Regulation of hyperactivation by PPP2 in hamster spermatozoa

It has been widely accepted that serine/threonine protein phosphatases (PPPs) are associated with the regulation of sperm hyperactivation. In the present study, we examined the types of PPPs associated with the regulation of hamster sperm hyperactivation. Protein phosphatases PPP1CA, PPP1CC, PPP2, and PPP3 are present in hamster sperm. In the experiments using several inhibitors, sperm hyperactivation was enhanced when PPP2 was inhibited at least, although inhibition of PPP1 also enhanced sperm hyperactivation. Interestingly, sperm were hyperactivated after PPP2 became an inactive form. And then, PPP1CA became an active form after sperm were hyperactivated. It has also been widely accepted that tyrosine phosphorylation is closely associated with the regulation of sperm hyperactivation. When PPP2 was inhibited, tyrosine phosphorylation was not enhanced at all. On the other hand, inhibition of PPP1 enhanced tyrosine phosphorylation. From the results, it is likely that PPP2 is closely associated with the regulation of sperm hyperactivation, although it is not associated with the regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation.