The heterotrimeric motor protein kinesin-II localizes to the midpiece and flagellum of sea urchin and sand dollar sperm

Cell Motil Cytoskeleton. 1997;38(1):29-37. doi: 10.1002/(SICI)1097-0169(1997)38:1<29::AID-CM4>3.0.CO;2-C.

Abstract

We have utilized immunoblotting and light microscopic immunofluorescent staining methods to examine the expression and localization of sea urchin kinesin-II, a heterotrimeric plus end-directed microtubule motor protein (previously referred to as KRP(85/95)), in sea urchin and sand dollar sperm. We demonstrate the presence of the 85 K and 115 K subunits of kinesin-II in sperm and localize these proteins to the sperm flagella and midpiece. The kinesin-II localization pattern is punctate and discontinuous, and in the flagella it is quite distinct from the continuous labeling present in sperm labeled with anti-flagellar dynein. The kinesin-II staining is largely insensitive to prefixation detergent extraction, suggesting that it is not associated with membranous elements in the sperm. In the midpiece the kinesin-II staining is similar to the pattern present in sperm labeled with an anti-centrosomal antibody. To our knowledge, this is the first localization of kinesin-like proteins in mature sperm and corroborates the recent identification and localization of kinesin-like proteins in the flagella and basal body of the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas. We hypothesize that kinesin-II in the sperm may play functional roles in intraflagellar transport and/or the formation of flagella during spermatogenesis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / analysis*
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect
  • Kinesins
  • Male
  • Muscle Proteins / analysis*
  • Sea Urchins / chemistry*
  • Sea Urchins / cytology
  • Sperm Tail / chemistry*
  • Spermatozoa / chemistry*

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • Muscle Proteins
  • kinesin-II
  • Kinesins