Nucleoside diphosphate kinase and the flagellar movement of glycerinated spermatozoa

Nucleoside diphosphate kinase [EC 2.7.4.6.] of sperm flagella and Tetrahymena cilia is detected mostly in the outer fiber fraction, suggesting an association of the enzyme with the outer fiber microtubules. The enzyme does not catalyze transphosphorylation between microtubule-bound GDP and exogenous ATP. Even when undulatory movement of glycerinated sperm is induced by MgATP, no phosphorylation is detected in the outer fiber fraction. These facts do not appear to support the hypothesis that the phosphorylation of microtubule-bound GDP is involved in the mechanism of flagellar movement.