ZYX-1/Zyxin Plays a Minor Role in Oocyte Transit Through the Spermatheca in

In , oocytes are ovulated into the spermatheca, where they are fertilized before being pushed into the uterus. Contraction in the spermatheca is driven by circumferential acto-myosin fibers. The zyxin homolog, , is expressed in the body wall muscle, pharynx and spermatheca. To our surprise, a CRISPR-generated deletion allele results in no overt developmental phenotypes, and the spermathecal actin cytoskeleton appears wild type, however, oocyte transit through the spermatheca is slower than in wild type animals. This suggests ZYX-1/Zyxin may regulate spermathecal contraction magnitude or timing of spermathecal bag contraction and/or spermathecal-uterine valve dilation.