We report the development of a new method for producing mitotic extracts from tissue culture cells. These extracts reproducibly promote the condensation of chromatin in vitro when incubated with purified interphase nuclei. This condensation reaction is not species specific, since nuclei from chicken, human, and hamster cell lines all undergo chromatin condensation upon incubation with the extra...

The condensation level of chromatin is controlled by epigenetic modifications and associated regulatory factors and changes throughout differentiation and cell cycle progression. To test whether changes of chromatin condensation levels per se affect access and binding of proteins, we used a hypertonic cell treatment. This shift to hyperosmolar medium increased nuclear calcium concentrations and...

A-kinase (or PKA)-anchoring protein AKAP95 is a zinc-finger protein implicated in mitotic chromosome condensation by acting as a targeting molecule for the condensin complex. We have identified determinants of chromatin-binding, condensin-targeting and chromosome-condensation activities of AKAP95. Binding of AKAP95 to chromatin is conferred by residues 387-450 and requires zinc finger ZF1. Resi...

background: acrylamide (aa) is an important industrial chemical primarily. aa is also found in carbohydrate-rich foods that are prepared at high temperatures, such as french fries and potato chips. it is demonstrated that aa is a carcinogen and reproductive toxin and has ability to induce sperm damage. objective: the aim of this study was to observe the effects of aa on sperm parameters and eva...

A significant association between male subfertility, imperfect spermiation and abnormal nuclear condensation has been suggested. The DNA content of spermatozoa might be responsible for inducing alterations in sperm morphology. The final nuclear shape, which is species-specific, depends on chromatin condensation during spermatogenesis as well as a precise organization of DNA within the nucleus. ...

Class I histone deacetylases (HDACs) regulate DNA-templated processes such as transcription. They act both at specific loci and more generally across global chromatin, contributing to acetylation patterns that may underlie large-scale chromatin dynamics. Although hypoacetylation is correlated with highly condensed chromatin, little is known about the contribution of individual HDACs to chromati...

background: there are few studies indicating the detrimental effects of ibuprofen on sperm fertility potential and dna integrity. objective: to determine the effects of ibuprofen on sperm parameters, chromatin condensation and dna integrity of mice. materials and methods: in this experimental study, 36 adult male mice with average weight 37 gr were divided into three groups, including control (...

OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to examine the relationship among male age, strict morphology, and sperm chromatin structure and condensation. METHODS Sperm samples from a total of 100 men underwent semen analysis, and sperm chromatin structure and condensation were assessed with toluidine blue (TB) and aniline blue (AB) tests. RESULTS Prevalence of strict morphology of less than...

in this study the effect of the alkylating agent, sulfur mustard, on calf thymus chromatin was investigated using uv/vis spectroscopy, gel electrophoresis and thermal denaturation techniques. the results show that treatment of isolated chromatin with sulfur mustard releases histones from the core particles but does not affect histone h i and nonhistone chromosomal proteins. the content of relea...