title: At the physical limit - chemosensation in sperm.
abstract: Many cells probe their environment for chemical cues. Some cells respond to picomolar concentrations of neuropeptides, hormones, pheromones, or chemoattractants. At such low concentrations, cells encounter only a few molecules. The mechanistic underpinnings of single-molecule sensitivity are not known for any eukaryotic cell. Sea urchin sperm offer a unique model to unveil in quantitative terms the principles underlying chemosensation at the physical limit. Here, we discuss the mechanisms of such exquisite sensitivity and the computational operations performed by sperm during chemotactic steering. Moreover, we highlight commonalities and differences between signalling in sperm and photoreceptors and among sperm from different species.
authors.affiliation: Center of Advanced European Studies and Research (caesar), Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, Bonn 53175, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Strünker
authors.affiliation: Center of Advanced European Studies and Research (caesar), Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, Bonn 53175, Germany.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.affiliation: Center of Advanced European Studies and Research (caesar), Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, Bonn 53175, Germany. Electronic address: u.b.kaupp@caesar.de.
authors.forename: U B
authors.initials: UB
authors.lastname: Kaupp
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002630:Chemotactic Factors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012677:Sensation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002630:Chemotactic Factors