title: Identification of a testicular odorant receptor mediating human sperm chemotaxis.
abstract: Although it has been known for some time that olfactory receptors (ORs) reside in spermatozoa, the function of these ORs is unknown. Here, we identified, cloned, and functionally expressed a previously undescribed human testicular OR, hOR17-4. With the use of ratiofluorometric imaging, Ca2+ signals were induced by a small subset of applied chemical stimuli, establishing the molecular receptive fields for the recombinantly expressed receptor in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293 cells and the native receptor in human spermatozoa. Bourgeonal was a powerful agonist for both recombinant and native receptor types, as well as a strong chemoattractant in subsequent behavioral bioassays. In contrast, undecanal was a potent OR antagonist to bourgeonal and related compounds. Taken together, these results indicate that hOR17-4 functions in human sperm chemotaxis and may be a critical component of the fertilization process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Physiology, Ruhr University Bochum, 150 University Street, D-44780 Bochum, Germany.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Spehr
authors.forename: Gunter
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gisselmann
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poplawski
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Riffell
authors.forename: Christian H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wetzel
authors.forename: Richard K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Zimmer
authors.forename: Hanns
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hatt
mesh_terms: D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases / Q000378:metabolism; D000447:Aldehydes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D001665:Binding Sites; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D002460:Cell Line; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002633:Chemotaxis; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005306:Fertilization; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D008024:Ligands; D008297:Male; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009812:Odorants; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013737:Testis / Q000378:metabolism*; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000447:Aldehydes; D002630:Chemotactic Factors; D008024:Ligands; C473192:OR1D2 protein, human; D018035:Receptors, Odorant; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D029589:Seminal Plasma Proteins; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; D000262:Adenylyl Cyclases; C473193:bourgeonal; D002118:Calcium