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The molecular underpinnings of fertility: genetic approaches in Caenorhabdities elegans.
  • Xue Mei,
  • Andrew Singson
Xue Mei
Rutgers The State University of New Jersey

Corresponding Author:xmei@waksman.rutgers.edu

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Andrew Singson
Rutgers The State University of New Jersey
Author Profile

Abstract

The study of mutations that impact fertility has a catch-22. Fertility mutants are often lost since they cannot simply be propagated and maintained. This has hindered progress in understanding the genetics of fertility. In mice, several molecules are found to be required for the interactions between the sperm and egg, with JUNO and IZUMO1 being the only known receptor pair on the egg and sperm surface, respectively. In C. elegans, a total of 12 proteins on the sperm or oocyte have been identified to mediate their interactions. Majority of these genes were identified through mutants isolated from genetic screens. In this review, we summarize the several key screening strategies that led to the identification of fertility mutants in C. elegans and provide a perspective about future research using genetic approaches. Recently, advancements in new technologies such as high-throughput sequencing and Crispr-based genome editing tools have accelerated the molecular, cell biological, and mechanistic analysis of fertility genes. We review how these valuable tools advance our understanding of the molecular underpinnings of C. elegans fertilization and complement fertility research in humans and other species.
08 Jun 2020Submitted to Advanced Genetics
08 Jun 2020Submission Checks Completed
08 Jun 2020Assigned to Editor
17 Jul 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
17 Jul 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
29 Jul 20201st Revision Received
30 Jul 2020Submission Checks Completed
30 Jul 2020Assigned to Editor
30 Jul 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
03 Aug 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
15 Sep 2020Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
08 Oct 20202nd Revision Received
08 Oct 2020Assigned to Editor
08 Oct 2020Submission Checks Completed
08 Oct 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
15 Oct 2020Editorial Decision: Accept
09 Nov 2020Published in Advanced Genetics on pages e10034. 10.1002/ggn2.10034