A novel gene required for male fertility and functional CATSPER channel formation in spermatozoa.

ABSTRACT: Calcium signalling is critical for successful fertilization. In spermatozoa, capacitation, hyperactivation of motility and the acrosome reaction are all mediated by increases in intracellular Ca(2+). Cation channels of sperm proteins (CATSPERS1-4) form an alkalinization-activated Ca(2+)-selective channel required for the hyperactivated motility of spermatozoa and male fertility. Each of the CatSper1-4 genes encodes a subunit of a tetramer surrounding a Ca(2+)-selective pore, in analogy with other six-transmembrane ion channel ? subunits. In addition to the pore-forming proteins, the sperm Ca(2+) channel contains auxiliary subunits, CATSPER? and CATSPER?. Here, we identify the Tmem146 gene product as a novel subunit, CATSPER?, required for CATSPER channel function. We find that mice lacking the sperm tail-specific CATSPER? are infertile and their spermatozoa lack both Ca(2+) current and hyperactivated motility. We show that CATSPER? is an essential element of the CATSPER channel complex and propose that CATSPER? is required for proper CATSPER channel assembly and/or transport.

SUBMITTER: Chung JJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3999383 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature