Distribution of histone modifications across the genome in C. elegans sperm vs. oocytes vs. early embryos. Distribution of histone modifications across the genome in C. elegans sperm vs. oocytes vs. early embryos

Here we report that the Caenorhabditis elegans sperm genome is packaged in nucleosomes and carries a histone-based epigenetic memory of genes with spermatogenesis-restricted expression and surprisingly genes with oogenesis-enriched expression as well. In sperm, spermatogenesis genes are uniquely marked with both active and repressive marks, which may reflect a sperm-specific chromatin signature. Overall design: Examination of three histone modifications in 2 replicate samples of C. elegans sperm, oocytes, and early embryos