Spermatogenesis is a highly complex and unique differentiation process. This process involves development of spermatogonia into spermatocytes, formation of haploid spermatids, and maturation of spermatozoa. It features stage- and testis-specific gene expression, mitotic and meiotic divisions, and the histone-protamine transition. The epigenetic modification plays an important role in meiotic recombination, formation of the synaptonemal complex, sister chromatid cohesion, spermiogenesis during postmeiotic stages, gene expression repression, and heterochromatin formation. The mark of the repressive and/or activating histone methylation and acetylation has a defined composition. It not only ensures proper chromosome pairing and successful bivalent segregation but also mediates highly orchestrated expression of meio-sis-specific genes. The incorrect histone methylation and/or acetylation during spermatogenesis will directly affect the establishment and maintenance of epigenetic patterns, resulting in abnormal spermatogenic cells and even male infertility. This article is an effort to review the dynamic changes of methylation and acetylation of histories during spermatogenesis, as well as the regulatory mechanism of the enzymes involved in these processes, which provides some basic information for further study of the epigenetic events during spermatogenesis and the prevention of male infertility.%精子发生(Spermatogenesis)这一高度复杂的独特分化过程包括精原细胞发育为精母细胞、单倍体精细胞的形成和精子成熟,并以阶段特异性和睾丸特异性基因的表达、有丝分裂和减数分裂以及组蛋白向鱼精蛋白的转变为特征.表观遗传修饰在减数分裂重组、联会复合物的形成、姊妹染色体的结合、减数分裂后精子的变态、基因表达阻遏和异染色质形成过程中发挥着重要作用.其中具有一定组成形式、起抑制作用和/或激活作用的组蛋白甲基化和乙酰化标记,不仅保证了正确的染色体配对和二价染色体的成功分离,并且精确调节减数分裂特异性基因的适时表达.精子发生过程中组蛋白甲基化和/或乙酰化错误会直接影响表观遗传修饰的建立和维持,导致生精细胞异常甚至引发不育,文章旨在对精子发生过程中组蛋白甲基化和乙酰化表观遗传修饰的动态变化及其相关酶的调节机制进行综述,为进一步研究精子发生的表观遗传调控,预防男性不育疾病的发生提供基础资料.
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