Actin cytoskeleton and sperm function

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
H Breitbart, Maya Finkelstein

Abstract

For the acquisition of the ability to fertilize the egg, mammalian spermatozoa should undergo a series of biochemical transformations in the female reproductive tract, collectively called capacitation. The capacitated sperm can undergo the acrosomal exocytosis process near or on the oocyte, which allows the spermatozoon to penetrate and fertilize it. One of the main processes in capacitation involves dynamic cytoskeletal remodeling particularly of actin. Actin polymerization occurs during sperm capacitation and the produced F-actin should be depolymerized prior to the acrosomal exocytosis. In the present review, we describe the mechanisms that regulate F-actin formation during sperm capacitation and the F-actin dispersion prior to the acrosomal exocytosis. During sperm capacitation, the actin severing proteins gelsolin and cofilin are inactive and they undergo activation prior to the acrosomal exocytosis.

Citations

Sep 1, 2019·International Journal of Molecular Sciences·Nicola BernabòBarbara Barboni
Sep 26, 2020·Scientific Reports·Nicolás ChiaranteSilvina Perez-Martinez
Nov 11, 2020·Molecular Biology and Evolution·Yun-Hua LoWen-Ya Ko
Mar 17, 2021·Reproduction in Domestic Animals = Zuchthygiene·Gabriela Bertaiolli ZocaRubens Paes de Arruda
May 1, 2021·Genes·Francesco ManfrevolaRosanna Chianese
Jul 3, 2021·Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI·Vitaly DenisenkoTatyana Kuzmina

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