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Protamine Extraction and Analysis of Human Sperm Protamine 1/Protamine 2 Ratio Using Acid Gel Electrophoresis

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Spermatogenesis

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 927))

Abstract

Protamines, sperm-specific nuclear proteins, are essential for sperm chromatin condensation and DNA stabilization. They are small, highly basic, and rich in disulfide bonds. Under reducing conditions, protamines, along with other basic proteins, are soluble in acid solutions. Because of their small and similar molecular weights, SDS-PAGE cannot resolve protamine 1 and protamine 2 well. Urea-acid gel electrophoresis separates proteins based on the level of the positive charge and is thus a suitable method for resolving protamines 1 and 2. Here, we describe the commonly used protamine extraction method and the Urea-acid gel electrophoresis for assessment of protamine 1/protamine 2 ratio.

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Andrology and IVF Laboratories, Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Lihua Liu

  2. Department of Surgery, Division of Urology, Andrology & IVF Laboratories, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Kenneth I. Aston

  3. Department of Surgery,Andrology and IVF Laboratories, Department of Obstetrics and Gyneclogy,Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Douglas T. Carrell

Authors
  1. Lihua Liu
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  2. Kenneth I. Aston
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  3. Douglas T. Carrell
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Douglas T. Carrell .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Andrology and IVF Laboratories, Department of Surgery (Urology), University of Utah School of Medicine, Arapeen Dr. 675, Salt Lake City, 84108, Utah, USA

    Douglas T. Carrell

  2. , Andrology and IVF Laboratories, University of Utah School of Medicine, Arapeen Way 675, Salt Lake City, 84108, Utah, USA

    Kenneth I. Aston

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Liu, L., Aston, K.I., Carrell, D.T. (2013). Protamine Extraction and Analysis of Human Sperm Protamine 1/Protamine 2 Ratio Using Acid Gel Electrophoresis. In: Carrell, D., Aston, K. (eds) Spermatogenesis. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 927. Humana Press, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-038-0_38

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-62703-038-0_38

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, Totowa, NJ

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-62703-037-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-62703-038-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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