| Pattern | Using the Mos-SCI technique, two SPE-8::GFP translational fusions were integrated into the ttTi5605 Mos1 transposon insertion on Chromosome II. One fusion had GFP on the N-terminus, and the other had GFP on the C-terminus. Both showed green fluorescence in the male germline. | Primary Identifier | Expr11880 |
| Remark | Temporal description | Subcellular Localization | SPE-8 localizes to the cell membrane during spermatogenesis. All cellular stages of spermatogenesis showed green fluorescence associated with the cell membrane. Unfortunately, developing sperm cells have autofluorescent internal structures. In comparison, control (non-reporter) developing sperm do not have green fluorescence associated with the cell membrane. The primary spermatocytes expressing the reporter appear much more fluorescent even interior to the cell membrane than N2 controls, suggesting that SPE-8 may be accumulating in the cytosol and translocating to the membrane at this stage. By the secondary spermatocyte stage, the cytosol appears no more fluorescent than controls, but the plasma membrane is strongly fluorescent as the reporter has taken up residence there. At the budding spermatid stage a strong GFP signal comes from the residual body, where non-essential cellular components are disposed. It is unclear if native SPE-8 enters the residual body, and an alternative possibility is that some of the fusion has degraded and segregated to the residual body. Finally, the membrane localization of GFP is most pronounced at the spermatid stage, when the cells await the activation signal. In naturally activated spermatozoa from both males and hermaphrodites, the membrane localization found in spermatids disperses into the cytoplasm. |
| Definition | Name | Synonym | Primary Identifier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Male haploid germ cell. | sperm | spermatozoa | WBbt:0006798 |
| A cell which gives rise to spermatids by meiosis. | spermatocyte | WBbt:0006799 |
| WormBase Gene ID | Gene Name | Sequence Name | Organism |
|---|---|---|---|
| WBGene00004962 | spe-8 | F53G12.6 | Caenorhabditis elegans |
