Extraction and biochemical characterization of a nuclear deoxyribonucleic acid polymerase activity in bull spermatozoa.

Bull spermatozoa heads were separated from cytoplasmic contaminants, especially mitochondria-rich middle pieces, by centrifugation through 2.4M-sucrose. DNA polymerase activity was demonstrated by incubating nuclear heads for 1 h at 37 degrees C or for 20 h at room temperature in a medium containing detergent and dithiothreitol or 2-mercaptoethanol. Optimal DNA polymerase activity was detected after extraction in a medium containing 50 mM-borate, pH9, 1 mg of soya-bean trypsin inhibitor/ml and supplemented with either 20 mM-dithiothreitol and 4% Tween 80 or 100mM-2-mercaptoethanol and 10% Tween 80. The DNA polymerase reaction was Mg2+-dependent; Mn2+ or Ca2+ could not replace Mg2+ and all four deoxynucleoside triphosphates were required for optimal activity. The polymerase activity was pH-dependent (optimum between 8.2 and 10.5) and was a function of buffer composition and also of pH values. Optimal activity was obtained with 50 mM-Na+ or 150mM-K+ and was partially lowered by N-ethylmaleimide; it was inhibited by spermidine and by salmon protamines, but was greatly stimulated by calf thymus histones. It was also resistant to actinomycin D, netropsin and ethidium bromide. The present results suggest that bull spermatozoa heads contain a beta-type DNA polymerase activity.