Award
NIH Reporter #5R01AI189624-02
The Molecular Mechanism of a Male Killing Gene
Recipient
Pennsylvania State University, The, University Park, PA, USA
Award Amount
$553,037.00
Ceiling
$553,037.00
Awarded
January 29, 2026
Identifier
5R01AI189624-02
NIH awarded a grant to Pennsylvania State University to study how the Wolbachia wmk gene causes male killing in arthropods by disrupting host gene expression during embryogenesis.
Description
This NIH grant project aims to investigate the molecular mechanism by which the WO Male Killing (wmk) gene from Wolbachia bacteria causes male killing in arthropods, focusing on its role in disrupting host transcription during embryogenesis. The research will explore Wmk's function as a transcription factor, the protein regions necessary for male killing, and the transport mechanisms of Wmk.