King Fahd Medical Research Center

KFMRC

Reproductive Research

Human infertility is a significant public health problem. About 1 in 6 couples (15-20%; 100-200 million) in the world are infertile. In Saudi Arabia, 1 in 5 couples (~19%) are infertile as per the recent reports with 500,000 couples on the waiting list for assisted reproductive techniques. The causes of infertility are approximately equally distributed between men and women. Preliminary evidence indicates sperm proteins and small noncoding RNA transcripts (sncRNA) are associated with fertility. However, these proteins and epigenetic mechanisms are not well studied and thus hinder the improvement of fertility management. Our overall aim is to ascertain functional genomics of reproductive function especially to elucidate the mechanistic underpinnings of proteomic and transcriptomic mechanisms affecting fertility and identification of biomarkers that will improve human reproductive health.

Research Areas

The Reproductive Research Lab is concerned with conducting research in the following areas

Human Reproductive

Over all focus is currently on functional genomics of human reproductive function We are trying to understand the proteomic and epigenetic mechanisms regulating sperm fertility. This includes analysis of proteins, sncRNAs, long ncRNAs, micro RNAs, pi RNAs, circular RNAs and metabolites in sperms of infertile men and assessing the association of these molecules with male fertility.

Endocrine

We are working on endocrine disruption and human fertility. This includes studies on anthropogenic compounds which contaminate our ecosystem and their analysis in human tissues and fluids, interaction with reproductive hormones and association with male and female infertility.

Ecocontaminant Compounds

We are also studying endocrine disruption by focusing on structure based interactions of ecocontaminant compounds with human nuclear receptors and hormone transport proteins using computational modelling. We are focusing on ecocontaminant compounds for their adverse effects on functional genomics of reproductive function using in vivo laboratory animal models.

Services

The laboratory provides a number of diverse services as well as training and assistance to bachelor's and graduate students as follows:

Transcriptome

RNA molecules that include RNA, ribosomal RNA, transporter RNA and other non-encrypted RNA types

Genetic analysis

Genetic analysis of spermatozoa for AZFabc gene deletions.

Proteome

Protein content or proteome is the group of proteins expressed in a cell, or part of a cell.

Publications

Recent Publications of Reproductive Research Lab

Rehan M, Ahmad E, Sheikh IA, Abuzenadah AM, Damanhouri GA, Bajouh OS, AlBasri SF, Assiri MM, Beg MA (2015). Androgen and Progesterone Receptors Are Targets for Bisphenol A (BPA), 4-Methyl-2,4-bis-(P-Hydroxyphenyl)Pent-1-Ene-A Potent Metabolite of BPA, and 4-Tert-Octylphenol: A Computational Insight. PLoS One 10: e0138438.
Sheikh IA, Turki RF, Abuzenadah AM, Damanhouri GA, Beg MA (2016).Endocrine Disruption: Computational Perspectives on Human Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin and Phthalate Plasticizers. PLoS One. 11: e0151444
Sheikh IA, Ahmad E, Jamal MS, Rehan, M, Assidi M, Tayubi IA, AlBasri SF, Bajouh OS, Turki RF, Abuzenadah AM, Damanhouri GA, Beg MA, Al-Qahtani M (2016). Spontaneous preterm birth and single nucleotide gene polymorphisms: a recent update. BMC Genomics 17: 759
Sheikh IA, Tayubi IA, Ahmad E, Ganaie MA, Bajouh OS, AlBasri SF, Abdulkarim IM, Beg MA (2017). Computational insights into molecular interactions of environmental xenoestrogens 4-tert-octylphenol, 4-nonylphenol, bisphenol A (BPA), and BPA metabolite, 4-methyl-2, 4-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) pent-1-ene (MBP) with human sex hormone-binding globulin. Ecotoxicol Environ Safe 135: 285–291
Sheikh IA, Beg MA (2017). Endocrine disruption: in silico interactions between phthalate plasticizers and corticosteroid binding globulin. J Appl Toxicol 37: 1471–1480

Beg MA, Nieschlag E, Abdel-Meguid TA, Alam Q, Abdelsalam A, Haque A, Mosli HA, Bajouh OS, Abuzenadah AM, Al-Qahtani M. (2019). Genetic investigations on causes of male infertility in Western Saudi Arabia. Andrologia 51: e13272.
Rehan M, Ahmad E, Beg MA. (2020). Structural binding perspectives of a major tobacco alkaloid, nicotine, and its metabolite cotinine with sex-steroid nuclear receptors. J Appl Toxicol 40: 1410–1420
Beg MA, Ahmad E, AlBasri SF, Abdelsalam A, Bajouh OS, Jamal MS, Abuzenadah AM, Sheikh IA (2020). Endocrine disruption and infertility: circulatory hormone and bisphenol A concentrations in infertile Saudi women. J Env Biol 41: 680–686
Beg MA, Sheikh IA (2020). Endocrine disruption: molecular interactions of environmental bisphenol contaminants with thyroid hormone receptor and thyroxine-binding globulin. Toxicol Indust Health 36: 322–335.
Sheikh IA, Beg MA (2020). Structural binding interactions of tetrabromobisphenol A with sex steroid nuclear receptors and sex hormone-binding protein. J Appl Toxicol 40: 832–842

Collaboration

Members

Prof. Mohd Amin Beg

- Professor specializing in reproductive and endocrinological physiology
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Dr. Ishfaq Ahmad Sheikh

- Associate Professor
- Specialist in structural Biology
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Mrs. Wafa Turkustani

- Master of Medical Laboratories

Students

The Reproductive Research Lab is proud to supervise both undergraduate and graduate students in BCs, MA and PhD

Trainees

Marooj Abdallah, Undergraduate Student
Maya H. AlAsmari, Undergraduate Student
AlAnoud B. G. AlZahrani, Research Trainee
Bashaer Hassan Al-Amoudi, Research Trainee
Hadeel M. H. ALOuthah, Research Trainee
Hifaa Abdulhafeez Bokhari, Research Trainee
Mahmmad H. M. A. Alshrif, Research Trainee
Reem Fareed Abdullah, Research Trainee
Samar S. S. Almaghrabi, Research Trainee
Sarah M. A. W. Al-Ghamdi, Research

Co-advisor

Tauseef Bashir Shah, MS student, 2015, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, USA
Ghassan Ishak,PhD student, 2019, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, USA.
Marilia Pastorello, MS student, 2020, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, USA