Human CATSPER1 Promoter Is Regulated by CREB1 and CREMτ Transcriptional Factors In Vitro.

Background: The CATSPER1 gene encodes a CATSPER channel protein that selectively permeates Ca ions, and CATSPER expression in sperm is essential for flagellum hyperactivation and, thus, male fertility. Little is known regarding the transcriptional regulation of CATSPER1, but previous studies have performed in silico analyses of transcription factor binding sites, including three CRE sites designated 0-2, in which CRE0 is located near the transcription start site.

Objetives: We investigate if overexpression of CREB-A and CREMτ transcription factors might regulate CATSPER1 expression.

Catsper1 promoter is bidirectional and regulates the expression of a novel lncRNA.

The Catsper1 gene, whose expression is restricted to male germ cells, has great importance in reproductive biology because of its function in sperm motility and fertilization. We previously reported that the promoter of this gene has transcriptional activity in either direction in a heterologous system. In the present study, we found that the Catsper1 promoter has in vitro transcriptional activity in either orientation in GC-1 spg mouse spermatogonial cells.