Characterizing the egg-3(as40) phenotype to elucidate the role of EGG-3 during egg activation in Caenorhabditis elegans
Date
2023
Authors
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Egg activation is the process where the mature oocyte transitions into a cell that can support embryogenesis and includes a multitude of changes to the newly fertilized egg. Some of the proteins involved in C. elegans egg activation have been identified, including MBK-2, CHS-1, EGG-3, EGG-4, and EGG-5. The aforementioned proteins form the egg activation complex and the pseudophosphatase EGG-3 is hypothesized to act as a molecular scaffold for MBK-2 until the initiation of the egg activation process. ☐ My research goal is to utilize the temperature sensitive allele egg-3(as40) to offer more insight on the role of EGG-3. Brood sizing data shows that egg-3(as40) worms lay more oocytes and dead embryos as well as produce significantly less progeny than the wild-type. I also documented a developmental delay in the progeny produced by egg-3(as40) mutants as compared to wild-type worms. I used fluorescent imaging to examine whether egg-3(as40) affects the stability or localization of EGG-3 and to study the localization of the other egg activation proteins in the egg-3(as40) background. My research findings indicate that EGG-3, MBK-2, and CHS-1 localize normally in the egg-3(as40) mutant. Additionally, live imaging showed defects in meiosis in the mutant and formation of only a single polar body in eggs produced by egg-3(as40) worms. Taken together my data indicate that some, but not all, functions of EGG-3 are impaired by the egg-3(as40) mutation.
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Keywords
Caenorhabditis elegans, Proteins, Egg activation, Embryogenesis, Meiosis