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Media type:
E-Article
Title:
A K+-selective CNG channel orchestrates Ca2+ signalling in zebrafish sperm
Contributor:
Fechner, Sylvia;
Alvarez, Luis;
Bönigk, Wolfgang;
Müller, Astrid;
Berger, Thomas K;
Pascal, Rene;
Trötschel, Christian;
Poetsch, Ansgar;
Stölting, Gabriel;
Siegfried, Kellee R;
Kremmer, Elisabeth;
Seifert, Reinhard;
Kaupp, U Benjamin
imprint:
eLife Sciences Publications, Ltd, 2015
Published in:eLife
Language:
English
DOI:
10.7554/elife.07624
ISSN:
2050-084X
Origination:
Footnote:
Description:
<jats:p>Calcium in the flagellum controls sperm navigation. In sperm of marine invertebrates and mammals, Ca2+ signalling has been intensely studied, whereas for fish little is known. In sea urchin sperm, a cyclic nucleotide-gated K+ channel (CNGK) mediates a cGMP-induced hyperpolarization that evokes Ca2+ influx. Here, we identify in sperm of the freshwater fish Danio rerio a novel CNGK family member featuring non-canonical properties. It is located in the sperm head rather than the flagellum and is controlled by intracellular pH, but not cyclic nucleotides. Alkalization hyperpolarizes sperm and produces Ca2+ entry. Ca2+ induces spinning-like swimming, different from swimming of sperm from other species. The “spinning” mode probably guides sperm into the micropyle, a narrow entrance on the surface of fish eggs. A picture is emerging of sperm channel orthologues that employ different activation mechanisms and serve different functions. The channel inventories probably reflect adaptations to species-specific challenges during fertilization.</jats:p>