Affinage

AKAP3

A-kinase anchor protein 3 · UniProt O75969

Length
853 aa
Mass
94.8 kDa
Annotated
2026-06-09
26 papers in source corpus 15 papers cited in narrative 15 extracted findings
Cross-family judge vs UniProt: Affinage preferred faithfulness: 5/5 claims corpus-supported (100%)

Mechanistic narrative

Synthesis pass · prose summary of the discoveries below

AKAP3 (AKAP110/FSP95/SOB1) is a sperm-specific A-kinase anchoring protein that scaffolds a local cAMP-signaling complex within the fibrous sheath of the sperm flagellum and is essential for fibrous sheath integrity, sperm motility, and male fertility (PMID:10319321, PMID:31969357). Through two conserved N-terminal amphipathic domains it functions as a dual-specificity anchor for both RIα and RIIα regulatory subunits of PKA, switching anchoring preference across spermiogenesis—favoring RIα in elongating spermatids and co-localizing with RIIα in the principal piece of mature sperm (PMID:24687590); deletion of these domains mislocalizes RIα, reduces PKA substrate phosphorylation, and abolishes capacitation-induced hyperactivation (PMID:38145487). AKAP3 organizes additional members of this signaling module, selectively binding the phosphodiesterase PDE4A5 to control local cAMP levels (PMID:16177223) and recruiting CABYR and Ropporin into a fibrous-sheath complex (PMID:21240291). Bicarbonate- and soluble adenylate cyclase-driven cAMP signaling promotes capacitation-associated tyrosine phosphorylation of AKAP3 and enhanced PKA recruitment, increasing motility and hyperactivation (PMID:15342355), and activated Gα13 can bind AKAP3 to release catalytic PKA in a cAMP-independent manner (PMID:11696326). AKAP3 is a direct substrate of the kinase STK33, whose loss reduces AKAP3 levels and disrupts fibrous sheath assembly (PMID:37146716), and its abundance is regulated during capacitation by ubiquitin-proteasome-mediated degradation that is governed by its tyrosine-phosphorylation status and protected by bound PKARII, with AKAP3 turnover being required for the acrosome reaction (PMID:23894359, PMID:26093290, PMID:36209601).

Mechanistic history

Synthesis pass · year-by-year structured walk · 15 steps
  1. 1999 High

    Established AKAP3 as a sperm-specific PKA anchor by mapping its RII-binding amphipathic helix and demonstrating co-compartmentalization with PKA regulatory subunits, defining its core scaffolding function.

    Evidence Truncated mutant binding assays, immunocytochemistry, Northern blot across mouse/bovine/human

    PMID:10319321

    Open questions at the time
    • Functional consequence of PKA anchoring not yet tested
    • RI versus RII selectivity not resolved
  2. 1999 High

    Localized AKAP3 to the ribs of the fibrous sheath and showed it is tyrosine-phosphorylated during capacitation, linking the anchor to capacitation signaling.

    Evidence Immunoelectron microscopy, indirect immunofluorescence, Western blot in human sperm

    PMID:10529264

    Open questions at the time
    • Kinase responsible for tyrosine phosphorylation not identified
    • Functional role of phosphorylation undefined
  3. 2001 High

    Revealed a cAMP-independent route to PKA activation in which activated Gα13 binds AKAP3 to release catalytic PKA, expanding the regulatory logic of the scaffold.

    Evidence Yeast two-hybrid, in vitro binding, co-IP, PKA activity assay

    PMID:11696326

    Open questions at the time
    • Physiological context of Gα13 activation in sperm unclear
    • In vivo relevance not tested
  4. 2004 Medium

    Connected upstream bicarbonate/sAC-driven cAMP production to AKAP3 tyrosine phosphorylation and PKA recruitment, tying the scaffold to motility and hyperactivation.

    Evidence Western blot, pharmacological inhibition of sAC/PI3K, sperm motility analysis

    PMID:15342355

    Open questions at the time
    • No mutagenesis or reconstitution
    • Direct phosphorylation sites not mapped
  5. 2005 High

    Showed AKAP3 selectively scaffolds PDE4A5 over PDE4D, establishing it as an organizer of local cAMP degradation as well as PKA anchoring.

    Evidence Co-IP in COS cells, pulldown from sperm lysates, immunolocalization

    PMID:16177223

    Open questions at the time
    • PDE-binding domain on AKAP3 not mapped
    • Functional impact on local cAMP gradients not directly measured
  6. 2011 High

    Defined AKAP3 as the organizing hub of a CABYR/Ropporin complex in the fibrous sheath, with CABYR binding via an RII-like domain.

    Evidence Co-IP, mass spectrometry, yeast two-hybrid in human sperm

    PMID:21240291

    Open questions at the time
    • Functional role of the complex not established
    • Calcium dependence of assembly untested
  7. 2013 Medium

    Identified proteasomal degradation of AKAP3 during capacitation and showed PKARII anchoring protects it, linking scaffold stability to PKA occupancy.

    Evidence Western blot, MG-132, Ht31 peptide disruption, PKA modulators in bovine sperm

    PMID:23894359

    Open questions at the time
    • E3 ligase not identified
    • Mechanism inferred from inhibitors without reconstitution
  8. 2014 High

    Resolved AKAP3 as a dual-specificity anchor with distinct 'dual' and 'RI' amphipathic domains and a developmental switch from RIα to RIIα preference across spermiogenesis.

    Evidence Domain mutagenesis, in vivo/in vitro binding, immunofluorescence, co-IP

    PMID:24687590

    Open questions at the time
    • Mechanism controlling the developmental anchoring switch unknown
    • Functional consequence of dual specificity not yet tested in vivo
  9. 2014 Medium

    Connected AKAP3 protein synthesis to PKA signaling and RNA-binding proteins at the chromatoid body, showing translational rather than transcriptional control during spermiogenesis.

    Evidence Co-IP/MS, RNA EMSA, sucrose gradient, immunofluorescence, PKA activator treatment

    PMID:24648398

    Open questions at the time
    • Direct RBP binding to Akap3 mRNA not mapped to specific elements
    • Single lab
  10. 2015 Medium

    Demonstrated that capacitation-associated tyrosine dephosphorylation controls AKAP3 degradation rate and that AKAP3 turnover is required for the acrosome reaction.

    Evidence IP, Western blot, tyrosine kinase/phosphatase inhibitors, anti-AKAP3 antibody microinjection, acrosome reaction assay

    PMID:26093290

    Open questions at the time
    • Phosphatase/kinase identities unresolved
    • Mechanism linking turnover to acrosome reaction unclear
  11. 2019 Medium

    Showed an oviductal signal (rHuOVGP1) enhances AKAP3 tyrosine phosphorylation during capacitation, placing the scaffold downstream of the female reproductive tract environment.

    Evidence Western blot, immunoprecipitation, confocal immunofluorescence

    PMID:31254143

    Open questions at the time
    • Receptor/signaling link to AKAP3 unmapped
    • Single lab, lower-tier evidence
  12. 2020 High

    Genetic ablation established AKAP3 as essential for fibrous sheath formation, sperm motility, correct PKA subunit localization, and male fertility, with F-actin accumulation during epididymal maturation.

    Evidence Akap3 knockout mice, proteomics, immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, motility analysis

    PMID:31969357

    Open questions at the time
    • Mechanism linking loss to F-actin accumulation unclear
    • Which proteome changes are causal versus secondary undefined
  13. 2022 Medium

    Defined the ubiquitin-26S proteasome pathway as the degradation route for AKAP3, showing proteasome inhibition uncouples PKA from AKAP3 and shifts the sperm phosphorylation landscape.

    Evidence Co-precipitation, Western blot, MG132, flow cytometry

    PMID:36209601

    Open questions at the time
    • Specific ubiquitination sites and E3 ligase not identified
    • Single lab
  14. 2023 High

    Identified AKAP3 as a direct substrate of STK33 kinase, providing an upstream regulator whose loss reduces AKAP3 and disrupts fibrous sheath assembly.

    Evidence Phosphoproteomics, in vitro kinase assay, Stk33 KO/KI mice, Western blot, electron microscopy

    PMID:37146716

    Open questions at the time
    • STK33 phosphosite on AKAP3 not mapped
    • Functional effect of the phosphorylation on anchoring not tested
  15. 2024 High

    Demonstrated in vivo that the dual and RI amphipathic domains are required for correct RIα localization, PKA substrate phosphorylation, hyperactivation, and fertility, cementing PKA anchoring as the core fertility-relevant function.

    Evidence Domain deletion mutant mice, interaction assays, immunofluorescence, motility/hyperactivation, Western blot

    PMID:38145487

    Open questions at the time
    • How RIα anchoring drives hyperactivation mechanistically unclear
    • Distinct roles of dual versus RI domains not fully separated

Open questions

Synthesis pass · forward-looking unresolved questions
  • The identity of the E3 ubiquitin ligase that targets AKAP3 and the precise mechanism by which AKAP3-anchored PKA drives flagellar hyperactivation remain unresolved.
  • No E3 ligase identified for AKAP3 degradation
  • Mechanistic link from local PKA activity to axonemal motility undefined
  • Structural model of the AKAP3 signaling complex absent

Mechanism profile

Synthesis pass · controlled-vocabulary classification · explore literature graph →
Molecular activity
GO:0060090 molecular adaptor activity 3 GO:0098772 molecular function regulator activity 3
Localization
GO:0005929 cilium 2 GO:0005856 cytoskeleton 1
Pathway
R-HSA-162582 Signal Transduction 3 R-HSA-1474165 Reproduction 2
Complex memberships
AKAP3-CABYR-Ropporin complexAKAP3-PKA-PDE4A5 cAMP-signaling complexsperm fibrous sheath

Evidence

Reading pass · 15 per-paper findings extracted from the source corpus
Year Finding Method Journal Conf PMIDs
1999 AKAP3 (AKAP110) is a sperm-specific A-kinase anchoring protein whose RII-binding domain was mapped using truncated mutants; the domain forms an amphipathic helix with eight conserved positions responsible for RII interaction. AKAP3 localizes to the acrosomal region of the sperm head and along the entire principal piece, co-compartmentalizing with both RI and RII regulatory subunits of PKA. Truncated mutant binding assays, immunocytochemistry, Northern blot, in situ hybridization Molecular Endocrinology High 10319321
1999 AKAP3 (FSP95/SOB1) is localized to the ribs of the fibrous sheath in the principal piece of the human sperm tail, as determined by indirect immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy. AKAP3 undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation during capacitation of human spermatozoa. Immunoelectron microscopy, indirect immunofluorescence, Western blot Biology of Reproduction High 10529264
2001 Activated Gα13 (heterotrimeric G protein α subunit) directly interacts with AKAP3 (AKAP110), forming a complex with both the regulatory (rPKA) and catalytic (cPKA) subunits of PKA. Gα13 binding to AKAP3 releases the catalytic subunit of PKA from the AKAP3-rPKA complex, resulting in cAMP-independent PKA activation; AKAP110 potentiates this Gα13-induced PKA activation. Yeast two-hybrid screening, in vitro binding assay, co-immunoprecipitation, PKA activity assay Current Biology High 11696326
2004 Bicarbonate stimulates tyrosine phosphorylation of AKAP3 in human spermatozoa through activation of soluble adenylate cyclase (sAC), leading to increased cAMP production and enhanced recruitment of PKA to AKAP3, and this signaling cascade increases sperm motility and hyperactivation. Western blot, pharmacological inhibition (sAC inhibitor 2OH-estradiol, DIDS, LY294002), sperm motility analysis Biology of Reproduction Medium 15342355
2005 AKAP3 selectively binds PDE4A5 (but not PDE4D) isoform in bovine spermatozoa, as demonstrated by co-immunoprecipitation in COS cells co-transfected with AKAP3 and PDE isoforms, and confirmed by pulldown from sperm lysates. AKAP3 functions as a scaffolding protein that co-localizes with PDE4A in the principal piece to regulate local cAMP concentrations. Co-immunoprecipitation (COS cell co-transfection), pulldown assay from sperm lysates, immunolocalization Biology of Reproduction High 16177223
2011 AKAP3 forms a complex with CABYR (calcium-binding tyrosine phosphorylation-regulated protein) and Ropporin in the human sperm fibrous sheath. CABYR binds AKAP3 via its RII-like domain, as confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation and yeast two-hybrid assays. Co-immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, Western blot, yeast two-hybrid Asian Journal of Andrology High 21240291
2013 AKAP3 is degraded via the proteasomal machinery during bovine sperm capacitation (inhibited by MG-132). Binding of PKARII to AKAP3 protects AKAP3 from degradation; disruption of PKARII anchoring (with Ht31 peptide) or inhibition/activation of PKA both increase AKAP3 degradation rate. Intracellular alkalization (NH4Cl) also enhances AKAP3 degradation. Western blot, proteasome inhibitor (MG-132), Ht31 peptide disruption, PKA activity modulators (H89, 8Br-cAMP), calcium chelation PLoS ONE Medium 23894359
2014 AKAP3 synthesis during mouse spermiogenesis is regulated by PKA signaling and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) PIWIL1, PABPC1, and NONO. Nascent AKAP3 forms a protein complex with PKA and these RBPs, which co-localize at the chromatoid body. Activation of PKA positively regulates AKAP3 protein synthesis without changing mRNA levels in elongating spermatids. Co-immunoprecipitation, protein mass spectrometry, RNA EMSA, sucrose gradient sedimentation, immunofluorescence, PKA activator treatment Biology of Reproduction Medium 24648398
2014 AKAP3 is a dual-specificity anchoring protein that interacts with both RIα and RIIα regulatory subunits of PKA via two conserved N-terminal amphipathic peptide domains (named 'dual' and 'RI' domains). In elongating spermatids AKAP3 interacts preferentially with RIα, while in mature sperm it co-localizes exclusively with RIIα in the principal piece. Mutagenesis of amphipathic domains, in vivo and in vitro binding assays, immunofluorescence, co-immunoprecipitation Molecular Reproduction and Development High 24687590
2015 AKAP3 undergoes tyrosine dephosphorylation during sperm capacitation, and its degradation rate is regulated by its tyrosine phosphorylation status: inhibition of tyrosine phosphatase reduces AKAP3 degradation, while inhibition of tyrosine kinase enhances it. Blocking AKAP3 degradation with anti-AKAP3 antibody in permeabilized cells inhibits the acrosome reaction, demonstrating that AKAP3 degradation is required for capacitation. Immunoprecipitation, Western blot, tyrosine kinase/phosphatase inhibitors, anti-AKAP3 antibody microinjection into permeabilized cells, FITC-PSA acrosome reaction assay Biochimica et Biophysica Acta Medium 26093290
2019 Recombinant human oviduct-specific glycoprotein (rHuOVGP1) enhances tyrosine phosphorylation of AKAP3 in the fibrous sheath during capacitation, as shown by co-migration of the pY 105 kDa band with AKAP3 on Western blot and confirmed by immunoprecipitation and co-localization by immunofluorescence. Western blot, immunoprecipitation, confocal immunofluorescence Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics Medium 31254143
2020 Genetic ablation of AKAP3 in mice causes male sterility due to defects in fibrous sheath formation, loss of sperm motility, and global proteome changes in sperm including mislocalization of PKA subunits and accumulation of RNA metabolism/translation factors. Sperm from both Akap3 and Akap4 null mice accumulate F-actin filaments during post-testicular epididymal maturation. Mouse knockout (Akap3 null), proteomics, immunofluorescence, electron microscopy, sperm motility analysis Development High 31969357
2022 AKAP3 is degraded by the ubiquitin-26S proteasome pathway during sperm capacitation; inhibition of the 26S proteasome with MG132 causes accumulation of ubiquitinated AKAP3 and uncoupling of PKA from AKAP3, leading to PKA degradation by UPP, reduced tyrosine phosphorylation, and increased serine/threonine phosphorylation. Co-precipitation assays, Western blot, proteasome inhibitor (MG132), flow cytometry Animal Reproduction Science Medium 36209601
2023 STK33 kinase directly phosphorylates AKAP3 (and AKAP4); differential phosphoproteomic analysis and in vitro kinase assay identified AKAP3 as a novel phosphorylation substrate of STK33. Loss of STK33 reduces AKAP3 expression in testis and disrupts fibrous sheath assembly in sperm. Differential phosphoproteomics, in vitro kinase assay, Stk33 knockout/knock-in mice, Western blot, electron microscopy Molecular & Cellular Proteomics High 37146716
2024 The dual and RI amphipathic domains in the N-terminus of AKAP3, responsible for binding RIα and RIIα of PKA, are required for sperm hyperactivation and male fertility. Deletion of these domains in mice causes RIα mislocalization from the principal piece to the midpiece of the sperm tail, reduces PKA substrate phosphorylation, and abolishes hyperactivation under capacitation conditions, without altering PKA subunit protein levels. AKAP3 shows a preference for binding RIα over RIIα. Domain deletion mutant mice, protein-protein interaction assays, immunofluorescence, sperm motility/hyperactivation analysis, Western blot for phosphorylation Biology of Reproduction High 38145487

Source papers

Stage 0 corpus · 26 papers · ranked by NIH iCite citations
Year Title Journal Citations PMID
1999 Isolation and molecular characterization of AKAP110, a novel, sperm-specific protein kinase A-anchoring protein. Molecular endocrinology (Baltimore, Md.) 147 10319321
1999 FSP95, a testis-specific 95-kilodalton fibrous sheath antigen that undergoes tyrosine phosphorylation in capacitated human spermatozoa. Biology of reproduction 144 10529264
2004 Tyrosine phosphorylation of the a kinase anchoring protein 3 (AKAP3) and soluble adenylate cyclase are involved in the increase of human sperm motility by bicarbonate. Biology of reproduction 89 15342355
2001 Molecular genetic analysis of two human sperm fibrous sheath proteins, AKAP4 and AKAP3, in men with dysplasia of the fibrous sheath. Journal of andrology 81 11229805
2020 Lack of AKAP3 disrupts integrity of the subcellular structure and proteome of mouse sperm and causes male sterility. Development (Cambridge, England) 68 31969357
2001 Interaction of heterotrimeric G13 protein with an A-kinase-anchoring protein 110 (AKAP110) mediates cAMP-independent PKA activation. Current biology : CB 66 11696326
2005 AKAP3 selectively binds PDE4A isoforms in bovine spermatozoa. Biology of reproduction 61 16177223
2011 CABYR binds to AKAP3 and Ropporin in the human sperm fibrous sheath. Asian journal of andrology 39 21240291
2013 Dissociation between AKAP3 and PKARII promotes AKAP3 degradation in sperm capacitation. PloS one 32 23894359
2014 AKAP3 synthesis is mediated by RNA binding proteins and PKA signaling during mouse spermiogenesis. Biology of reproduction 28 24648398
2012 Identification of the cancer/testis antigens AKAP3 and CTp11 by SEREX in hepatocellular carcinoma. Oncology reports 27 22941507
2015 AKAP3 degradation in sperm capacitation is regulated by its tyrosine phosphorylation. Biochimica et biophysica acta 22 26093290
2019 Human OVGP1 enhances tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins in the fibrous sheath involving AKAP3 and increases sperm-zona binding. Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics 21 31254143
2014 Sperm-specific AKAP3 is a dual-specificity anchoring protein that interacts with both protein kinase a regulatory subunits via conserved N-terminal amphipathic peptides. Molecular reproduction and development 18 24687590
2022 Homozygous variants in AKAP3 induce asthenoteratozoospermia and male infertility. Journal of medical genetics 17 35228300
2023 STK33 Phosphorylates Fibrous Sheath Protein AKAP3/4 to Regulate Sperm Flagella Assembly in Spermiogenesis. Molecular & cellular proteomics : MCP 13 37146716
2022 Inhibition of 26S proteasome enhances AKAP3-mediated cAMP-PKA signaling during boar sperm capacitation. Animal reproduction science 12 36209601
2022 MiR-539-3p impairs osteogenesis by suppressing Wnt interaction with LRP-6 co-receptor and subsequent inhibition of Akap-3 signaling pathway. Frontiers in endocrinology 11 36267566
1999 Cloning and characterization of SOB1, a new testis-specific cDNA encoding a human sperm protein probably involved in oocyte recognition. Biochemical and biophysical research communications 8 10334916
2024 AKAP3-mediated type I PKA signaling is required for mouse sperm hyperactivation and fertility†. Biology of reproduction 7 38145487
2022 Structural modeling of human AKAP3 protein and in silico analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with sperm motility. Scientific reports 7 35256641
2015 AKAP3 correlates with triple negative status and disease free survival in breast cancer. BMC cancer 7 26458542
2020 Desulphurisation kinetics of thiophenic compound by sulphur oxidizing Klebsiella oxytoca SOB-1. Journal of applied microbiology 5 32813930
2024 Evaluation of The 1499T>C Variant in The AKAP3 Gene of Infertile Men with Multiple Morphological Abnormalities of The Sperm Flagella Phenotype: A Case-Control Study. International journal of fertility & sterility 3 38368523
2020 Prediction of 3D Protein Structure Based on The Mutation of AKAP3 and PLOD3 Genes in The Case of Non-Obstructive Azoospermia. International journal of fertility & sterility 2 32681621
2019 Differential expression of TLRs and AKAP3 in cigarette smoked mice testis. Andrologia 1 31074059

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