Cytoskeleton dynamics is essential for the directional cell motility and migration. Actin cytoskeleton is the major player in the cell motility and locomotion in most eukaryotic cells. Acting like actin-based cell motility, the dynamics of nematode major sperm protein (MSP) cytoskeleton propels the nematode sperm crawling. Because of its unique simplicity and specialization, nematode sperm becomes the model experimental system to study the molecular mechanism of amoeboid cell motility. We are now applying a combination of cell biological, genetic, biochemical, biophysical, molecular and structural approaches to understand the signal transduction during the spermatogenesis and fertilization in nematode.

1. Deng H, Qiao X, Xie T, Fu W, Zhao Y, Guo M,Miao L, Chen C, Shen K and Wang X. (2021) SLC-30A9 is required for Zn²⁺homeostasis, Zn²⁺mobilization, and mitochondrial health.PNAS. 118(35): e2023909118 DOI:10.1073/pnas.2023909118

2. Wang Q, Cao Z, Du B, Zhang Q, Chen L, Wang X, Yuan Z, Wang P, He R, Shan J, Zhao Y,Miao L. (2021) Membrane contact site-dependent cholesterol transport regulates Na⁺/K⁺-ATPase polarization and spermiogenesis inCaenorhabditis elegans.Dev Cell. 56:1631-1645 doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2021.05.002.

3. Du P, Wang J, He Y, Zhang S, Hu B, Xue X,Miao L, and Ren H. (2021) AtFH14 crosslinks actin filaments and microtubules in different manners.Biol Cell. 113(5):235-249

4. Zhao Y, Tan CH, Krauchunas A, Scharf A, Dietrich N, Warnhoff K, Yuan Z, Druzhinina M, Gu SG,Miao L, Singson A, Ellis RE, Kornfeld K. (2018) The zinc transporter ZIPT-7.1 regulates sperm activation in nematodes.PLoS Biol. 16(6):e2005069.

5. Zhu H, Chen L, Yang Y, Zhu Z, Zhang X, Li W,Miao L, Zhang Y, Ou G. (2016) The glial actin cytoskeleton regulates neuronal ciliogenesis.Cell Res[Epub ahead of print]. doi: 10.1038/cr.2016.131

6. Li Y, Chen B, Zou Z, Wang X, Wu Y, Zhao D, Sun Y, Liu Y, Chen L,Miao L, Yang C and Wang X. (2016) Lysosomal integral membrane protein SCAV-3 maintains lysosome integrity and normal adult lifespan inC. elegans.JCB215(2):167-185.

7. Li Y, Xu M, Ding X, Yan C, Song Z, Chen L, Huang X, Wang X, Jian Y, Tang G, Tang C, Di Y, Mu S, Liu X, Liu K, Li T, Wang Y,Miao L, Guo W, Hao X, and Yang C. (2016) Protein kinase C controls lysosome biogenesis independently of mTORC1.Nat Cell Biol18:1065-1077.

8. Li R, Ren X, Bi Y, Ho VW, Hsieh CL, Young A, Zhang Z, Lin T, Zhao Y,Miao L, Sarkies P, Zhao Z. (2016) Specific down-regulation of spermatogenesis genes targeted by 22G RNAs in hybrid sterile males associated with an X-Chromosome introgression.Genome Res.9:1219-1932.

9. Wang Y, Zhang Y, Chen L, Liang Q, Yin XM,Miao L, Kang BH, Xue D. (2016) Kinetics and specificity of paternal mitochondrial elimination inCaenorhabditis elegans.Nat Commun.7:12569.

10.Miao Land L'Hernault SW. (2014) Role of posttranslational modifications inC. elegansandAscarisspermatogenesis and sperm function. In: Posttranslational Protein Modifications in the Reproductive System, edited by Peter Sutovsky.Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

11. Ma X, Zhu Y, Li C, Huang P, Cao Z, Liu Z, Zhao Y, Xue P, Chen S, Yang F,Miao L. (2014) Characterization ofCaenorhabditis eleganssperm mRNAome.BMC Genomics15:168.

12. Liu Z, Wang B, He R, Zhao Y,Miao L. (2014) Calcium signaling and the MAPK cascade are required for sperm activation inCaenorhabditis elegans.Biochim Biophys Acta. 1843:299-308.

13. Shang Y, Chen L, Liu Z, Ma X,Miao L. (2013) Cytosolic Ca²⁺as a multifunctional modulator is required for spermiogenesis and motility acquisition inAscaris suum.Protein & Cell4:456-466.

14. Chen D, Jian Y, Liu X, Zhang Y, Liang J, Qi X, Du H, Zou W, Chen L, Chai Y, Ou G,Miao L, Wang Y, and Yang C. (2013). Clathrin and AP2 are required for phagocytic receptor-mediated apoptotic cell clearance inCaenorhabditis elegans.PLoS Genetics9(5), e1003517.

15. Liu Z, Chen L, Shang Y, Huang P,Miao L. (2013) The micronutrient element zinc modulates sperm activation through the SPE-8 pathway inCaenorhabditis elegans.Development140: 2103-2107.

16. Huang P, Ma X, Zhao Y,Miao L. (2013) TheC. eleganshomolog of RBBP6 (RBPL-1) regulates fertility through controlling cell proliferation in the germline and nutrient synthesis in the intestine.PLoS ONE8(3): e58736.

17. Ma X, Zhao Y, Sun W, Shimabukuro K,Miao L. (2012) Transformation: how do nematode sperm become activated and crawl?Protein & Cell10:755-761.

18. Dou J, Chen L, Hu Y,Miao L. (2012) Cholesterol and the biosynthesis of glycosphingolipids are required for sperm activation inCaenorhabditis elegans.Biochim Biophys Acta1821:934-942.

18. Zhao Y, Sun W, Zhang P, Chi H, Zhang M, Song C, Ma X, Shang Y, Wang B, Hu Y, Hao Z, Hühmer A, Meng, F, L'Hernault S, He S, Dong M,Miao L. (2012) Nematode sperm maturation triggered by protease involves sperm-secreted serine protease inhibitor (Serpin).PNAS109: 1542–1547.

20. Ma X, Zhu Y, Li C, Shang Y, Meng F, Chen S,Miao L. (2011) Comparative transcriptome sequencing of Germline and Somatic Tissues of the Ascaris suum Gonad.BMC Genomics12:481.

21. Su S, Liu Z, Chen C, Zhang Y, Wang X, Zhu L,Miao L, Wang X, Yuan M. (2010) Cucumber Mosaic Virus Movement Protein Severs Actin Filaments to Increase the Plasmodesmal Size Exclusion Limit in Tobacco.The Plant Cell22:1161-1173.

22. Chen D, Xiao D, Zhang K, Wang B, Gao Z, Jian Y, Qi X, Sun J,Miao L, Yang C. (2010) Retromer Sorting Complex Regulates Apoptotic Cell Clearance by Phagocytic Receptor Recycling.Science327: 1261-1264.

23. Zhang Y, Yan L, Zhou Z, Yang P, Tian E, Zhang K, Zhao Y, Li Z, Song B, Han J,Miao L, Zhang H. (2009) SEPA-1 Mediates the Specific Recognition and Degradation of P Granule Components by Autophagy inC. elegans.Cell136: 308–321.

24.Miao L, Vanderlinde O, Liu J, Grant RP., Wouterse A, Philipse A, Stewart M, Roberts TM. (2008) The role of filament packing dynamics in powering amoeboid cell motility.PNAS105: 5390-5395.

25. Wang B, Liu Z,Miao L. (2008) Recent Advances in the study of spermatogenesis and fertilization inCaenorhabditis elegans,Hereditas(Beijing) 30:677-686 (invited review in Chinese).

26.Miao L. (2007) Recent progresses on the cellular motility, cell migration and cytoskeleton.Acta Biophysica Sinica. 23:281-289 (invited review in Chinese).

27.Miao L, Yi K, Mackey JM, Roberts TM. (2007) Reconstitution in vitro of MSP-based filopodium extension in nematode sperm.Cell Motility and Cytoskeleton. 64:235-247.

28. Wolgemuth C,Miao L, Vanderlinde O, Roberts TM, Oster G (2005) MSP dynamics drives nematode sperm locomotion.Biophysical Journal88: 2462-2471.

29. Meng FX,Miao L, Zhang SQ, Lou CH (2004) Ca²⁺is involved in muscarine-acetylcholine-receptor-mediated acetylcholine signal transduction in guard cells ofVicia fabaL.Chinese ScienceBulletin 49:471-475.

30.Miao L, Vanderlinde O, Stewart M, Roberts TM (2003) Retraction in amoeboid cell motility powered by cytoskeletal dynamics.Science302: 1405-1407.

31. Provencher LM,Miao L, Sinha N, and Lucas WJ (2001)Sucrose export defective1encodes a novel protein implicated in chloroplast to nucleus signaling.The Plant Cell13:1127-1141.

32. Meng FX,Miao L, Leng Q, Zhang SQ (2001) Incubation of Fluo-3 AM for measuring cytosolic Ca²⁺in guard cells ofVicia faba.Plant Physiology Communications37: 429-432 (in Chinese).

33.Miao L, Wang XC, Zhang WC (1999) The symplasmic connection of root cap inZea maysand its response to the external signal.Chinese Bulletin of Botany16: 42-44 (in Chinese).

34.Miao L, Wang XC, Zhang WC (1997) Osmotic stress decreases the activity of ATPase associated with plasmodesmata in root cap inZea mays.Acta Botanic Sinica39: 774-777.

(From Long Miao, October 13, 2021)