TY - JOUR
T1 - CatSper
T2 - a unique calcium channel of the sperm flagellum
AU - Lishko, Polina V.
AU - Mannowetz, Nadja
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2018/4
Y1 - 2018/4
N2 - To overcome egg protective vestments and ensure successful fertilization, mammalian spermatozoa switch symmetrical progressive motility to a powerful, whip-like flagellar motion, known as hyperactivation. The latter is triggered by a calcium influx through the sperm-specific, voltage-dependent, and alkalization-activated calcium channel of sperm — CatSper. The channel comprises nine subunits which together form a heteromeric complex. CatSper-deficient male mice and men with mutations in CatSper genes are infertile. This calcium channel is regulated by various endogenous compounds, such as steroids, prostaglandins, endocannabinoids, and intracellular pH. Being a sperm-specific ion channel that is not expressed anywhere else in the body, CatSper represents an ideal target for the development of female and even male contraceptives. In this review, we discuss the recent advances in studying CatSper functional properties and discuss future steps that are required to take in order to achieve a deep understanding of the molecular basis of CatSper function.
AB - To overcome egg protective vestments and ensure successful fertilization, mammalian spermatozoa switch symmetrical progressive motility to a powerful, whip-like flagellar motion, known as hyperactivation. The latter is triggered by a calcium influx through the sperm-specific, voltage-dependent, and alkalization-activated calcium channel of sperm — CatSper. The channel comprises nine subunits which together form a heteromeric complex. CatSper-deficient male mice and men with mutations in CatSper genes are infertile. This calcium channel is regulated by various endogenous compounds, such as steroids, prostaglandins, endocannabinoids, and intracellular pH. Being a sperm-specific ion channel that is not expressed anywhere else in the body, CatSper represents an ideal target for the development of female and even male contraceptives. In this review, we discuss the recent advances in studying CatSper functional properties and discuss future steps that are required to take in order to achieve a deep understanding of the molecular basis of CatSper function.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85051009723&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.cophys.2018.02.004
DO - 10.1016/j.cophys.2018.02.004
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85051009723
SN - 2468-8681
VL - 2
SP - 109
EP - 113
JO - Current Opinion in Physiology
JF - Current Opinion in Physiology
ER -