Abstract
Centrioles form centrosomes that organize microtubules, assist in cell structure, and nucleate cilia that provide motility and sensation. Within the sperm, the centrosome consists of two centrioles (proximal and distal centriole) and a pericentriolar material known as the striated column and capitulum. The distal centriole nucleates the flagellum. Mice spermatozoa, unlike other mammal spermatozoa (e.g., human and bovine), have no ultra-structurally recognizable centrioles, but their neck has the centriolar proteins POC1B and FAM161A, suggesting mice spermatozoa have remnant centrioles. Here, we examine whether other centriolar proteins, CP110 and CEP135, found in the human and bovine spermatozoa centrioles are also found in the mouse spermatozoa neck. CP110 is a tip protein controlling ciliogenesis, and CEP135 is a centriole-specific structural protein in the centriole base of canonical centrioles found in most cell types. Here, we report that CP110 and CEP135 were both located in the mice spermatozoa neck around the proximal centriolar remnants labeled by POC1B, increasing the number of centriolar proteins found in the mice spermatozoa neck, further supporting the hypothesis that a remnant proximal centriole is present in mice.