This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Sotolongo, B. Articles by Ward, W. S. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Sotolongo, B. Articles by Ward, W. S.

An Endogenous Nuclease in Hamster, Mouse, and Human Spermatozoa Cleaves DNA into Loop-Sized Fragments

From the Institute for Biogenesis Research, Department of Anatomy and Reproductive Biology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii.

Correspondence to: Dr W. Steven Ward, Institute for Biogenesis Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, 1960 East-West Road, Honolulu, HI 96822 (e-mail: wward{at}hawaii.edu).

Recent work from our laboratory provided evidence for the existence of a nuclease in hamster spermatozoa. This endogenous nuclease cleaves sperm chromatin at the bases of DNA loop domains into large fragments with an average size of roughly 50 kb. Here, we demonstrate that this sperm nuclease is present in the sperm nucleus and that it is activated by the presence of both calcium and magnesium much more efficiently than with either ion alone, resulting in DNA degradation in 30 minutes. We also show that similar nucleases are present in mouse and human spermatozoa. The human nuclease can be activated by freeze-thawing spermatozoa in noncryoprotective media. The activity of the sperm nuclease in all 3 species resembles that of a group of somatic cell DNAses that also require both calcium and magnesium and that digest the chromatin into loop-sized fragments during apoptosis.

     Key words: Sperm, nuclear matrix

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Spadafora Sperm-mediated 'reverse' gene transfer: a role of reverse transcriptase in the generation of new genetic information Hum. Reprod., April 1, 2008; 23(4): 735 - 740. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. Ramos, G.W. van der Heijden, A. Derijck, J.H. Berden, J.A.M. Kremer, J. van der Vlag, and P. de Boer Incomplete nuclear transformation of human spermatozoa in oligo-astheno-teratospermia: characterization by indirect immunofluorescence of chromatin and thiol status Hum. Reprod., February 1, 2008; 23(2): 259 - 270. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Perez-Crespo, P. Moreira, B. Pintado, and A. Gutierrez-Adan Factors From Damaged Sperm Affect Its DNA Integrity and Its Ability to Promote Embryo Implantation in Mice J Androl, January 1, 2008; 29(1): 47 - 54. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Yamauchi, B. Doe, A. Ajduk, and M. A Ward Genomic DNA Damage in Mouse Transgenesis Biol Reprod, November 1, 2007; 77(5): 803 - 812. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Y. Yamauchi, A. Ajduk, J. M Riel, and M. A Ward Ejaculated and Epididymal Mouse Spermatozoa Are Different in Their Susceptibility to Nuclease-Dependent DNA Damage and in Their Nuclease Activity Biol Reprod, October 1, 2007; 77(4): 636 - 647. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				A. A.H.A. Derijck, G. W. van der Heijden, L. Ramos, M. Giele, J. A.M. Kremer, and P. de Boer Motile human normozoospermic and oligozoospermic semen samples show a difference in double-strand DNA break incidence Hum. Reprod., September 1, 2007; 22(9): 2368 - 2376. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. T. Carrell, B. R. Emery, and S. Hammoud Altered protamine expression and diminished spermatogenesis: what is the link? Hum. Reprod. Update, May 1, 2007; 13(3): 313 - 327. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Morozumi, T. Shikano, S. Miyazaki, and R. Yanagimachi From the Cover: Simultaneous removal of sperm plasma membrane and acrosome before intracytoplasmic sperm injection improves oocyte activation/embryonic development PNAS, November 21, 2006; 103(47): 17661 - 17666. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. A. Shaman, R. Prisztoka, and W. S. Ward Topoisomerase IIB and an Extracellular Nuclease Interact to Digest Sperm DNA in an Apoptotic-Like Manner Biol Reprod, November 1, 2006; 75(5): 741 - 748. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				N. Ogonuki, K. Mochida, H. Miki, K. Inoue, M. Fray, T. Iwaki, K. Moriwaki, Y. Obata, K. Morozumi, R. Yanagimachi, et al. Spermatozoa and spermatids retrieved from frozen reproductive organs or frozen whole bodies of male mice can produce normal offspring PNAS, August 29, 2006; 103(35): 13098 - 13103. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. Suganuma, R. Yanagimachi, and M. L. Meistrich Decline in fertility of mouse sperm with abnormal chromatin during epididymal passage as revealed by ICSI Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2005; 20(11): 3101 - 3108. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. J. Yuste, I. Sanchez-Lopez, C. Sole, R. S. Moubarak, J. R. Bayascas, X. Dolcet, M. Encinas, S. A. Susin, and J. X. Comella The Contribution of Apoptosis-inducing Factor, Caspase-activated DNase, and Inhibitor of Caspase-activated DNase to the Nuclear Phenotype and DNA Degradation during Apoptosis J. Biol. Chem., October 21, 2005; 280(42): 35670 - 35683. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]