Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 24, 2026
Phosphopeptide Analysis of Rodent Epididymal Spermatozoa
Published on: December 30, 2014
PCSK4-null sperm display enhanced protein tyrosine phosphorylation and ADAM2 proteolytic processing during in vitro
Charles Gyamera-Acheampong1, Julian Vasilescu, Daniel Figeys
1Chronic Disease Program, Ottawa Health Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Objective:
To study the molecular basis for the accelerated capacitation rate in PCSK4-null sperm.
Design:
Comparative and controlled experimental research study.
Setting:
Academic medical institute.
Animal(S):
Male mice C57BL/6J wild-type or null congenics for the Pcsk4 allele.
Intervention(S):
Cauda and epididymal sperm were capacitated for varying times.
Main Outcome Measure(S):
Differences in sperm protein tyrosine phosphorylation and proteolytic processing of sperm-egg ligands ADAM2 and ADAM3.
Result(S):
The PCSK4-null sperm proteins are hyper-tyrosine phosphorylated during capacitation. This hyperphosphorylation is dependent on protein kinase A (PKA), albumin, and calcium. There is also more ADAM2 proteolytic processing from a 46-kDa form of ADAM2 to a 27-kDa form in PCSK4-null sperm than in wild-type sperm. This processing is dependent on cholesterol efflux.
Conclusion(S):
Lack of PCSK4 is associated with quantitative changes in the phosphorylation and proteolysis of sperm proteins during capacitation; therefore, alterations in signal transduction and proteolytic processing during capacitation may underlie the fertilization incompetence of PCSK4-null sperm. More investigation is needed to determine how and to what extent these changes might contribute to the loss of fertilizing ability of PCSK4-null sperm.
More Related Videos
08:22Using an Extracellular Flux Analyzer to Measure Changes in Glycolysis and Oxidative Phosphorylation during Mouse Sperm Capacitation
Published on: January 22, 2020
19:26Measuring Intracellular Ca2+ Changes in Human Sperm using Four Techniques: Conventional Fluorometry, Stopped Flow Fluorometry, Flow Cytometry and Single Cell Imaging
Published on: May 24, 2013
Related Concept Videos
01:41Spermatogenesis
01:38Fertilization