| First Author | Kawai T | Year | 2024 |
| Journal | Nat Commun | Volume | 15 |
| Issue | 1 | Pages | 7289 |
| PubMed ID | 39181879 | Mgi Jnum | J:359008 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:7713829 | Doi | 10.1038/s41467-024-51755-2 |
| Citation | Kawai T, et al. (2024) The significance of electrical signals in maturing spermatozoa for phosphoinositide regulation through voltage-sensing phosphatase. Nat Commun 15(1):7289 |
| abstractText | Voltage-sensing phosphatase (VSP) exhibits voltage-dependent phosphatase activity toward phosphoinositides. VSP generates a specialized phosphoinositide environment in mammalian sperm flagellum. However, the voltage-sensing mechanism of VSP in spermatozoa is not yet characterized. Here, we found that VSP is activated during sperm maturation, indicating that electric signals in immature spermatozoa are essential. Using a heterologous expression system, we show the voltage-sensing property of mouse VSP (mVSP). The voltage-sensing threshold of mVSP is approximately -30 mV, which is sensitive enough to activate mVSP in immature spermatozoa. We also report several knock-in mice in which we manipulate the voltage-sensitivity or electrochemical coupling of mVSP. Notably, the V312R mutant, with a minor voltage-sensitivity change, exhibits abnormal sperm motility after, but not before, capacitation. Additionally, the V312R mutant shows a significant change in the acyl-chain profile of phosphoinositide. Our findings suggest that electrical signals during sperm maturation are crucial for establishing the optimal phosphoinositide environment in spermatozoa. |
