title: The computational sperm cell.
abstract: Sperm are guided to the egg by a gradient of chemical attractants - a process called chemotaxis. The binding of the chemoattractant to receptors on the surface of the flagellum triggers a cascade of signaling events that eventually lead to an influx of Ca(2+) ions. Based on these Ca(2+) surges, which control the waveform of the flagellar beat, sperm adjust their swimming path toward the egg. In past years, many components of chemotactic signaling have been identified. Moreover, kinetic spectroscopy and imaging techniques unraveled the sequence of cellular events controlling swimming behavior. During navigation in a chemical gradient, sperm perform a surprising variety of computational operations. Here we discuss theoretical concepts of navigation strategies and the cellular underpinnings.
authors.affiliation: Center of Advanced European Studies and Research (CAESAR), Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, 53175 Bonn, Germany. Electronic address: luis.alvarez@caesar.de.
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Nöthnitzer Straße 38, 01187 Dresden, Germany.
authors.forename: Benjamin M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Friedrich
authors.affiliation: Research Centre Jülich, Institute of Complex Systems (ICS-2), 52425 Jülich, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gompper
authors.affiliation: Center of Advanced European Studies and Research (CAESAR), Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, 53175 Bonn, Germany. Electronic address: u.b.kaupp@caesar.de.
authors.forename: U Benjamin
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Kaupp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D020013:Calcium Signaling / Q000235:genetics; D002633:Chemotaxis / Q000235:genetics*; D002923:Cilia / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005407:Flagella / Q000378:metabolism; D057446:Hydrodynamics; D008297:Male; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010063:Ovum / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium
keywords: calcium; chemotaxis; cilia; gradient; hydrodynamics; signaling