Identification of chloride intracellular channel proteins in spermatozoa

FEBS Lett. 2004 May 21;566(1-3):136-40. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2004.04.017.

Abstract

We have identified for the first time the presence of chloride intracellular channel (CLIC) proteins in bovine epididymal spermatozoa. CLIC1 was discovered during microsequencing of proteins that co-purified with protein phosphatase 1, PP1gamma2, in sperm extracts. In addition to CLIC1, Western blot showed that two additional CLIC family members, CLIC4 and CLIC5, are also present in spermatozoa. CLIC fusion proteins, GST-CLIC1, GST-CLIC4 and GST-CLIC5, were all able to bind to PP1gamma2 in sperm extracts during pull-down assays. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed that each of the three isoforms occupies a distinct location within the cell. Given that PP1gamma2 is a key enzyme regulating sperm motility, PP1gamma2-binding proteins, such as the CLIC proteins, are likely to play significant roles in sperm function.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cattle
  • Chloride Channels / genetics
  • Chloride Channels / metabolism*
  • Epididymis / cytology
  • Fluorescent Antibody Technique
  • Humans
  • Jurkat Cells
  • Male
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases / metabolism
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Protein Phosphatase 1
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • Spermatozoa / metabolism*

Substances

  • CLIC1 protein, human
  • Chloride Channels
  • Protein Isoforms
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • Phosphoprotein Phosphatases
  • Protein Phosphatase 1