AKAP4 and its precursor called pro-AKAP4 are two major proteins of the human sheath spermatozoa (Johnson et al., 1997), playing a role in sperm motility and fertility. Spermatozoa without proAKAP4/AKAP4 are abnormal, immobile and infertile (Miki et al. 2002). A clear decrease in AKAP4 was observed in non-fertile human patients with normal sperm parameters (Frapsauce et al., 2014).  As a scaffolding proteins AKAP4 enables multivalent signaling (Malbon et al., 2004) and regulate protein kinase A (PKA) activity in spermatozoa.

In this recent paper published in Andrology, Jumeau and her collaborators have characterized pro-AKAP4 expression along the flagellum of human spermatozoa using the 6F12 antibody (ref. 4BDX-1701) and have shown that the pro-AKAP4 protein levels were is positively correlated with motility in normozoopermic patients (Jumeau et al. 2018). 

In human spermatozoa, proAKAP4 might be a 'reservoir' of mature AKAP4. This study shows that proAKAP4 in human semen may be a protein of interest in the management of male infertility.

More details in Jumeau and al. 2018, A-kinase anchor protein 4 precursor (pro-AKAP4) in human spermatozoa, Andrology. Click here

Please discover also our ELISA Kit (Ref. 4BDX-18K1) is a complete immunoassay with all reagents and buffers required to quantify human proAKAP4 in sperm samples as a biomarker of sperm quality.

More informations about the AKAP4/proAKAP4 as biomarkers of male fertility, click here.