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Magainins affect respiratory control, membrane potential and motility of hamster spermatozoa
Author(s) -
de Waal Anthony,
Gomes Ana Vaz,
Mensink Anne,
Grootegoed J.Anton,
Westerhoff Hans V.
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(91)81191-a
Subject(s) - magainin , motility , hamster , respiration , respiratory system , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , peptide , microbiology and biotechnology , anatomy , endocrinology , antimicrobial peptides
The hypothesis was tested that the magainin peptides, known to compromise bacterial and mitochondrial energetics, are highly active against spermatozoa. A mixture of magainin A and PGLa (1:1) caused a 50% reduction in motility of hamstet spermatozoa at 4 μg/ml total peptide concentration, All motility was lost at 8 μ/ml. At this concentration, respiratory control was released and respiration in the presence of uncoupler was inhibited. Uptake or the lipophilic cation tetraphenyl phosphonium was largely abolished by addition or magainin A and PGLa at this concentration, indicative of a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential. Magainin A and PGLa showed synergism with respect to release of respiratory control.