Histone modifications during spermatogenesis and male infertility / 中国医学科学院学报

Many pathological phenomena of male infertility are related to epigenetic changes in male germ cells. Epigenetic regulation during spermatogenesis plays an important role in mitotic/meiotic divisions and spermiogenesis. The histones have various post-translational modifications on different amino acid residues during spermatogenesis. These modifications are crucial to the precise regulation of spermatogenesis. Moreover, the histone-to-protamine transition will occur during spermiogenesis. Many studies have also found that abnormal changes of histone modifications during spermatogenesis may damage the sperm development, leading to male sterility. This article reviews the changes of histone modifications during spermatogenesis, the regulation of the development of male germ cells, and the relationship between histone abnormalities and male sterility.

Polycomb group proteins and their roles in regulating stem cell development / 中国医学科学院学报

Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are a family of epigenetic regulators responsible for the repression of genes in proliferation and differentiation of stem cells. PcG protein complex consists of two important epigenetic regulators: PRC1 (polycomb repressive complex 1) and PRC2 (polycomb repressive complex 2). In order to further understand the functions of PcG proteins in stem cell growth and differentiation, we review the PcG protein composition, PcG protein localization in the target gene, PcG protein recruitment, and the functions of PcG proteins in the development of stem cells.