Functional characterization of PKDREJ, a male germ cell-restricted polycystin

Keith A. Sutton, Melissa K. Jungnickel, Christopher J. Ward, Peter C. Harris, Harvey M. Florman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

35 Scopus citations

Abstract

Polycystin-1 regulates a number of cellular processes through the formation of complexes with the polycystin-2 ion channel or with other signal transduction proteins. Polycystin-1 is expressed in many tissues but other members of this gene family are distributed in a more restricted fashion. PKDREJ expression has been detected only in the mammalian testis, where it is restricted to the spermatogenic lineage and retained in mature sperm. However, the functional characteristics of this protein and its role in sperm biology are not well understood. In this study it is shown that PKDREJ can modulate C protein signaling and associates with several members of the polycystin-2 family. These interactions, as well as polycystin-2 association with TRPC channels, are consistent with a role of this protein in the regulation of the acrosome reaction and in other aspects of sperm physiology.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)493-500
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Cellular Physiology
Volume209
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Physiology
  • Clinical Biochemistry
  • Cell Biology

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