On the Competition between Protamines and Histones: Studies Directed towards the Understanding of Spermiogenesis

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Abstract
Specific contacts between the cross-interacting histones [from calf thymus] effectively prevent their protamine-mediated displacement from nucleoproteins revealing a complex competition pattern not expected from their relative affinities to DNA. Histone H1 is the only species freed under a variety of conditions if native chromatin is used; the results found with chromatins obtained by conventional methods reflect the extent to which histone redistribution has occurred. The events occurring during spermiogenesis are apparently apt to disrupt histone interactions found in the nucleosomes. The possible role of a protamine phosphorylation/dephosphorylation mechanism is discussed on the basis of comparative experiments with protamines phosphorylated to different extents.