Cyclic 3',5'-AMP causes ADAM1/ADAM2 to rapidly diffuse within the plasma membrane of guinea pig sperm.

ABSTRACT: Because sperm cannot synthesize new proteins as they journey to the egg, they use multiple mechanisms to modify the activity of existing proteins, including changes in the diffusion coefficient of some membrane proteins. Previously, we showed that during capacitation the guinea pig heterodimeric membrane protein ADAM1/ADAM2 (fertilin) transforms from a stationary state to one of rapid diffusion within the lipid bilayer. The cause for this biophysical change, however, was unknown. In this study we examined whether an increase in cAMP, such as occurs during capacitation, could trigger this change. We incubated guinea pig cauda sperm with the membrane-permeable cAMP analog dibutyryl cAMP (db-cAMP) and the phosphodiesterase inhibitor papaverine and first tested for indications of capacitation.

SUBMITTER: Hunnicutt GR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2714999 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature