H1T2 Background Information
H1T2, also known as H1FNT (H1 histone family, member N, testis-specific) or haploid germ cell-specific nuclear protein 1, is a 255 amino acid nuclear protein belonging to the histone H1/H5 family. Essential for normal spermatogenesis and male fertility, H1T2 is required for proper cell restructuring and DNA condensation during the elongation phase of spermiogenesis. H1T2 is specifically involved in the replacement of histones with protamines during spermiogenesis and binds both double-stranded and single-stranded DNA, ATP and protamine-1. The gene encoding H1T2 maps to human chromosome 12, which encodes over 1,400 genes and comprises approximately 4.5% of the human genome. Chromosome 12 is associated with a variety of diseases and afflictions, including hypochondrogenesis, achondrogenesis, Kniest dysplasia, Noonan syndrome and trisomy 12p, which causes facial developmental defects and seizure disorders.
