Characterization of the phosphorylation site of grth/ddx25 and protein kinase a binding interface provides structural basis for the design of a non-hormonal male contraceptive

Characterization of the phosphorylation site of grth/ddx25 and protein kinase a binding interface provides structural basis for the design of a non-hormonal male contraceptive

Play all audios:

Loading...

ABSTRACT Gonadotropin Regulated Testicular Helicase (GRTH/DDX25), expressed in the male gonad, is essential for the completion of spermatogenesis. Our early studies revealed a missense


mutation (R242H) of GRTH in 5.8% of Japanese patient population with azoospermia. Transfection of the mutant GRTH construct in COS-1 cells leads to loss of the 61 kDa cytoplasmic


phospho-species. Mice with knock-in of the human GRTH mutation are sterile and lack sperm with normal androgen and mating behavior. These findings provide an avenue for the development of a


non-hormonal male contraceptive. Using site directed mutagenesis and a site-specific phospho-antibody, we have identified T239, structurally adjacent to the patient’s mutant site as the GRTH


phospho-site. Molecular modelling provided structural basis for the role of R242 and other critical solvent-exposed residues at the GRTH/PKA interface (E165/K240/D237), on the control of


GRTH phosphorylation at T239. Single or double mutations of these residues caused marked reduction or abolition of the phospho-form. These effects can be ascribed to critical disruptions of


intramolecular H-bonds at the GRTH/PKA interface, which leads to modest but consequential structural changes that can affect PKA catalytic efficiency. Inhibition of phosphorylation may be


achieved by small, drug-like molecules that bind to GRTH and reconfigure the GRTH/PKA interface. SIMILAR CONTENT BEING VIEWED BY OTHERS A NEW ROLE OF GRP75-USP1-SIX1 PROTEIN COMPLEX IN


DRIVING PROSTATE CANCER PROGRESSION AND CASTRATION RESISTANCE Article 02 June 2021 STRUCTURE OF THE HUMAN GONADOTROPIN-RELEASING HORMONE RECEPTOR GNRH1R REVEALS AN UNUSUAL LIGAND BINDING


MODE Article Open access 20 October 2020 RESCUE OF MUTANT GONADOTROPIN-RELEASING HORMONE RECEPTOR FUNCTION INDEPENDENT OF COGNATE RECEPTOR ACTIVITY Article Open access 29 June 2020


INTRODUCTION Gonadotropin Regulated Testicular Helicase (GRTH/DDX25) is a member of the DEAD-box family of RNA helicases identified and isolated from rat, mouse, and human testes1,2. This


testis-specific protein expressed in Leydig and germ cells of the male gonad is transcriptionally upregulated by gonadotropin through direct and indirect actions of androgen via androgen


receptor, respectively3,4,5. In Leydig cells, GRTH regulates cholesterol homeostasis via its action on StAR expression6. In germ cells, it is expressed predominantly in meiotic spermatocytes


and round spermatids where is essential for spermatid development and completion of spermatogenesis. GRTH knockout mice lack sperm due to failure of round spermatids to elongate at step 8


of spermiogenesis7. This multifunctional protein participates in the export of relevant mRNAs from nucleus to cytoplasmic sites of germ cells for storage/degradation in chromatoid bodies of


round spermatids and translation, as indicated through its association with actively translating polyribosomes in germ cells8,9. It was also found to be a regulator of miRNA biogenesis10 and


an inhibitor of germ cell apoptosis11. In germ cells of mouse and rat, there are two species of GRTH, a 56 kDa non-phosphorylated form, predominantly found in the nucleus, where it


interacts with CREM and participates in mRNA transport, and the 61 kDa phosphorylated form (pGRTH), present exclusively in the cytosol and found to be associated with polyribosomes. The


non-phospho form was also found in the cytoplasm of germ cells. In COS-1 cells transfected with GRTH cDNA, a similar pattern of expression of these forms was observed8. GRTH phosphorylation


was induced by cAMP in COS-1 cells transfected with GRTH. The phospho-species was significantly increased with overexpression of Protein Kinase A catalytic subunit (PKA-Cα) and prevented by


co-expression of rabbit protein kinase inhibitor (PKI). The 61-kDa species was detected in Western blot by phospho-Thr antibody but not by Ser or Tyr antiserum8. Our previous studies


revealed the presence of a missense mutation of arginine to histidine at position 242 (R242H) in exon 8 of GRTH in 5.8% of Japanese patients with azoospermia12. Transfection of this mutant


in COS-1 cells causes loss of the 61 kDa cytoplasmic phospho- species with preservation of the non-phospho GRTH form12. Recently, a knock-in (KI) model created in our laboratory based on the


R242 to H mutant revealed the functional relevance of this mutation. KI mice are sterile with reduction of testicular size, lacking sperm due to arrest at step 8 of round spermatids and


complete loss of the pGRTH with unchanged non-phospho form. The lack of pGRTH does not affect the levels of plasma testosterone or mating behavior but solely inhibits sperm formation13. In


this study, using site directed mutagenesis, we identified the GRTH/DDX25 phosphorylation site and the critical residues at the GRTH/PKA interface that control the phosphorylation status of


the protein. Changes in basicity in the environment of position 242 upon R to H mutation or local conformational changes induced by this structural perturbation can affect phosphorylation by


PKA at an adjacent putative site. Molecular modeling provided a structural rationale for these effects and guided the selection of residues targeted for mutations that abolish GRTH


phosphorylation. The partial mapping of the phospho-site and the GRTH/PKA interface allowed us to identify critical structural motifs that are necessary for cAMP/PKA binding and/or


catalysis; local perturbation of these motifs can lead to complete abolition of phosphorylation, hence spermatogenic arrest. Collectively, these findings provide an avenue for the


development of a male contraceptive through compounds that mimic the human mutation or that directly or indirectly block the action of PKA on the phosphorylation site selectively and


specifically. RESULTS Based on our initial studies indicating that the cytoplasmic form of GRTH was phosphorylated at a threonine residue8, scanning analysis of consensus PKAα


phosphorylation motifs identified five putative phosphorylation sites at positions 38, 212, 239, 355 and 40812. Site directed mutagenesis and expression of the corresponding constructs in


COS-1 demonstrated that the mutation T239A and R242H completely abolished the 61 kDa phospho-band with preservation of the non-phospho species when compared with wild-type construct (Fig. 


1B,D). Only the non-phospho species was found in the nucleus and cytoplasm of the cells. This resembles the endogenous expression of non-phospho GRTH in germ cells of mouse testis (Fig. 1A).


In contrast, mutations T355A or T212A had no effects (Fig. 1C,E), whereas effective phosphorylation was retained in the T239S mutant (Fig. 1F). Thus, the site of phosphorylation was


unambiguously identified at position 239, which is upstream in the sequence and structurally closed (see below) to the R242H mutation in infertile patients. The PKA recognition sequence


(TKIR) is unusual as a canonical consensus motif14, but recent studies of tissue-specific phospho-sites pS/pT indicate that (pS-X-X-R) is common in testis15. These findings lay the


foundation for further probing and structural analysis of the GRTH/PKA binding interface with the goal to identify potential binding sites for small drug-like molecules that could elicit


similar deleterious effect on T239 phosphorylation as does H242. GRTH/DDX25 contains 483 residues and share all nine conserved motifs of the DEAD-box family of RNA helicases (Q, I, Ia, Ib,


II, III, IV, V, VI)1,2,8,16,17,18. The crystal structure of DDX25 has not been resolved, so it was here modeled based on the structure of DDX19, the member of the family with the closest


amino acid sequence identity (~65%) to DDX25 (Fig. 2). DEAD-box helicases contain two globular domains, 1 and 2, which comprise the conserved regions (Q, I, Ia, Ib, II, III) and (IV, V, VI),


respectively (Fig. 2). Since the phosphorylation site T239 and the critical residue R242 both reside in the region between the conserved sequences Ib and II, modeling was concentrated on


domain 1. Figure 3(A,B) shows the wild-type protein with T239 and R242 and the distribution of basic and acidic residues at the GRTH/PKA interface. These residues are distant from the


binding sites of both RNA and ATP molecules and do not directly interact with the DEAD-box sequence. All these residues are solvent-exposed and engaged in a complex network of intramolecular


H-bond interactions (Fig. 3C), perturbations of which have the potential to abrogate phosphorylation either by directly affecting PKA binding or catalytic activity. Residue E165 interacts


with R242 through two persistent H-bonds; this strong interaction appears to be critical for GRTH phosphorylation since disengagement of R242 by a single E165A mutation highly reduced T239


phosphorylation. Changes in the cytosolic form of GRTH with preservation of the non-phospho form are shown in Western Blots of cytoplasmic extracts of COS-1 cells transfected with wild-type


and mutants GRTH using a polyclonal antibody to GRTH (Fig. 4). Likewise, direct mutation of R242H weakens the strong H-bond interaction with E165 leading to persistent exposure of the


histidine side chain to the solvent (Fig. 3D). This induces changes in both surface electrostatics and H-bond pattern, which may directly affect PKA binding affinity or introduce local


perturbations to indirectly affect transfer of the phosphoryl group to the nearby T239. These perturbations include enhanced/reduced flexibility of the loop containing the PKA recognition


motif (TKIR) due to re-organization of intramolecular H-bonds. The strong double H-bond between R242 and E165 in the wild-type protein can also be disrupted by a single E165A. In this case,


the side chain of R242, unlike H242, rearranges itself to find other intramolecular H-bond partners (most commonly the carbonyl group of R160), which perturbs the PKA binding site in yet


another manner. This single E165A mutation also causes K240 to disengage from T239 and more directly interact with PKA, which may be deleterious to phosphorylation. Similar changes in H-bond


pattern and surface electrostatics occur upon mutation of other solvent-exposed residues, including K240 and D237, both of which greatly impairs phosphorylation at T239 (Fig. 3E,F). Major


changes in H-bond pattern were observed in the double mutant E165A and K240A, which completely abolished phosphorylation, mimicking the effects of the naturally occurring R242H. These


findings were further confirmed using a site-specific phospho-antibody (pT239). The 61 kDa phospho-species was reduced in single mutants E165A, K240A or D237A, and are not detected in the


double mutant E165A and K240A, as is the case of patients with the single R242H mutation and in the T239A mutation of the phospho-site (Fig. 4A,B). Co-expression in COS-1 cells of the


catalytic subunit of PKA with either wild-type GRTH or with the mutants relevant for phosphorylation by endogenous PKA, revealed that overexpression of PKA-Cα minimally relieved the


inhibition of phosphorylation caused by E165A, K240A and D237A to only a small fraction when compared to its effect for wild-type GRTH (Fig. 5A,B). In contrast, it was ineffective when


phosphorylation was completely abolished by either the double mutation E165A + K240A or by R242H, indicating a central role of these residues in the structural integrity of the site, either


for PKA binding or for the efficiency in the phosphoryl transfer. The lack of pGRTH with the T239A mutation further confirm the sole participation of T239 in GRTH phosphorylation. When the


endogenous enzyme was activated by the addition of cAMP to the cultures, changes were like those observed with overexpression of the active enzyme (Fig. 5C,D). Subsequently, the association


of PKA-Cα with GRTH and mutants was examined using Immuno-Precipitation (IP) of COS-1 cells extracts that were transfected with the GRTH-V5 construct alone or co-transfected with the PKA-Cα


using either V5 and PKA-Cα antibodies. We observed co-IP of GRTH and PKA-Cα using either of these antibodies (Fig. 6A–D). The interaction of endogenous PKA with GRTH mutants (E + K and T239)


was reduced compared to GRTH-WT (Fig. 6A,B). However, when PKA-Cα was overexpressed there was no significant change in association of PKA-Cα with GRTH-WT and GRTH mutants (E, E + K and


T239; Fig. 6C,D). These results indicate that the PKA-Cα association with the mutants was not impaired (for overexpressed PKA-Cα) or only mildly reduced (endogenous) when compared with


WT-GRTH or with the single E165A mutation. In contrast, it is the efficiency of the catalytic activity of PKA-Cα that appears to be completely abolished in E + K and T239 mutants [See Fig. 


5]. This demonstrates that mutations at the GRTH/PKA interface lead, at least for the mutations tested, to atomic reconfigurations that are modest enough to still allow binding of the kinase


but strong enough to prevent phosphorylation by a constitutively active catalytic subunit. This lends support to the notion that binding of a small, drug-like molecule at the interface


needs only perturb the atomic arrangement in the environment of T239 to dramatically inhibit the enzyme activity. DISCUSSION In this study we have identified residue T239 as the


phosphorylation site of GRTH. Mutation of T239 abolished the pGRTH cytoplasmic 61 kDa species, whereas the non-phospho 56 kDa form was present in the nucleus and in the cytoplasm of


transfected COS-1 cells. This was further confirmed with a GRTH peptide antiserum and by a highly site-specific phospho-peptide antibody. The GRTH phosphorylation sequence 239TKIR conforms


to the PKA recognition motif pS-X-X-R more common in testis than in other tissues15. Phosphorylation of GRTH was also observed in the mutant S239, although it was found to be less efficient.


There is growing evidence that post-transcriptional modifications, including phosphorylation, of members of the DDX family regulate protein function. These modifications are mostly present


in the divergent flanking sequences (N- and C-terminal), presumably with specific inherent functions; some of these, however, are also present in core region19. GRTH/DDX25 phosphorylation is


relegated exclusively to T239 in the core region and not within any of the conserved domains of the DDX family. The GRTH phospho-species is essential for the cytoplasmic functions of this


helicase, including shuttling of messages to the chromatoid body and polyribosomes, maintenance of the structure of the chromatoid body of the round spermatid, and the expression of messages


relevant for completion spermatogenesis8,13,20. Moreover, the phospho-species differs from the non-phospho form whose functions are concerned with the transport of messages from nuclear to


cytoplasmic sites through a CREM related mechanism. The phospho-site of GRTH resides in the structure adjacent to R242 found as a heterozygous missense mutation to histidine in a Japanese


population of infertile men12. This mutation abolishes phosphorylation of T239, and we have also identified in this study other single and double mutants, not within the PKA consensus


sequence, that are essential for phosphorylation. Molecular modelling based on the crystal structure of the RecA domain 1 of DDX19, which shares overall 65% amino acid identity with GRTH,


has identified relevant structural motifs on the GRTH surface required for productive association with PKA. The binding site is rich in basic and acidic residues that engage in a complex


network of intramolecular H-bonds unique to DDX25. The loop containing the PKA-targeting motif is amid such arrangement and then susceptible to structural changes of the local environment.


The mutual proximity of several charged/H-bond-prone residues renders the binding pocket unstable, leading to topographic reconfiguration upon local perturbations with significant inhibition


or abolition of phosphorylation by PKA. Molecular modeling and mutagenesis analysis led us to conclude that disruption of strong intramolecular H-bonds (between either, E165 and R242 or


between K240 and D237) is the reason for the major reduction of T239 phosphorylation by single mutations (E165A or K240A). Complete abolition was achieved only by the double mutation (E165A


and K240A). Overexpression of the PKA catalytic subunit (PKAc) or its endogenous generation/activation by cAMP partially relieved the reduction induced by the single mutations but was


ineffective in the case of the double mutants, in which case complete abolition was retained (Fig. 5). The present studies have indicated that the deleterious effects induced by the


mutations (here demonstrated for E + K) on the phosphorylation of GRTH for the most part do not stem from a decrement of the PKA-Cα binding affinity for GRTH but it is mostly related to


specific changes in the delicate atomic arrangement of the substrate pocket necessary for catalytic efficiency21. Blocking phosphorylation of T239 in GRTH/DDX25 with a small chemical


compound should thus provide an effective (selective and specific) oral male contraceptive. The results of this study suggest that a small, drug-like molecule that bind to GRTH at the


GRTH/PKA interface could trigger modest by consequential local perturbations with similar effects to those revealed by mutations _in vitro_ (this study) and _in vivo_, leading to abrogation


of spermatogenesis in mice13. The local topography of GRTH which is relatively shallow with no deep crevices (Fig. 3F), may at first sight appear unattractive as a binding site for a


high-affinity, non-toxic drug. However, the unique distribution of basic/acidic surface residues, its sensitivity for perturbations of the pocket that abrogate formation of pGRTH, and the


recognition of the site by PKA to effect competent phosphorylation provide strong impetus for development of an effective pharmacophore22. Virtual and experimental throughput screening using


stable COS-1 cell lines expressing GRTH in combination with our specific pGRTH antiserum should be applicable to the various available current methodologies that could lead to the discovery


of a reversible non-toxic oral male contraceptive drug. MATERIALS AND METHODS MUTAGENESIS Point mutations of human GRTH-plasmids were prepared using the QuikChange II Site-Directed


Mutagenesis Kit (Agilent technologies) as per the protocol. PCR reaction was setup using mutagenesis-grade _PfuUltra_ HF DNA polymerase with the oligonucleotide primers containing the


required point mutation (see Table 1). The PCR product was treated with DpnI supplied with the kit to digest the methylated parental DNA template. The nicked vector plasmid DNA containing


the chosen mutation was then transformed into XL1-Blue cells. The mutated plasmid was selected, confirmed by sequencing, and transfected into COS-1 cells for expression. TRANSIENT


TRANSFECTION OF GRTH CDNA INTO COS-1 CELLS The full-length human GRTH cDNA (pGRTH-SPORT; GenBank Acc # AF155140) was used in the present study1,3. The plasmid DNA was sequenced and confirmed


by the dideoxy-nucleotides chain termination method. COS-1 (ATCC® CRL-1650™) cells were cultured in T75 flask at 37 °C with 5% CO2 containing Dulbecco Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) high


glucose, GlutaMaxTM Supplement, HEPES (#10564011, Thermo Fisher Scientific) supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and 1X Antibiotic-Antimycotic (#15240062, Thermo Fisher Scientific).


Human pGRTH-Sport constructs of wild type (WT) and mutants (see Table 1) were transfected into COS-1 cells with Lipofectamine reagent (Invitrogen). The cells were incubated further for 24 h


before harvesting for western blot analysis. ANALYSIS OF PHOSPHOMODIFICATION OF GRTH IN NORMAL AND MUTANT EXPRESSION To evaluate the effect of protein kinase A (PKA) on phosphorylation of


GRTH-WT and mutants, COS-1 cells were transfected with plasmids (15 μg) expressing full-length GRTH-WT and mutants (E165A, K240A, D237A, E165A + K240A [double mutant], T239A, and R242H)


alone or co-transfected with plasmid (15 µg) expressing the PKA α catalytic subunit (PKAα) in 10 cm culture dish and empty plasmid was used for equalization, and cultured further for 24 hr


after transfection. Cytoplasmic protein was prepared as described below for analysis by Western Blots. In other studies, 8-bromo, 0.05 µM (Sigma, Aldrich), was added to COS-1 cells


transfected with full length GRTH cDNA and further incubated for 24 h at 37 °C. WESTERN BLOT ANALYSIS Nuclear and cytoplasmic protein extracts were prepared from COS-1 cells using NE-PER™


Nuclear and Cytoplasmic Extraction Reagents (#78833; Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA, USA), containing 1 × protease and phosphatase inhibitor cocktail (Thermo Fisher Scientific)


following the manufacturer’s protocol. Cytoplasmic extraction reagents (CER I and II) were added to the cell pellet and centrifuged at ~16,000 × g to obtain the supernatant (cytoplasmic


fraction) leaving the insoluble pellet (nuclear fraction) which was then suspended in ice-cold nuclear extraction reagent (NER). The pellet was vortex for 15 secs for every 10 mins, for a


total of 40 mins to extract the nuclear fraction. Concentration of protein for each extract was determined using Quick Start™ Bradford Protein Assay (#5000201; Bio-Rad). Protein (30 µg)


separated by 4–12% Bis-Tris Protein Gels was transferred to nitrocellulose membranes and incubated with a specific affinity-purified anti-GRTH rabbit polyclonal antibody1 or custom made


affinity purified phospho-site-specific GRTH polyclonal antibody raised in rabbit to the peptide sequence (CKLIDL[pT239]KIRV) of GRTH (1:2000). Goat anti-Rabbit IgG (H + L) Poly-HRP (1:5000)


was used as the secondary antibody and the immunosignals were detected by the FluorChem E system (Protein simple, CA, USA). PKA and pCREB was detected using PKA-Cα and pCREB specific


antibodies (Cell Signaling CA), respectively. The 61 kDa pGRTH band intensity was measured using ImageJ software and normalized with β-actin. IMMUNOPRECIPITATION (IP) COS-1 cells were


transfected with GRTH-V5-His construct alone or co-transfected with the PKA-Cα construct, were lysed using RIPA lysis buffer containing halt protease and phosphatase inhibitor cocktail


(ThermoScientific). Total lysates (0.5 mg) were initially subjected to preclearing by incubation with 50 μl of protein A/G-agarose beads and 1 μg of rabbit IgG in IP binding buffer


(ThermoScientific) with gentle agitation for 30 mins at 4 °C. Then the supernatant was incubated with either 4 μg of V5 antibody or PKA-Cα antibody overnight at 4 °C to co-immunoprecipitate


PKA-Cα or GRTH-V5, respectively. Protein A-agarose beads (50 μl) was added and incubated for 4 h at 4 °C. The IP complex bound to protein A-agarose was washed four times with IP binding


buffer and later eluted from beads using 1x LDS sample buffer (ThermoScientific) at 100 °C for 5 mins. The eluted samples were subjected to Western blot analyses for detection GRTH using


their respective antibodies. MOLECULAR MODELING The structure of DDX25 was modeled by threading its amino acid sequence on the structure of DDX19, which was co-crystalized with an ATP analog


and a short RNA fragment (PDB ID: 3G0H)23,24. DDX19 shares about 65% sequence identity with DDX2525. Only the domain 1, which contains the DEAD-box and R242 was considered, comprising a


total of 233 residues (H80 through L302). Upon removal of ATP and RNA, the wild-type DDX25 protein was subjected to a 20-ns molecular dynamics (MD) simulation to obtain a relaxed


conformation, which was taken as the initial structure for all subsequent simulations. Single or double mutants (Table 1) were created by directly replacing the corresponding amino acid(s)


on the relaxed DDX25 structure. Standard protonation states (pH 7) were used for all residues; histidine residues were unprotonated, although both neutral and protonated H242 were considered


to probe its local effects on surface electrostatics and H-bond patterns. Under these conditions the wild-type protein had a total of 48 charged residues and no net charge. When the mutant


led to a charge imbalance, either Na+ or Cl− were placed randomly in the liquid phase to neutralize the system; no additional ions were added. Simulations were carried out with the all-atoms


(param22) CHARMM force field (c42 version) with PMAP corrections26 in a cubic cell of ~9 nm of side length, filled with TIP3P water, at constant temperature (35 °C) and pressure (1 atm).


Cubic PMC and PME were for the treatment of electrostatics. (For additional details of the simulation setup, see27 and references therein). Upon gradual heating and equilibration, the


simulations were extended up to 50 ns and the last 30 ns were used to collect sufficient statistics for analysis. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS Data are presented as the mean ± SEM of three


independent experiments. Mean values of the data was compared and analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison test using the Prism software


program (GraphPad Prism 7.02 Software, San Diego, CA). A probability of P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. REFERENCES * Tang, P. Z., Tsai-Morris, C. H. & Dufau, M. L.


A novel gonadotropin-regulated testicular RNA helicase. A new member of the dead-box family. _J. Biol. Chem._ 274, 37932–37940 (1999). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  * Dufau, M. L. &


Tsai-Morris, C. H. Gonadotropin-regulated testicular helicase (GRTH/DDX25): an essential regulator of spermatogenesis. _Trends Endocrinol. Metab._ 18, 314–320 (2007). Article  CAS  Google


Scholar  * Sheng, Y., Tsai-Morris, C. H. & Dufau, M. L. Cell-specific and hormone-regulated expression of gonadotropin-regulated testicular RNA helicase gene (GRTH/Ddx25) resulting from


alternative utilization of translation initiation codons in the rat testis. _J. Biol. Chem._ 278, 27796–27803 (2003). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  * Villar, J., Tsai-Morris, C. H., Dai, L.


& Dufau, M. L. Androgen-induced activation of gonadotropin-regulated testicular RNA helicase (GRTH/Ddx25) transcription: essential role of a nonclassical androgen response element


half-site. _Mol. Cell. Biol._ 32, 1566–1580 (2012). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  * Kavarthapu, R. & Dufau, M. L. Germ Cell Nuclear Factor (GCNF/RTR) Regulates Transcription of


Gonadotropin-Regulated Testicular RNA Helicase (GRTH/DDX25) in Testicular Germ Cells-The Androgen Connection. _Mol. Endocrinol._ 29, 1792–1804 (2015). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  *


Fukushima, M., Villar, J., Tsai-Morris, C. H. & Dufau, M. L. Gonadotropin-regulated testicular RNA helicase (GRTH/DDX25), a negative regulator of luteinizing/chorionic gonadotropin


hormone-induced steroidogenesis in Leydig cells: central role of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). _J. Biol. Chem._ 286, 29932–29940 (2011). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  *


Tsai-Morris, C. H., Sheng, Y., Lee, E., Lei, K. J. & Dufau, M. L. Gonadotropin-regulated testicular RNA helicase (GRTH/Ddx25) is essential for spermatid development and completion of


spermatogenesis. _Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA_ 101, 6373–6378 (2004). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Sheng, Y., Tsai-Morris, C. H., Gutti, R., Maeda, Y. & Dufau, M. L.


Gonadotropin-regulated testicular RNA helicase (GRTH/Ddx25) is a transport protein involved in gene-specific mRNA export and protein translation during spermatogenesis. _J. Biol. Chem._ 281,


35048–35056 (2006). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  * Tsai-Morris, C. H., Sato, H., Gutti, R. & Dufau, M. L. Role of gonadotropin regulated testicular RNA helicase (GRTH/Ddx25) on


polysomal associated mRNAs in mouse testis. _PLoS One_ 7, e32470 (2012). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Dai, L. _et al_. Testis-specific miRNA-469 up-regulated in


gonadotropin-regulated testicular RNA helicase (GRTH/DDX25)-null mice silences transition protein 2 and protamine 2 messages at sites within coding region: implications of its role in germ


cell development. _J. Biol. Chem._ 286, 44306–44318 (2011). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  * Gutti, R. K., Tsai-Morris, C. H. & Dufau, M. L. Gonadotropin-regulated testicular helicase


(DDX25), an essential regulator of spermatogenesis, prevents testicular germ cell apoptosis. _J. Biol. Chem._ 283, 17055–17064 (2008). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  * Tsai-Morris, C. H. _et


al_. Polymorphism of the GRTH/DDX25 gene in normal and infertile Japanese men: a missense mutation associated with loss of GRTH phosphorylation. _Mol. Hum. Reprod._ 13, 887–892 (2007).


Article  CAS  Google Scholar  * Kavarthapu, R. _et al._ Targeted Knock-In Mice with a Human Mutation in GRTH/DDX25 Reveals the Essential Role of Phosphorylated GRTH in Spermatid Development


during Spermatogenesis. _Hum. Mol. Genet_. https://doi.org/10.1093/hmg/ddz079 (2019). * Shabb, J. B. Physiological substrates of cAMP-dependent protein kinase. _Chem. Rev._ 101, 2381–2411


(2001). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  * Karabulut, N. P. & Frishman, D. Sequence- and structure-based analysis of tissue-specific phosphorylation sites. _PLoS One_ 11, e015789 (2016).


Article  Google Scholar  * Schmid, S. R. & Linder, P. D-E-A-D protein family of putative RNA helicases. _Mol. Microbiol._ 6, 283–291 (1992). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  * Linder, P.


Dead-box proteins: a family affair-active and passive players in RNP-remodeling. _Nucleic Acids Res._ 34, 4168–4180 (2006). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  * Cordin, O., Banroques, J., Tanner,


N. K. & Linder, P. The DEAD-box protein family of RNA helicases. _Gene_ 367, 17–37 (2006). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  * Gustafson, E. A. & Wessel, G. M. DEAD-box helicases:


posttranslational regulation and function. _Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun._ 395, 1–6 (2010). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  * Sato, H., Tsai-Morris, C. H. & Dufau, M. L. Relevance of


gonadotropin-regulated testicular RNA helicase (GRTH/DDX25) in the structural integrity of the chromatoid body during spermatogenesis. _Biochim. Biophys. Acta_ 1803, 534–543 (2010). Article


  CAS  Google Scholar  * Madhusudan, Akamine, P., Xuong, N. H. & Taylor, S. S. Crystal structure of a transition state mimic of the catalytic subunit of cAMP-dependent protein kinase.


_Nat. Struct. Biol._ 9, 273–277 (2002). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  * Cardone, A., Brady, M., Sriram, R., Pant, H. C. & Hassan, S. A. Computational Study of the Inhibitory Mechanism of


Kinase CDK5 Hyperactivity by Peptide p5 and Derivation of a Pharmacophore. _J. Comput. Aided Mol. Des._ 30, 513–521 (2016). Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar  * Von Moeller, H., Basquin, C.


& Conti, E. The mRNA export protein DBP5 binds RNA and the cytoplasmic nucleoporin NUP214 in a mutually exclusive manner. _Nat. Struct. Mol. Biol._ 16, 247–254 (2009). Article  Google


Scholar  * Collins, R. _et al_. The DEXD/H-box RNA helicase DDX19 is regulated by an {alpha}-helical switch. _J. Bio. Chem._ 284, 10296–10300 (2009). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  *


Tsai-Morris, C. H., Lei, S., Jiang, Q., Sheng, Y. & Dufau, M. L. Genomic organization and transcriptional analysis of gonadotropin-regulated testicular RNA helicase-GRTH/DDX25 gene.


_Gene_ 331, 83–94 (2004). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  * Brooks, B. R. _et al_. CHARMM: The biomolecular simulation program. _J. Comp. Chem._ 30, 1545–1614 (2009). Article  CAS  Google


Scholar  * Hassan, S. A. Amino acid side chain interactions in the presence of salts. _J. Phys. Chem. B_ 109, 21989–21996 (2005). Article  CAS  Google Scholar  Download references


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This work was supported by the NIH Intramural Research Program through the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, and the Center


for Information Technology. The study utilized the high-performance computer capabilities of the Biowulf HPC cluster at the NIH. AUTHOR INFORMATION Author notes * Murugananthkumar Raju and


Sergio A. Hassan contributed equally. AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Section on Molecular Endocrinology, Division of Developmental Biology, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child


Health and Human Development, OIR/CIT, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892-4510, USA Murugananthkumar Raju, Raghuveer Kavarthapu, Rajakumar Anbazhagan & Maria L. Dufau *


Center for Molecular Modeling, OIR/CIT, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892-4510, USA Sergio A. Hassan Authors * Murugananthkumar Raju View author publications You can also


search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Sergio A. Hassan View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Raghuveer Kavarthapu View author


publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Rajakumar Anbazhagan View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar * Maria


L. Dufau View author publications You can also search for this author inPubMed Google Scholar CONTRIBUTIONS R.M., S.A.H., R.K. and M.D.: Conceived and designed the experiments and wrote


manuscript. R.M., S.A.H. and A.R.: Performed the experiments and analysis of results. S.A.H.: performed the molecular modeling analyses. CORRESPONDING AUTHOR Correspondence to Maria L.


Dufau. ETHICS DECLARATIONS COMPETING INTERESTS The authors declare no competing interests. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PUBLISHER’S NOTE: Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to


jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION SUPPLIMENTARY FIGURES [FULL BLOTS] RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS OPEN ACCESS This article is


licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give


appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in


this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article’s Creative


Commons license and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a


copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Raju, M., Hassan, S.A., Kavarthapu, R. _et al._


Characterization of the Phosphorylation Site of GRTH/DDX25 and Protein Kinase A Binding Interface Provides Structural Basis for the Design of a Non-Hormonal Male Contraceptive. _Sci Rep_ 9,


6705 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-42857-9 Download citation * Received: 06 August 2018 * Accepted: 10 April 2019 * Published: 30 April 2019 * DOI:


https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-42857-9 SHARE THIS ARTICLE Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: Get shareable link Sorry, a shareable link is not


currently available for this article. Copy to clipboard Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative