In silico study to unravel molecular networking of melatonin in the regulation of gametogenesis

Abstract

Melatonin, a pineal hormone, has potential role on steroidogenesis, growth and maturation of sperm and ovum during gametogenesis. The possible use of this indolamine as an antioxidant in the production of good quality gametes opens up a new area of current research. Nowadays, a large number of reproductive dysfunctions like infertility and failure in fertilization due to gametic malformations are major concern worldwide. So, understanding molecular mechanisms including interacting genes and their action is a prerequisite to the therapeutic approach against these issues. The aim of present bioinformatic study is the detection of molecular network concerning therapeutic potential of melatonin in gametogenesis. It includes target genes identification, gene ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment, network analysis, prediction of signalling pathways and molecular docking. We obtained common top 52 targets of melatonin in the process of gametogenesis. They are involved in biological processes related to the development of gonads and primary sexual characteristics and sex differentiation. We took top 10 pathways out of total 190 enriched pathways for further analysis. Subsequently, principal component analysis also revealed that among top ten hub targets (TP53, CASP3, MAPK1, JUN, ESR1, CDK1, CDK2, TNF, GNRH1 and CDKN1A), only TP53, JUN and ESR1were significantly interacted with melatonin on the basis of squared cosine value. So, present in silico investigation provides considerable information on the interactive network between therapeutic targets of melatonin along with the involvement of intracellular signalling cascade regulating biological processes associated with the gametogenesis. This novel approach may be pertinent in improving modern research on reproductive dysfunctions associated abnormalities.