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The spe-42 gene codes for a protein that is expected
to be important for the sperm and oocyte membrane interaction in
fertilization. A mutation in this gene produces sterile nematodes
because the mutant sperm is unable to fuse with the oocyte. YAC
transgenes that may contain a wild type copy of the mutant gene
were injected into C. elegans in order to rescue the Spe-42 phenotype
and define the spe-42 interval. It was hypothesized that by using
numerous YAC transgenes from the region between unc-42 and sma-1
that a YAC will be found that rescues the Spe-42 phenotype. Certain
YACs do not accurately represent a part of the nematode genome because
YACs sometimes have rearrangements and deletions. If a YAC has the
spe-42 gene but has rearrangements or deletions injection of worms
with this YAC may not rescue the Spe-42 phenotype. If rescue happens
with the YAC transgenes cosmids within the interval would be used
for transgenic rescue to further narrow the interval containing
the spe-42 gene which would ultimately lead to cloning of the spe-42
gene. A YAC has been injected into wild type (N2) worms and two
lines containing the YAC were established. These lines were mated
with non-mutant animals to determine if the YAC would rescue the
Spe-42 phenotype. Currently it is not known whether rescue was successful.
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