Worm Breeder's Gazette 5(2): 49a

These abstracts should not be cited in bibliographies. Material contained herein should be treated as personal communication and should be cited as such only with the consent of the author.

Title unknown.

Authors unknown.

The major sperm protein found in isolated sperm from C.  elegans 
males is a 15,000 mwt monomer with a 30,000 dimer form and PI of 8.6.  
Using an affinity purified antibody preparation it was shown to be 
specific to sperm.  Antibody localization shows 15K in clusters around 
the inside perimeter of the cell.  It is not found in the pseudopodia. 
PQ1Y A mRNA coding for 15K is first detected immediately prior to the 
time of synthesis of 15K and we are now investigating the possibility 
of transcriptional control using actinomycin and alpha amanitin.  We 
have attempted EM localization using the antibody but have encountered 
some problems.  One of them is that 15K is so soluble that it appears 
if sperm are fixed in a concentrated form with 2% glutoraldehyde that 
15K is fixed to the outside of the sperm and all the antibody reaction 
takes place there.  We have also had some permeability problems and 
are using techniques to alleviate.