Ccdc28a, a member of the CCDC family proteins, is highly expressed in testes. It plays a crucial role in male reproduction, regulating sperm morphology and motility. The study of its functions can be significantly advanced through genetic models such as gene knockout mouse models.

In mouse models, Ccdc28a deletion leads to male infertility. Ccdc28a -/- mice show sperm with bent heads, acrosomal defects, reduced motility, and decreased in vitro fertilization competence, while their axoneme, outer dense fibers, and fibrous sheath remain normal [1]. Another study also reported that Ccdc28a deficiency causes diminished sperm motility and structural aberrations in sperm tails, especially affecting the head-tail coupling apparatus (HTCA) [2].

In conclusion, Ccdc28a is essential for male fertility and sperm tail morphogenesis, with its deletion in mouse models revealing its critical role in maintaining normal sperm structure and motility, thereby contributing to the understanding of male infertility [1,2].

References:

1. Zhou, Hongbin, Zhang, Zhihua, Qu, Ronggui, Sang, Qing, Wang, Lei. 2024. CCDC28A deficiency causes sperm head defects, reduced sperm motility and male infertility in mice. In Cellular and molecular life sciences : CMLS, 81, 174. doi:10.1007/s00018-024-05184-5. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38597936/

2. Stojanovic, Nena, Hernández, Rosario Ortiz, Ramírez, Nayeli Torres, Hernández, Abrahan Hernández, Shibuya, Hiroki. 2024. CCDC28A deficiency causes head-tail coupling defects and immotility in murine spermatozoa. In Scientific reports, 14, 26808. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-78453-9. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39500989/