CALCIUM SIGNALING IN THE TESTIS

描述：（改编自申请人的摘要）长期目标 其中一项工作是研究精子中钙的调节作用 精子的发育和成熟功能。这里提出的初步研究 关注一种新发现的钙结合蛋白的作用， 睾丸中的钙调节事件。这种蛋白质被称为Androcam， 在睾丸中特异性表达，并且似乎在进化上是保守的 从昆虫到哺乳动物。Androcam的特性表明它是一种 钙传感器-一种蛋白质，它将细胞内 钙诱导的细胞反应的变化 蛋白质相互作用的变化。两种主要方法 理解Androcam的功能将被追求：i）中断 精子发生和成熟精子功能由Androcam突变产生 果蝇基因的分析; ii）蛋白相互作用 Androcam的合作伙伴，无论是在钙结合和无钙状态将是 在同一个生物体中。先前的研究已经允许预测 两种分子马达蛋白可能是Androcam的靶点。安卓摄像头 其他物种中的同系物也将被分离，特别是为了 在哺乳动物物种中进行Androcam相关蛋白的研究。

DESCRIPTION: (Adapted from the applicant's abstract) The long-term objectives of the proposed work are to dissect the roles of calcium regulation in sperm development and mature sperm function. The initial studies proposed here concern the role(s) of a newly identified calcium-binding protein implicated in calcium-regulatory events in the testis. The protein, termed Androcam, is specifically expressed in the testis and appears to be evolutionarily conserved from insects to mammals. The characteristics of Androcam indicate that it is a calcium sensor-a protein that converts transient changes in intracellular calcium into changes in cellular responses as a result of calcium-induced changes in its protein-protein interactions. Two major approaches to understanding Androcam function will be pursued: i) the disruptions in spermatogenesis and mature sperm function produced by mutations to the Androcam gene of Drosophila melanogaster will be analyzed; ii) the protein interaction partners of Androcam, both in the calcium-bound and calcium-free state will be identified in the same organism. Prior studies already allow the prediction that two types molecular motor proteins may be Androcam targets. The Androcam homologs in other species will also be isolated with a particular view to pursuing studies of Androcam-related proteins in mammalian species.