Organization of chromosomes in spermatozoa: an additional layer of epigenetic information?
Elaborate non-random organization of human sperm chromosomes at different structural levels, starting from the DNA packing by protamines up to the higher-order chromosome configuration and nuclear positioning of chromosome territories, has been discovered. Here, we put forward a hypothesis that the unique genome architecture in sperm provides a mechanism for orchestrated unpacking and ordered activation of the male genome during fertilization, thus offering an additional level of epigenetic information that will be deciphered in the descendant cells.
Zalensky
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A
The Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine, Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, VA 23518, USA. zalensao@evms.edu
Zalenskaya
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I
D000818:Animals; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000235:genetics; D002503:Centromere / Q000235:genetics; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000235:genetics*; D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000235:genetics; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005306:Fertilization / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D007248:Infertility, Male / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008957:Models, Genetic; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000378:metabolism*