
Limiting cytoplasmic streaming and maintaining the integrity of the paternal organelle cloud are both important mechanisms that prevent premature interaction between maternal and paternal genomes during C. elegans zygote formation.


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Fertilization occurs before completion of oocyte meiosis in the majority of animal species and sperm contents move long distances within zygotes of mouse and C. elegans . If incorporated into the meiotic spindle, paternal chromosomes could be expelled into a polar body resulting in lethal monosomy. Through live imaging of fertilization in C. elegans , we found that the microtubule disassembling enzymes, katanin and kinesin-13 limit long range movement of sperm contents and that maternal ataxin-2 maintains paternal DNA and paternal mitochondria as a cohesive unit that moves together. Depletion of katanin or double depletion of kinesin-13 and ataxin-2 resulted in capture of the sperm contents by the meiotic spindle. Thus limiting movement of sperm contents and maintaining cohesion of sperm contents within the zygote both contribute to preventing premature interaction between maternal and paternal genomes.

### Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Katanin, kinesin-13 and ataxin-2 inhibit premature interaction between maternal and paternal genomes in C. elegans zygotes

mechanisms-preventing-premature-interaction-between-maternal-and-paternal-genomes-in-c-elegans-zygotes


Mechanisms Preventing Premature Interaction Between Maternal and Paternal Genomes in C. elegans Zygotes
