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Biomolecules
Special Issues
Sperm Nuclear BASIC Proteins: From Chromatin Remodeling to Drug Development...
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Sperm Nuclear BASIC Proteins: From Chromatin Remodeling to Drug Development and Innovative Clinical Applications

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Cellular Biochemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 1063

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marina Piscopo

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Guest Editor
Department of Biology, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, 80138 Naples, Italy
Interests: sperm chromatin; sperm nuclear basic proteins; pollution; reproductive health; histones; epigenetics; Mytilus galloprovincialis; human male fertility; natural bioactive molecules
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Carmen Di Giovanni

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
Interests: drug discovery; molecular modeling; nutraceutical modeling; bioinformatics; medicinal chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sperm Nuclear Basic Proteins (SNBPs) are essential for the structural reorganization and functional stabilization of the paternal genome during spermatogenesis. These highly basic proteins replace histones in elongating spermatids, facilitating the extreme chromatin compaction necessary for sperm function and genomic integrity. Recent advances have unveiled novel regulatory mechanisms governing SNBP expression, processing, and post-translational modifications, highlighting their roles not only in sperm chromatin architecture but also in epigenetic inheritance, fertilization competence, and early embryonic development. Moreover, the dysregulation of SNBPs has been implicated in male infertility, reproductive disorders, and aberrant epigenetic reprogramming.
This Special Issue of Biomolecules invites contributions that explore the molecular biology, biochemistry, and functional dynamics of SNBPs across species. We particularly welcome original research and review articles addressing the translational relevance of SNBPs, including their potential as targets or tools in drug development, contraceptive strategies, and epigenetic therapies.

By bringing together multidisciplinary perspectives, this collection aims to provide a comprehensive overview of current knowledge and future directions in SNBP research.

Dr. Marina Piscopo
Dr. Carmen Di Giovanni
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sperm nuclear basic proteins (SNBPs)
  • spermatogenesis
  • epigenetics
  • drug development
  • chromatin remodeling
  • biomarkers of fertility
  • translational reproductive medicine

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

16 pages, 2527 KB  
Article
Molecular and Computational Studies Reveal That Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Can Impair Protamine–DNA Interaction, Potentially Inducing DNA Damage
by Federica Musella, Maria Grazia Guarnieri, Simona Amore, Luigi Montano, Francesco Bertola, Salvatore Micali, Francesco Paolo Busardò, Carmen Di Giovanni, Gennaro Lettieri and Marina Piscopo
Biomolecules 2025, 15(9), 1279; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15091279 - 4 Sep 2025
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Abstract
Interactions between protamines and DNA are essential for the correct structure of human sperm chromatin. Reproductive health can be adversely affected by environmental pollutants like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). We previously reported that exposure to PFAS in the Veneto region causes alterations [...] Read more.
Interactions between protamines and DNA are essential for the correct structure of human sperm chromatin. Reproductive health can be adversely affected by environmental pollutants like per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). We previously reported that exposure to PFAS in the Veneto region causes alterations in sperm nuclear basic proteins (SNBP), along with reduced seminal antioxidant activity and increased lipoperoxides. This study analysed the protamine-to-histone ratio in SNBP and quantified the extent of DNA damage induced by SNBP in subjects in Veneto with serum perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) levels above the reference threshold. We found that all individuals with serum PFOA above the threshold exhibited grade three DNA damage, regardless of the protamine–histone ratio, which was generally altered but consistently shifted toward protamines. This indicate that exposure to PFAS can alter the protamine–histone ratio in these subjects. Moreover, SNBPs from these individuals showed reduced DNA-protective capacity under pro-oxidant conditions, suggesting a role in oxidative damage. To rationalize these effects, in this cross sectional study, we investigated the potential interactions between PFAS and human protamines by molecular docking analyses which showed that PFAS can form stable complexes with DNA through hydrophobic and polar interactions, especially with thymine pyrimidine rings. Further, docking analyses revealed that fluorine atoms in PFAS may interact with guanidinium groups in protamine P1 via electrostatic and van der Waals forces, competing with DNA for binding sites and potentially disrupting chromatin organisation. A ternary PFAS–DNA–protamine adduct may underpin the observed DNA damage. These results suggest that PFAS induce oxidative stress, which could affect male fertility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sperm Nuclear BASIC Proteins: From Chromatin Remodeling to Drug Development and Innovative Clinical Applications)
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