重组阳离子通道精子相关蛋白4

CatSpers (cation channel, sperm associated proteins) are ion transport proteins located on the surface of sperm cells in the principal piece of the sperm tail. CatSpers are vital to sperm motility, fertilization and cAMP-mediated calcium influx in sperm. There are four CatSper proteins in mammalian sperm, namely CatSper (or CatSper1), CatSper2, CatSper3 and CatSper4. CatSper proteins contain a single, six-transmembrane-spanning segment and exhibit the voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel four-repeat structure. CatSper proteins are believed to assemble into a heterotetrameric complex, forming an alkalinization-activated Ca2+-selective channel. Mutations in any of the genes encoding CatSper family proteins can result in male infertility. CatSper3 plays an important role in the hyperactivated motility of sperm cells, a process that is required in the preparation of sperm for fertilization.