Coiled-coil domain-containing protein 181 (CCDC181)

Coiled-coil domain-containing protein 181 (CCDC181) is a highly conserved microtubule-binding protein essential for the development and structural integrity of sperm flagella and manchette, mainly expressed in testis and male germ cells[1][3][4][5][2]. CCDC181 localizes to sperm flagella and at the basal regions of motile cilia, and its absence in mouse models results in defective sperm head shaping, flagellum malformation, severely reduced sperm motility, and significantly diminished sperm counts, ultimately leading to male infertility due to multiple morphological abnormalities of sperm flagella (MMAF)[3][4]. CCDC181 interacts with the HOOK1 and LRRC46 proteins, which are involved in intramanchette transport and axonemal organization crucial for spermatogenesis[1][3]. Although CCDC181 is expressed in some somatic tissues with ciliated epithelia (e.g., olfactory area), its function is most prominent in the testis[1][2][3]. Currently, CCDC181 is not an established therapeutic target and has no known interacting drugs[5][6]. Research suggests roles as a possible biomarker in prostate cancer and a connection to bladder cancer biology, but its main characterized disease relevance is in the context of male infertility and sperm cell development[1][2][3].

Other names

Coiled-coil domain containing 181C1orf114FLJ25846CC181_HUMAN