Identification of essential genes in Caenorhabditis elegans through whole-genome sequencing of legacy mutant collections.

ABSTRACT: It has been estimated that 15%-30% of the ∼20,000 genes in C. elegans are essential, yet many of these genes remain to be identified or characterized. With the goal of identifying unknown essential genes, we performed whole-genome sequencing on complementation pairs from legacy collections of maternal-effect lethal and sterile mutants. This approach uncovered maternal genes required for embryonic development and genes with apparent sperm-specific functions. In total, 58 putative essential genes were identified on chromosomes III-V, of which 52 genes are represented by novel alleles in this collection. Of these 52 genes, 19 (40 alleles) were selected for further functional characterization. The terminal phenotypes of embryos were examined, revealing defects in cell division, morphogenesis,

SUBMITTER: Li-Leger E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8664450 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature