Calaxin drives sperm chemotaxis by Ca²⁺-mediated direct modulation of a dynein motor

Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Dec 11;109(50):20497-502. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1217018109. Epub 2012 Nov 20.

Abstract

Sperm chemotaxis occurs widely in animals and plants and plays an important role in the success of fertilization. Several studies have recently demonstrated that Ca(2+) influx through specific Ca(2+) channels is a prerequisite for sperm chemotactic movement. However, the regulator that modulates flagellar movement in response to Ca(2+) is unknown. Here we show that a neuronal calcium sensor, calaxin, directly acts on outer-arm dynein and regulates specific flagellar movement during sperm chemotaxis. Calaxin inhibition resulted in significant loss of sperm chemotactic movement, despite normal increases in intracellular calcium concentration. Using a demembranated sperm model, we demonstrate that calaxin is essential for generation and propagation of Ca(2+)-induced asymmetric flagellar bending. An in vitro motility assay revealed that calaxin directly suppressed the velocity of microtubule sliding by outer-arm dynein at high Ca(2+) concentrations. This study describes the missing link between chemoattractant-mediated Ca(2+) signaling and motor-driven microtubule sliding during sperm chemotaxis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Calcium Signaling / physiology
  • Carbamates / pharmacology
  • Chemotaxis / drug effects
  • Chemotaxis / physiology
  • Ciona intestinalis / cytology
  • Ciona intestinalis / physiology
  • Dyneins / physiology*
  • Intracellular Calcium-Sensing Proteins / physiology*
  • Male
  • Microtubules / physiology
  • Models, Biological
  • Molecular Motor Proteins / physiology
  • Piperidines / pharmacology
  • Sperm Motility / physiology
  • Sperm Tail / physiology
  • Spermatozoa / drug effects
  • Spermatozoa / physiology*

Substances

  • Carbamates
  • Intracellular Calcium-Sensing Proteins
  • Molecular Motor Proteins
  • Piperidines
  • repaglinide
  • Dyneins