SIGNATURE WORK
CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION 2024

Paclitaxel is one of the most widely used chemotherapeutic agents, known for its ability to arrest cancer advancement by disrupting microtubule dynamics. While its anticancer properties are well-documented, there is limited knowledge regarding its impact on meiosis and germline maintenance, which are crucial processes for reproduction and inheritance of genetic material. Moreover, the precise mechanisms by which paclitaxel affects DNA repair pathways remain under active investigation. This study aims to uncover the effects of paclitaxel on meiotic processes in the germline and DNA repair pathways using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). We found that exposure to paclitaxel resulted in several meiotic defects, including embryonic lethality, decreased fertility, and abnormal meiotic chromosome segregation. Paclitaxel also led to defects in germ cell organization, an increase in the levels of double-strand breaks, and germ cell apoptosis. Gene expression analysis revealed downregulation of mismatch repair genes upon paclitaxel exposure. Overall, our results provide valuable insights into the effects of exposure to paclitaxel on meiosis, as well as its potential modulation of the mismatch repair pathway, emphasizing the need for further research to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and potential implications for individuals undergoing paclitaxel-based cancer therapy.