Analysis of basic proteins during spermatogenesis in the cricket, Acheta domestica

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was used to identify the five major somatic histones from the cricket, Acheta domestica. It was found that spermatozoa contain the same five histones plus an additional basic protein tentatively identified as a histone. This protein has a molecular weight of approx. 17000 and was not present in spermatogonia, spermatocytes, or young spermatids. No protamine could be isolated from spermatozoa.