Biomaterial Database

Subunit structure of Eutherian sperm chromatin. 1978

T E Wagner, and J E Sliwinski, and D B Shewmaker

The beta-mercaptoethanol induced decondensation of spermatozoon cell nuclei from several Eutherian species has been followed from the intact spermatazoon cell to the solubilized linear unit sperm chromosomal fiber using fluorescence and electron microscopy. Data from nuclease digestion studies in conjunction with electron microscopic evidence indicate that the gross structure of the unit Eutherian sperm chromosomal fiber consists of DNA folded around sperm specific histone multimers spaced regularly along the fiber generating a linear array of sperm nucleosomes connected by short stretches of uncomplexed DNA. The sperm nucleosomes, 80 A in diameter are separated by 20 A filaments of DNA. This structure is remarkably similar to the structure of somatic chromatin although the protein components of the two chromosomes are markedly different. It seems likely that chromosomal fibers, similar to those described herein, may be present in the male pronucleus following fertilization.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008297	Male		Males
D008623	Mercaptoethanol	A water-soluble thiol derived from hydrogen sulfide and ethanol. It is used as a reducing agent for disulfide bonds and to protect sulfhydryl groups from oxidation.	2-ME,2-Mercaptoethanol,2 Mercaptoethanol
D008836	Micrococcal Nuclease	An enzyme that catalyzes the endonucleolytic cleavage to 3'-phosphomononucleotide and 3'-phospholigonucleotide end-products. It can cause hydrolysis of double- or single-stranded DNA or RNA. (From Enzyme Nomenclature, 1992) EC 3.1.31.1.	Staphylococcal Nuclease,TNase,Thermonuclease,Thermostable Nuclease,Nuclease, Micrococcal,Nuclease, Staphylococcal,Nuclease, Thermostable
D009698	Nucleoproteins	Proteins conjugated with nucleic acids.	Nucleoprotein
D002417	Cattle	Domesticated bovine animals of the genus Bos, usually kept on a farm or ranch and used for the production of meat or dairy products or for heavy labor.	Beef Cow,Bos grunniens,Bos indicus,Bos indicus Cattle,Bos taurus,Cow,Cow, Domestic,Dairy Cow,Holstein Cow,Indicine Cattle,Taurine Cattle,Taurus Cattle,Yak,Zebu,Beef Cows,Bos indicus Cattles,Cattle, Bos indicus,Cattle, Indicine,Cattle, Taurine,Cattle, Taurus,Cattles, Bos indicus,Cattles, Indicine,Cattles, Taurine,Cattles, Taurus,Cow, Beef,Cow, Dairy,Cow, Holstein,Cows,Dairy Cows,Domestic Cow,Domestic Cows,Indicine Cattles,Taurine Cattles,Taurus Cattles,Yaks,Zebus
D002467	Cell Nucleus	Within a eukaryotic cell, a membrane-limited body which contains chromosomes and one or more nucleoli (CELL NUCLEOLUS). The nuclear membrane consists of a double unit-type membrane which is perforated by a number of pores; the outermost membrane is continuous with the ENDOPLASMIC RETICULUM. A cell may contain more than one nucleus. (From Singleton & Sainsbury, Dictionary of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, 2d ed)	Cell Nuclei,Nuclei, Cell,Nucleus, Cell
D004591	Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel	Electrophoresis in which a polyacrylamide gel is used as the diffusion medium.	Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis,SDS-PAGE,Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-PAGE,Gel Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide,SDS PAGE,Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate PAGE,Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate-PAGEs
D006736	Horses	Large, hoofed mammals of the family EQUIDAE. Horses are active day and night with most of the day spent seeking and consuming food. Feeding peaks occur in the early morning and late afternoon, and there are several daily periods of rest.	Equus caballus,Equus przewalskii,Horse, Domestic,Domestic Horse,Domestic Horses,Horse,Horses, Domestic
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia