Rabbit polyclonal antibody to CATSPER1

CatSper is an ion transport protein located on the surface of sperm cells. CatSper (for cation channel of sperm) is vital to cAMP~mediated calcium influx in sperm, sperm motility and fertilization. The gene that encodes CatSper maps to human chromosome 11q12.1. The 686 amino acid protein is a single, six~transmembrane~spanning protein of the voltage~ dependent Ca2+ channel four~repeat structure and is expressed exclusively in the testis. In CatSper ~/~ sperm, neither cAMP nor cGMP elicit a significant Ca2+ influx in both mutant and wild~type sperm. CatSper is localized to the sperm flagellum and CatSper ~/~ mice show sluggish and less directed movements. CatSper is required to penetrate the egg, but is not required for egg activation.