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Evaluating the Localization and DNA Binding Complexity of Histones in Mature Sperm

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Spermatogenesis

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 927))

Abstract

The paternal genome in many animal taxa is efficiently packaged into the sperm nucleus by switching from a histone (nucleosome)-based chromatin configuration to one using predominantly protamines. Nonetheless, various studies have shown that some nucleosomes, often containing modified histones are retained in mature sperm and bind DNA with distinct sequence compositions. Considering the significance of histone modifications in epigenetic phenomena and the fact that sperm histones and their bound DNA must be carried into the oocyte, this chapter describes methods aimed at examining and analysing the histone composition of sperm chromatin. The focus is on both microscopic visualisation and evaluation of sequence composition of histones and histone-bound DNA in human and mouse spermatozoa. However, similar methods may be applicable to the sperm of other mammalian and even non-mammalian classes.

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Acknowledgements

The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of the British Biotechnology and Science Research Council (BBSRC) and the German Research Foundation (DFG), Project 1 of the Clinical Research Unit KFO 181/2 for supporting the work on which this chapter in based.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Leeds Institute of Genetics, Health and Therapeutics, University of Leeds, Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK

    David Miller

  2. Department of Urology, Pediatric Urology and Andrology, Justus Liebig University of Giessen, Giessen, Germany

    Agnieszka Paradowska

Authors
  1. David Miller
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  2. Agnieszka Paradowska
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to David Miller .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Andrology and IVF Laboratories, Department of Surgery (Urology), University of Utah School of Medicine, Arapeen Dr. 675, Salt Lake City, 84108, Utah, USA

    Douglas T. Carrell

  2. , Andrology and IVF Laboratories, University of Utah School of Medicine, Arapeen Way 675, Salt Lake City, 84108, Utah, USA

    Kenneth I. Aston

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Miller, D., Paradowska, A. (2013). Evaluating the Localization and DNA Binding Complexity of Histones in Mature Sperm. In: Carrell, D., Aston, K. (eds) Spermatogenesis. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 927. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-038-0_40

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-038-0_40

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-037-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-038-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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