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PMID: 20876223 Published · ppublish English Journal Article Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Review

The sperm nucleus: chromatin, RNA, and the nuclear matrix.

Reproduction (Cambridge, England) ·Vol. 141 ·No. 1 ·2011-01-00 ·Pages 21-36

Johnson GD, Lalancette C, Linnemann AK, Leduc F, Boissonneault G, Krawetz SA

Abstract

Within the sperm nucleus, the paternal genome remains functionally inert and protected following protamination. This is marked by a structural morphogenesis that is heralded by a striking reduction in nuclear volume. Despite these changes, both human and mouse spermatozoa maintain low levels of nucleosomes that appear non-randomly distributed throughout the genome. These regions may be necessary for organizing higher order genomic structure through interactions with the nuclear matrix. The promoters of this transcriptionally quiescent genome are differentially marked by modified histones that may poise downstream epigenetic effects. This notion is supported by increasing evidence that the embryo inherits these differing levels of chromatin organization. In concert with the suite of RNAs retained in the mature sperm, they may synergistically interact to direct early embryonic gene expression. Irrespective, these features reflect the transcriptional history of spermatogenic differentiation. As such, they may soon be utilized as clinical markers of male fertility. In this review, we explore and discuss how this may be orchestrated.

MeSH Terms
Animals Cell Nucleus/metabolism Chromatin/metabolism Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly Epigenesis, Genetic Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental Humans Male Mice Nuclear Matrix/metabolism Nucleosomes/metabolism RNA/metabolism Spermatozoa/metabolism
Chemicals
Chromatin Nucleosomes RNA
Authors & Affiliations
6 authors, click to expand affiliations / ORCID
Johnson Graham D
The Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, C.S. Mott Center, Wayne State University of Medicine, 275 East Hancock, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
Lalancette Claudia
Linnemann Amelia K
Leduc Frédéric
Boissonneault Guylain
Krawetz Stephen A
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Article Info
Journal
Reproduction (Cambridge, England)
Abbr.
Reproduction
ISSN
1741-7899
DOI
10.1530/REP-10-0322
Published
2011-01-00
Epub
2010-00-27
Pages
21-36
Language
English
Region
England
NLM ID
100966036
PMCID
PMC5358669
Subset
IM
Grants
NICHD NIH HHS · R01 HD036512 · United States
NICHD NIH HHS · HD36512 · United States
External Links
PubMed source DOI: 10.1530/REP-10-0322 PMC Full Text View journal details
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