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Updated: Aug 28, 2026

Recording Electrical Currents across the Plasma Membrane of Mammalian Sperm Cells
Published on: February 14, 2021
The structural basis of CatSper function in sperm motility and fertilization
Shiyi Lin1, Shaojie Wang1, Jianping Wu1
1Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Structural Biology and State Key Laboratory of Gene Expression, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China; Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310024, China.
Abstract:
Cation channel of sperm (CatSper) is the principal Ca2+ entry pathway governing sperm hyperactivated motility, a process essential for successful fertilization and male fertility in sexually reproducing animals. Recent structural studies of native mouse CatSper, together with in situ analyses in mouse and human sperm, have transformed our understanding of how its unique multisubunit architecture underpins channel assembly, gating, and higher-order organization along the sperm flagellum. These advances have also provided insights into the evolutionary diversification of CatSper and the spatial organization of Ca2+ signaling required for sperm function. In this review, we summarize recent progress in elucidating CatSper structure, mechanism, evolution, and physiological function, and discuss the implications for male infertility and the structure-guided development of nonhormonal male contraceptives.
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