C. elegans are small, transparent nematode worms and are widely used as model organisms in biological research. Their utility stems from their simplicity and well-characterized biology. Most of the population are hermaphrodites, possessing both male and female reproductive organs, which facilitates self-fertilization. (males only make up about 0.2–0.5% in the wild) This reproductive capability, combined with a fixed number of cells, a fully sequenced genome, and a short life cycle, makes C. elegans ideal for studying gene function and development. In addition C. elegans possess the evolutionarily conserved Argonaute/PIWI proteins that interact with small RNAs such as piRNAs. These piRNAs play a critical role in reproductive stability, and their absence results in sterility since Piwi will be marked for degradation when a piRNA is not attached to it. This research aims to elucidate the mechanisms behind piRNA-related sterility and to explore methods of maintaining a stable Piwi Argonaute in their absence. Additionally, the study focuses on the role of lysine residues, which are known to be important for Piwi function, and their role in creating a stable Piwi Argonaute even when piRNAs are absent. In addition to testing the piRNA abundance in strains where different mutations are influencing their transcription.
