International Journal of Molecular Sciences Review Sperm Differentiation: The Role of Trafficking of Proteins Maria E. Teves 1,* , Eduardo R. S. Roldan 2,*, Diego Krapf 3 , Jerome F. Strauss III 1 , Virali Bhagat 4 and Paulene Sapao 5 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA;
[email protected] 2 Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain 3 Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA;
[email protected] 4 Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA;
[email protected] 5 Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298, USA;
[email protected] * Correspondence:
[email protected] (M.E.T.);
[email protected] (E.R.S.R.) Received: 4 March 2020; Accepted: 20 May 2020; Published: 24 May 2020 Abstract: Sperm differentiation encompasses a complex sequence of morphological changes that takes place in the seminiferous epithelium. In this process, haploid round spermatids undergo substantial structural and functional alterations, resulting in highly polarized sperm. Hallmark changes during the differentiation process include the formation of new organelles, chromatin condensation and nuclear shaping, elimination of residual cytoplasm, and assembly of the sperm flagella. To achieve these transformations, spermatids have unique mechanisms for protein trafficking that operate in a coordinated fashion. Microtubules and filaments of actin are the main tracks used to facilitate the transport mechanisms, assisted by motor and non-motor proteins, for delivery of vesicular and non-vesicular cargos to specific sites.