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Sperm channel diversity and functional multiplicity

Department of Genetics of Development and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Biotechnology, UNAM, Cuernavaca, Mexico, ¹ Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, UAEM, Cuernavaca, Mexico and ² Department of Cell Biology, Center for Research and Advanced Studies, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Mexico City, Mexico

Correspondence should be addressed to A Darszon, Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Adpo. Postal 510-3, Cuernavaca, Morelos 62250, Mexico; Email: darszon{at}ibt.unam.mx

Ion channels are extraordinarily efficient machines that move ions in diversely controlled manners, allowing cells to rapidly exchange information with the outside world and with other cells. Communication is the currency of fertilization, as it is of most fundamental cell signaling events. Ion channels are deeply involved in the dialogue between sperm, its surroundings, and the egg. How sperm swim, find the egg and fertilize it depend on ion permeability changes modulated by environmental cues and components of the egg outer layer. Different ion channels distinctly localized in these tiny, amazing cells perform specific decoding functions that shape the sophisticated behavior of sperm. It is not surprising that certain sperm ion channels are turning out to be unique. New strategies to characterize sperm ion transport have opened exciting possibilities to dissect sperm–egg signaling and unveil novel contraception targets.

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