CHARACTERIZATION OF THE BASIC PROTEIN ASSOCIATED WITH DNA IN MAMMALIAN SPERMATOZOA

SummaryNone of the fractions obtained from porcine spermatozoa resembled the classical histones or protamines in amino acid content when two different isolation procedures were utilized. A physical attack on the keratin by glass beads appeared to give inadequate penetration to release the other proteins of this cell. A chemical attack with per formic acid appeared quite adequate. Much of the protein in this cell is a basic keratin. The properties of such a protein would allow it to protect the DNA during its journey to the ovum.