Methylome study on human spermatogenic cells

DNA methylation is an important regulator of the chromatin structure and is necessary for gene expression stability and maintenance of cell identitiy. However, to which extent DNA methylation changes during the key differentiation steps of human spermatogenesis remains largely unkown. Here, we generated genome wide methylomes (Enzymatic Methyl-sequencing) of human undifferentiated spermatogonia (Undiff), differentiating spermatogonia (Diff), tetraploid spermatocytes (4C) and haploid spermatids (1C) obtained from testicular tissues of three patients with qualitatively and quantitatively normal spermatogenesis (control, CTR). We also generated Undiff, Diff and 4C methylomes from two patients with impaired spermatogenesis (cryptozoospermic, CZ). Our study is the first to report about DNA methylation changes during human spermatogenesis.EGA study EGAS00001007449