Analysis of a Germ Cell Immortality Mutant (2013)

Undergraduates: Anna-Lisa Doebley, Matt Simon, Jacinth Mitchell Aisa Sakaguchi, Shawn Ahmed

Faculty Advisor: Shawn Ahmed
Department: Biology

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Germ cells are immortal in that they are passed down generation after generation without suffering the effects of aging. To better understand forms of stress that may be relevant to aging as somatic cells proliferate, we are studying how germ cells remain immortal over the generations. We have defined genes relevant to germ cell immortality by isolating C. elegans mortal germline mutants, where germ cells proliferate normally for several generations but then all offspring become sterile. Our model is that the sterility of mortal germline mutants is likely to result from a form of heritable cellular damage or stress that is passed on from parent to offspring and builds up over the generations until it becomes intolerable. By elucidating the genetic basis of germ cell immortality, we can begin to understand what processes enable wild type worms to maintain their germ cells in a pristine or ageless state. Here we present analysis of the 7d mutation, which is a temperature sensitive mortal germline mutant that becomes sterile after growth for 6-8 generations at 25¿C. At this temperature, the strain displays meiotic chromosome nondisjunction, which becomes more severe at sterility. Genetic and phenotypic analysis of the 7d mutation will be presented, providing insight into a novel gene involved in a pathway that promotes germ cell immortality.