Although most of the early events immediately following fertilization are carried out by maternal factors, the sperm can play a critical role in these early events by triggering egg activation, contributing a centrosome, and specifying one of the embryonic axes. However, the identity and function of these paternal factors involved in egg activation and early development remain unclear since the preliminary biochemical studies are controversial. The objective of this project is to initiate a genetic analysis of these paternally acting factors in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Genetic screens will be carried out identify new paternal effect lethal (pel) mutations and to estimate the number of genes involved. Phenotypic analysis of these new mutants and of three previously identified pel mutants (emb-27, and fer-14) will be undertaken in order to analyze the function of these genes. The most promising mutations from these studies will be selected for subsequent genetic and molecular analysis.
