# A quantitative assessment of sperm protamine isoforms and post-translational modifications in the setting of normal and abnormal fertility

> **NIH NIH R03** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2021 · $78,000

## Abstract

Infertility affects 8-15% of couples in the United States. A male factor may contribute to infertility in up to 50%
of couples. The etiology of male factor infertility is complex and for many men (up to 45%), no cause is
identified. This study aims to revisit the role of sperm chromatin in fertility and assess its potential as a
biomarker of idiopathic male infertility. Specifically, in this proposal we aim to evaluate sperm-specific
protamines and their modifications in the setting of both normal and altered fertility. Protamines are small,
highly-basic proteins essential for proper compaction of paternal DNA. In humans, two forms of protamine are
necessary for correct packaging of DNA and normal fertility: protamine 1 (P1) and protamine 2 (P2). Prior
studies utilizing gel electrophoresis have suggested that maintenance of the P1:P2 ratio is critical for normal
fertility and spermatogenesis, however, previously used methodologies are unable to resolve different
protamine isoforms. Furthermore, in 2014 mouse protamines were found to bear a number of post-translational
modifications (PTMs). The function of these newly identified PTMs is unknown, however, preliminary data
suggests that they are important for normal fertility in the mouse. In the human, the full spectrum of protamine
PTMs is not known. In this proposal, we aim to further explore the presence and significance of protamine
isoforms and PTMs in the setting of both normal and abnormal fertility. We hypothesize that human protamines
will bear a number of post-translational modifications and that protamine isoforms and PTMs will be similar
among fertile men with normal sperm. We further hypothesize that protamine isoforms and a subset of PTMs
will be altered in men with infertility and abnormal spermatogenesis. To test these hypotheses, we will utilize
highly accurate and quantitative nano-liquid chromatography mass spectrometry to assess both protamine
isoforms and modifications. To begin to understand the acquisition of newly identified protamine PTMs we will
also generate modification-specific antibodies and determine their presence in human testicular samples at
various stages of the seminiferous tubule epithelial cycle. These pilot experiments will provide an important first
step in understanding the role of protamine isoforms and PTMs in fertility and will allow for future studies
assessing functional significance and large-scale clinical investigation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10271289
- **Project number:** 5R03HD101501-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Samantha Beth Schon
- **Activity code:** R03 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $78,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-09-30 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10271289

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10271289, A quantitative assessment of sperm protamine isoforms and post-translational modifications in the setting of normal and abnormal fertility (5R03HD101501-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10271289. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*