title: Organization of centromeres in the decondensed nuclei of mature human sperm.
abstract: The localization of centromeres in mature human sperm was shown by immunofluorescent labeling and nonisotopic in situ hybridization. In the decondensed nucleus structural elements (dimers, tetramers, linear arrays and V shape structures) formed by individual centromeres of nonhomologous chromosomes were observed. They organize the compact chromocenter, which was shown for nuclei decondensed to a low extent. The chromocenter is buried inside the nucleus; in contrast, telomeric regions of chromosomes were tentatively localized on the periphery. Thus, a gross architecture, which can influence selective unpackaging of the paternal genome upon fertilization, exists in human sperm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Chemistry, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis 95616.
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Zalensky
authors.forename: J W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Breneman
authors.forename: I A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Zalenskaya
authors.forename: B R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Brinkley
authors.forename: E M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Bradbury
mesh_terms: D001324:Autoantigens; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002503:Centromere / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone / Q000032:analysis; D004247:DNA / Q000032:analysis; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D006493:Heparin; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008297:Male; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D016615:Telomere / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D001324:Autoantigens; D000076247:Centromere Protein A; D002868:Chromosomal Proteins, Non-Histone; D006493:Heparin; D004247:DNA