Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/916085

OpenURL Link
Title
Phosphorylation and consequent stimulation of the tyrosine kinase c-Abl by PKA in mouse spermatozoa: its implications during capacitation
Author/Creator
Baker, Mark A.;  Hetherington, Louise;  Curry, Benjamin;  Aitken, R. John
Institution
The University of Newcastle. Faculty of Science & Information Technology, School of Environmental and Life Sciences
Description
Upon ejaculation, spermatozoa undergo a series of post-translational modifications in a process known as capacitation in order to prepare for fertilization. In the absence of capacitation, fertilization cannot occur. Spermatozoa are unusual in that one of the hallmarks of capacitation is a global up-regulation in phosphotyrosine expression, which is known to be mediated upstream by PKA. Little is known about the signaling events downstream of PKA apart from the involvement of SRC, as a key mediator of PKA-induced tyrosine phosphorylation in the sperm tail. Here we describe the presence of c-Abl in mouse spermatozoa. In vitro analysis confirmed that PKA can up-regulate c-Abl kinase activity. In vivo, this tyrosine kinase was found to associate, and become threonine phosphorylated by PKA in the sperm flagellum. By treating spermatozoa with hemolysin we could demonstrate that a significant proportion of the tyrosine phosphorylation associated with capacitation could be suppressed by the c-Abl inhibitor, Gleevac. This is the first report of c-Abl being up-regulated by PKA for any cell type. We present a model, whereby these kinases may operate together with SRC to ensure optimal levels of tyrosine phosphorylation in the sperm flagellum during the attainment of a capacitated state.
Relation
Developmental Biology Vol. 333, Issue 1, p. 57-66
Publisher Link
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2009.06.022
Date
2009
Publisher
Elsevier
Keyword(s)
tyrosine phosphorylation;  capacitation;  c-ABL;  PKA;  spermatozoa;  gleevac;  post-translational modification;  maturation;  SRC
Resource Type
journal article
Identifier
http://hdl.handle.net/1959.13/916085
Identifier
ISSN:0012-1606
Reviewed
Reviewed
23 Visitors 24 Hits 0 Downloads
Save/E-mail Citation
Citation Format
E-mail Address
Subject
"Developmental Biology"
 
OR