High impact information on spe-11

• Such an ontogenetic role of the spe-11+ gene product in early embryogenesis distinguishes spe-11 mutations from the two paternal-effect mutations identified in Drosophila, ms(3)K81 and pal, which primarily affect chromosome behavior [1].
• Embryos fertilized by sperm from homozygous spe-11 worms fail to complete meiosis and show defects in eggshell formation, mitotic spindle orientation, and cytokinesis [1].
• Genetic analysis suggests that the spe-11 gene is expressed before the completion of spermatogenesis and that the wild-type locus encodes a product that is present in sperm and participates, directly or indirectly, in initiating the correct program of early events in C. elegans embryos [1].
• However, the resultant zygotes die due to the absence of sperm-supplied spe-11 [2].
• Mutants in spe-11 form primary spermatocytes with a defective perinuclear region, but the resulting spermatozoa can still crawl and fertilize eggs [2].

Biological context of spe-11

• A sperm-supplied product essential for initiation of normal embryogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans is encoded by the paternal-effect embryonic-lethal gene, spe-11 [1].
• Quantitative analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans sperm motility and how it is affected by mutants spe11 and unc54 [2].

Analytical, diagnostic and therapeutic context of spe-11

• Analysis of spe-11 provides the first step toward genetic dissection of the functions of the sperm in early embryogenesis in C. elegans [1].

References