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. 2021 Sep;385(3):785-801.
doi: 10.1007/s00441-021-03455-2. Epub 2021 Apr 22.

Ouabain-induced activation of phospholipase C zeta and its contributions to bovine sperm capacitation

Veena Unnikrishnan  1 , John P Kastelic  1 , Jacob C Thundathil  2
Affiliations

Ouabain-induced activation of phospholipase C zeta and its contributions to bovine sperm capacitation

Veena Unnikrishnan et al. Cell Tissue Res. 2021 Sep.

Abstract

The sperm-derived oocyte activating factor, phospholipase C zeta (PLC ζ), is the only PLC isoform reported in cattle. The objectives were to (1) localize PLC ζ in fresh and capacitated bovine sperm and (2) investigate the activation of PLC ζ during bull sperm capacitation and contributions of PLC activity to this process. We confirmed interaction of testis-specific isoform of Na/K-ATPase (ATP1A4) with PLC ζ (immunolocalization and immunoprecipitation) and tyrosine phosphorylation (immunoprecipitation) of PLC ζ (a post-translational protein modification commonly involved in activation of PLC in somatic cells) during capacitation. Furthermore, incubation of sperm under capacitating conditions upregulated PLC-mediated hyperactivated motility, tyrosine phosphoprotein content, acrosome reaction, and F-actin formation (flow cytometry), implying that PLC activity is enhanced during capacitation and contributing to these capacitation processes. In conclusion, we inferred that PLC ζ is activated during capacitation by tyrosine phosphorylation through a mechanism involving ATP1A4, contributing to capacitation-associated biochemical events.

Keywords: Bull; Fertility; Ouabain; Phospholipase C zeta (PLC ζ); Sperm.

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