Project description:Conventional dogma presumes that protamine-mediated DNA compaction in sperm is achieved by electrostatic interactions between DNA and the arginine-rich core of protamines. However, phylogenetic analysis reveals several non-arginine residues conserved within, but not across species. The significance of these residues or post-translational modifications are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the functional role of K49, a rodent-specific lysine residue in mouse protamine 1 (P1) that is acetylated early in spermiogenesis and retained in sperm. In vivo, alanine substitution (P1 K49A) results in loss of programmatic histone retention, decreased sperm motility, decreased male fertility, and in zygotes, premature P1 removal from paternal chromatin, altered DNA replication, and embryonic arrest. In vitro, P1 K49A decreases protamine-DNA binding and alters DNA compaction/decompaction kinetics. Hence, a single amino acid substitution outside the P1 arginine core is sufficient to profoundly alter protein function and developmental outcomes, suggesting that protamine non-arginine residues are essential for reproductive fitness.
Project description:Conventional dogma presumes that protamine-mediated DNA compaction in sperm is achieved by electrostatic interactions between DNA and the arginine-rich core of protamines. However, phylogenetic analysis reveals several non-arginine residues conserved within, but not across species. The significance of these residues or post-translational modifications are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the functional role of K49, a rodent-specific lysine residue in mouse protamine 1 (P1) that is acetylated early in spermiogenesis and retained in sperm. In vivo, alanine substitution (P1 K49A) results in loss of programmatic histone retention, decreased sperm motility, decreased male fertility, and in zygotes, premature P1 removal from paternal chromatin, altered DNA replication, and embryonic arrest. In vitro, P1 K49A decreases protamine-DNA binding and alters DNA compaction/decompaction kinetics. Hence, a single amino acid substitution outside the P1 arginine core is sufficient to profoundly alter protein function and developmental outcomes, suggesting that protamine non-arginine residues are essential for reproductive fitness.
Project description:Conventional dogma presumes that protamine-mediated DNA compaction in sperm is achieved by electrostatic interactions between DNA and the arginine-rich core of protamines. However, phylogenetic analysis reveals several non-arginine residues conserved within, but not across species. The significance of these residues or post-translational modifications are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the functional role of K49, a rodent-specific lysine residue in mouse protamine 1 (P1) that is acetylated early in spermiogenesis and retained in sperm. In vivo, alanine substitution (P1 K49A) results in loss of programmatic histone retention, decreased sperm motility, decreased male fertility, and in zygotes, premature P1 removal from paternal chromatin, altered DNA replication, and embryonic arrest. In vitro, P1 K49A decreases protamine-DNA binding and alters DNA compaction/decompaction kinetics. Hence, a single amino acid substitution outside the P1 arginine core is sufficient to profoundly alter protein function and developmental outcomes, suggesting that protamine non-arginine residues are essential for reproductive fitness.
Project description:Conventional dogma presumes that protamine-mediated DNA compaction in sperm is achieved by electrostatic interactions between DNA and the arginine-rich core of protamines. Phylogenetic analysis reveals several non-arginine residues conserved within, but not across species. The significance of these residues and their post-translational modifications are poorly understood. Here, we investigated the role of K49, a rodent-specific lysine residue in protamine 1 (P1) that is acetylated early in spermiogenesis and retained in sperm. In sperm, alanine substitution (P1(K49A)) decreases sperm motility and male fertility-defects that are not rescued by arginine substitution (P1(K49R)). In zygotes, P1(K49A) leads to premature male pronuclear decompaction, altered DNA replication, and embryonic arrest. In vitro, P1(K49A) decreases protamine-DNA binding and alters DNA compaction and decompaction kinetics. Hence, a single amino acid substitution outside the P1 arginine core is sufficient to profoundly alter protein function and developmental outcomes, suggesting that protamine non-arginine residues are essential for reproductive fitness.
Project description:Sperm chromatin structure and reproductive fitness are altered by substitution of a single amino acid in mouse Protamine 1 [MNase-Seq]
Project description:Sperm chromatin structure and reproductive fitness are altered by substitution of a single amino acid in mouse Protamine 1 [scRNA-Seq]
Project description:Three different experimental approaches were evaluated for discrimination of genomic variance in and between duplicated sequences using 48 markers in duplicon regions and 17 SNPs in unique sequences previously characterized in another study. We found only the method high-throughput single sperm typing could conclusively resolve the alleles of all markers. Resulting data from single sperm analysis were also used to examine the genetic structure of duplicon markers in the human population. Single sperm typing can be a rapid, efficient and accurate method for initial screening and assessment of genetic variation and for detailed genetic analysis of duplicon markers. Keywords: Genotyping Sixty-five markers including 17 MSVs, 12 PSVs, 19 SIDs and 17 SNPs in unique sequences described in Fredman et al. were selected for study. The samples include 40 genomic DNA samples from four ethnic groups, semen samples from 11 donors, and 10 to 20 sperm from each donor except one, AB012, for whom 65 sperm were analyzed. Both genomic and sperm DNA samples were subject to multiplex amplification followed by microarray analysis. Genotypes were determined by using the Accutyping software. Semen samples were genotyped on both strands. Allele status in these samples were compared and analyzed. The single sperm typing method allowed us to identify markers residing in non-unique sequence, to analyze the detailed genetic structure of the duplicons and to learn whether different alleles are present for the duplicon sequences in the human population.
Project description:Three different experimental approaches were evaluated for discrimination of genomic variance in and between duplicated sequences using 48 markers in duplicon regions and 17 SNPs in unique sequences previously characterized in another study. We found only the method high-throughput single sperm typing could conclusively resolve the alleles of all markers. Resulting data from single sperm analysis were also used to examine the genetic structure of duplicon markers in the human population. Single sperm typing can be a rapid, efficient and accurate method for initial screening and assessment of genetic variation and for detailed genetic analysis of duplicon markers. Keywords: Genotyping
Project description:Seminal fluid factors modulate the female immune response at conception to facilitate embryo implantation and reproductive success. Whether sperm affect this response has not been clear. We evaluated global gene expression by microarray in the mouse uterus after mating with intact or vasectomized males. Intact males induced greater changes in gene transcription, prominently affecting pro-inflammatory cytokine and immune regulatory genes, with TLR4 signaling identified as a top-ranked upstream driver. Recruitment of neutrophils and expansion of peripheral regulatory T cells were elevated by seminal fluid of intact males. In vitro, epididymal sperm induced IL6, CXCL2, and CSF3 in uterine epithelial cells of wild-type, but not Tlr4 null females. Collectively these experiments show that sperm assist in promoting female immune tolerance by eliciting uterine cytokine expression through TLR4-dependent signaling. The findings indicate a biological role for sperm beyond oocyte fertilization, in modulating immune mechanisms involved in female control of reproductive investment. We used microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression in mice following exposure to different components of seminal fluid