title: Role of Actin Cytoskeleton During Mammalian Sperm Acrosomal Exocytosis.
abstract: Mammalian sperm require to undergo an exocytotic process called acrosomal exocytosis in order to be able to fuse with the oocyte. This ability is acquired during the course of sperm capacitation. This review is focused on one aspect related to this acquisition: the role of the actin cytoskeleton. Evidence from different laboratories indicates that actin polymerization occurs during capacitation, and the detection of several actin-related proteins suggests that the cytoskeleton is involved in important sperm functions. In other mammalian cells, the cortical actin network acts as a dominant negative clamp which blocks constitutive exocytosis but, at the same time, is necessary to prepare the cell to undergo regulated exocytosis. Thus, F-actin stabilizes structures generated by exocytosis and supports the physiological progression of this process. Is this also the case in mammalian sperm? This review summarizes what is currently known about actin and its related proteins in the male gamete, with particular emphasis on their role in acrosomal exocytosis.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado, 2490 (1428), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romarowski
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado, 2490 (1428), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Guillermina M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Luque
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado, 2490 (1428), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Florenza A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: La Spina
authors.affiliation: Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology of Rosario (CONICET-UNR), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Krapf
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), National Research Council of Argentina (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado, 2490 (1428), Buenos Aires, Argentina. mgbuffone@ibyme.conicet.gov.ar.
authors.forename: Mariano G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Buffone
mesh_terms: D000177:Acrosome / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D020101:Acrosome Reaction / Q000235:genetics*; D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051339:Actin Depolymerizing Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000199:Actins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005089:Exocytosis / Q000235:genetics*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D054461:Lim Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D010739:Phospholipase D / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D051339:Actin Depolymerizing Factors; D000199:Actins; D054461:Lim Kinases; C515893:Limk1 protein, mouse; D017868:Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D010739:Phospholipase D; C106801:phospholipase D1
keywords: Acrosomal exocytosis; Actin; Capacitation; Sperm