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Exogenous Expression of Human Protamine 1 (hPrm1) Remodels Fibroblast Nuclei into Spermatid-like Structures

Iuso, D.; Czernik, M.; Toschi, P.; Fidanza, A.; Zacchini, F.; Feil, R.; Curtet, S.; Buchou, T.; Shiota, H.; Khochbin, S.; Ptak, G. E.; Loi, P.

Cell Rep

2015-12-01 / vol 13 / pages 1765-71

Abstract

Protamines confer a compact structure to the genome of male gametes. Here, we find that somatic cells can be remodeled by transient expression of protamine 1 (Prm1). Ectopically expressed Prm1 forms scattered foci in the nuclei of fibroblasts, which coalescence into spermatid-like structures, concomitant with a loss of histones and a reprogramming barrier, H3 lysine 9 methylation. Protaminized nuclei injected into enucleated oocytes efficiently underwent protamine to maternal histone TH2B exchange and developed into normal blastocyst stage embryos in vitro. Altogether, our findings present a model to study male-specific chromatin remodeling, which can be exploited for the improvement of somatic cell nuclear transfer.

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10.1016/j.celrep.2015.10.066 S2211-1247(15)01255-3 [pii]

2211-1247 (Electronic)

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