background:
Calcium ions play a primary role in the regulation of sperm motility. This gene belongs to a family of putative cation channels that are specific to spermatozoa and localize to the flagellum. The protein family features a single repeat with six membrane-spanning segments and a predicted calcium-selective pore region. This gene is part of a tandem repeat on chromosome 15q15; the second copy of this gene is thought to be a pseudogene. Additional splice variants have been described but their full-length nature has not been determined. [provided by RefSeq, Aug 2008].
Function:
Voltage-gated calcium channel that plays a central role in calcium-dependent physiological responses essential for successful fertilization, such as sperm hyperactivation, acrosome reaction and chemotaxis towards the oocyte. Activated by extracellular progesterone and prostaglandins following the sequence: progesterone > PGF1-alpha = PGE1 > PGA1 > PGE2 >> PGD2. The primary effect of progesterone activation is to shift voltage dependence towards more physiological, negative membrane potentials; it is not mediated by metabotropic receptors and second messengers. Sperm capacitation enhances the effect of progesterone by providing additional negative shift. Also activated by the elevation of intracellular pH.
Subunit:
Heterotetramer; possibly composed of CATSPER1, CATSPER2, CATSPER3 and CATSPER4 (Potential). Component of the CatSper complex. Interacts with Ca(v)3.3/CACNA1I, leading to suppress T-type calcium channel activity.
Subcellular Location:
Cell projection, cilium, flagellum membrane; Multi-pass membrane protein. Note=Specifically located in the principal piece of sperm tail.
Tissue Specificity:
Testis-specific.
DISEASE:
Deafness-infertility syndrome (DIS) [MIM:611102]: Characterized by deafness and infertility and is caused by large contiguous gene deletions at 15q15.3 that removes both STRC and CATSPER2 genes. Note=The disease is caused by mutations affecting the gene represented in this entry.
Similarity:
Belongs to the cation channel sperm-associated (TC 1.A.1.19) family.
Database links:
Entrez Gene: 117155 Human
Omim: 607249 Human
SwissProt: Q8NHT9 Human
Unigene: 662284 Human
Important Note:
This product as supplied is intended for research use only, not for use in human, therapeutic or diagnostic applications.
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