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Interaction of exogenous DNA with the nuclear matrix of live spermatozoa
Author(s) -
McCarthy Siobhan,
Ward W. Steven
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
molecular reproduction and development
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.745
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1098-2795
pISSN - 1040-452X
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-2795(200006)56:2+<235::aid-mrd4>3.0.co;2-d
Subject(s) - biology , chromatin , protamine , sperm , exogenous dna , dna , nuclear matrix , microbiology and biotechnology , cell nucleus , nucleus , nuclear dna , genetics , gene , biochemistry , mitochondrial dna , heparin
Sperm chromatin is a highly organized array of protamines and DNA, with the protamines serving to tightly condense the DNA into a compact, defined structure. We have previously demonstrated that the sperm nucleus is an ordered library of DNA organized into functional zones, such as the nuclear matrix and nuclear annulus. Other laboratories have suggested that mouse spermatozoa can interact with exogenous pSV 2 CAT plasmid DNA. In this work, we explored this interaction and examined the subcellular localization of the exogenous DNA. We found a repeatable association of exogenous DNA with a specific region of the sperm nuclear matrix. This region of the nucleus correlates with the equatorial segment of the sperm head. This interaction requires only a defined fertilization media, transfection quality DNA, and incubation with spermatozoa. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 56:235–237, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.