Xiaofang Huang
Associate Research ScientistAbout
Research
Publications
2026
SPINK3‐Sperm Interaction Determines a Stable Sperm Subpopulation With Intact CatSper Channel
Nicolli A, Huang X, Zalazar L, Stival C, Gomez‐Olivieri L, Demare G, Romarowski A, Buffone M, Krapf D, Chung J, Cesari A. SPINK3‐Sperm Interaction Determines a Stable Sperm Subpopulation With Intact CatSper Channel. Journal Of Cellular Physiology 2026, 241: e70138. PMID: 41568585, PMCID: PMC12990768, DOI: 10.1002/jcp.70138.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSperm subpopulationsCatSper channelsMultifunctional regulatorProteolytic remodelingRegulation of capacitationPhysiological inhibitorDecapacitation factorPremature capacitationMouse spermFemale reproductive tractSperm capacitationFemale tractMale fertilityMembrane proteinsSpermMembrane organizationReproductive tractCholesterol effluxCalcium channelsInteraction determinantsSpink3DecapacitationCatSperFlagellaSubpopulations
2025
ARMH2 is a cytosolic component of CatSper crucial for sperm function
Zhao Q, Lin S, Kang H, Ru Y, Xu Q, Yu Z, Huang X, De Rito C, Sassi G, Wang S, Sun S, Sun R, Cheng H, Zhu Y, Liu M, Zhang Y, Jiang M, Percudani R, Chung J, Zeng X, Yan Z, Wu J. ARMH2 is a cytosolic component of CatSper crucial for sperm function. Nature Communications 2025, 16: 10243. PMID: 41271765, PMCID: PMC12638846, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65952-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCytosolic componentsSperm functionSperm-specific calcium channelsSperm hyperactivated motilityAlphaFold structure predictionsFunctional regulationActivation of CatSperHyperactivated motilityPhysiological activitySperm tailSperm capacitationStructural studiesCoevolutionary analysisStructure predictionCatSperProtein complexesHelical domainUncharacterized componentsSpermCryo-EMSevere subfertilityFunctional significanceStable assemblyAuxiliary subunitsLinear arrangement
2023
A CUG-initiated CATSPERθ functions in the CatSper channel assembly and serves as a checkpoint for flagellar trafficking
Huang X, Miyata H, Wang H, Mori G, Iida-Norita R, Ikawa M, Percudani R, Chung J. A CUG-initiated CATSPERθ functions in the CatSper channel assembly and serves as a checkpoint for flagellar trafficking. Proceedings Of The National Academy Of Sciences Of The United States Of America 2023, 120: e2304409120. PMID: 37725640, PMCID: PMC10523455, DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2304409120.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsChannel assemblySperm flagellaTransmembrane domain-containing proteinsSperm tail formationDomain-containing proteinsCatSper channel complexMale fertilityFlagellar traffickingMacromolecular complexesTail formationPhysiological roleSuccessful fertilizationCalcium signalingCatSper channelsFlagellaGenetic abrogationChannel complexNormal expressionDimer formationSpermatid cellsProteinCheckpointHyperactivated motilityAssemblyPotential role
2022
3D structure and in situ arrangements of CatSper channel in the sperm flagellum
Zhao Y, Wang H, Wiesehoefer C, Shah NB, Reetz E, Hwang JY, Huang X, Wang TE, Lishko PV, Davies KM, Wennemuth G, Nicastro D, Chung JJ. 3D structure and in situ arrangements of CatSper channel in the sperm flagellum. Nature Communications 2022, 13: 3439. PMID: 35715406, PMCID: PMC9205950, DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31050-8.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsCatSper complexSperm flagellaCryo-electron tomographyHigher-order organizationMammalian spermIntracellular domainStructural basisExtracellular domainTetrameric channelChannel CatSperSuccessful fertilizationFlagellar movementCatSper channelsChannel poreSitu mapSitu arrangementHuman sperm flagellumPrimary Ca2CatSperDimer formationFlagellaCentral roleSpermAtomic modelSperm motility