Sperm cells and foreign DNA: a controversial relation.
Bioessays
; 20(11): 955-64, 1998 Nov.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-9872062
Sperm cells from a variety of species share the spontaneous ability to take up foreign DNA. That feature has been exploited to generate genetically modified animals with variable efficiency in different species. An unexpectedly large set of factors appears to modulate the interaction of sperm cells with exogeneous DNA. The binding is mediated by specific DNA-binding proteins and is antagonized by an inhibitory factor in the seminal fluid. A portion of sperm-bound DNA is internalized in nuclei, a process mediated by CD4 molecules. Sperm interaction with foreign DNA triggers endogenous nuclease(s) that cleaves both the exogenous and the genomic DNA, eventually leading to a cell death process which resembles apoptosis. Internalized foreign DNA sequences reach the nuclear matrix and undergo recombination with chromosomal DNA. From these studies, a surprising network of metabolic functions is beginning to emerge in mature spermatozoa, which are normally repressed and are specifically activated upon exposure to appropriate stimuli.
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Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Espermatozoides
/
ADN
/
Técnicas de Transferencia de Gen
/
Proteínas de Unión al ADN
Límite:
Animals
/
Humans
/
Male
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Bioessays
Asunto de la revista:
BIOLOGIA
/
BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR
Año:
1998
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Italia