WormMine: ExpressionPattern Expr3991

• Pattern: Expression started at the end of gastrulation. At the 2-fold stage, about 60 cells in the head express ast-1, most of them neurons, but also a few cells in the pharynx. A single cell in the retrovesicular ganglion expresses AST-1::YFP throughout development from the 1.5-fold stage onward. Using an odr-2::CFP marker and checking for overlap in expression, this cell was identified as the AVG neuron. The ALN neurons in the tail weakly express AST-1::YFP in late embryo and early larval stages. Occasionally, a second pair of cells in the tail was seen based on cell body position most likely the rectV cells. Expression in the tail generally is weak and somewhat variable from animal to animal. In the L1 stage, AST-1::YFP coexpressed with glr-1::CFP in AVA, AVD (weak ast-1), AVE (weak ast-1) RMDD and SMDD as well as AVG. AST-1::YFP expression decreases during larval development and is restricted to few neurons, which continue to express throughout the entire life cycle.
• Primary Identifier: Expr3991
• Subcellular Localization: The YFP signal was initially seen only in the nucleus consistent with AST-1 being a transcription factor. Already beginning in the 3-fold stage, a redistribution of the YFP signal was seen until most of the signal is outside the nucleus mainly in spots in the cell body but also in the neuronal processes.

16 Anatomy Terms

Definition	Name	Synonym	Primary Identifier
Ganglion that lies at the anterior limit of the ventral nerve cord, near the ventral ganglion and nerve ring in the head posterior to the excretory pore. It is open and continuous with the region containing the motoneurons of the ventral cord. In the early L1 this ganglion holds 12 neuron cell bodies plus one neuroblast (Sulston and Horvitz, 1977; White et al., 1986). In the adult animal, the ganglion holds 20 neuron cell bodies.	retrovesicular ganglion		WBbt:0005656
Ventral cord interneuron, synapses onto VA, DA, and AS motor neurons; formerly called alpha	AVAL	lineage name: ABalppaaapa	WBbt:0003870
Ventral cord interneuron, synapses onto VA, DA, and AS motor neurons; formerly called alpha	AVAR	lineage name: ABalaappapa	WBbt:0003869
Ring motor neuron/interneuron, has a posteriorly direct ed process that runs sublaterally	SMDDL	lineage name: ABplpapaaaa	WBbt:0004972
Ring motor neuron/interneuron, has a posteriorly direct ed process that runs sublaterally	SMDDR	lineage name: ABprpapaaaa	WBbt:0004971
Rectal epithelial cells, adjacent to intestino-rectal valve, have microvilli	rect_VR	lineage name: ABprppppaap	WBbt:0004776
Rectal epithelial cells, adjacent to intestino-rectal valve, have microvilli	rect_VL	lineage name: ABplppppaap	WBbt:0004787
Neuron associated with ALM	ALNL	lineage name: ABplapappppap	WBbt:0003939
Neuron associated with ALM	ALNR	lineage name: ABprapappppap	WBbt:0003937
Neuron class of one ventral cord interneuron, few synapses.	AVG	lineage name: ABprpapppap	WBbt:0003850
Ventral cord interneuron, like AVD but outputs restricted to anterior cord.	AVEL	lineage name: ABalpppaaaa	WBbt:0003864
Ventral cord interneuron, like AVD but outputs restricted to anterior cord.	AVER	lineage name: ABpraaaaaaa	WBbt:0003863
Ventral cord interneuron, synapses onto VA, DA, AS motorneurons; formerly called delta.	AVDL	lineage name: ABalaaapalr	WBbt:0003866
Ventral cord interneuron, synapses onto VA, DA, AS motorneurons; formerly called delta.	AVDR	lineage name: ABalaaapprl	WBbt:0003865
Ring motor neuron/interneuron, many synapses	RMDDR	lineage name: ABarappapaa	WBbt:0005038
Ring motor neuron/interneuron, many synapses	RMDDL	lineage name: ABalpapapaa	WBbt:0005039

1 Genes

WormBase Gene ID	Gene Name	Sequence Name	Organism
WBGene00020368	ast-1	T08H4.3	Caenorhabditis elegans

0 Life Stages