DNA in human and stallion spermatozoa forms local hexagonal packing with twist and many defects

被引:49
作者
Blanc, NS
Senn, A
Leforestier, A
Livolant, F
Dubochet, J
机构
[1] Univ Lausanne, Lab Analyse Ultrastruct, CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
[2] CHUV, Dept Obstet & Gynecol, Reprod Med Unit, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
[3] Univ Paris 11, Phys Solides Lab, F-91405 Orsay, France
关键词
cholesteric liquid crystal; cryoelectron microscopy; cryo-section; spermatozoid; vitrification;
D O I
10.1006/jsbi.2001.4365
中图分类号
Q5 [生物化学]; Q7 [分子生物学];
学科分类号
071010 ; 081704 ;
摘要
In human and other mammal sperm nuclei, DNA is packed in a highly condensed state, the structure of which remains unsolved. Cryoelectron microscopy of vitrified sections provides a first direct view of the local arrangement of the nucleoprotamine filament. DNA aligns in parallel in layers and its orientation rotates along a single-twist direction as in a cholesteric liquid crystal. The structure contains numerous defects, which introduce locally double-twist configurations. Destruction of the SS bonds with dithiotrehitol relaxes the twist and favors the extension of the hexagonal close packing of the filaments, though keeping constant their interfilament distance. (C) 2001 Academic Press.
引用
收藏
页码:76 / 81
页数:6
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