Category Ranking
98%
Total Visits
921
Avg Visit Duration
2 minutes
Citations
20
Article Abstract
Epigenetic modifications play a special role in the male infertility aetiology. Published data indicate the link between sperm quality and sperm chromatin protamination. This study aimed to determine the relationship between methylation (5mC) and hydroxymethylation (5hmC) in sperm DNA, with respect to sperm chromatin protamination in three subpopulations of fertile normozoospermic controls and infertile patients with oligo-/oligoasthenozoospermia. For the first time, a sequential staining protocol was applied, which allowed researchers to analyse 5mC/5hmC levels by immunofluorescence staining, with a previously determined chromatin protamination status (aniline blue staining), using the same spermatozoa. TUNEL assay determined the sperm DNA fragmentation level. The 5mC/5hmC levels were diversified with respect to chromatin protamination status in both studied groups of males, with the highest values observed in protaminated spermatozoa. The linkage between chromatin protamination and 5mC/5hmC levels in control males disappeared in patients with deteriorated semen parameters. A relationship between 5mC/5hmC and sperm motility/morphology was identified in the patient group. Measuring the 5mC/5hmC status of sperm DNA according to sperm chromatin integrity provides evidence of correct spermatogenesis, and its disruption may represent a prognostic marker for reproductive failure.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9099774 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijms23094516 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Sperm Histone Mediated Epigenetic Inheritance†.
Biol Reprod
August 2025
Cluster Innovation Centre, University of Delhi, Delhi, India, 110007.
During spermatogenesis, majority of the histones are replaced by protamines to enable the compaction of the sperm chromatin for efficient delivery into the oocyte. Even after the gross histone replacement, some histones are retained in the sperm ranging from 1-15% across mammalian species. The post-translational modifications (PTMs), present on the retained histones of the sperm regulate the embryonic development, post fertilization, making them the suitable candidate for paternal epigenetic inheritance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProtamine sequence determines species-specific nuclear shape and histone retention.
iScience
August 2025
Laboratory of Embryology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy.
The nuclear shape observed after the forced expression of mouse or human protamine 1 (PRM1) in fibroblasts led us to propose the hypothesis that the PRM1 sequence plays an important role in imposing the overall shape of the protaminized nucleus. Comparison of mouse and human PRM1 sequences pointed to cysteines 15 and 29 as potential critical residues in the mouse PRM1 sequence, inducing the characteristic mouse "hooked" nuclear sperm shape. To explore this idea, mice with mutations in PRM1 Cys15 and Cys29 were generated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInsights on the binding mechanisms and structural dynamics of protamine-DNA interaction.
Biophys Rev
June 2025
Department of Physics, Prithvinarayan Campus, Tribhuvan University, Pokhara, Nepal.
It has been more than a century since the protamines were found. Protamine continues to exist as a nucleo-protamine complex, similar to how the histone does. In sperm cells of vertebrates, protamine binds to DNA to produce compact chromatin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComparative study of sperm protamine gene expression and chromatin integrity in Nellore and Angus bulls.
Reprod Biol
September 2025
Department of Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. Electronic address:
Methodologies used to evaluate bull fertility often overlook sperm chromatin, a nuclear structure critical for reproductive success due to its DNA composition, which is tightly bound to nucleoproteins called protamines. In mammals, the ratio between Protamine 1 (PRM1) and Protamine 2 (PRM2) plays a pivotal role in male fertility, with imbalances linked to infertility in species such as humans and mice. While bull sperm chromatin was previously believed to contain only PRM1, recent findings have confirmed the presence of PRM2, prompting questions about the impact of the PRM1:PRM2 ratio on bull fertility.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA haystack in the needle: packaging sperm DNA in insects.
Curr Opin Genet Dev
August 2025
Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la Cellule, CNRS UMR5239, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 9 rue du Vercors, 69007 Lyon, France. Electronic address:
The global replacement of nucleosomes with nonhistone chromosomal proteins during sperm differentiation is a widespread phenomenon in sexually reproducing animals. In mammals, for instance, sperm chromatin is essentially packaged with protamines, a type of sperm nuclear basic proteins (SNBPs). In contrast to vertebrates, where many taxa retain variable levels of histones in their sperm chromatin, insects seem to systematically eliminate histones during spermiogenesis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF