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Mammalian Sperm (mammalian + sperm)
Selected AbstractsProtein kinase A RII-like (R2D2) proteins exhibit differential localization and AKAP interaction,CYTOSKELETON, Issue 7 2008Amy E. Hanlon Newell Abstract A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAPs) bind to protein kinase A (PKA) via an amphipathic helix domain that interacts with a dimerization/docking domain on the regulatory (R) subunit of PKA. Four other mammalian proteins (ROPN1, ASP, SP17, and CABYR) also contain a highly conserved RII dimerization/docking (R2D2) domain, suggesting all four proteins may interact with all AKAPs in a manner similar to RII. All four of these proteins were originally detected in the flagellum of mammalian sperm. In this report, we demonstrate that all four R2D2 proteins are expressed in a wide variety of tissues and three of the proteins SP17, CABYR, and ASP are located in motile cilia of human bronchus and fallopian tubes. In addition, we detect SP17 in primary cilia. We also provide evidence that ROPN1 and ASP bind to a variety of AKAPs and this interaction can be disrupted with anchoring inhibitor peptides. The interaction of SP17 and CABYR with AKAPs appears to be much more limited. None of the R2D2 proteins appears to bind cAMP, a fundamental characteristic of the regulatory subunits of PKA. These observations suggest that R2D2 proteins utilize docking interactions with AKAPs to accomplish their function of regulating cilia and flagella. Based on location, affinity for AKAPs and lack of affinity for cAMP, it appears that each R2D2 protein has a unique role in this process. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Izumo is part of a multiprotein family whose members form large complexes on mammalian spermMOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 12 2009Diego A. Ellerman Izumo, a sperm membrane protein, is essential for gamete fusion in the mouse. It has an Immunoglobulin (Ig) domain and an N-terminal domain for which neither the functions nor homologous sequences are known. In the present work we identified three novel proteins showing an N-terminal domain with significant homology to the N-terminal domain of Izumo. We named this region "Izumo domain," and the novel proteins "Izumo 2," "Izumo 3," and "Izumo 4," retaining "Izumo 1" for the first described member of the family. Izumo 1,3 are transmembrane proteins expressed specifically in the testis, and Izumo 4 is a soluble protein expressed in the testis and in other tissues. Electrophoresis under mildly denaturing conditions, followed by Western blot analysis, showed that Izumo 1, 3, and 4 formed protein complexes on sperm, Izumo 1 forming several larger complexes and Izumo 3 and 4 forming a single larger complex. Studies using different recombinant Izumo constructs suggested the Izumo domain possesses the ability to form dimers, whereas the transmembrane domain or the cytoplasmic domain or both of Izumo 1 are required for the formation of multimers of higher order. Co-immunoprecipitation studies showed the presence of other sperm proteins associated with Izumo 1, suggesting Izumo 1 forms a multiprotein membrane complex. Our results raise the possibility that Izumo 1 might be involved in organizing or stabilizing a multiprotein complex essential for the function of the membrane fusion machinery. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 76: 1188,1199, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Bicarbonate-Induced phosphorylation of p270 protein in mouse sperm by cAMP-Dependent protein kinaseMOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 6 2008Masako Kaneto Abstract Signaling by cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) plays an important role in the regulation of mammalian sperm motility. However, it has not been determined how PKA signaling leads to changes in motility, and specific proteins responsible for these changes have not yet been identified as PKA substrates. Anti-phospho-(Ser/Thr) PKA substrate antibodies detected a sperm protein with a relative molecular weight of 270,000 (p270), which was phosphorylated within 1 min after incubation in a medium supporting capacitation. Phosphorylation of p270 was induced by bicarbonate or a cAMP analog, but was blocked by the PKA inhibitor H-89, indicating that p270 is likely a PKA substrate in sperm. In addition, phosphorylation of p270 was inhibited by stearated peptide st-Ht31, suggesting that p270 is phosphorylated by PKA associated with an A-kinase anchoring protein (AKAP). AKAP4 is the major fibrous sheath protein of mammalian sperm and tethers regulatory subunits of PKA to localize phosphorylation events. Phosphorylation of p270 occurred in sperm lacking AKAP4, suggesting that AKAP4 is not involved directly in the phosphorylation event. Phosphorylated p270 was enriched in fractionated sperm tails and appeared to be present in multiple compartments including a detergent-resistant membrane fraction. PKA phosphorylation of p270 within 1 min of incubation under capacitation conditions suggests that this protein may have an important role in the initial signaling events that lead to the activation and subsequent hyperactivation of sperm motility. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 75: 1045,1053, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Dynamin 2 associates with complexins and is found in the acrosomal region of mammalian spermMOLECULAR REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT, Issue 6 2007Longmei Zhao Abstract Previous data showed that complexin I, a SNARE regulatory protein, is localized in and/or around the acrosome and is necessary for the acrosome reaction in sperm. To understand how complexin I regulates the acrosome reaction, we used complexin-GST pulldown assays to identify interacting proteins. We showed that both complexins I and II bound mouse sperm dynamin 2. Dynamin 2 is a 100 kDa GTPase essential to many aspects of endocytosis but its potential role in exocytosis is unknown. Dynamin 2 is expressed in rat testis and widely expressed in other tissues; however, the function of dynamin 2 in germ cells is uncertain. Dynamin 2 protein was detected in mouse testis and was most abundant in or around the developing acrosome of spermatids. In addition, dynamin 2 was co-localized with complexin I in the acrosomal region of mammalian sperm. Its co-localization and interaction with complexin I suggest that dynamin 2 may play a role during acrosome formation and/or acrosomal exocytosis. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 74: 750,757, 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Mammalian Sperm Energy Resources Management and Survival during Conservation in RefrigerationREPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS, Issue 2006JE Rodriguez-Gil Contents The present review has as its main aim to present an overview regarding the mechanisms utilized by mammalian sperm to manage its intracellular energy levels. This management will strongly influence the sperm's ability to maintain its overall function during its entire life span. Thus, the precise knowledge of these mechanisms will be of the utmost interest to optimize the systems utilized to conserve mammalian sperm for a medium-to-long time-lapse. Briefly, utilization of hexoses as energy substrates by mammalian sperm is very finely regulated from the very first step of its metabolization. Furthermore, the equilibrium among the separate, monosaccharide metabolization pathways in mammalian sperm depends on many factors. This prevents the possibility to draw a general vision of sperm energy utilization, which explains the results of all mammalian species in all points of the sperm life-cycle. To complicate the matter further, there are separate energy phenotypes among mammalian spermatozoa. The precise knowledge of these phenotypes is of the greatest importance in order to optimize the design of new extenders for sperm conservation in refrigerated conditions. Moreover, sugars can act on sperm not only as passive metabolic substrates, but also as direct function activators through mechanisms like specific changes in the tyrosine phosphorylation status of distinct proteins. Finally, mammalian sperm utilizes non-glucidic substrates like citrate and lactate to obtain energy in a regular form. This utilization is also finely regulated and of importance to maintain overall sperm function. This implies that the exact proportion of glucidic and non-glucidic energy substrates could be very important to optimize the survival ability of these cells in conservation. [source] Morphofunctional damage of mammalian sperm incubated with organophosphoric agropesticidesANDROLOGIA, Issue 1 2003E. Bustos-Obregón First page of article [source] Mammalian fertilization: the strange case of sperm protein 56BIOESSAYS, Issue 2 2009Paul M. Wassarman During mammalian fertilization sperm bind to the egg's zona pellucida (ZP) after undergoing capacitation. Capacitated mouse sperm bind to mZP3 (one of three ZP glycoproteins), undergo the acrosome reaction, penetrate the ZP, and fuse with egg plasma membrane. Sperm protein 56 (sp56), a member of the C3/C4 superfamily of binding proteins, was identified nearly 20 years ago as a binding partner for mZP3 by photoaffinity cross-linking of acrosome-intact sperm. However, subsequent research revealed that sp56 is a component of the sperm's acrosomal matrix and, for sperm with an intact acrosome, should be unavailable for binding to mZP3. Recently, this dilemma was resolved when it was recognized that some acrosomal matrix (AM) proteins, including sp56, are released to the sperm surface during capacitation. This may explain why uncapacitated mammalian sperm are unable to bind to the unfertilized egg ZP. [source] |