhengState Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Center for Reproduction and Genetics, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, 215002, China. bozheng@njmu.edu.cn.
Fei SunInstitute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong, 226001, China. sunfei@ntu.edu.cn.

Funding

Basic Research Foundation of Zhenjiang JC2024024Key Research and Development Program of Zhejiang Province 2023C03035Medical Research Project of Jiangsu Provincial Health Commission M2022071Nantong Project of Science and Technology MS12022027National Natural Science Foundation of China 32470899National Natural Science Foundation of China 32470903National Natural Science Foundation of China 82271633National Natural Science Foundation of China 82371613National Natural Science Foundation of China 82401874National Natural Science Foundation of China 82471641National Natural Science Foundation of China U24A20657Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province BK20221376Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province BK20241858Scientific Research Project of Gusu School of Nanjing Medical University GSKY202410304Suzhou Gu Su Health Talent Research Project GSWS2023056
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundTesticular aging has profound effects on spermatogenesis, sperm function, and the spermatogenic microenvironment, contributing to reduced male fertility. However, the precise molecular mechanisms by which mitochondria influence spermiogenesis during aging still remain largely unclear.

methodsVha68-3 KO flies were generated using the CRISPR/Cas9 technique. Testicular phenotypes and functions were mainly observed through immunofluorescence staining and transmission electron microscopy. Multi-omics study was mainly conducted through single-cell RNA sequencing and transcriptome-metabolomics association analysis. Vha68-3 binding proteins were identified via liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The therapeutic potential of modulating mitochondrial metabolism for testicular aging mainly relied on the dietary intake of related compounds in fruit flies.

resultsIn this study, we identified Vha68-3, a testis-specific subunit of the V-type adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthase, predominantly localized in the tails of elongated spermatids, as a key age-related regulator of male fertility and spermatid elongation in Drosophila testes. Crucially, Vha68-3 deficiency impaired mitochondrial homeostasis in elongated spermatids during testicular aging. Through a multi-omics approach, including single-cell transcriptomics, protein interaction mapping of Vha68-3, and transcriptome-metabolome integration, we identified pyruvate metabolism as a critical pathway disrupted by Vha68-3 deficiency. Moreover, dietary supplementation with pyruvate (PA), S-lactoylglutathione (SLG), and phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) effectively alleviated mitochondrial dysfunction and testicular aging linked to Vha68-3 deficiency.

conclusionsOur findings uncover novel mechanisms by which mitochondrial metabolism regulates spermatid elongation and propose potential therapeutic strategies to combat mitochondrial metabolic disorders in aging testes.

Indexed as

AgingDrosophila ProteinsMitochondriaSpermatidsTestisAnimalsDrosophila melanogasterHomeostasisMaleMetabolomeMetabolomicsMultiomicsSpermatogenesisDrosophila ProteinsMitochondrial homeostasisMulti-omicsPyruvate metabolismSpermiogenesisTesticular aging

Identifiers

PMID40346547
PMCPMC12065321

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