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CatSper2

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Target not currently curated in GtoImmuPdb

Target id: 389

Nomenclature: CatSper2

Family: CatSper and Two-Pore channels (TPC)

Gene and Protein Information Click here for help
Species TM P Loops AA Chromosomal Location Gene Symbol Gene Name Reference
Human 6 1 530 15q15.3 CATSPER2 cation channel sperm associated 2 15
Mouse 6 1 588 2 E5 Catsper2 cation channel, sperm associated 2 15
Rat 6 1 584 3q35 Catsper2 cation channel, sperm associated 2
Previous and Unofficial Names Click here for help
Cation channel of sperm; 2 | cation channel
Database Links Click here for help
Alphafold
Ensembl Gene
Entrez Gene
Human Protein Atlas
KEGG Gene
OMIM
Orphanet
Pharos
RefSeq Nucleotide
RefSeq Protein
UniProtKB
Wikipedia
Associated Proteins Click here for help
Heteromeric Pore-forming Subunits
Name References
CatSper4 5,7,14
CatSper3 5,7,14
CatSper1 3,5,10,16-17
Auxiliary Subunits
Name References
CatSperGamma 5,19
CatSperDelta 5
CatSperBeta 5,12
Other Associated Proteins
Name References
Not determined
Associated Protein Comments
CatSper1-4 appear to function only as a heterotetramer, producing a current known as ICatSper. Expression of all CatSper subunits is co-dependent.

In contrast to auxiliary subunits associated with other ion channels, which only modulate gating or trafficking of the channel pore, the auxiliary subunits of CatSper channels are required for the expression and function. Moreover, all of these auxiliary subunits have huge extracellular domains with minimal cytoplasmic regions, they are as good targets as pore-forming subunits for pharmacological intervention of CatSper channel activity.
Functional Characteristics Click here for help
Required for ICatSper and male fertility (mouse and human)
Ion Selectivity and Conductance Click here for help
Species:  Human
Rank order:  Ba2+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Na+
References:  11,18
Species:  Mouse
Rank order:  Ba2+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ > Na+
References:  10
Ion Selectivity and Conductance Comments
Please note that patch clamp is performed on corpus epididymal spermatozoa for mouse but on ejaculate spermatozoa for human. Since CatSper1-4 are pore-forming subunits which are all required for ICatSper, the electrophysiological characterization of CatSper channel is common to CatSper1, 2, 3, and 4.
Voltage Dependence Click here for help
  V0.5 (mV)  τ (msec)  Reference  Cell type  Species 
Activation  11.0 10.0 10 Epididymal spermatozoa Mouse
Inactivation  - - 10
Comments  at pH 7.5
  V0.5 (mV)  τ (msec)  Reference  Cell type  Species 
Activation  85.0 10.0 11 Non-capacitated ejaculate spermatozoa Human
Inactivation  - -
Comments  pH 7.4, 500 pM progesterone shifts V0.5 from +85 to +52 mV.
  V0.5 (mV)  τ (msec)  Reference  Cell type  Species 
Activation  87.0 10.0 10 Epididymal spermatozoa Mouse
Inactivation  - - 10
Comments  at pH 6.0
  V0.5 (mV)  τ (msec)  Reference  Cell type  Species 
Activation  70.0 10.0 11 Capacitated ejaculate spermatozoa Human
Inactivation  - -
Comments  At pH 7.4, capacitation shifts V0.5 from +85 to +70, which is further negatively shifted to +30 mV by 500 pM progesterone.

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Activators
Key to terms and symbols View all chemical structures Click column headers to sort
Ligand Sp. Action Value Parameter Concentration range (M) Holding voltage (mV) Reference
progesterone Small molecule or natural product Approved drug Click here for species-specific activity table Ligand is endogenous in the given species Ligand has a PDB structure Hs Full agonist 8.1 pEC50 - -60.0 11,18
pEC50 8.1 (EC50 7.7x10-9 M) [11,18]
Holding voltage: -60.0 mV
Description: Patch clamp electrophysiology, kinetic rapid mixing fluorometry; 2-3 µM shows the saturating efficacy.
PGE1 Small molecule or natural product Approved drug Click here for species-specific activity table Ligand is endogenous in the given species Ligand has a PDB structure Hs Full agonist 6.3 pEC50 - -80.0 11
pEC50 6.3 (EC50 5x10-7 M) [11]
Holding voltage: -80.0 mV
Description: Patch clamp electrophysiology.
PGE2 Small molecule or natural product Approved drug Click here for species-specific activity table Ligand is endogenous in the given species Ligand has a PDB structure Immunopharmacology Ligand Hs Full agonist 6.3 pEC50 - -80.0 11
pEC50 6.3 (EC50 5x10-7 M) [11]
Holding voltage: -80.0 mV
Description: Patch clamp electrophysiology.
PGF Small molecule or natural product Click here for species-specific activity table Ligand is endogenous in the given species Hs Full agonist 6.3 pEC50 - -80.0 11
pEC50 6.3 (EC50 5x10-7 M) [11]
Holding voltage: -80.0 mV
Description: Patch clamp electrophysiology.
Activator Comments
Progesterone and prostaglandin activated human ICatSper only.

Mouse CatSper: pH shifts V0.5 from +87 mV at pH 6.0 to +11 mV at pH 7.5, a dramatic change of -76 mV. However, the Boltmann relation is not steep, indicating weak voltage sensitivity: Slope factor (k)= 30, much less sensitive than channels with positively charged S4 domains (k)=4 for KV channels.

Human CatSper: Even at pH 7.4, V0.5 is +85 mV, which capacitation shifts to +70 at pH 7.4, a slight negative change (-15 mV). Progesterone shifts V0.5 from +85 to +52 (-33 mV), and from +70 to +30 (-40 mV) at pH7.4, in non-capacitated and capacitated human spermatozoa, respectively. Boltmann relation of human CatSper is also not steep: Slope factor (k)=20. A more positive V0.5 and a steeper slope factor of human CatSper results in a smaller fraction of channels activated at negative membrane potentials compared with mouse CatSper. Therefore, progesterone helps human CatSper achieve a degree of activation at physiological potentials by inducing a negative shift in the G/V curve. The relative effects of activators of human CatSper is progesterone>PGF1a=PGE1>PGA1>PGE2.

In both mouse and human, proton (H+) is an endogenous agonist. Alkalinisation activates ICatSper. For example, mouse ICatSper increases 6-fold (from 2 pA to 12 pA) when pipette pH (pHpip) changes from pH6.0 to pH7.5, which can be further enhanced by 2-fold (22 pA) when pHpip is 8.0.

pEC50 of PGE1, PGF, PGE2 is converted from effective concentration used in the original study.
Channel Blockers
Key to terms and symbols View all chemical structures Click column headers to sort
Ligand Sp. Action Value Parameter Concentration range (M) Holding voltage (mV) Reference
NNC55-0396 Small molecule or natural product Click here for species-specific activity table Hs Inhibition 5.7 pIC50 - -80.0 – 80.0 11,18
pIC50 5.7 (IC50 2x10-6 M) [11,18]
Holding voltage: -80.0 – 80.0 mV
Description: Patch clamp electrophysiology and kinetic rapid mixing fluometry.
ruthenium red Click here for species-specific activity table Mm Antagonist 5.0 pIC50 - - 9
pIC50 5.0 (IC50 1x10-5 M) [9]
Description: Whole cell patch clamp.
NNC55-0396 Small molecule or natural product Click here for species-specific activity table Mm Inhibition <4.6 pIC50 - -80.0 – 80.0 11
pIC50 <4.6 (IC50 >2.5x10-5 M) [11]
Holding voltage: -80.0 – 80.0 mV
Description: Patch clamp electrophysiology.
mibefradil Small molecule or natural product Approved drug Click here for species-specific activity table Ligand has a PDB structure Hs Inhibition 4.4 – 4.5 pIC50 - - 18
pIC50 4.4 – 4.5 (IC50 4x10-5 – 3x10-5 M) [18]
Description: Patch clamp electrophysiology and kinetic rapid mixing fluometry.
Cd2+ Click here for species-specific activity table Mm Inhibition 3.7 pIC50 - - 9
pIC50 3.7 (IC50 2x10-4 M) [9]
Description: Whole cell patch clamp.
Ni2+ Click here for species-specific activity table Mm Antagonist 3.5 pIC50 - - 9
pIC50 3.5 (IC50 3x10-4 M) [9]
Description: Whole cell patch clamp.
View species-specific channel blocker tables
Channel Blocker Comments
Blocking calcium (2mM) current through mouse CatSper channels by cadmium, nickel, and ruthenium red are all reversible. Inhibition of mouse ICatSper is not as effective as human ICatSper by 2µM NNC 55-0396.

pIC50 of cadmium, nickel, ruthenium red, NNC 55-0396 and mibefradil is converted from inhibitory concentration used in the original study.
Tissue Distribution Click here for help
Testis.
Species:  Human
Technique:  Northern blot.
References:  15
Testis, principal piece of the tail of spermatozoa, meiotic and post-meiotic germ cells, mature spermatozoa.
Species:  Mouse
Technique:  Northern blot, immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridisation,
References:  15-16
Spermatozoa (plasma membrane of the tail).
Species:  Mouse
Technique:  Patch clamp electrophysiology.
References:  14
Testis and Sperm cell membrane.
Species:  Mouse
Technique:  Western blot.
References:  3,15-16
Tissue Distribution Comments
Only spermatozoa from CatSper2 knockout mice (compared to spermatozoa from all other CatSper1, 3, and 4 knockouts) shows the absence of ICatSper measured by patch clamp electrophysiology. To date expression of CatSper2 has been described only in the testis, and specifically in meiotic and post-meiotic germ cells and the principal piece of the sperm flagella.
Functional Assays Click here for help
Patch clamp electrophysiology.
Species:  Human
Tissue:  Ejaculate spermatozoa (non-capacitated and capacitated).
Response measured:  Current.
References:  11
Ca2+ imaging with Fura-2 labelled cells.
Species:  Mouse
Tissue:  Cauda epidiymal spermatozoa.
Response measured:  Changes in fluorescence.
References:  18
Sperm motility.
Species:  Mouse
Tissue:  Caudal epididymal spermatozoa.
Response measured:  Average forward velocity such as linear velocity, track velocity, and percent motile is not significantly different in CatSper2 knockout spermatozoa compared with wild-type but displays lower path velocity in viscose medium when capacitated. No hyperactivated motility for CatSper2 null sperm identified by flagellar asymmetry.
References:  3,16
Fertility.
Species:  Mouse
Tissue: 
Response measured:  No matings resulted in pregnancies- male-specific infertility.
References:  16
In vitro fertilization (IVF).
Species:  Mouse
Tissue:  Cummulus-intact vs. ZP-free eggs with in vitro capacitated spermatozoa.
Response measured:  No fertilized eggs (2-cell embryos) after IVF (none with cummulus-intact eggs but no difference in the percentage fertilized in eggs with no ZP.
References:  16
Patch clamp electrophysiology.
Species:  Mouse
Tissue:  Corpus epididymal spermatozoa.
Response measured:  Current
References:  14
Functional Assay Comments
ICatSper is confined to the principal piece of the sperm tail and activated by alkalinization. Human ICatSper is further activated by progesterone and prostaglandins (PGE1, PGF). CatSper1 and CatSper2 knockout mice show identical phenotype.
Physiological Functions Click here for help
Humans with mutations or deletions in CatSper1 and CatSper2 are infertile. Human ICatSper is activated by alkalinization and further potentiated by progesterone and prostagladins. Half activation (V0.5) of human CatSper is 85 mV, indicating that a very small fraction is active at physiological membrane potential. However, progesterone shifts V0.5
Species:  Human
Tissue:  Ejaculate spermatozoa.
References:  1-2,11,18
CatSper1-null and CatSper2-null mutant spermatoaz fail to ascend beyond the oviductal reservoir.
Species:  Mouse
Tissue:  Spermatozoa in the female reproductive tract after mating.
References:  6
Male fertiliy and sperm hyperactivated motility requires CatSper, a Ca2+-selective channel encoded by at least 7 genes encoding distinct subunits of the heteromeric channel complex in mammals (pore-forming CatSpers1-4, and the auxiliary CatSperBeta, Gamma, and Delta). Male mice lacking any of CatSper1-4, or the Delta gene are infertile. Sperm cells are slightly acidic internally (pH 6.8) in the vagina (~pH 5), and thus ICatSper is inactive at resting membrane potential (-40 mV). As pH shifts to ~8 at the cervix and upper female reproductive tract, internal sperm cell pH also becomes alkaline (pH> 7.5). pH shifts half activation from 87 mV at pH 6.0 to 11 mV at pH 7.5, a dramatic change of -76 mV.
Species:  Mouse
Tissue:  Epididymal spermatozoa.
References:  3-5,8,10,14-15,17
Physiological Functions Comments
Since CatSper1-4 are pore-forming subunits which are all required for ICatSper, the physiological function of CatSper1, 2, 3, and 4 is identical.
Physiological Consequences of Altering Gene Expression Click here for help
MIce with a targeted disruption of CatSper1 or CatSper2 genes show the identical phenotype of male infertility, display a failure to acquire hyperactivated motility and co-dependent expression in spermatozoa.
Species:  Mouse
Tissue:  Testis, spermatozoa.
Technique:  Gene knockout by deletion of exons 2, 3, 4, and 5.
References:  3,16
MIce with a tageted disruption of CatSper2 gene show a defect in hyperactivated sperm motility required for fertilization and therfore present with infertility as a consequence of loss of hyperactivation of motility.
Species:  Mouse
Tissue:  Testis, spermatozoa.
Technique:  CatSper2 knockout (deletion of exons 2, 3, 4, and 5).
References:  16
Physiological Consequences of Altering Gene Expression Comments
The CatSper channel is a heteromeric complex composed of at least 7 proteins, pore-forming alpha subunits CatSper1-4, and auxiliary subunits CatSperBeta, CatSperGamma, and CatSperDelta. Their expressions in mature spermatozoa are co-dependent; CatSper2 is undetectable in spermatozoa of CatSper1 knockout spermatozoa and vice versa, suggesting that all CatSper subunits are required for proper channel assembly.
Phenotypes, Alleles and Disease Models Click here for help Mouse data from MGI

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Allele Composition & genetic background Accession Phenotype Id Phenotype Reference
Catsper2tm1Gar Catsper2tm1Gar/Catsper2tm1Gar
involves: 129S6/SvEvTac
MGI:2387404  MP:0002674 abnormal sperm motility PMID: 17227845 
Catsper2tm1Gar Catsper2tm1Gar/Catsper2tm1Gar
involves: 129S6/SvEvTac
MGI:2387404  MP:0004543 abnormal sperm physiology PMID: 17227845 
Catsper2tm1Gar Catsper2tm1Gar/Catsper2tm1Gar
involves: 129S6/SvEvTac * C57BL/6J
MGI:2387404  MP:0002675 asthenozoospermia PMID: 14657366 
Catsper2tm1Gar Catsper2tm1Gar/Catsper2tm1Gar
involves: 129S6/SvEvTac
MGI:2387404  MP:0002675 asthenozoospermia PMID: 17227845 
Catsper2tm1Gar Catsper2tm1Gar/Catsper2tm1Gar
involves: 129S6/SvEvTac * C57BL/6J
MGI:2387404  MP:0004542 impaired acrosome reaction PMID: 14657366 
Catsper2tm1Gar Catsper2tm1Gar/Catsper2tm1Gar
involves: 129S6/SvEvTac * C57BL/6J
MGI:2387404  MP:0000242 impaired fertilization PMID: 14657366 
Catsper2tm1Gar Catsper2tm1Gar/Catsper2tm1Gar
involves: 129S6/SvEvTac * C57BL/6J
MGI:2387404  MP:0001925 male infertility PMID: 14657366 
Clinically-Relevant Mutations and Pathophysiology Click here for help
Disease:  Deafness-infertility syndrome
Synonyms: Deafness, sensineural, and male infertility [OMIM: 611102]
OMIM: 611102
Orphanet: ORPHA94064
Role: 
Comments: 
References:  2,20
Click column headers to sort
Type Species Amino acid change Nucleotide change Description Reference
Deletion Human - - Deletion of the entire gene 13,20
Deletion Human - - Deletion of the final two exons of the gene 2
Biologically Significant Variants Click here for help
Type:  Splice variant
Species:  Human
Amino acids:  414
Nucleotide accession: 
Protein accession: 
References:  15
Type:  Splice variant
Species:  Human
Amino acids:  530
Nucleotide accession: 
Protein accession: 
References:  15
Type:  Splice variant
Species:  Human
Amino acids:  528
Nucleotide accession: 
Protein accession: 

References

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1. Avenarius MR, Hildebrand MS, Zhang Y, Meyer NC, Smith LL, Kahrizi K, Najmabadi H, Smith RJ. (2009) Human male infertility caused by mutations in the CATSPER1 channel protein. Am J Hum Genet, 84 (4): 505-10. [PMID:19344877]

2. Avidan N, Tamary H, Dgany O, Cattan D, Pariente A, Thulliez M, Borot N, Moati L, Barthelme A, Shalmon L et al.. (2003) CATSPER2, a human autosomal nonsyndromic male infertility gene. Eur J Hum Genet, 11 (7): 497-502. [PMID:12825070]

3. Carlson AE, Quill TA, Westenbroek RE, Schuh SM, Hille B, Babcock DF. (2005) Identical phenotypes of CatSper1 and CatSper2 null sperm. J Biol Chem, 280 (37): 32238-44. [PMID:16036917]

4. Carlson AE, Westenbroek RE, Quill T, Ren D, Clapham DE, Hille B, Garbers DL, Babcock DF. (2003) CatSper1 required for evoked Ca2+ entry and control of flagellar function in sperm. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 100 (25): 14864-8. [PMID:14657352]

5. Chung JJ, Navarro B, Krapivinsky G, Krapivinsky L, Clapham DE. (2011) A novel gene required for male fertility and functional CATSPER channel formation in spermatozoa. Nat Commun, 2: 153. [PMID:21224844]

6. Ho K, Wolff CA, Suarez SS. (2009) CatSper-null mutant spermatozoa are unable to ascend beyond the oviductal reservoir. Reprod Fertil Dev, 21 (2): 345-50. [PMID:19210926]

7. Jin J, Jin N, Zheng H, Ro S, Tafolla D, Sanders KM, Yan W. (2007) Catsper3 and Catsper4 are essential for sperm hyperactivated motility and male fertility in the mouse. Biol Reprod, 77 (1): 37-44. [PMID:17344468]

8. Jin JL, O'Doherty AM, Wang S, Zheng H, Sanders KM, Yan W. (2005) Catsper3 and catsper4 encode two cation channel-like proteins exclusively expressed in the testis. Biol Reprod, 73 (6): 1235-42. [PMID:16107607]

9. Kirichok Y, Lishko PV. (2011) Rediscovering sperm ion channels with the patch-clamp technique. Mol Hum Reprod, 17 (8): 478-99. [PMID:21642646]

10. Kirichok Y, Navarro B, Clapham DE. (2006) Whole-cell patch-clamp measurements of spermatozoa reveal an alkaline-activated Ca2+ channel. Nature, 439 (7077): 737-40. [PMID:16467839]

11. Lishko PV, Botchkina IL, Kirichok Y. (2011) Progesterone activates the principal Ca2+ channel of human sperm. Nature, 471 (7338): 387-91. [PMID:21412339]

12. Liu J, Xia J, Cho KH, Clapham DE, Ren D. (2007) CatSperbeta, a novel transmembrane protein in the CatSper channel complex. J Biol Chem, 282 (26): 18945-52. [PMID:17478420]

13. Lucas JB, Salyer RD, Watson DW. (2003) Gangrenous primary cutaneous mucormycosis of the scalp in an iatrogenically immunosuppressed trauma patient. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg, 128 (6): 912-4. [PMID:12825050]

14. Qi H, Moran MM, Navarro B, Chong JA, Krapivinsky G, Krapivinsky L, Kirichok Y, Ramsey IS, Quill TA, Clapham DE. (2007) All four CatSper ion channel proteins are required for male fertility and sperm cell hyperactivated motility. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 104 (4): 1219-23. [PMID:17227845]

15. Quill TA, Ren D, Clapham DE, Garbers DL. (2001) A voltage-gated ion channel expressed specifically in spermatozoa. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 98 (22): 12527-31. [PMID:11675491]

16. Quill TA, Sugden SA, Rossi KL, Doolittle LK, Hammer RE, Garbers DL. (2003) Hyperactivated sperm motility driven by CatSper2 is required for fertilization. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 100 (25): 14869-74. [PMID:14657366]

17. Ren D, Navarro B, Perez G, Jackson AC, Hsu S, Shi Q, Tilly JL, Clapham DE. (2001) A sperm ion channel required for sperm motility and male fertility. Nature, 413 (6856): 603-9. [PMID:11595941]

18. Strünker T, Goodwin N, Brenker C, Kashikar ND, Weyand I, Seifert R, Kaupp UB. (2011) The CatSper channel mediates progesterone-induced Ca2+ influx in human sperm. Nature, 471 (7338): 382-6. [PMID:21412338]

19. Wang H, Liu J, Cho KH, Ren D. (2009) A novel, single, transmembrane protein CATSPERG is associated with CATSPER1 channel protein. Biol Reprod, 81 (3): 539-44. [PMID:19516020]

20. Zhang Y, Malekpour M, Al-Madani N, Kahrizi K, Zanganeh M, Lohr NJ, Mohseni M, Mojahedi F, Daneshi A, Najmabadi H et al.. (2007) Sensorineural deafness and male infertility: a contiguous gene deletion syndrome. J Med Genet, 44 (4): 233-40. [PMID:17098888]

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