Biology of Reproduction, 2017, 97(4), 577–585 doi:10.1093/biolre/iox104 Review Advance Access Publication Date: 13 September 2017 Review Reactive oxygen species and protein modifications in spermatozoa† ∗ Cristian O’Flaherty1,2,3, and David Matsushita-Fournier2,3 Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/biolreprod/article/97/4/577/4157784 by guest on 01 October 2021 1Department of Surgery (Urology Division), McGill University, Montreal,´ Quebec,´ Canada; 2Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal,´ Quebec,´ Canada and 3The Research Institute, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal,´ Quebec,´ Canada ∗Correspondence: The Research Insitute, McGill University Health Centre, room EM03212, 1001 Decarie Boulevard, Montreal,´ QC H4A 3J1, Canada. Fax: +514-933-4149; E-mail: cristian.ofl
[email protected] †Grant support: This work was supported by a grant from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (MOP 133661 to C.O.). CO is the recipient of the Chercher Boursier Junior 2 salary award from the Fonds de la Recherche en SanteduQu´ ebec´ (33158). Received 2 June 2017; Revised 1 August 2017; Accepted 11 September 2017 Abstract Cellular response to reactive oxygen species (ROS) includes both reversible redox signaling and irreversible nonenzymatic reactions which depend on the nature and concentration of the ROS involved. Changes in thiol/disulfide pairs affect protein conformation, enzymatic activity, ligand binding, and protein–protein interactions. During spermatogenesis and epididymal maturation, there are ROS-dependent modifications of the sperm chromatin and flagellar proteins.The sperma- tozoon is regulated by redox mechanisms to acquire fertilizing ability. For this purpose, controlled amounts of ROS are necessary to assure sperm activation (motility and capacitation).