All four CatSper ion channel proteins are required for male fertility and sperm cell hyperactivated motility

H Qi, MM Moran, B Navarro… - Proceedings of the …, 2007 - National Acad Sciences
H Qi, MM Moran, B Navarro, JA Chong, G Krapivinsky, L Krapivinsky, Y Kirichok, IS Ramsey
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2007National Acad Sciences
Mammalian spermatozoa become motile at ejaculation, but before they can fertilize the egg,
they must acquire more thrust to penetrate the cumulus and zona pellucida. The forceful
asymmetric motion of hyperactivated spermatozoa requires Ca2+ entry into the sperm tail by
an alkalinization-activated voltage-sensitive Ca2+-selective current (I CatSper).
Hyperactivation requires CatSper1 and CatSper2 putative ion channel genes, but the
function of two other related genes (CatSper3 and CatSper4) is not known. Here we show …
Mammalian spermatozoa become motile at ejaculation, but before they can fertilize the egg, they must acquire more thrust to penetrate the cumulus and zona pellucida. The forceful asymmetric motion of hyperactivated spermatozoa requires Ca2+ entry into the sperm tail by an alkalinization-activated voltage-sensitive Ca2+-selective current (ICatSper). Hyperactivation requires CatSper1 and CatSper2 putative ion channel genes, but the function of two other related genes (CatSper3 and CatSper4) is not known. Here we show that targeted disruption of murine CatSper3 or CatSper4 also abrogated ICatSper, sperm cell hyperactivated motility and male fertility but did not affect spermatogenesis or initial motility. Direct protein interactions among CatSpers, the sperm specificity of these proteins, and loss of ICatSper in each of the four CatSper−/− mice indicate that CatSpers are highly specialized flagellar proteins.
National Acad Sciences