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Identification of voltage‐dependent Ca 2+ channels in sea urchin sperm
Author(s) -
Granados-Gonzalez G.,
Mendoza-Lujambio I.,
Rodriguez E.,
Galindo B.E.,
Beltrán C.,
Darszon A.
Publication year - 2005
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/j.febslet.2005.10.035
Subject(s) - sea urchin , acrosome reaction , sperm , acrosome , sperm motility , depolarization , biology , voltage dependent calcium channel , motility , valinomycin , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , calcium , biophysics , membrane potential , botany , organic chemistry
Functional evidence indicates that voltage‐dependent Ca 2+ (Ca v ) channels participate in sea urchin sperm motility and the acrosome reaction (AR), however, their molecular identity remains unknown. We have identified transcripts for two Ca 2+ channel α1 subunits in sea urchin testis similar in sequence to Ca v 1.2 and Ca v 2.3. Antibodies against rat Ca v 1.2 and Ca v 2.3 channels differentially label proteins in the flagella and acrosome of mature sea urchin sperm. The Ca v channel antagonists nifedipine and nimodipine, which inhibit the AR, diminish the intracellular Ca 2+ elevation induced by a K + ‐induced depolarization in valinomycin‐treated sperm. These findings reveal that Ca v 1.2 and Ca v 2.3 channels could participate in motility and/or the AR in sea urchin sperm.