{
  "id": 10990286,
  "title": "Zinc is a key regulator of the sperm-specific K<sup>+</sup> channel (Slo3) function",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/30/zinc-is-a-key-regulator-of-the-sperm-specific-k-sup-sup-channel-slo3",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-30T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "eLife",
    "slug": "elife",
    "url": "https://elifesciences.org/articles/105450"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Zinc, a vital element, exerts a profound influence over the function of the sperm-specific K sup + /sup channel, or Slo3, as demonstrated by recent research. This voltage- and pH-gated channel, exclusive to mammalian spermatozoa, plays a pivotal role in fertility, a process intricately linked to capacitation.\n\nThe study reveals a dynamic alteration in spermatozoa's intracellular zinc levels during capacitation. Intriguingly, zinc also regulates the alkalinization-induced hyperpolarization in mouse spermatozoa, mediated by the Slo3 channel. Intracellular zinc's impact on Slo3 currents was further explored in Xenopus oocytes, revealing a dose-dependent inhibition of these currents at micromolar concentrations, with a notably slow dissociation rate.\n\nAdvanced simulations and electrophysiology were employed to identify specific amino acid residues contributing to zinc's slow dissociation from Slo3 channels. These findings underscore the critical role of intracellular zinc dynamics and its regulatory function in ion channels during sperm capacitation.",
  "summary": "The voltage- and pH-gated Slo3 potassium channel is exclusively expressed in mammalian spermatozoa. Its sensitivity to both voltage and alkalization plays a crucial role in sperm fertility, which is tightly coupled to the capacitation process. Here, we show that sperm-enriched divalent cation Zn 2+ undergoes dynamic alteration in spermatozoa during capacitation. We also found that intracellular…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}