spe-29 encodes a small predicted membrane protein required for the initiation of sperm activation in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Caenorhabditis elegans spermatids complete a dramatic morphogenesis to crawling spermatozoa in the absence of an actin- or tubulin-based cytoskeleton and without synthesizing new gene products. Mutations in three genes (spe-8, spe-12, and spe-27) prevent the initiation of this morphogenesis, termed activation. Males with mutations in any of these genes are fertile. By contrast, mutant hermaphrodites are self-sterile when unmated due to a failure in spermatid activation. Intriguingly, mutant hermaphrodites form functional spermatozoa and become self-fertile upon mating, suggesting that spermatids can be activated by male seminal fluid. Here we describe a mutation in a fourth gene, spe-29, which mimics the phenotype of spe-8, spe-12, and spe-27 mutants. spe-29 sperm are defective in the initiation of hermaphrodite sperm activation, yet they maintain the ability to complete the morphogenetic rearrangements that follow. Mutant alleles of spe-12, spe-27, and spe-29 exhibit genetic interactions that suggest that the wild-type products of these genes function in a common signaling pathway to initiate sperm activation. We have identified the spe-29 gene, which is expressed specifically in the sperm-producing germ line and is predicted to encode a small, novel transmembrane protein.
Nance
J
J
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA.
Davis
E B
EB
Ward
S
S
D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018509:DNA, Helminth / Q000235:genetics; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility; D017238:Genes, Helminth; D015801:Helminth Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D009024:Morphogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D010641:Phenotype; D012098:Reproduction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000235:genetics; D013087:Spermatids / Q000166:cytology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology
D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D018509:DNA, Helminth; C106933:FER-1 protein, C elegans; D015801:Helminth Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C119885:SPE-12 protein, C elegans; C101219:Spe-27 protein, C elegans; C419767:Spe-29 protein, C elegans