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Molecular analysis of zyg-11, a maternal-effect gene required for early embryogenesis of Caenorhabditis elegans

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Summary

The product of the maternally acting gene zyg-11 is required for early embryogenesis of Caenorhabditis elegans. One-cell embryos that lack a functional zyg-11 gene product exhibit an arrest of meiosis at metaphase II, a delay in the formation of pronuclei, unusually vigorous movements of cytoplasm, the formation of multiple pronuclei, incorrect segregation of P granules, and incorrect placement of the first cleavage furrow. We have isolated and sequenced a molecular clone of zyg-11, and shown that microinjection of the cloned DNA can rescue zyg-11 mutations. A transcriptional analysis shows that transcription of the gene is not limited to the female germ-line, despite the strict maternal-effect phenotype of zyg-11 mutations.

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Communicated by J. Campos-Ortega

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Carter, P.W., Roos, J.M. & Kemphues, K.J. Molecular analysis of zyg-11, a maternal-effect gene required for early embryogenesis of Caenorhabditis elegans . Molec. Gen. Genet. 221, 72–80 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00280370

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00280370

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