The CatSper4 antibody is a research tool designed to detect the CatSper4 protein, a key subunit of the CatSper (Cation Channel of Sperm) family. CatSper channels are sperm-specific, pH-dependent, voltage-gated calcium channels essential for sperm hyperactivation, motility, and fertilization. Among the four pore-forming subunits (CatSper1-4), CatSper4 plays a critical role in forming the functional channel complex, particularly in mediating calcium influx during sperm capacitation and the acrosome reaction. Dysregulation of CatSper4 has been linked to male infertility, making it a target for studying reproductive disorders.
Antibodies against CatSper4 are widely used in reproductive biology to investigate its expression, localization, and function in sperm cells. They enable techniques like Western blotting, immunofluorescence, and immunohistochemistry to study protein distribution in sperm flagella and assess changes under pathological or experimental conditions. These antibodies also aid in exploring CatSper4's interaction with other channel subunits or regulatory proteins, providing insights into channel assembly and signaling mechanisms. Recent studies have utilized CatSper4 antibodies to evaluate its potential as a diagnostic marker or therapeutic target for infertility. However, challenges remain in ensuring antibody specificity due to structural similarities among CatSper subunits. Validation via knockout models or peptide competition is often recommended for accurate experimental interpretation.