CatSper1, is a
protein
Proteins are large biomolecules and macromolecules that comprise one or more long chains of amino acid residues. Proteins perform a vast array of functions within organisms, including catalysing metabolic reactions, DNA replication, res ...
which in humans is encoded by the ''CATSPER1''
gene
In biology, the word gene (from , ; "... Wilhelm Johannsen coined the word gene to describe the Mendelian units of heredity..." meaning ''generation'' or ''birth'' or ''gender'') can have several different meanings. The Mendelian gene is a b ...
.
CatSper1 is a member of the
cation channels of sperm family of protein. The four proteins in this family together form a
Ca2+-permeant
ion channel specific essential for the correct function of sperm cells.
Function
Calcium ions play a primary role in the regulation of sperm motility. This gene belongs to a family of putative cation channels that are specific to
spermatozoa
A spermatozoon (; also spelled spermatozoön; ; ) is a motile sperm cell, or moving form of the haploid cell that is the male gamete. A spermatozoon joins an ovum to form a zygote. (A zygote is a single cell, with a complete set of chromos ...
and localize to the
flagellum
A flagellum (; ) is a hairlike appendage that protrudes from certain plant and animal sperm cells, and from a wide range of microorganisms to provide motility. Many protists with flagella are termed as flagellates.
A microorganism may have f ...
. The protein family features a single repeat with six membrane-spanning segments and a predicted calcium-selective pore region.
References
Further reading
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Ion channels
{{membrane-protein-stub