Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 20, 2026

Using an Extracellular Flux Analyzer to Measure Changes in Glycolysis and Oxidative Phosphorylation during Mouse Sperm Capacitation
08:22

Using an Extracellular Flux Analyzer to Measure Changes in Glycolysis and Oxidative Phosphorylation during Mouse Sperm Capacitation

Published on: January 22, 2020

8.5K

The physiological role of ADP and Mg2+ in maintaining a stable beat cycle in bull sperm

Charles B Lindemann1, Tania G dePinho, Kathleen A Lesich

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan.

Cytoskeleton (Hoboken, N.J.)
|November 29, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Sperm motility depends on the balance between magnesium (Mg2+) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Maintaining the correct ratio ensures stable flagellar beating, with adenosine diphosphate (ADP) further stabilizing this crucial cycle.

Area of Science:

  • Sperm motility and flagellar mechanics
  • Biochemistry of motor proteins
  • Cellular energy metabolism

Background:

  • Sperm flagella generate movement using the motor protein dynein.
  • Flagellar beating is essential for sperm motility and reproductive success.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of magnesium (Mg2+) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentrations on sperm flagellar beat cycles.
  • To elucidate the roles of ATP, Mg2+, and adenosine diphosphate (ADP) in regulating dynein motor function and flagellar mechanics.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized detergent-extracted bull sperm models to analyze flagellar beating.
  • Varied concentrations of Mg2+, ATP, and ADP to observe effects on beat amplitude and curvature.
  • Investigated the mechanisms by which Mg2+ and ATP influence dynein-microtubule interactions.

Main Results:

  • The flagellar beat cycle is highly sensitive to the ratio of Mg2+ to ATP.
  • Excess un-complexed ATP or Mg2+ disrupts beat amplitude and curvature.
  • ADP stabilizes the beat cycle, allowing rhythmic beating over a wider range of Mg2+ and ATP concentrations.
  • Un-complexed ATP reduces dynein adhesion, while excess Mg2+ increases resistance to flagellar bending.

Conclusions:

  • The Mg2+/ATP ratio is critical for maintaining sperm flagellar motility.
  • ADP plays a stabilizing role in flagellar beating, potentially explaining sustained motility in vivo.
  • Understanding these mechanisms provides insight into sperm function under varying metabolic conditions.
Keywords:
beat cycleciliadyneinflagellageometric clutchmotilitynucleotide regulation

More Related Videos

Recording Electrical Currents across the Plasma Membrane of Mammalian Sperm Cells09:47

Recording Electrical Currents across the Plasma Membrane of Mammalian Sperm Cells

Published on: February 14, 2021

3.2K
Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm05:44

Medium-throughput Screening Assays for Assessment of Effects on Ca2+-Signaling and Acrosome Reaction in Human Sperm

Published on: March 1, 2019

8.9K

Related Concept Videos

Smooth Muscle Contraction01:25

Smooth Muscle Contraction

Smooth muscle contraction is a complex process vital for various bodily functions, from maintaining blood vessel tension to facilitating the movement of food through the digestive tract. Unlike striated muscles, smooth muscle contraction begins more slowly and lasts longer.
The onset of contraction is triggered by an increase in calcium ions within the sarcoplasm, similar to the process in striated muscle. However, smooth muscles have a relatively smaller reservoir of the sarcoplasmic...
10.1K
ATP Driven Pumps I: An Overview01:27

ATP Driven Pumps I: An Overview

ATP-driven pumps, also known as transport ATPases, are integral membrane proteins. They have binding sites for ATP located on the membrane's cytosolic side and the ion-conducting domain in the transmembrane region. These pumps use the free energy released from ATP hydrolysis to move the solutes across cell membranes against an electrochemical gradient.
There are four main types of ATP-driven pumps - P-type, V-type, F-type, and ABC transporter. All these pumps are of varying complexities and...
10.6K
Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration01:27

Feedback Regulation of Calcium Concentration

Calcium is an essential signaling molecule required for various cellular functions. Calcium pumps and ion channels on cell and organellar membranes, such as those on the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), regulate calcium concentrations inside the cell. They remain closed, keeping the cytosolic calcium levels low at a resting state.
Various transmembrane receptors, such as G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), elicit a response to extracellular signals by increasing cytosolic calcium. Activated GPCRs...
4.3K
ATP Energy Storage and Release01:31

ATP Energy Storage and Release

ATP is a highly unstable molecule. Unless quickly used to perform work, ATP spontaneously dissociates into ADP and inorganic phosphate (Pi), and the free energy released during this process is lost as heat. The energy released by ATP hydrolysis is used to perform work inside the cell and depends on a strategy called energy coupling. Cells couple the exergonic reaction of ATP hydrolysis with endergonic reactions, allowing them to proceed.
One example of energy coupling using ATP involves a...
15.6K
Energy Supply for Muscle Contraction01:25

Energy Supply for Muscle Contraction

Skeletal muscle fibers have the unique ability to switch between rest and contraction states, using different sources of ATP for energy. The contraction cycle and Ca2+ transport back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum for relaxation require significant ATP. However, the ATP reserves in muscle fibers are limited and can only sustain contractions for a few seconds. Additional ATP production becomes necessary for prolonged contractions. As a result, muscle fibers generate ATP through various sources,...
6.6K
G-Protein Gated Ion Channels01:21

G-Protein Gated Ion Channels

GPCRs are primarily responsible for our sense of smell, taste, and vision.  The binding of a sensory stimulus activates GPCR to stimulate effector proteins, many of which are ion channels in the sensory organs. GPCRs modulate the opening and closing of the target ion channels either directly by binding them, or by releasing second messengers that activate these channels. As ions move across the membrane, the membrane potential is altered, which induces an appropriate response.
Sensory...
7.5K