Title

Motility of a biflagellate sperm: Waveform analysis and cyclic nucleotide activation

Authors

Authors

D. R. Howard; C. M. Trantow;C. D. Thaler

Comments

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Abbreviated Journal Title

Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton

Keywords

flagella; cyclic AMP; cyclic GMP; cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA); cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG); flagellar waveform; DEPENDENT PROTEIN-KINASE; CILIARY BEAT FREQUENCY; SEA-URCHIN SPERM; FRESH-WATER CLAM; FLAGELLAR MOTILITY; ACROSOME REACTION; CA2+ CHANNELS; GILL CILIA; IN-VITRO; CAMP; Cell Biology

Abstract

The sperm of the freshwater clam Corbicula fluminea are unusual in that they have two flagella, both of which are capable of beating. When Corbicula sperm are removed from the gonad and placed into freshwater, most remain immotile. Video microscopy was used to assess signaling molecules capable of activating Corbicula sperm motility. Experiments using the cAMP analogs dbcAMP or 8-Br-cAMP show that elevating cAMP activates flagellar motility. Treatments with 8-Br-cGMP activated motility in similar numbers of sperm. Treatments with the selective cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) inhibitor H-89 block activation by 8-Br-cAMP but not by 8-Br-cGMP. Similar treatments with the cGMPdependent protein kinase (PKG) inhibitor Rp-8-pCPT-cGMPS block activation by 8-Br-cGMP but not by 8-Br-cAMP. These results suggest that cAMP and cGMP each work through their specific kinase to activate flagellar motility. Analysis of spontaneously activated freely swimming sperm shows that the two flagella beat with different parameters. The A flagellum beats with a shorter wavelength and a higher frequency than the B flagellum. The observed differences in flagellar waveform indicate that the flagella are differentially controlled. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton (C) 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Journal Title

Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton

Volume

59

Issue/Number

2

Publication Date

1-1-2004

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

120

Last Page

130

WOS Identifier

WOS:000224240300005

ISSN

0886-1544

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