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The eukaryotic flagellum is the organelle responsible for the propulsion of the male gamete in most animals. Without exception, sperm of all mammalian species use a flagellum for swimming. The mammalian sperm has a centrally located 9 + 2 arrangement of microtubule doublets and hundreds of accessory proteins that together constitute an axoneme. However, they also possess several characteristic peri-axonemal structures that make the mammalian sperm tail function differently. These modifications include nine outer dense fibers (ODFs) that are paired with the nine outer microtubule doublets of the axoneme, and are anchored in a structure called the connecting piece located at the base. The presence of the ODFs and connecting piece, and the absence of a basal body, dictate that physical forces generated by the dynein motors are transmitted to the base of the flagellum through the ODFs. Mammalian sperm flagella also possess a mitochondrial and a fibrous sheath that encircle most of the axoneme. These sheaths and the ODFs add mechanical rigidity to the flagellum creating the functional effect of increasing bend wavelength, which requires the entrainment of more dynein motors in the production of a single wave. The sheaths also act as a retinaculum and maintain the integrity of the central axoneme when large bending torques are generated by dynein. Large torque production is crucial to the process of hyperactivation and the unique motility transitions associated with effective fertilizing capacity. Consequently, these specialized anatomical features are essential for the effective interaction of sperm with the female reproductive tract and ovum. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The working mechanism of the eukaryotic flagellar axoneme remains one of nature's most enduring puzzles. The basic mechanical operation of the axoneme is now a story that is fairly complete; however, the mechanism for coordinating the action of the dynein motor proteins to produce beating is still controversial. Although a full grasp of the dynein switching mechanism remains elusive, recent experimental reports provide new insights that might finally disclose the secrets of the beating mechanism: the special role of the inner dynein arms, especially dynein I1 and the dynein regulatory complex, the importance of the dynein microtubule-binding affinity at the stalk, and the role of bending in the selection of the active dynein group have all been implicated by major new evidence. This Commentary considers this new evidence in the context of various hypotheses of how axonemal dynein coordination might work.

Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) is known to have interesting effects on flagellar motility. Permeabilized and reactivated bull sperm exhibit a marked reduction in beating frequency and a greatly increased beat amplitude in the presence of 1-4 mM ADP. In this study we examined the force production of sperm reactivated with 0.1 mM ATP with and without 1 mM ADP and found that there is little or no resulting change in the stalling force produced by a bull sperm flagella in response to ADP. Because bull sperm bend to a higher curvature after ADP treatment we explored the possibility that ADP-treated sperm flagella are more flexible. We measured the stiffness of 50 mM sodium vanadate treated bull sperm in the presence of 4 mM ADP, but found no change in the passive flagellar stiffness. When we analyzed the torque that develops in ADP-treated sperm at the point of beat reversal we found that the torque developed by the flagellum is significantly increased. Our torque estimates also allow us to calculate the transverse force (t-force) acting on the flagellum at the point of beat direction reversal. We find that the t-force at the switch-point of the beat is increased significantly in the ADP treated condition, averaging 0.7 6 0.29 nN/m mi n 0.1 mM ATP and increasing to 2.9 6 1.2 nN/mm in 0.1 mM ATP plus 4 mM ADP. This suggests that ADP is exerting its effect on the beat by increasing the tenacity of dynein attachment at the B-subtubule. This could be a direct result of a regulatory effect of ADP on the binding affinity of dynein for the B-subtubule of the outer doublets. This result could also help to explain a number of previous experimental observations, as discussed. duced (7). These results suggest that the reduced beating frequency in ADP-treated sperm could be explained by a reductioninthevelocityofmicrotubuleslidinginADP-treated flagella. Paradoxically, Yagi (8) reported that inner arm dyneins actually improve their ability to translocate micro- tubules in the presence of ADP as compared to ATP alone. In line with this it has also been reported that the completeness of the disintegration is actually increased in the presence of ADP (9). This seems, at least superficially, to counter the slowing action of ADP on intact doublet sliding rates, and suggests amechanism bywhich aselective effect ontheinner arms could actually have a strengthening effect on beating amplitude and a positive effect on coordinated beating.

The sliding doublet mechanism is the established explanation that allows us to understand the process of ciliary and flagellar bending. In this study, we apply the principles of the sliding doublet mechanism to analyze the mechanics of the counterbend phenomenon in sea urchin sperm flagella. When a passive, vanadate-treated, flagellum is forced into a bend with a glass microprobe, the portion of the flagellum distal to the probe exhibits a bend of opposite curvature (counterbend) to the imposed bend. This phenomenon was shown to be caused by the induction of inter-doublet shear and is dependent on the presence of an inter-doublet shear resistance. Here we report that in sea urchin flagella there is systematically less shear induced in the distal flagellum than is predicted by the sliding doublet mechanism, if we follow the assumption that the diameter of the flagellum is uniform. To account for the reduced shear that is observed, the likeliest and most direct interpretation is that the portion of the axoneme that is forced to bend undergoes substantial compression of the axoneme in the bending plane. A compression of 30-50 nm would be sufficient to account for the shear reduction from a bend of 2 radians. A compression of this magnitude would require considerable flexibility in the axoneme structure. This would necessitate that the radial spokes and/or the central pair apparatus are easily compressed by transverse stress. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The Geometric Clutch hypothesis is based on the premise that transverse forces (t-forces) acting on the outer doublets of the eukaryotic axoneme coordinate the action of the dynein motors to produce flagellar and ciliary beating. T-forces result from tension and compression on the outer doublets when a bend is present on the flagellum or cilium. The t-force acts to pry the doublets apart in an active bend, and push the doublets together when the flagellum is passively bent and thus could engage and disengage the dynein motors. Computed simulations of this working mechanism have reproduced the beating pattern of simple cilia and flagella, and of mammalian sperm. Cilia-like beating, with a clearly defined effective and recovery stroke, can be generated using one uniformly applied switching algorithm. When the mechanical properties and dimensions appropriate to a specific flagellum are incorporated into the model the same algorithm can simulate a sea urchin or bull sperm-like beat. The computed model reproduces many of the observed behaviors of real flagella and cilia. The model can duplicate the results of outer arm extraction experiments in cilia and predicted two types of arrest behavior that were verified experimentally in bull sperm. It also successfully predicted the experimentally determined nexin elasticity. Calculations based on live and reactivated sea urchin and bull sperm yielded a value of 0.5 nN/µm for the t-force at the switch-point. This is a force sufficient to overcome the shearing force generated by all the dyneins on one micron of outer doublet. A t-force of this magnitude should produce substantial distortion of the axoneme at the switch-point, especially in spoke or spoke-head deficient motile flagella. This concrete and verifiable prediction is within the grasp of recent advances in imaging technology, specifically cryoelectron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. © 2004 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.

Dynein is the molecular motor that provides motive force in cilia and flagella. Dynein is anchored to the A-subtubule of the outer doublets by a club-shaped extension called the stem, which supports the large globular head of the molecule. Dynein forms an attachment or cross-bridge to the B-subtubule of the adjacent outer doublet through a slender appendage extending from the head that is called the stalk or alternately the B-link. It is generally thought that the B-link mediates the interdoublet transfer of force that bends the flagellum. This requires that energy released at the site of ATP hydrolysis, located in the globular head, be transferred as mechanical work to the microtubule binding site at the tip of the B-link. It has been proposed that this is accomplished by a sideways or rotational translocation of the B-link caused by a rotation of the globular head. An estimate of the stiffness of the B-link and stem derived from the recently published data of Burgess et al. [2003: Nature 421:715–718] yields a maximum stiffness of 0.47 pN/nm for the B-link and 0.1 pN/nm for the stem. The B-link stiffness would allow transfer of 3.8 pN of force in response to an 8-nm displacement of the B-link tip. However, if as proposed the globular head of the dynein heavy chain is supported by the stem, the B-link and stem elasticity are in series. Thus, the flexibility of the stem would limit the force that can be transferred laterally by the entire dynein heavy chain to 0.6 pN at 8 nm displacement. This force is insufficient to support flagellar motility. So, if the stem were the only support for the globular head, then force would have to be transmitted linearly along the axis defined by the stem and B-link. Because this configuration is never observed, the hypothesis that dynein generates force by lateral displacement of the B-link is more attractive, but requires that the globular head of the dynein is stabilized by an additional means of support during the power stroke. We propose that the microtubule affinity of the tip of the B-link is independent of the ATP-dependent powerstroke, and that detachment from the B-subtubule is regulated by tension. A dynein cross-bridge cycle that incorporates an anchored head, together with a ratchet-like mechanism for microtubule translocation by the B-link, would have distinct advantages. This mechanism may reconcile dynein oscillation and interdoublet sliding within one cross-bridge mechanism. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 56:237–244, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

In the axoneme of eukaryotic flagella the dynein motor proteins form crossbridges between the outer doublet microtubules. These motor proteins generate force that accumulates as linear tension, or compression, on the doublets. When tension or compression is present on a curved microtubule, a force per unit length develops in the plane of bending and is transverse to the long axis of the microtubule. This transverse force (t-force) is evaluated here using available experimental evidence from sea urchin sperm and bull sperm. At or near the switch point for beat reversal, the t-force is in the range of 0.25-1.0 nN/ micro m, with 0.5 nN/ micro m the most likely value. This is the case in both beating and arrested bull sperm and in beating sea urchin sperm. The total force that can be generated (or resisted) by all the dyneins on one micron of outer doublet is also approximately 0.5 nN. The equivalence of the maximum dynein force/ micro m and t-force/ micro m at the switch point may have important consequences. Firstly, the t-force acting on the doublets near the switch point of the flagellar beat is sufficiently strong that it could terminate the action of the dyneins directly by strongly favoring the detached state and precipitating a cascade of detachment from the adjacent doublet. Secondly, after dynein release occurs, the radial spokes and central-pair apparatus are the structures that must carry the t-force. The spokes attached to the central-pair projections will bear most of the load. The central-pair projections are well-positioned for this role, and they are suitably configured to regulate the amount of axoneme distortion that occurs during switching. However, to fulfill this role without preventing flagellar bend formation, moveable attachments that behave like processive motor proteins must mediate the attachment between the spoke heads and the central-pair structure.

We report the results of an ultrastructural study of Triton X-100-extracted, Mg-adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-reactivated bull sperm. We utilized a rapid fixation method to look for differences in the flagellar apparatus that correlate to the state of motility of reactivated sperm models. In a companion article, we examined the motility characteristics induced in bull sperm models by varying the concentration ratio of ATP and Mg(2+) and the stabilizing effect of adenosine diphosphate (ADP) on coordinated beating. Based on the results of that report, we selected four dissimilar states that appeared to represent extremes. One reactivation condition produces vigorous motility similar to live sperm, another produces large amplitude, low frequency beating while the remaining two conditions produce small amplitude vibrations of the flagellum with little coordinated beating. Morphometric analysis of transmission electron micrographs of sperm from these four treatment conditions revealed statistically significant differences between the samples in regard to axoneme diameter, inter-microtubule doublet spacing, and outer dense fiber (ODF) spacing. Our results show that Mg(2+) decreases the axoneme diameter and reduces interdoublet spacing, while ATP, uncomplexed with Mg(2+) , had the opposite effect. We also provide supporting evidence that this may be due to Mg(2+) increasing, and ATP decreasing, the interdoublet adhesion of dynein. We also found that 4 mM ADP significantly increases the separation between the ODFs and the space between the ODFs and the central axoneme within the middle piece. We present a hypothetical explanation that is consistent with our results to explain how ATP, ADP, and Mg(2+) act to regulate the beat cycle. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Sperm flagella derive their motive power from the motor protein dynein. In this study, we show that maintenance of the flagellar beat cycle in detergent-extracted bull sperm models is highly dependent on the ratio of Mg(2+) to adenosine triphosphate (ATP). An excess of either ATP un-complexed with Mg(2+) , or an excess of Mg(2+) without an equivalent concentration of ATP, results in the loss of beat amplitude and a reduced curvature development in the beat cycle. In addition, we find that adenosine diphosphate (ADP) can stabilize the beat cycle and permit rhythmic beating across a broader range of ATP and Mg(2+) concentrations. We provide evidence that suggests that when ATP is un-complexed with Mg(2+) , it disrupts the beat cycle by reducing dynein adhesion and thereby, reduces the transmission of dynein-generated force between the doublets. Excess Mg(2+) does not act by the same mechanism and induces a condition where the flagellum is more resistant to bending. This is consistent with the idea that high Mg(2+) stabilizes rigor bridges, and ATP reduces the microtubule binding affinity of dynein. Our results may explain how intact sperm are able to sustain coordinated flagellar beating under a wide range of metabolic conditions, as intact sperm produce ADP in direct proportion to their consumption of ATP.

Rat sperm that are demembranated with Triton X-100 and reactivated with Mg-ATP show a strong mechanical response to the presence of free calcium ion. At pCa4, the midpiece region of the flagellum develops a strong and sustained curvature that gives the cell the overall appearance of a fishhook [Lindemann and Goltz, 1988: Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 10:420-431]. In the present study, the force and torque that maintain the calcium-induced hook have been examined quantitatively. In addition, full-length and shortened flagella were manipulated to evaluate the plasticity of the hooks and determined the critical length necessary for maintaining the curvature. The hooks were found to be highly resilient, returning to their original configuration (95%) after being straightened and released. The results from manipulating the shortened flagella suggest that the force holding the hook in the curved configuration is generated in the basal 60 microm of the flagellum. The force required to straighten the calcium-induced hooks was measured with force-calibrated glass microprobes, and the bending torque was calculated from the measured force. The force and torque required to straighten the flagellum were found to be proportional to the change in curvature of the hooked region of the flagellum, suggesting an elastic-like behavior. The average torque to open the hooks to a straight position was 2.6 (+/-1.4) x 10(-7) dyne x cm (2.6 x 10(-14) N x m) and the apparent stiffness was 4.3 (+/-1.3) x 10(-10) dyne x cm(2) (4.3 x 10(-19) N x m(2)). The stiffness of the hook was determined to be approximately one quarter the rigor stiffness of a rat sperm flagellum measured under comparable conditions.

Epithelial Na+ channels (ENaCs) are thought to mediate the amiloride-blockable salt taste. The rat vallate papilla does not contribute to amiloride-blockable salt taste, yet the presence of ENaC-mRNA in this tissue has been reported. Is ENaC actually contained in the taste cells, or is it merely present in the supporting lingual epithelium? To avoid contamination by ENaC contained in the lingual epithelium, we physically isolated taste buds from the vallate papilla and used mRNA purification followed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to investigate the presence of ENaC-type message in the isolated buds. mRNA of alpha-, beta- and gamma-subunits was detected, the alpha-signal being the strongest. These results provide first molecular evidence for the presence of ENaC subunits in taste buds that were isolated from the posterior tongue and were free of epithelial contamination. In addition, we used immunohistochemistry to show ENaC-like reactivity in posterior tongue taste cells. Interestingly, the immunoreactivity was not predominantly apical but was intracellular and close to or at the basolateral membrane. The function of basolateral ENaC-type channels is unknown. Possibly, the channels are normally closed or of very low open probability in the resting state.

Recent research on cellular mechanisms of peripheral taste has defined transduction pathways involving membrane receptors, G proteins, second messengers, and ion channels. Receptors for organic tastants received much attention, because they provide the specificity of a response. Their future cloning will constitute a major advance. Taste transduction typically utilizes two or more pathways in parallel. For instance, sweet-sensitive taste cells of the rat appear to respond to sucrose with activation of adenylyl cyclase, followed by adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent membrane events and Ca2+ uptake. The same cells respond differently to some artificial sweeteners, i.e., with activation of phospholipase C (PLC) followed by inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-dependent Ca2+ release from intracellular stores. Some bitter tastants block K+ channels or initiate the cascade receptor G1 protein, PLC, IP3, and Ca2+ release or the cascade receptor alpha-gustducin, phosphodiesterase (PDE), cAMP decrease, and opening of cAMP-blocked channels. Membrane-permeant bitter tastants may elicit a cellular response by interacting with G protein, PLC, or PDE of the above cascades. Salt taste is initiated by current flowing into the taste cell through cation channels located in the apical membrane, even though basolateral channels may also contribute (following salt diffusion through paracellular pathways). In rodents, the Na+-specific component of salt taste is typically mediated by apical amiloride-sensitive Na+ channels, but less specific and not amiloride-sensitive taste components exist in addition. Sour taste may in part be mediated by amiloride-sensitive Na+ channels conducting protons, but other mechanisms certainly contribute. Thus the transduction of taste cells generally comprises parallel pathways. Furthermore, the transduction pathways vary with the location of taste buds on the tongue and, of course, across species of animals. To identify these pathways, to understand how they are controlled and why they evolved to this complexity are major goals of present research.

Bull sperm extracted with 0.1% Triton X-100 can be reactivated to full motility with 0.33 mM Mg-ATP (sperm models). When motile sperm models are treated with 0.66 mM NiSO4, spontaneous motility is lost. During the transition to motility arrest, the beat becomes progressively more asymmetric, finally arresting at one extreme of the beat cycle. After spontaneous motility has been lost, the flagellum retains the ability to respond to mechanical stimulation. If a microprobe is used to bend the flagellum in the direction opposite to its own prevailing curvature and released, the recoil is rapid and overshoots the equilibrium position. When the same flagellum is manipulated in the opposite direction (into a tighter bend of the existing curve), the recoil is slower and does not exceed the initial bend. If a microprobe is used to carefully bend the whole flagellum into a curve, the flagellum will resume continuous beating, but only if the imposed bend is in the direction opposite the natural curvature. The reinstated beating activity (mechanical reactivation) is sustained as long as the flagellum is held by the microprobe. The rate of change of the shear angle in these mechanically reactivated, Ni(2+)-inhibited sperm suggests an impaired rate of sliding on one side of the axoneme compared to similarly restrained control sperm. It appears that Ni2+ has a selective inhibitory effect on the dynein arms that bend the flagellum in one direction. Furthermore, the remaining functional arms activate only when the flagellum is bent in the direction opposing their own action.

Triton X-100-extracted mouse sperm treated with 0.1 mM ATP and 1.0 mM Ca(2+) exhibit an extremely coiled configuration that has been previously described as a curlicue. Sperm in the curlicue configuration exhibit a monotonically curved flagellum where the shear angle of the flagellum can reach a value as high as 14 radians at the flagellar tip. We utilized this strong reaction to Ca(2+) to elucidate the mechanism of the calcium response. The disintegration of the axoneme was facilitated by the use of an extraction procedure that removed the mitochondrial sheath without eliminating the calcium response. The order of emergence of the doublet microtubule outer dense fiber complexes was observed in the presence and absence of added Ca(2+). The identity of the emergent elements was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. Ca(2+) altered the order of emergence of internal axoneme elements to favor the appearance of the elements of the 9-1-2 side of the axoneme. These elements are propelled baseward by the action of dyneins on doublets 1 and 2. It was also possible to establish that the motive force for maintaining the curlicue configuration is dynein-based. The curlicues were relaxed by inhibition with 50 μM NaVO(3) and were reestablished by disinhibiting the vanadate with 2.5 mM catechol.

The Spag16L gene codes for a protein that is localized to the central apparatus which is essential for normal sperm motility and male fertility. Sperm from mice homozygous for a targeted deletion of the Spag16L gene were examined to assess their flagellar motor functions compared with age- and strain-matched control sperm. Sperm were also demembranated with Triton X-100 and examined for their ability to respond to free calcium, as well as for their ability to undergo microtubule sliding driven by dynein action. In addition, the passive flagella, inhibited by sodium metavanadate to disable the dyneins, were examined for mechanical abnormalities. Live Spag16L-null sperm exhibited much less bending of the flagellum during the beat. The amount of microtubule sliding in the R-bend direction of the beat was selectively restricted, which suggests that there is limited activation of the dyneins on one side of the axoneme in the live cells. This is corroborated by the results on detergent-extracted sperm models. The flagellar response to calcium is greatly reduced. The calcium response requires the activation of the dyneins on outer doublets 1, 2, 3, and 4. These are the same dyneins required for R-bend formation. In axonemes prepared to disintegrate by microtubule sliding, we observed little or no extrusion of doublets 1 and 2, consistent with a reduced activity of their dyneins. This deficit in motor function, and an increased rigidity of the midpiece region which we detected in the passive flagella, together can explain the observed motility characteristics of the Spag16L-null sperm.

Two distinct patterns of microtubular sliding were observed in rat sperm flagellar axonemes. The particular pattern of sliding was determined by the extraction conditions used to prepare the sperm for axoneme disintegration. Sperm prepared by incubating concentrated suspensions of Triton X-100-extracted sperm at pH 9.0 disintegrated by extruding the doublets and outer dense fibers numbered 4 through 7 in response to Mg-ATP. Sperm prepared by incubating motile Triton X-100-extracted models at 37 degrees C for 1 to 3 hours extruded doublets and outer dense fibers 9, 1 and 2. Axonemes disintegrated by both regimens tended to have doublets 3 and 8 (with their corresponding outer dense fibers), as well as the central pair, in place. In numerous instances, the 3-central-8 complex with outer dense fibers 3 and 8 could be found isolated in midpiece sections prepared from both methods. The 3-central-8 partition was also sometimes seen in isolation in cross-sections of the principal piece where it remained attached to the fibrous sheath. The flagellar remnant produced by extrusion of fibers 4 through 7 under high pH conditions was generally straight or randomly curved. In contrast, the flagellar remnant produced by extrusion of the 9–1-2 bundle of fibers was most often curved into a hook in the midpiece region. While the hook-like configuration was not Ca(2+)-dependent, it may be based on a related mechanism. The sliding of the 9–1-2 group of fibers is a consequence of dynein-tubulin sliding between the 2 and 3 doublets. This sliding pattern appears to be preferentially activated in the motile sperm models in EGTA, but seldom if ever produced sliding in the high-pH-extracted models. We conclude that the 3-central pair-8 complex and associated outer dense fibers form an I-beam-like partition that does not participate in sliding, but acts as a structural foundation for organizing a planar beat. In addition, it is clear that preferential activation of certain dynein arms can be evoked, depending on the treatment regimen employed. This shows definitively that the types of microtubule sliding in the two bend directions are not identical.

Methods for using non-ionic detergents to produce demembranated and reactivated cilia and flagella are described in detail. Demembranated and reactivated cell models are useful as a research tool for studying motility function in flagella and cilia. When the plasma membrane is removed, the factors regulating motility can be studied under standardized experimental conditions that otherwise would be impossible. Practical insight is provided to understand the important factors in producing stable reactivated models. In addition, several useful variations of the method are presented for different types of mammalian and non-mammalian flagellar and ciliary systems.

Flagellar dynein generates forces that produce relative shearing between doublet microtubules in the axoneme; this drives propagated bending of flagella and cilia. To better understand dynein’s role in coordinated flagellar and ciliary motion, we have developed an in situ assay in which polymerized single microtubules glide along doublet microtubules extruded from disintegrated bovine sperm flagella at a pH of 7.8. The exposed, active dynein remain attached to their respective doublet microtubules, allowing gliding of individual microtubules to be observed in an environment that allows direct control of chemical conditions. In the presence of ATP, translocation of microtubules by dynein exhibits Michaelis-Menten type kinetics, with Vmax 5 4.7 6 0.2 lm/s and Km 5 124 6 11 lM. The character of microtubule translocation is variable, including smooth gliding, stuttered motility, oscillations, buckling, complete dissociation from the doublet microtubule, and occasionally movements reversed from the physiologic direction. The gliding velocity is independent of the number of dynein motors present along the doublet microtubule, and shows no indication of increased activity due to ADP regulation. These results reveal fundamental properties underlying cooperative dynein activity in flagella, differences between mammalian and non-mammalian flagellar dynein, and establish the use of natural tracks of dynein arranged in situ on the doublet microtubules of bovine sperm as a system to explore the mechanics of the dynein-microtubule interactions in mammalian flagella. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 65: 487–494, 2008. ' 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The majority of sperm from mice carrying the tW3' haplotype undergo hyper- activation sooner than sperm from +/+ mice of the same strains (Olds-Clarke, Dev Biol 131 :475- 482, 1989). To investigate the mechanism underly- ing this abnormal motility, the Ca2 + sensitivity of their flagellar apparatus was compared to that of age- and strain-matched controls using Triton X- 1 OO-extracted sperm. Under these conditions, the curvature of the sperm flagellum is controlled by the free calcium concentration. Sperm from mice carrying the tW3' haplotype consistently exhibited a change in flagellar curvature at lower free calcium concentrations than controls. In addition, intact sperm from tW3'/+ mice were much more likely than congenic control sperm to have a hook-like bend in the midpiece, which persisted throughout most of the beat cycle. Sperm exhibiting the hooked middle piece could be converted to CI more normal appearance by 2 mM procaine, which im- mobilizes cytoplasmic calcium. Thus an increased sensitivity of the sperm motor apparatus to calcium could be the cause of the precocious hyperactiva- tion of sperm from mice carrying the fw32 haplo

The Geometric Clutch hypothesis contends that the forces transverse to the flagellar axis (t-forces) act on the axonemal scaffold to regulate flagellar beating. T-forces develop as the product of the curvature and the accumulated tension or compression on the doublet microtubules. In this respect, t-force is a mediator of self-organizing behavior. It arises from the collective action of the assemblage of dynein motors on the structural components of the axoneme and, in turn, imparts order to the sequence of activation and deactivation of the dynein. At the switch point of the flagellar beat, the magnitude of the t-force per micron of flagellum is approximately equal to the sum total of dynein force that can be generated per micron of flagellum. This suggests that the t-force could directly overcome the force-producing dynein bridges and terminate their action. However, many questions remain to be answered concerning the behavior of the axonemal scaffold under stress. Little is known of the force-bearing capacity of the radial spokes and the central pair (cp) projections. The properties of these structures will determine how t-force is distributed within the axoneme. The mechanical and elastic properties of the dynein arms and nexin links need to be better understood to determine how they respond to the application of t-force. In the framework of the Geometric Clutch hypothesis these are the issues that are most important to explore if we are to understand how the flagellum works.

Rat sperm that have been rendered passive by disabling the dynein motors with 50 mM sodium metavanadate and 0.1 mM ATP exhibit an interesting response to imposed bending. When the proximal flagellum is bent with a microprobe, the portion of the flagellum distal to the probe contact point develops a bend in the direction opposite the imposed bend. This ''counterbend'' is not compatible with a simple elastic beam. It can be satisfactorily explained by the sliding tubule model of flagellar structure but only if there are permanent elastic connections between the outer doublets of the axoneme. The elastic component that contributes the bending torque for the counterbend does not reset to a new equilibrium position after an imposed bend but returns the flagellum to a nearly straight or slightly curved final position after release from the probe. This suggests it is based on fixed, rather than mobile, attachments. It is also disrupted by elastase or trypsin digestion, confirming that it is dependent on a protein linkage. Adopting the assumption that the elasticity is attributed to the nexin links that repeat at 96 nm intervals, we find an apparent elasticity for each link that ranges from 1.6 to 10 3 10 � 5 N/m. However, the elasticity is nonlinear and does not follow Hooke's law but appears to decrease with increased stretch. In addition, the responsible elastic elements must be able to stretch to more than 10 times their resting length without breakage to account for the observed counterbend formation. Elasticity created by some type of protein unfolding may be the only viable explanation consistent with both the extreme capacity for extension and the nonlinear character of the restoring force that is observed.

Glass microprobes were used to measure the stiffness of the flagella of Triton X-100-extracted rat sperm models. The sperm models were treated with 50 microM sodium vanadate and 0.1 mM Mg-ATP to evaluate the stiffness of the passive flagellar structure without the influence of the dynein motor proteins. The passive stiffness was determined to be 4.6 (+/- 1.1) x 10(-19) N x m(2). Rat sperm models exposed to greater than 10(-5) M calcium ions exhibit a strong bend in the basal 40 microm of the flagellum, resulting in a fishhook-like appearance. The torque required to bend a passive rat sperm flagellum into the fishhook-like configuration was determined. The result was compared to the previously published measurement of the torque required to straighten the flagella of rat sperm in the Ca(2+)-induced fishhook configuration [Moritz et al., 2001: Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 49:33-40]. The torque required to induce a fishhook in a passive flagellum was 2.7 (+/- 0.7) x 10(-14) N x m and the torque to straighten an active Ca(2+)-induced fishhook was 2.6 (+/- 1.4) x 10(-14) N x m. These values are identical within the limit of error of the measurement technique. This finding suggests that the fishhook configuration observed in the Ca(2+) response of rat sperm is the result of a Newtonian equilibrium, where active torque produced by dynein is counterbalanced by an equal and opposite passive torque that results from bending the flagellum. Consistent with this mechanism, the Ca(2+)-induced fishhook configuration is progressively relaxed by incremental increases in sodium vanadate concentration. This supports an active role of the dynein motors in producing the torque for the response. When rat sperm respond to Ca(2+), the bend in the flagellum always forms in the direction opposite the curvature of the asymmetric sperm head. Based on this polarity, the bending torque for the Ca(2+) response must result from the action of the dyneins on outer doublets 1 through 4.

The Geometric Clutch model of ciliary and flagellar beating uses the transverse force (t-force) that develops between the outer doublets of the axoneme as the regulator for activating and deactivating the dynein motors and organizing the flagellar beat. The version of the model described here adds detail to the formulations used in the two previous versions as follows: (1) In place of two opposing sets of dyneins, the new model has four sets of dyneins, corresponding to two sets on each side of the axoneme acting in series. (2) The four sets of dyneins are each subdivided into two ranks representing inner and outer arm dyneins. (3) The force produced by each dynein is governed by a force-velocity relationship that is independently specified for the inner and outer arms. Consistent with the original model, the new version of the Geometric Clutch model can simulate both the effective and recovery stroke phases of the ciliary beat using a single uniform algorithm. In addition, the new version can operate with the outer arms disabled. Under this condition, the simulation exhibits a beat pattern similar to the original but the beat frequency is reduced to approximately one third. These results are contingent on using force-velocity relationships for the inner and outer arms similar to those described by Brokaw [1999: Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 42:134–148], where the inner arms contribute most of the driving force at low shear velocities. This constitutes the first examination of the effects of the force-velocity characteristics of dynein on a cilia-like beat in a theoretical framework. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 52:242–254, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

A lentiviral vector capable of expressing the HIV-1 vpr gene (Vpr lentiviral vector) was constructed, and its in vivo anticancer effect was determined against cutaneous tumors derived from the AT-84 oral cancer cells in immunocompetent mice. A single intratumoral injection of the Vpr lentiviral vector not only significantly reduced the primary tumor volume but also completely regressed tumors in40% of animals. More interestingly, the mice of which the primary tumors were completely regressed by the Vpr lentiviral vector were additionally protected from a secondary challenge of AT-84 cells. These data suggest that the Vpr lentiviral vector elicits its anticancer activity in part by the activation of the immune system. The above suggestion is additionally supported by the failure of the lentiviral vector to demonstrate anticancer activity in immunocompromised nude or SCID mice. The Vpr lentiviral vector offers a powerful new strategy for cancer gene therapy and may be useful for the control of solid tumors, such as human oral squamous cell carcinomas.

Experimental investigation has provided a wealth of structural, biochemical, and physiological information regarding the motile mechanism of eukaryotic flagella/cilia. This chapter surveys the available literature, selectively focusing on three major objectives. First, it attempts to identify those conserved structural components essential to providing motile function in eukaryotic axonemes. Second, it examines the relationship between these structural elements to determine the interactions that are vital to the mechanism of flagellar/ciliary beating. Third, the vital principles of these interactions are incorporated into a tractable theoretical model, referred to as the Geometric Clutch, and this hypothetical scheme is examined to assess its compatibility with experimental observations.

The three subunits (alpha, beta, gamma) encoding for the rat epithelial Na+ channel (rENaC) were expressed in Xenopus oocytes, and the induced Na+ conductance was tested for its sensitivity to various triamterene derivatives. Triamterene blocked rENaC in a voltage-dependent manner, and was 100-fold less potent than amiloride at pH 7.5. At -90 mV and -40 mV, the IC50 values were 5 microM and 10 microM, respectively. The blockage by triamterene, which is a weak base with a pKa of 6.2, was dependent on the extracellular pH. The IC50 was 1 microM at pH 6.5 and only 17 microM at pH 8.5, suggesting that the protonated compound is more potent than the unprotonated one. According to a simple kinetic analysis, the apparent inhibition constants at -90 mV were 0.74 microM for the charged and 100.6 microM for the uncharged triamterene. The main metabolite of triamterene, p-hydroxytriamterene sulfuric acid ester, inhibited rENaC with an approximately twofold lower affinity. Derivatives of triamterene, in which the p-position of the phenylmoiety was substituted by acidic or basic residues, inhibited rENaC with IC50 values in the range of 0.1-20 microM. Acidic and basic triamterenes produced a rENaC blockade with a similar voltage and pH dependence as the parent compound, suggesting that the pteridinemoiety of triamterene is responsible for that characteristic. Expression of the rENaC alpha-subunit-deletion mutant, Delta278-283, which lacks a putative amiloride-binding site, induced a Na+ channel with a greatly reduced affinity for both triamterene and amiloride. In summary, rENaC is a molecular target for triamterene that binds to its binding site within the electrical field, preferably as a positively charged molecule in a voltage- and pH-dependent fashion. We propose that amiloride and triamterene bind to rENaC using very similar mechanisms.

Interdoublet sliding rates were assessed in bull sperm, utilizing a freeze-thaw procedure to allow axonemal disintegration. The sliding rate of 23 degrees C increased with increasing MgATP concentrations up to 1 mM ATP, to plateau at 8 microns/sec. The analyzed interdoublet shear in both live and demembranated (Triton X-100-extracted) bull sperm reactivated with 1 mM ATP established maximal microtubule sliding rates at 6 microns/sec during flagellar beating. Therefore, in vitro sliding rates were sufficient to account for the beat in intact flagella. The effect of inhibitors of flagellar motility on in vitro sliding rates was evaluated. While 8 microM vanadate minimally reduced the sliding rate (to approximately or equal to 4 microns/sec), only 0.5 microM vanadate was sufficient to terminate reactivated bull sperm motility. Nickel ion (0.66 mM) terminated all spontaneous motility, while only reducing microtubule sliding rates to approximately or equal to 5.0 microns/sec. Exposing intact bull sperm to theophylline (1 mM), and incubating the subsequently demembranated sperm in cAMP (3 microM), improved flagellar motility, but had little impact on microtubule sliding rates as determined by axonemal disintegration. Furthermore, deactivating live sperm with 2 mM KCN and 4 mM 2-deoxy-D-glucose renders the subsequently reactivated sperm immotile (as long as exogenous cAMP is absent). Yet, this treatment only reduced the sliding rate by 38%. Paradoxically, 4 mM MgADP reduced the sliding rates most dramatically (86%), whereas demembranated sperm models retain a strong, coordinated beating pattern in the presence of MgADP. These results demonstrate that there is no direct relationship between interdoublet sliding rates and the capacity for coordinated flagellar beating.

The flagella of mammalian sperm possess certain structural characteristics that distinguish them from simple flagella. Most notable of these features are the sheath (surrounding the axoneme), the outer dense fibers of ODFs (that are attached to the outer doublets), and the connecting piece (which anchors the ODFs at the base of the flagellum). In this study, the significance of these specialized axonemal elements is explored. Their impact on microtubule sliding and force production within the axoneme is specifically analyzed. A working hypothesis is developed based on the premise that forces produced by interdoublet sliding are transferred to the ODFs. In this way, the torque required to bend the flagellum is developed between the ODFs, which are anchored in the connecting piece. This working hypothesis was incorporated into the pre-existing "geometric clutch" model that earlier simulated only cilia and simple flagella. The characteristic length and stiffness of bovine sperm flagella were specified as modelling parameters. Additionally, the inter-ODF spacing of bull sperm was incorporated to calculate doublet sliding and bending torque. The resultant computer-simulated pattern of flagellar beating possesses many of the attributes of the beat of a live bull sperm flagellum. Notably, this life-like simulation can be produced using parameters for the central axonemal "motor" that are comparable to those effective in modelling a simple flagellum. In the proposed scheme, the accessory structures of the mammalian sperm axoneme provide increased stiffness while at the same time providing a means to proportionately raise the bending torque to overcome that additional flexural rigidity. This capacity is due to the inter-ODF distances being larger than the corresponding interdoublet spacings. If force is transmitted to the flagellar base by way of the ODFs, then the larger effective diameter generates both a greater bending torque and increased interdoublet sliding. This has the interesting effect of consolidating the energy from more dynein cross-bridges into the production of a single bend. Consequently. greater bending torque development is permitted than would be possible in a simple flagellum. In This way, the same 9 + 2 organization of a simple flagellum can power a much larger (and stiffer) version than would otherwise be possible.

Ciliary and flagellar motion is driven by the dynein-tubulin interaction between adjacent doublets of the axoneme, and the resulting sliding displacements are converted into axonemal bends that are propagated. When the axoneme is bent in the normal beating plane, force develops across the axoneme in the plane of the bend. This transverse force (t-force) has maximal effect on the interdoublet spacing of outer doublets 2-4 on one side of the axoneme and doublets 7-9 on the opposite side. Episodes of sliding originates as the t-force brings these doublets into closer proximity (allowing dynein bridges to form) and are terminated when these doublets are separated from each other by the t-force. A second factor, the adhesive force of the dynein-tubulin attachments (bridges), also acts to pull neighboring doublets closer together. This force resists termination of a sliding episode once initiated, and acts locally to give the population of dynein bridges a type of excitability. In other words, as bridges form, the probability of nearby bridges attaching is increased by a positive feedback exerted through the interdoublet spacing. A conceptual working hypothesis explaining the behavior of cilia and flagella is proposed based on the above concepts. Additionally, the feasibility of this proposed mechanism is demonstrated using a computer simulation. The simulation uses a Monte Carlo-type algorithm for dynein attachment and adhesive force, together with a geometric evaluation of the t-force on the key microtubule pairs. This model successfully develops spontaneous oscillations from any starting configuration (including a straight position). It is compatible with the physical dimensions, mechanical properties and bridge forces measured in real cilia and flagella. In operation, it exhibits many of the observed actions of cilia and flagella, most notably wave propagation and the ability to produce both cilia-like and flagella-like waveforms.

Bovine sperm, extracted with 0.1% Triton X-100, frozen at −20°C for 48–120 hours, and thawed, disintegrated by microtubule sliding when 1 mM MgATP was added. Microtubules and outer dense fibers (ODFs) were usually extruded in groups or “bundles.” A total of 44.5% of the cells extruded two distinct bundles, one from each side of the connecting piece, exhibiting opposite curvatures. Only one bundle was observed in 46.2% of the cells, and 9.2% showed no signs of sliding. Transmission electron microscopy (T.E.M.) showed one group consisting of the 4,5-6,7 elements, with the 9,1,2 elements on the other side of the axoneme making up the other bundle. T.E.M. revealed that when only one side of the axoneme had extruded elements, they were always from the 4,5-6,7 group. The remainder of the axoneme (8,9,1,2,3 and the central pair) was left relatively intact, suggesting a difference in the sliding response of the nine pairs of axonemal microtubules. These results indicate a predisposition for sliding between elements 7 and 8 over that between doublets 2 and 3, perhaps due to a disparity in activation thresholds. Also, both Ni2+ and Cd2+ appear to selectively block activation of 2–3 interdoublet sliding. Incubation with 0.25 mM Ni2+ prior to adding MgATP modified the percentages of sliding patterns: 8.6% demonstrated two-sided extrusion, 58.2% showed one-sided, and 33.2% had no extruded bundles. Again, when half the axoneme was missing, it was always the 4,5-6,7 group. Ten micromolar Cd2+ altered the sliding pattern similarly to Ni2+, with 28% two-sided extrusion, 55.9% one-sided extrusion and 16.1% with no extruded bundles. Either pretreatment regimen impeded extrusion of the 9,1,2 group in a high percentage of cells, compared to untreated cells. This specific inhibition of the 9,1,2 side by Ni2+ or Cd2+ is especially significant since Ni2+ also inhibits spontaneous wave initiation in bull sperm (Lindemann et al.: Journal of Cell Biology 87:420–426, 1980), and both Ni2+ and Cd2+ reportedly block the flagellar Ca2+-response in rat sperm (Lindemann and Goltz: Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton 10:420–431, 1988; Lindemann et al.: Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton 20:316–324, 1991). © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Rat sperm, demembranated with 0.1% Triton X-100, were used to explore the reversal in flagellar curvature induced by calcium ion. As reported earlier (Lindemann and Goltz, Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton, 10:420–431, 1988), the radius of curvature of the flagellar midpiece of rat sperm is controlled by the free Ca2+ concentration. A reversal of the direction of curvature (judged by the asymmetric sperm head) takes place at ≈ 2.5 + 10−6 M free Ca2+. In our current study, the time course of the curvature change, after elevating free Ca2+ to 3.5 ± 10−4 M, was utilized to assess the effects of the cAMP-kinase A pathway on the calcium response. In addition, calmodulin's involvement in this response was explored using anti-calmodulin and Cd2+. The activity state of the sperm models (which could be directly influenced through cAMP) was found to control the rate of curvature change in response to increased free Ca2+. In the most extreme case, fully quiescent sperm did not respond to Ca2+ at all, and cAMP-primed sperm models completed the response to Ca2+ in two minutes or less. Anti-calmodulin demonstrated strong inhibitory effects on the curvature reversal. Cadmium ion was also extremely potent at blocking the response to Ca2+, completely eliminating the curvature reversal at 2 × 10−10 M free Cd2+. Based on these findings, it appears that the Ca2+-activated curvature reversal of rat sperm is potentiated by cAMP-dependent kinase and may be mediated through calmodulin.

Model calculations were done to investigate the effect of titratable fixed charges at channel openings on ion flow through open channels. The current titration curves (channel current vs. bulk pH) can assume the shape expected from the change of the ionic surface concentration with pH (c-control), or be inverted, i.e., follow the change of the electrical field within the membrane (V-control). The relationships were explored pars pro toto for Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz channels, two-barrier one-site channels and six-barrier five-site channels. With net current flowing in the direction of the concentration gradient and from the titrated fixed charge layer into the channel, c-control is the sign of low channel occupancy (entrance-step limitation) and V-control the sign of high channel occupancy (exit-step limitation). At intermediate occupancy, the current titration curve can be nearly invariant to pH.

Demembranated and membrane disrupted bull sperm models exhibit an increase in motility when exposed to cAMP. Tritium-labeled cAMP was used to locate the initial site of action of cAMP in the modeled sperm preparations. cAMP did not bind selectively to the modeled cells, and the presence or absence of plasma membrane fragments on the models did not significantly alter this result. When suspension medium taken from modeled sperm preparations was subjected to gel filtration on Sephadex G25-150 columns, cAMP bound to a high molecular weight component that eluted with the void volume. The responsible binding factor is a soluble component that is released when the plasma membranes of the sperm are disrupted during the modeling procedure. To test the importance of the cAMP binding factor, modeled sperm were centrifuged, the supernatant solution was decanted, and the cells were resuspended in fresh medium. After this treatment the cells could be restored to motility with Mg-ATP but no longer exhibited a response to cAMP. Furthermore, addition of cAMP binding factor isolated by gel filtration partially restored the response of these sperm to cAMP. Investigation of the properties of the cAMP-binding factor have confirmed that it is specific for cAMP, with a much lower affinity for AMP and cGMP. In the presence of a large excess of unlabeled cAMP the labeled complex has a half-life of approximately 1 hour. Our results indicate that the action of cAMP on the motility of modeled sperm is mediated by its attachment to a high molecular weight, soluble component of the cell cytoplasm.

Bull sperm that are extracted with 0.1% Triton X-100 and restored to motility with Mg2+-ATP lose coordination and stop swimming in the presence of 0.5 mM NiSO4. Although spontaneous coordination of flagellar waves is lost after exposure to Ni2+, other functions of the flagellum remain intact. The capacity for wave propagation along the flagellum is maintained together with the capacity for microtubular sliding. Wave motility can be restored to Ni2+-inhibited sperm by inducing a permanent bend onto the flagellum by micromanipulation. In the absence of such intervention, the loss of wave coordination is complete and irreversible. Ni2+-inhibited demembranated cells that are kept active by maintaining a bend in the flagellum exhibit a normal beat frequency. Both intact and demembranated sperm can retain spontaneous wave production at considerably slower rates of motion than Ni2+-inhibited cells. Short segments from the distal tip of the flagellum contain only the 9 + 2 microtubular axoneme. These short segments are able to propagate imposed bends even in the presence of Ni2+. In addition to wave propagation Ni2+-treated sperm can be shown to exhibit a normal sliding tubule phenomenon by direct assay. Although Ni2+-treated cells have a functional sliding tubule mechanism, and consequently the axoneme can propagate bends, it appears that these retained functions are not sufficient to cause spontaneous bend initiation. Our findings show that bend initiation is inhibited by Ni2+, and therefore is an independent process separate from the sliding tubule mechanism responsible for wave propagation.

Bull sperm that had been extracted with 0.2% Triton X-100 could be reactivated with ATP, and their movement closely resembled the motion of intact live sperm. Their motility required the presence of ATP, magnesium, and a medium of suitable salt concentration and pH. When Triton-extracted bull sperm were digested briefly with trypsin at pH 9.0, they appeared to retain most of their normal structure, but subsequent exposure of the digested sperm to ATP caused a disintegration of the flagellar structure. Direct observation of this disintegration by light microscopy, using dark-field illumination, combined with an electron microscope study of preparations of the disintegrated sperm, demonstrated the presence of an active sliding mechanism of filament interaction in bull spermatozoa. Human sperm subjected to the same procedures showed similar patterns of reactivation and of

Free Ca2+ changes the curvature of epididymal rat sperm flagella in demembranated sperm models. The radius of curvature of the flagellar midpiece region was measured and found to be a continuous function of the free Ca2+ concentration. Below 10(-7) M free Ca2+, the sperm flagella assumed a pronounced curvature in the same direction as the sperm head. The curvature reversed direction at 2.5 x 10(-6) M Ca2+ to assume a tight, hook-like bend at concentrations of 10(-5) to 10(-4) M free Ca2+. Sodium vanadate at 2 x 10(-6) M blocked flagellar motility, but did not inhibit the Ca2+-mediated change in curvature. Nickel ion at 0.2 mM and cadmium ion at 1 microM interfered with the transition and induced the low Ca2+ configuration of the flagellum. The forces that maintain the Ca2+-dependent curvature are locally produced, as dissection of the flagella into segments did not significantly alter the curvature of the excised portions. Irrespective of the induced pattern of curvature, the sperm exhibited coordinated, repetitive flagellar beating in the presence of ATP and cAMP. At 0.3 mM ATP the flagellar waves propagated along the principal piece while the level of free Ca2+ controlled the overall curvature. When Ca2+-treated sperm models with hooked midpieces were subjected to higher concentrations of ATP (1-5 mM), some cells exhibited a pattern of movement similar to hyperactivated motility in capacitated live sperm. This type of motility involved repetitive reversals of the Ca2+-induced bend in the midpiece, as well as waves propagated along the principal piece. The free Ca2+ available to the flagellum therefore appeared to modify both the pattern of motility and the flagellar curvature.

Cells of isolated frog skin epithelium were observed microscopically during impalement with standard microelectrodes of 5 to 20 Momega resistance, filled with 3 m KCl. Impaled cells, as well as some neighboring cells, were seen to swell 10 to 100 sec after impalement, while the negative potential recorded by the microelectrode depolarized (open circuit conditions). Apparently, osmotic swelling of small epithelial cells may be caused by diffusion of KCl from such electrodes. This conclusion is supported by calculations quoted from the literature of KCl loss from microelectrodes. Intracellular recordings from epithelia with destructed cellular membranes gave negative "pre-tip potentials" of up to mV. The potentials could be altered by electrode movement, by decreasing the ambient pH or the tip-pH and by modifying the fixed charges of the tissue chemically. It is shown that even a moderate loss of KCl, which will not result in appreciable swelling, can produce negative potentials in front of the electrode tip if the protoplasm has a high density of negative fixed charges. We suggest the use of 3 m KCl electrodes with resistances above 30 Momega if after impalement compression of intracellular material by the tip can be avoided. Where such compression cannot be avoided, it is best to fill the microelectrode with an isotonic solution which mimics the electrolyte composition of the cytosol.

Experiments were performed to test which structure of frog skin epithelium is responsible for the electrical excitation (fast, all-or-none potential spike) displayed by this tissue during stimulation with a current pulse. Preselected cells of the outer epithelial surface were punctured by microelectrodes under microscopical observation. The major part of the transepithelia resting resistance and the major part of the spike were recorded between microelectrode tip and outside bathing solution. A leak between microelectrode and punctured membrane is made responsible for the attenuation of spike amplitude observed under these recording conditions. It is shown that if the spike is generated at but one of the series membranes of the epithelium, this membrane must be at the outermost border of the tissue.

The difference of electrical potential measured across the isolated central portion of in vitro beef cornea was found to vary between 15 and 60 mv surface of the epithelium negative), with most frequent values between 30 and 35 mv. At the same time, transcorneal d.c.-resistance was found to be 5–7 kΩ cm 2 . The potential was easily lowered on decreasing corneal electrical resistance by clamping the tissue tightly into its lucite support. It was, however, reversibly increased when corneal resistance was lowered by substituting the sodium of the solution facing the epithelium with lithium, and decreased when the resistance was raised by replacing sodium with potassium.

The force generated by a detergent-extracted reactivated bull sperm flagellum during an isometric stall was measured with a force-calibrated glass microprobe. The average isometric stall force from 48 individual measurements was 2.5 +/- 0.7 x 10(-5) dyne (2.5 +/- 0.7 x 10(-10) N). The force measurements were obtained by positioning a calibrated microprobe in the beat path of sperm cells that were stuck by their heads to a glass microscope slide. The average position of the contact point of the flagellum with the probe was 15 microm from the head-tail junction. This average lever arm length multiplied by the measured force yields an estimate of the active bending moment (torque) of 3.9 x 10(-8) dyne x cm (3.9 x 10(-15) N x m). The force was sustained and was for the most part uniform, despite the fact that the flagellum beyond the point of contact with the probe usually continued beating. It appears that the dynein motors in the basal portion of the flagellum continue to pull in an isometric stall for as long as the motion of the flagellum is blocked. If dynein motors in the flagellum distal to the contact point with the probe were contributing force to the displacement of the probe, then the flagellar segment immediately past the point of contact would have to show a net curvature in the direction of the probe displacement. No such curvature bias was observed in the R-bend arrests, and only a small positive curvature bias was measured in the P-bend arrests. Our analysis of the data suggests that more than 90% of the sustained force component is generated by the part of the flagellum between the probe and the flagellar base. Based on this premise, the isometric stall force per dynein head is estimated to be 5.0 x 10(-7) dyne (5 pN). This equals approximately 1.0 x 10(-6) dyne (10 pN) per intact dynein arm. These values are close to the isometric stall force of isolated dynein. This suggests that all of the dynein heads between the base and the probe, on the active side of the axoneme, are contributing to the force exerted against the probe.

The overall on- and off-rate constants for blockage of epithelial Na channels by amiloride analogs were estimated by noise analysis of the stationary Na current traversing frog skin epithelium. The (2-position) side chain structure of amiloride was varied in order to obtain structure/rate constant relationships. (1) Hydrophobic chain elongations (benzamil and related compounds of high blocking potency) increase the stability of the blocking complex (lowered off-rate), explained by attachment of the added phenyl moiety to a hydrophobic area near the site of side chain interaction with the channel protein. (2) Some other chain modifications show that the on-rate, which is smaller than a diffusion-limited rate, varies with side chain structure. In several cases this effect is not attributable to steric hindrance on encounter, and implies that the side chain interacts briefly with the channel protein (encounter complex) before the main blocking position of the molecule is attained. The encounter complex must be labile since the overall rate constants of blockage are not concentration-dependent. (3) In two cases, changes at the 2-position side chain and at other ring ligands, with known effects on the blocking rate constants, could be combined in one analog. The rate constants of blocking by the resulting compounds indicate that the structural changes have additive effects in terms of activation energies. (4) Along with other observations (voltage dependence of the rate constants and competition with the transported Na ion), these results suggest a blocking process of at least two steps. It appears that initially the 2-position side chain invades the outward-facing channel entrance, establishing a labile complex. Then the molecule is either released completely (no block) or the 6-ligand of the pyrazine ring gains access to its receptor counterpart, thus establishing the blocking complex, the lifetime of which is strongly determined by the electronegativity of the 6-ligand.

Two low-noise differential input amplifiers designed for voltage and current fluctuation measurements in epithelia are described. The first one uses a matched pair of low-noise transistors and is particularly suited for low-frequency current and voltage noise measurements in frog skin and other preparations with impedances below 1 kOmega. The second one is designed around a matched pair of JFETs and can also be used for higher source impedance. Performance is demonstrated with Na(+) current power density spectra obtained from frog skin with the transistor-input stage.

The motility of demembranated bull sperm was found to be governed by the concentrations of cyclic adenosine 3', 5'-monophosphate (cAMP) and Ca2+ at low pH (6.6-7.1), and was less sensitive to these variables at higher pH (7.4-7.8). Although motility was generally found to increase with increasing pH in the range from 6.6 to 7.8, the addition of exogenous cAMP markedly and selectively improved the motility at the lower end of the range (pH 6.6-7.1). In the presence of 10 microM cAMP, low Ca2+ (8.0 X 10(-8) M), and a high concentration of Mg-adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP, 8 mM), demembranated sperm at pH 6.8 and 7.1 exhibited swimming similar to that of live ejaculated sperm. At a free Ca2+ concentration of 4.4 X 10(-5) M, the motility was rapidly inhibited at pH 6.8-7.1, whereas at pH 7.4-7.8, the activity was not greatly affected. Since calcium is known to antagonize the cAMP pathway by activating Ca2+-dependent phosphodiesterase and Ca2+-dependent phosphatase, this further supports the idea that cAMP-dependent activation is crucial for motility at low pH. Our results demonstrate that the flagellar axoneme can function normally at relatively acidic pH, and produce vigorous swimming at high levels of ATP. The ATP content of live sperm was measured and found to be high enough (approximately 8 mM) to support the vigorous motility seen at pH 6.6-7.1 in the models.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Bull sperm that had been disrupted by freezing and thawing were reactivated with 1 mM Mg-adenosine 5'-triphosphate. The antioxidants superoxide dismutase, catalase, dithiothreitol, and reduced glutathione (GSH) were tested for their ability to prolong the motility of the reactivated sperm. GSH was employed both by itself and as part of a reducing system that maintained the tripeptide in the reduced form. Three of the test agents were found to increase the duration of motility in the sperm preparations; these were reduced glutathione, dithiothreitol, and superoxide dismutase. Glutathione was the most effective protective agent, yielding reactivated preparations with a half-life for the decay of motility of 2.5 h. While dithiothreitol (DTT) is widely employed as an antioxidant, we found that DTT is measurably less effective than glutathione (half-life of 1.5 h). In spite of glutathione's effectiveness in preserving motility, we have found, by direct assay, that mature bull sperm do not contain detectable amounts of this common biological antioxidant. Our results support the hypothesis that oxidative damage contributes to the loss of motility in reactivated sperm and suggest that oxidation could be a factor in motility loss in living sperm.

Rat sperm from the cauda epididymis exhibit increased motility, longevity, and a distinct circular pattern of flagellar curvature in response to 5 mM procaine-HCl or 0.1 mM 8-(N,N-diethylamino)-octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate (TMB-8), reagents that are thought to play a role in the immobilization of free cellular calcium. Triton X-100-extracted sperm models will exhibit the same pattern of motility and curvature as procaine- or TMB-8-activated cells, but only when calcium is removed by a strong chelating agent, and in the presence of cAMP (3 microM). Demembranated sperm models produced from epididymal rat sperm are quiescent unless cAMP is added. In these sperm models, the presence or absence of free calcium mediates a transition in flagellar curvature. The increased activity of the procaine-treated intact cells was not accompanied by a change in cellular ATP content, nor was ATP availability the limiting factor in the quiescent sperm. Therefore, the increased motility produced by procaine is probably mediated by a fall in free intracellular Ca2+ accompanied by a rise in cAMP. Our finding that calcium controls the curvature of sperm flagella may explain altered patterns of flagellar beating, such as the hyperactivated motility that sperm exhibit in the female reproductive tract.

Many transport processes in biological membranes show a saturation of transport rate when the concentration of the transported ions or molecules is sufficiently increased. Saturation will result when at high concentrations a translocation step which does not directly depend on bulk concentration becomes rate limiting, and it is expected for all multi-step translocation mechanisms. However, a possible alternative explanation for saturation is a regulatory process which decreases the number of translocating channels in response to an increase in bulk concentration of the transported species. In the frog epidermis, Na+ uptake from the extracellular space into the epithelial cytosol occurs through Na+-selective, passively conducting channels located in the apical membrane of the cells directly below the cornified outer cell layer. Saturation of transport occurs with increasing outer Na+ activity ([Na]o): the net Na+ current1,2, membrane conductance2,3 and unidirectional Na+ influx4 increase only subproportionally with [Na]0. The apical Na+ current can transiently be larger than the saturation value, suggesting that a fixed upper single channel transport rate is not responsible for the saturation, and it has, therefore been suggested that in this case saturation occurs through a [Na]o-dependent decrease in channel density2. The Na+-translocation process can be investigated by a statistical evaluation of spontaneous transport fluctuations. The reversible transport blocker amiloride can be used to induce random fluctuations of the Na+ current at the apical membrane. The power density spectrum of these fluctuations is of the lorentzian type and permits an estimation of the Na+ current which passes through individual translocators in the time intervals between blocks5. We have recorded the current fluctuations at different [Na]o values and different amiloride concentrations in the [Na]o range in which saturation of total Na+ current is observed. We report here that the density of the conducting pores decreases with increasing [Na]o.

The damage caused to bull sperm by freezing and thawing them without cryoprotectants was assessed in both intact and membrane-extracted cells. Preparations of membrane-extracted cells were produced by treating the sperm with 0.1% Triton X-100 and motility was restored with exogenously applied ATP and Mg2+. Motile demembranated sperm showed no detectable reduction in motility after freezing and thawing. In contrast, when intact cells where subjected to freezing and thawing they lost all motility. These damaged cells were also restored to motility when exogenous ATP and Mg2+ were added to the sperm mixture. Apparently freezing and thawing sperm cells causes damage to the plasma membrane which permits ATP and Mg2+ to freely enter or leave the cells, but does not damage the components of the sperm cell which generate motility. The effects of storage temperature on frozen demembranated sperm were also explored. Sperm held at −20 °C showed marked structural changes and progressively decreased motility after prolonged storage. When sperm were frozen at −20 °C the mitochondrial structures were completely lost after 48 to 72 hr and ATP caused the disintegration of the flagellum rather than initiating motility. Sperm which were frozen at −76 °C retained motility after short periods of storage, but showed a significant decline in motility when thawed after 8 days. Demembranated sperm which were kept frozen at −196 °C showed no significant loss of motility when thawed after 1 year of storage.