spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif spacer gif
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


spacer gif
     Home     Help     Feedback     Subscriptions     Archive     Search     Table of Contents    

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Rodman, T. C.
Right arrow Articles by Allfrey, V. G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Rodman, T. C.
Right arrow Articles by Allfrey, V. G.

Journal of Cell Science, Vol 53, Issue 1 227-244, Copyright © 1982 by Company of Biologists

JOURNAL ARTICLES

Mechanisms of displacement of sperm basic nuclear proteins in mammals. An in vitro simulation of post-fertilization results

TC Rodman, FH Pruslin and VG Allfrey

A standardized cytological preparation of mature mouse sperm has been devised to serve as an in vitro system for probing the intra-ooplasmic molecular events of transformation of the fertilizing sperm. Two parameters of the early phase of transformation in vivo are defined at the resolution of the light microscope: deletion of sperm-unique nuclear proteins, detectable by immunofluorescence, and retention of homogeneity of the residual DNA complex, with intact chromatin boundaries detectable by ethidium bromide staining. These studies show that both parameters are conserved when in vitro sperm preparations are treated with NaCl under reducing conditions. The deletion of 2 different classes of the unique basic proteins of mouse sperm nuclei is specified by the NaCl concentration: 0.7 M-NaCl displaces the non-protamine class but not the protamines, while 1 M-NaCl displaces both. On the other hand the effects of treatment with trypsin at various concentrations and intervals are less consistent with the in vivo parameters, indicating fragmentation and displacement, not only of the sperm-unique basic proteins, but also of structural proteins believed to maintain the fundamental cohesive organization of the DNA matrix. These observations suggest that mechanisms other than proteolysis, e.g. localized changes in ionic concentrations, may participate in the post-fertilization displacement of the sperm-unique nuclear proteins in vivo. This study also supports the validity of the in vitro simulation as a model with which to probe the progression of transformation of the sperm nucleus to the zygote pronucleus.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 ScienceHome page
T. Rodman, J Laurence, F. Pruslin, N Chiorazzi, and R Winston
Naturally occurring antibodies reactive with sperm proteins: apparent deficiency in AIDS sera
Science, June 7, 1985; 228(4704): 1211 - 1215.
[Abstract] [PDF]


© The Company of Biologists Ltd 1982