cation channel sperm-associated protein 1 (Catsper1, hCatSper, CATSPER1)

Function

• voltage-gated Ca+2 channel
• role in sperm cell hyperactivation
• controls Ca+2 entry to mediate hyperactivated motility, a step needed for sperm motility
• activated by intracellular alkalinization
• heterotetramer, possibly composed of CATSPER1, CATSPER2, CATSPER3 & CATSPER4
• component of a complex, at least composed of CATSPER1, HSPA1B & C14orf161 (CatSper beta)
• interacts with CATSPER3 & CATSPER4 (putative)
• interacts with Ca(v)3.3/CACNA1I, leading to suppress T-type Ca+2 channel activity

Structure

• belongs to the cation channel sperm-associated family

Compartment

• cell projection, cilium, flagellum

Expression

• testis-specific
• specifically present in the principal piece of sperm tail (at protein level)
• expressed meiotically & post-meiotically

Pathology

-down-regulated in patients lacking sperm motility

More general terms

• membrane protein
• testis-specific protein

Database

• OMIM: https://mirror.omim.org/entry/606389
• UniProt: http://www.uniprot.org/uniprot/Q8NEC5.html