Professor Emerita
Fields of Interest
Biography
Developmental Genetics, Reproductive Biology, Fertilization
Chromosome Structure, Sperm Nuclear Remodeling, Paternal Effects
The Wakimoto Lab is interested in developmental and chromosome biology and we apply genetics, genomics and cell biological approaches.
Several years ago, we carried out the largest screen for Drosophila male sterile mutations to date and characterized over 2,000 mutant lines to identify the rare classes affecting sperm function during fertilization and paternal effects during embryogenesis. The investment in recovery and analysis of these male sterile mutations has been extensive, but we have identified nearly 70 genetically defined complementation groups and 10 new sperm proteins. The majority of the molecules are uniquely expressed during spermatogenesis and required for sperm-specific procresses such as biogenesis of the acrosome, sperm activation in the egg cytoplasm, remodeling of sperm chromatin. The analysis of these fertilization-defective and paternal effect mutants have led to new ideas about pathways required for normal sperm-egg membrane interactions and the stable maintenance of paternal chromosomes during early embryogenesis.
Barbara Wakimoto is a Professor Emerita of Biology, an Adjunct Professor of Genome Sciences, and a former member of the Molecular and Cellular Biology Program at the University of Washington.
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Selected Research
- Minotaur is critical for primary piRNA biogenesis., Wakimoto Barbara T, Vagin Vasily V, Yu Yang, Jankowska Anna, Luo Yicheng, Wasik Kaja A, Malone Colin D, Harrison Emily, Rosebrock Adam, Fagegaltier Delphine, and Muerdter Felix, RNA (New York, N.Y.), 2013 Aug, Volume 19, Issue 8, p.1064-77 (2013)
- Drosophila rae1 is required for male meiosis and spermatogenesis., Wakimoto Barbara T, Volpi Silvia, Bongiorni Silvia, Fabbretti Fabiana, and Prantera Giorgio, Journal of cell science, 2013 Aug 15, Volume 126, Issue Pt 16, p.3541-51 (2013)
- Facilitating long-term changes in student approaches to learning science., Wakimoto Barbara T, Buchwitz Brian J, Beyer Catharine H, Peterson Jon E, Pitre Emile, Lalic Nevena, and Sampson Paul D, CBE life sciences education, 2012 Fall, Volume 11, Issue 3, p.273-82 (2012)
- Retention of induced mutations in a Drosophila reverse-genetic resource., Till Bradley J, Greene Elizabeth A, Codomo Christine A, Henikoff Steven, Cooper Jennifer L, and Wakimoto Barbara T, 2008, Volume 180, Issue 1, p. - -667 (2008)
- Molecular landscape of modified histones in Drosophila heterochromatic genes and euchromatin-heterochromatin transition zones., Wakimoto Barbara T and Yasuhara Jiro C, 2008, Volume 4, Issue 1 (2008)
- Complex regulation and multiple developmental functions of misfire, the Drosophila melanogaster ferlin gene., Wakimoto Barbara T and Smith Michelle K, 2007, Volume 7 (2007)
- Sperm plasma membrane breakdown during Drosophila fertilization requires sneaky, an acrosomal membrane protein., Wakimoto Barbara T, Wilson Kathleen L, Fitch Karen R, and Bafus Blaine T, 2006, Volume 133, Issue 24, p. - -4879 (2006)
- Oxymoron no more: the expanding world of heterochromatic genes., Wakimoto Barbara T and Yasuhara Jiro C, 2006, Volume 22, Issue 6, p. - -338 (2006)
- Evolution of heterochromatic genes of Drosophila., Wakimoto Barbara T, Yasuhara Jiro C, and DeCrease Christine H, 2005, Volume 102, Issue 31, p. - -10963 (2005)
- Toward a comprehensive genetic analysis of male fertility in Drosophila melanogaster., Wakimoto Barbara T, Lindsley Dan L, and Herrera Cheryl, 2004, Volume 167, Issue 1, p. - -216 (2004)
- Genetic dissection of meiotic cytokinesis in Drosophila males., Wakimoto Barbara T, Lindsley Dan L, Giansanti Maria Grazia, Farkas Rebecca M, Bonaccorsi Silvia, Fuller Margaret T, and Gatti Maurizio, 2004, Volume 15, Issue 5, p. - -2522 (2004)
- The teflon gene is required for maintenance of autosomal homolog pairing at meiosis I in male Drosophila melanogaster., Tomkiel J E, Wakimoto B T, and Briscoe Jr A, 2001, Volume 157, Issue 1, p. - -281 (2001)
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