pH and the crawling of nematode sperm

B. Dacanay, C. Wolgemuth

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Tissue formation, wound healing, immune surveillance and most importantly, inhibition of cancer and tumor metastasis is of prime interest. In order to study translocation within these intriguing cells, we focus on cellular crawling motility in sperm from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, which is similar to the crawling motility of many other eukaryotic cells. C. elegans spermatozoa utilize a cytoskeleton composed of Major Sperm Protein (MSP) to produce the force necessary for cellular movement. A complete understanding of the mechanics of this process and how it is regulated is still lacking. In the sperm from Ascaris suum, another nematode, internal pH has been suggested as a regulator of motility. The focus of this study is to determine the role of pH in regulating motility in C. elegans sperm and to determine how the cell maintains its internal pH. Using ratiometric imaging we show that C. elegans sperm maintain a substantial pH gradient between the front and back of the cell. A mathematical model suggests how the cell maintains this gradient.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of the IEEE 32nd Annual Northeast Bioengineering Conference, 2006
Pages71-72
Number of pages2
StatePublished - 2006
Externally publishedYes
EventIEEE 32nd Annual Northeast Bioengineering Conference, 2006 - Easton, PA, United States
Duration: Apr 1 2006Apr 2 2006

Publication series

NameProceedings of the IEEE Annual Northeast Bioengineering Conference, NEBEC
Volume2006
ISSN (Print)1071-121X

Other

OtherIEEE 32nd Annual Northeast Bioengineering Conference, 2006
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityEaston, PA
Period4/1/064/2/06

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemical Engineering

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