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The C at S per channel controls chemosensation in sea urchin sperm
Author(s) -
Seifert Reinhard,
Flick Melanie,
Bönigk Wolfgang,
Alvarez Luis,
Trötschel Christian,
Poetsch Ansgar,
Müller Astrid,
Goodwin Normann,
Pelzer Patric,
Kashikar Nachiket D,
Kremmer Elisabeth,
Jikeli Jan,
Timmermann Bernd,
Kuhl Heiner,
Fridman Dmitry,
Windler Florian,
Kaupp U Benjamin,
Strünker Timo
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the embo journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 7.484
H-Index - 392
eISSN - 1460-2075
pISSN - 0261-4189
DOI - 10.15252/embj.201489376
Subject(s) - sea urchin , biology , research center , library science , medicine , computer science , ecology , pathology
Sperm guidance is controlled by chemical and physical cues. In many species, Ca 2+ bursts in the flagellum govern navigation to the egg. In Arbacia punctulata , a model system of sperm chemotaxis, a cGMP signaling pathway controls these Ca 2+ bursts. The underlying Ca 2+ channel and its mechanisms of activation are unknown. Here, we identify CatSper Ca 2+ channels in the flagellum of A. punctulata sperm. We show that CatSper mediates the chemoattractant‐evoked Ca 2+ influx and controls chemotactic steering; a concomitant alkalization serves as a highly cooperative mechanism that enables CatSper to transduce periodic voltage changes into Ca 2+ bursts. Our results reveal intriguing phylogenetic commonalities but also variations between marine invertebrates and mammals regarding the function and control of CatSper. The variations probably reflect functional and mechanistic adaptations that evolved during the transition from external to internal fertilization.