Open AccessCRIS—A Novel cAMP-Binding Protein Controlling Spermiogenesis and the Development of Flagellar Bending
Author(s) -
Anke Miriam Krähling,
Luis J. Álvarez,
Katharina Debowski,
Qui Van,
Monika Gunkel,
Stephan Irsen,
Ashraf AlAmoudi,
Timo Strünker,
Elisabeth Kremmer,
Eberhard Krause,
Ingo Voigt,
Simone Wörtge,
Ari Waisman,
Ingo Weyand,
Reinhard Seifert,
U. Benjamin Kaupp,
Dagmar Wachten
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
plos genetics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.587
H-Index - 233
eISSN - 1553-7404
pISSN - 1553-7390
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003960
Subject(s) - biology , hyperactivation , spermiogenesis , sperm , sperm motility , microbiology and biotechnology , flagellum , motility , axoneme , genetics , gene
The second messengers cAMP and cGMP activate their target proteins by binding to a conserved c yclic n ucleotide- b inding d omain (CNBD). Here, we identify and characterize an entirely novel CNBD-containing protein called CRIS ( c yclic nucleotide r eceptor i nvolved in s perm function) that is unrelated to any of the other members of this protein family. CRIS is exclusively expressed in sperm precursor cells. Cris -deficient male mice are either infertile due to a lack of sperm resulting from spermatogenic arrest, or subfertile due to impaired sperm motility. The motility defect is caused by altered Ca 2+ regulation of flagellar beat asymmetry, leading to a beating pattern that is reminiscent of sperm hyperactivation. Our results suggest that CRIS interacts during spermiogenesis with Ca 2+ -regulated proteins that—in mature sperm—are involved in flagellar bending.