The centromere specific histone CENP-A is selectively retained in discrete foci in mammalian sperm nuclei.
The 17 kDa human autoantigen designated CENP-A is a centromere specific histone. We show here that CENP-A is present in tissue of bovine origin, and that it is quantitatively retained in mature spermatozoa. This result is striking, as a prominent feature of spermatogenesis in mammals is the replacement of most somatic and testes specific histones with protamines. Indirect immunofluorescence studies further show that CENP-A is retained in sperm nuclei in discrete foci, rather than being dispersed throughout the sperm head. These observations suggest that CENP-A is a functionally important component of centromeres, and that pre-existing CENP-A:DNA interactions are likely to be important in organizing the centromeres of the paternal genome during early embryogenesis.
Palmer
D K
DK
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98104.
O'Day
K
K
Margolis
R L
RL
D000818:Animals; D001324:Autoantigens / Q000032:analysis*; D002417:Cattle; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002503:Centromere / Q000737:chemistry*; D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000032:analysis*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006657:Histones / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008297:Male; D011479:Protamines; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry*; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
D001324:Autoantigens; C000619700:CENPA protein, human; D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D006657:Histones; D011479:Protamines