Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Spermatogenesis01:41

Spermatogenesis

91.0K
Spermatogenesis is the process by which haploid sperm cells are produced in the male testes. It starts with stem cells located close to the outer rim of seminiferous tubules. These spermatogonial stem cells divide asymmetrically to give rise to additional stem cells (meaning that these structures “self-renew”), as well as sperm progenitors, called spermatocytes. Importantly, this method of asymmetric mitotic division maintains a population of spermatogonial stem cells in the male...
91.0K
Spermatogenesis01:22

Spermatogenesis

8.3K
Spermatogenesis is a complex process that involves the development of sperm cells from undifferentiated stem cells in the seminiferous tubules of the testes. The process is essential for the production of mature and functional sperm cells that are capable of fertilizing an egg.
The process of spermatogenesis can be divided into mitosis, meiosis, and spermiogenesis. During mitosis, the spermatogonia or stem cells divide to produce two identical daughter cells, type A and B spermatogonia. Type-A...
8.3K
Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming01:24

Methods of Nuclear Reprogramming

1.4K
Nuclear reprogramming is a process of transforming one cell type into an unrelated cell type by epigenetic changes that alter the cell’s original gene expression pattern. Such epigenetic changes force cells to express a different set of genes, which play a significant role in inducing transformation into other cell types. Nuclear reprogramming offers applications in reproductive cloning for livestock propagation and regenerative medicine — developing patient-specific cells for...
1.4K
Fertilization01:38

Fertilization

68.8K
During fertilization, an egg and sperm cell fuse to create a new diploid structure. In humans, the process occurs once the egg has been released from the ovary, and travels into the fallopian tubes. The process requires several key steps: 1) sperm present in the genital tract must locate the egg; 2) once there, sperm need to release enzymes to help them burrow through the protective zona pellucida of the egg; and 3) the membranes of a single sperm cell and egg must fuse, with the sperm...
68.8K
Sperm Structure and Semen Composition01:22

Sperm Structure and Semen Composition

16.5K
During ejaculation, males release around 2-5 milliliters of semen, which is a complex mixture of mature sperm and various fluids produced by accessory glands. The mature sperm cells measure approximately 60 micrometers in length and consist of a head, neck, midpiece, and tail. The head is flattened and tapered, measuring about 4 to 5 micrometers in length. It contains a nucleus with condensed chromosomes and an acrosome, a cap-like structure filled with enzymes essential for penetrating the...
16.5K
Epigenetic Regulation01:37

Epigenetic Regulation

3.5K
Epigenetic changes alter the physical structure of the DNA without changing the genetic sequence and often regulate whether genes are turned on or off. This regulation ensures that each cell produces only proteins necessary for its function. For example, proteins that promote bone growth are not produced in muscle cells. Epigenetic mechanisms play an essential role in healthy development. Conversely, precisely regulated epigenetic mechanisms are disrupted in diseases like cancer.
X-chromosome...
3.5K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Dynamics of bla<sub>OXA-23</sub> gene transmission in Acinetobacter spp. from contaminated veterinary environmental surfaces: an emerging One Health threat?

The Journal of hospital infection·2024
Same author

Choosing wisely in burn care.

Burns : journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries·2021
Same author

Longitudinal evaluation of motor function in patients who underwent prenatal or postnatal neural tube defect repair.

Ultrasound in obstetrics & gynecology : the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology·2020
Same author

Impact of the size of the lesion in prenatal neural tube defect repair on imaging, neurosurgical and motor outcomes: a retrospective cohort study.

BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology·2020
Same author

The role of tumor-associated macrophages in gastric cancer development and their potential as a therapeutic target.

Cancer treatment reviews·2020
Same author

EPDR1 up-regulation in human colorectal cancer is related to staging and favours cell proliferation and invasiveness.

Scientific reports·2020

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 4, 2026

Stable Isotope In-Vivo Labeling for Mass-Spectrometry Identification of Paternal Metabolites Transferred from Sperm to Oocyte During Fertilization
05:55

Stable Isotope In-Vivo Labeling for Mass-Spectrometry Identification of Paternal Metabolites Transferred from Sperm to Oocyte During Fertilization

Published on: June 17, 2025

924

Sperm nuclear proteome and its epigenetic potential.

J Castillo1, A Amaral, R Oliva

  • 1Human Genetics Research Group, IDIBAPS, Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Service, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain.

Andrology
|December 12, 2013
PubMed
Summary

Human sperm cells carry more than just DNA; they also transmit crucial epigenetic information. A significant portion of sperm nuclear proteins, 56%, are involved in epigenetic activities, influencing early development.

Keywords:
chromatinepigeneticsnuclear proteinsproteomicsspermatozoa

More Related Videos

Phosphopeptide Analysis of Rodent Epididymal Spermatozoa
09:30

Phosphopeptide Analysis of Rodent Epididymal Spermatozoa

Published on: December 30, 2014

16.6K
A Seminiferous Tubule Squash Technique for the Cytological Analysis of Spermatogenesis Using the Mouse Model
09:40

A Seminiferous Tubule Squash Technique for the Cytological Analysis of Spermatogenesis Using the Mouse Model

Published on: February 6, 2018

14.9K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 4, 2026

Stable Isotope In-Vivo Labeling for Mass-Spectrometry Identification of Paternal Metabolites Transferred from Sperm to Oocyte During Fertilization
05:55

Stable Isotope In-Vivo Labeling for Mass-Spectrometry Identification of Paternal Metabolites Transferred from Sperm to Oocyte During Fertilization

Published on: June 17, 2025

924
Phosphopeptide Analysis of Rodent Epididymal Spermatozoa
09:30

Phosphopeptide Analysis of Rodent Epididymal Spermatozoa

Published on: December 30, 2014

16.6K
A Seminiferous Tubule Squash Technique for the Cytological Analysis of Spermatogenesis Using the Mouse Model
09:40

A Seminiferous Tubule Squash Technique for the Cytological Analysis of Spermatogenesis Using the Mouse Model

Published on: February 6, 2018

14.9K

Area of Science:

  • Reproductive Biology
  • Epigenetics
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Sperm cells transmit paternal genetic and epigenetic information to the embryo.
  • Sperm chromatin is primarily condensed by protamines, with histones marking genes for early development.
  • Other sperm chromatin-associated proteins with potential epigenetic roles have been understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compile and analyze human sperm nuclear proteins for their epigenetic roles.
  • To investigate the functional categories and biological processes associated with these proteins.
  • To compare sperm proteomes across mammalian species to identify common trends.

Main Methods:

  • Compilation and review of 581 human sperm chromatin or nuclear proteins.
  • Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of enriched biological process terms.
  • Comparative analysis of sperm cell proteomes from different mammalian models.

Main Results:

  • Identified 581 human sperm nuclear proteins, with 56% showing potential epigenetic activity.
  • Key epigenetic functions include chromosome organization, DNA packaging, gene expression, and chromatin modification.
  • Comparative analysis revealed common trends in mammalian sperm chromatin composition.

Conclusions:

  • Mammalian sperm cells deliver a complex payload of proteins beyond DNA, including histone variants and chromatin modifiers.
  • This protein cargo has the potential to encode and transmit sophisticated epigenetic information.
  • The findings highlight the significant epigenetic role of diverse sperm nuclear proteins in early development.