A male patient at a medical clinic presents with infertility due to nonmotile sperm and an inability to clear mucous from his respiratory tract. Other tissues are normal. You suspect that these symptoms may be caused by mutant

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Dynein is a motor protein that plays a crucial role in the movement of cilia and flagella, which are important for sperm motility and respiratory tract clearance. Mutations in the genes that encode for dynein can lead to dysfunction of these structures, resulting in nonmotile sperm and an inability to clear mucous from the respiratory tract. Mutations in tubulin or kinesin are less likely to cause these specific symptoms. Tau protein is not involved in cell motility, and mutations in this protein are associated with neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease.

A Male Patient at a Medical Clinic Presents with Infertility