Human protamines and the developing spermatid: their structure, function, expression and relationship with male infertility.
During spermiogenesis, the protamine proteins play an integral role in spermatid chromatin compaction. Recent research has focused on many facets of protamine biology, including protamine gene and protein structure/function relationships, mechanisms of protamine expression regulation and involvement of the protamines in male fertility. In this paper, we review our current understanding of the structure and function of the protamine-1 (P1) and protamine-2 (P2) proteins and genes, the expression and regulation of these genes and the relationship between the protamines and male fertility. In addition, we offer a brief outlook on future investigation into protamine proteins.
Aoki
Vincent W
VW
Andrology and IVF Laboratories, University of Utah School of Medicine, 675 Arapeen Dr. Suite 205, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.
Carrell
Douglas T
DT
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011479:Protamines / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D013087:Spermatids / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*
D011479:Protamines; C046533:protamine P1; C048529:protamine P2