Human Sperm Chromatin Organization: Isolation of Homogeneous (25 K b.p.) DNA Fragments from In Situ Chromatin Degradation in Human Sperm Cells

Abstract

Autodegradation of the chromatin contents of human sperm cells occurs in the presence of dithiothreotol at pH 8.0. The products of this degradation are chromosomal fragments containing DNA molecules ∼25 K b.p. in length and showing spheroidal subunit structure. From the length of these fragments the direction of one axis of a crystalline organization of human sperm chromatin is suggested.

Key Words:

• Human sperm chromatin
• In situ degradation
• Organization