Sperm capacitation is regulated by the crosstalk between protein kinase A and C

Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology
Haim BreitbartNir Etkovitz

Abstract

The binding of capacitated sperm to the egg's zona pellucida stimulates it to undergo the acrosome reaction, a process which enables the sperm to penetrate the egg. Mammalian sperm capacitation and the acrosome reaction require remodeling of actin filaments. An increase in phospholipase D (PLD)-dependent actin polymerization occurs during capacitation whereas the increase in sperm intracellular calcium after its binding to the egg causes very fast actin depolymerization prior to the acrosome reaction. Protein kinase A (PKA) and C (PKC) can both activate sperm PLD and actin polymerization under in vitro incubation, however under physiological conditions, actin polymerization depends primarily on PKA activity. We suggest that PKA indirectly activates phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase to produce phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate which is a cofactor for PLD activation. In addition, activation of PKA during capacitation inactivates phospholipase C resulting in preventing PKC activation. It appears that PKA activation promotes sperm capacitation whereas too early activation of PKC during capacitation would jeopardize this process. Thus, a refined balance between the two pathways is required for optimal and sustained activation during...Continue Reading

Citations

May 15, 2013·Zhurnal evoliutsionnoĭ biokhimii i fiziologii·A O ShpakovN O Motovilova
Aug 22, 2007·Reproduction : the Official Journal of the Society for the Study of Fertility·Yadira BastiánAdela Mújica
Aug 17, 2010·Asian Journal of Andrology·Lei WangJia-Hao Sha
Jan 5, 2011·Asian Journal of Andrology·Haim Breitbart, Nir Etkovitz
Mar 12, 2010·Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology·N BernabòB Barboni
Aug 31, 2010·Molecular Reproduction and Development·Juan J Fraire-Zamora, Richard A Cardullo
Nov 8, 2014·Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal·Nicola BernabòMauro Maccarrone
May 15, 2007·Biology of Reproduction·Nir EtkovitzHaim Breitbart
Jul 7, 2007·Archives of Andrology·Melissa L VadnaisGary C Althouse
Feb 17, 2009·Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics·Aïda Abou-haila, Daulat R P Tulsiani

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