Transcriptional activation in early spermatocytes involves hundreds of genes, many of which are required for meiosis and spermatid differentiation. A number of the meiotic-arrest genes have been identified as general regulators of transcription; however, the gene-specific transcription factors have remained elusive. To identify such factors, we purified the protein that specifically binds to th...

The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and infertility in Chinese males using multi-analyte suspension array (MASA). A total of 196 male patients with azoospermia or severe oligospermia (sperm density <5x106/ml, non-obstructed) who had a normal karyotype and no azoospermia factor microdeletions were recruited, along wit...

CrtJ from Rhodobacter capsulatus is a regulator of genes involved in the biosynthesis of haem, bacteriochlorophyll, carotenoids as well as structural proteins of the light harvesting-II complex. Fluorescence anisotropy-based DNA-binding analysis demonstrates that oxidized CrtJ exhibits ~20-fold increase in binding affinity over that of reduced CrtJ. Liquid chromatography electrospray tandem ion...

BACKGROUND A specific type of partial AZFc deletion, called 'gr/gr' deletion, was recently proposed as genetic risk factor for spermatogenic impairment and testis cancer. Since both pathologies can be part of the testicular dysgenesis syndrome (TDS), we aimed to define the role of 'gr/gr' deletion in the aethiopathogenesis of another component of the TDS: cryptorchidism. METHODS A total of 14...

BACKGROUND Successful gametogenesis requires the establishment of an appropriate epigenetic state in developing germ cells. Nevertheless, an association between abnormal spermatogenesis and epigenetic disturbances in germline-specific genes remains to be demonstrated. METHODS In this study, the DNA methylation pattern of the promoter CpG island (CGI) of two germline regulator genes--DAZL and ...

Turkmen, when expressing the avertive meaning “an event almost realized”, applies an obligatory marker tas. Turkmen grammars traditionally describe it as a word that gives negative connotation to &lt;an action was possible but did not happen&gt;. However, in Turkic linguistics and particular, status of tas modal or grammatical particle has yet been studied. Moreover, there are no studies Turcol...

The recombination site dif is the target on the Escherichia coli chromosome of the site-specific recombinases XerC and XerD. The dif/XerC-D system plays a role during the cell cycle, probably by favoring sister chromosome monomerization or separation. A phenomenon of regional control over dif activity, also analyzed in this issue, is demonstrated here by translocation of dif to a series of loci...