Researcher(s)
- Lilyana Baehser, Biological Sciences, University of Delaware
Faculty Mentor(s)
- Aimee Jaramillo-Lambert, Biological Sciences, University of Delaware
Abstract
Infertility is a condition affecting approximately 1 in every 6 individuals of reproductive age worldwide (Infertility, 2025). Animal eggs have a special surface with proteins that are required for species-specific fertilization. After fertilization, this surface is remodeled to prevent polyspermy and to ensure successful embryonic development. EGG-1 and EGG-2 (EGG-1/2) are proteins present in the egg membrane of C. elegans: roundworms functioning as model organisms to study reproduction. These proteins are involved in mediating proper localization of materials within the membrane, stability of the eggshell, and ultimately activation of the gamete. Our lab previously showed that EGG-1/2 are required for the proper localization of CHS-1, MBK-2, and CBD-1. CBD-1 recruits two independent complexes required for vitelline layer formation (PERM complex) and egg activation (EGG complex). As EGG-1/2 are required for CBD-1 localization (Kwah et. al., 2026, Gonzalez et. al., 2018), it can be predicted that the PERM complex, consisting of PERM-2 and PERM-4 within the vitelline layer, also requires EGG-1/2 for proper localization. The goal of this study is to determine if EGG-1/2 are required for proper PERM-2 localization in the vitelline membrane before and after fertilization. I am performing a genetic cross to create an egg-1/2Δ; mScarlet::perm-2 strain. Additionally, I am using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing to tag the EGG-1 protein with GFP for visualizing EGG-1 localization within control and mutant models.