Mater, a maternal effect gene required for early embryonic development in mice

• DOI: 10.1038/81547
• Publication Date: 2002-07-26T08:34:58Z
• Authors: Zhi-Bin Tong; Lyn Gold; Karl E. Pfeifer; Heidi Dorward; Eric Lee; Carolyn A. Bondy; Jurrien Dean; Lawrence M. Nelson
• Keywords: Maternal effect

Maternal effect genes produce mRNA or proteins that accumulate in the egg during oogenesis. We show here that Mater, a mouse oocyte protein dependent on the maternal genome, is essential for embryonic development beyond the two-cell stage. Females lacking the maternal effect gene Mater are sterile. Null males are fertile.