title: ADP-ribosylation of Rho proteins inhibits sperm motility.
abstract: The highly homologous Rho proteins RhoA, RhoB and RhoC are low-molecular-mass GTP-binding proteins. They are selectively ADP-ribosylated by Clostridium botulinum ADP-ribosyltransferase C3 (C3 exoenzyme). The biological function of the Rho proteins is still unclear; there is evidence that they are involved in the regulation of the filamental network of cells. Here we report that C3 exoenzyme-like toxins ADP-ribosylate small GTP-binding proteins in bovine spermatozoa and inhibit sperm motility. These findings indicate that Rho proteins which reportedly regulate the microfilament system are basically involved in sperm motility.
authors.affiliation: Zentrum für Dermatologie und Andrologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen, Germany.
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Hinsch
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Habermann
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Just
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hinsch
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pfisterer
authors.forename: W B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Schill
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aktories
mesh_terms: D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001905:Botulinum Toxins; D002417:Cattle; D003014:Clostridium botulinum / Q000201:enzymology; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D013081:Sperm Motility; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein; D020743:rhoB GTP-Binding Protein
chemical_list: D008565:Membrane Proteins; D036002:ADP Ribose Transferases; C063007:exoenzyme C3, Clostridium botulinum; D001905:Botulinum Toxins; D019204:GTP-Binding Proteins; D020741:rho GTP-Binding Proteins; D020742:rhoA GTP-Binding Protein; D020743:rhoB GTP-Binding Protein