| Summary: | Regulation of the cytoskeletal protein actin is required for proper cell contraction. The actin binding protein zyxin is involved in the repair and maintenance of actin fibers under tension. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the C. elegans zyxin homolog, ZYX-1 might regulate actin fibers in C. elegans. We focused on the spermatheca, a contractile tissue in the reproductive system of the worm. The spermatheca stores sperm and is stretched and contracts as oocytes enter and exit. In this tissue, we hypothesized that ZYX-1 would be needed to repair or organize actin fibers that are stressed by egg passage. Although we found no obvious change to the actin cytoskeleton in the C. elegans spermatheca, we did find that, when zyx-1 is disrupted, oocyte transit through the spermatheca is slower and the spermatheca or spermathecal-uterine valve closes on the oocytes, resulting in oocyte fragmentation. This suggests ZYX-1/Zyxin may regulate spermathecal contraction magnitude or timing to prevent oocytes from becoming fragmented. We also investigated genetic interactions between zyx-1 and other actin regulators, and discovered that ZYX-1/zyxin and FHOD-1/formin work together to regulate spermathecal contractility.--Author's abstract
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