In situ cryo-electron tomography reveals the asymmetric architecture of mammalian sperm axonemes
| Autor: | Zhen Chen, Garrett A. Greenan, Momoko Shiozaki, Yanxin Liu, Will M. Skinner, Xiaowei Zhao, Shumei Zhao, Rui Yan, Zhiheng Yu, Polina V. Lishko, David A. Agard, Ronald D. Vale |
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| Rok vydání: | 2023 |
| Předmět: |
Mammals
Male Electron Microscope Tomography Axoneme Contraception/Reproduction 1.1 Normal biological development and functioning Biophysics Dyneins Biological Sciences Spermatozoa Microtubules Medical and Health Sciences Structural Biology Flagella Semen Underpinning research Chemical Sciences Animals Humans Generic health relevance Molecular Biology Developmental Biology |
| Zdroj: | Nature structural & molecular biology, vol 30, iss 3 |
| Popis: | The flagella of mammalian sperm display non-planar, asymmetric beating, in contrast to the planar, symmetric beating of flagella from sea urchin sperm and unicellular organisms. The molecular basis of this difference is unclear. Here, we perform in situ cryo-electron tomography of mouse and human sperm, providing the highest-resolution structural information to date. Our subtomogram averages reveal mammalian sperm-specific protein complexes within the microtubules, the radial spokes and nexin–dynein regulatory complexes. The locations and structures of these complexes suggest potential roles in enhancing the mechanical strength of mammalian sperm axonemes and regulating dynein-based axonemal bending. Intriguingly, we find that each of the nine outer microtubule doublets is decorated with a distinct combination of sperm-specific complexes. We propose that this asymmetric distribution of proteins differentially regulates the sliding of each microtubule doublet and may underlie the asymmetric beating of mammalian sperm. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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