Intracellular Ca2+ stores play a central role in the regulation of cellular [Ca2+](i) and the generation of complex [Ca2+] signals such as oscillations and waves. Ca2+ signalling is of particular significance in sperm cells, where it is a central regulator in many key activities (including capacitation, hyperactivation, chemotaxis and acrosome reaction) yet mature sperm lack endoplasmic reticulum and several other organelles that serve as Ca2+ stores in somatic cells. Here, we review i) the evidence for the expression in sperm of the molecular components (pumps and channels) which are functionally significant in the activity of Ca2+ stores of somatic cells and ii) the evidence for the existence of functional Ca2+ stores in sperm. This evidence supports the existence of at least two storage organelles in mammalian sperm, one in the acrosomal region and another in the region of the sperm neck and midpiece. We then go on to discuss the probable identity of these organelles and their discrete functions: regulation by the acrosome of its own secretion and regulation by membranous organelles at the sperm neck (and possibly by the mitochondria) of flagellar activity and hyperactivation. Finally, we consider the ability of the sperm discretely to control mobilisation of these stores and the functional interaction of stored Ca2+ at the sperm neck/midpiece with CatSper channels in the principal piece in regulation of the activities of mammalian sperm.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1530/REP-09-0134 | DOI Listing |
Foods
December 2024
Food Technology and Innovation Research Center of Excellence, School of Agricultural Technology and Food Industry, Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand.
Genetic differences typically cause differences in the structure and function of proteins in meat. The objective of this research was to examine the biochemical characteristics and functional behavior of proteins in fresh composite meat from Thai Ligor hybrid chicken (LC) and commercial broiler chicken (BC). The composite meat samples, which comprise minced breast and thigh without skin from 20 chicken carcasses in a 1:1 (/) ratio, were randomly selected for analysis using the completely randomized design (CRD).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Mol Biosci
December 2024
Swansea University Medical School, Institute of Life Science, Swansea, United Kingdom.
Aims: Mutations in the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR2) are associated with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT). This study investigates the underlying molecular mechanisms for CPVT mutations within the RyR2 N-terminus domain (NTD).
Methods And Results: We consulted the high-resolution RyR2 structure in both open and closed configuration to identify mutations G357S/R407I and A77T, which lie within the NTD intra- and inter-subunit interface with the Core Solenoid (CSol), respectively.
BMC Med
January 2025
Physiological Institute, University of Regensburg, University Street 31, 93053, Regensburg, Germany.
Background: Dystonia is a common neurological hyperkinetic movement disorder that can be caused by mutations in anoctamin 3 (ANO3, TMEM16C), a phospholipid scramblase and ion channel. We previously reported patients that were heterozygous for the ANO3 variants S651N, V561L, A599D and S651N, which cause dystonia by unknown mechanisms.
Methods: We applied electrophysiology, Ca measurements and cell biological methods to analyze the molecular mechanisms that lead to aberrant intracellular Ca signals and defective activation of K channels in patients heterozygous for the ANO3 variants.
Am J Physiol Cell Physiol
January 2025
Department of Physiology (Cellular Physiology Research Group),Institute of Molecular Pathology Biomarkers (IMPB), University of Extremadura, 10003-Caceres, Spain.
Filamin A (FLNA) is an actin-binding protein that has been reported to interact with STIM1 modulating the activation of Orai1 channels. Cleaving of FLNA by calpain leads to a C-terminal fragment that is involved in a variety of functional and pathological events, including pro-oncogenic activity in different types of cancer. Here we show that full-length FLNA is downregulated in samples from colon cancer patients as well as in the adenocarcinoma cell line HT-29.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Vis Exp
December 2024
School of Life Science, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine;
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