WormMine: ExpressionPattern Expr3106

• Pattern: A VEM-1::GFP translational reporter construct by inserting GFP in frame before the stop codon in the VEM-1 protein sequence. Transgenic animals expressing either the translational or the transcriptional vem-1 reporter displayed the same labeling pattern. Importantly, animals harboring the translational reporter confirm that VEM-1 is expressed by a subset of nerve ring neurons and the AVG pioneer neurons, each of which extend GFP-labeled axons into the VNC. Transcriptional fusion: In transgenic embryos, vem-1::GFP expression was first detected at the beginning of gastrulation in a small number of unidentified cells. During later embryonic stages, promoter activity was evident in a subset of putative anterior head neurons. Strong GFP labeling was also detectable in what is likely to be the AVG pioneer neuron and in the assembling VNC as early as the 1.5-fold stage. These findings suggest that vem-1 is expressed by a subset of early developing neurons that extend axons into the right VNC. By the L1 stage, vem-1::GFP activity was clearly detectable in several bilaterally symmetric neurons, including the following: CEPDL/R, RMDVL/R, RIVL/R, AVAL/R, RMDL/R, and RMDDL/R and in the AVG. At the L4 stage, vem-1::GFP continues to be expressed by a subpopulation of nerve ring neurons and by AVG. The presence of GFP along the dorsalmost axon of the VNC is consistent with the AVG neuron expressing vem-1::GFP. Similarly, the GFP labeling observed in a small subset of more ventrally positioned right VNC-associated axons identifies AV (anterior ventral) interneurons as additional sites of vem-1::GFP transgene expression. Consistent with vem-1::GFP expression being restricted to a subset of longitudinally projecting interneurons, axons extending from circumferentially projecting motor neurons were not labeled. Notably, the labeling of the intestine and pharyngeal muscles was highly mosaic, because it was only detected in a small subset of transgenic animals. In contrast, labeled neurons were observed in each transgenic animal harboring the vem-1::GFP transcriptional reporter construct.
• Primary Identifier: Expr3106

17 Anatomy Terms

Definition	Name	Synonym	Primary Identifier
A chain of very large cuboidal cells forming a wide central lumen in which food arrives from the posterior pharynx, is digested, and from which waste products proceed to the rectum. Intestinal rings form in groups of two and four cells surrounding the common lumen; thus the epithelium is only one cell deep at any point, with neighboring cells firmly secured to their neighbors by apical adherens junctions. These cells have very large nuclei and many large vacuoles, yolk granules, and other inclusions; the latter increase in number and electron density as the animal ages.	intestine	gut	WBbt:0005772
a large process bundle that runs along the vental mid-line extending from the ventral region of the nerve ring.	ventral nerve cord	ventral cord	WBbt:0005829
type of cells that make up muscle layers in the pharynx.	pharyngeal muscle cell		WBbt:0005451
the most extensive region of neuropil in the animal, consists of a large toroidal bundle of processes.	nerve ring	circumpharyngeal nerve ring	WBbt:0006749
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
Cephalic neurons, contain dopamine	CEPDR	lineage name: ABarpapaappa	WBbt:0004937
Cephalic neurons, contain dopamine	CEPDL	lineage name: ABplaaaaappa	WBbt:0004938
Ring motor neuron/interneuron, many synapses	RMDL	lineage name: ABalpppapad	WBbt:0005037
Ring motor neuron/interneuron, many synapses	RMDR	lineage name: ABpraaaapad	WBbt:0005033
Ring motor neuron/interneuron, many synapses	RMDVL	lineage name: ABalppapaaa	WBbt:0005031
Neuron class of one ventral cord interneuron, few synapses.	AVG	lineage name: ABprpapppap	WBbt:0003850
Ring motor neuron/interneuron, many synapses	RMDVR	lineage name: ABarapppaaa	WBbt:0005029
Ring motor neuron/interneuron, many synapses	RMDDR	lineage name: ABarappapaa	WBbt:0005038
Ring motor neuron/interneuron, many synapses	RMDDL	lineage name: ABalpapapaa	WBbt:0005039
Ring interneuron	RIVL	lineage name: ABplpaapaaa	WBbt:0005043
Ring interneuron	RIVR	lineage name: ABprpaapaaa	WBbt:0005041

1 Genes

WormBase Gene ID	Gene Name	Sequence Name	Organism
WBGene00006890	vem-1	K07E3.8	Caenorhabditis elegans

9 Life Stages

Remark	Definition	Other Name	Public Name	Primary Identifier
	The stage that begins when a C.elegans individual is fully-developed and has reached maturity.		adult Ce	WBls:0000041
	The third stage larva. At 25 Centigrade, it ranges 32.5-40 hours after fertilization, 18.5-26 hours after hatch.		L3 larva Ce	WBls:0000035
	The second stage larva. At 25 Centigrade, it ranges 25.5-32.5 hours after fertilization, 11.5-18.5 hours after hatch.		L2 larva Ce	WBls:0000027
	The fourth stage larva. At 25 Centigrade, it ranges 40-49.5 hours after fertilization, 26-35.5 hours after hatch.		L4 larva Ce	WBls:0000038
	The first stage larva. At 25 Centigrade, it ranges 14-25.5 hours after fertilization, 0-11.5 hours after hatch.		L1 larva Ce	WBls:0000024
	The C. elegans life stage spanning 620-800min(hatch) after first cleavage at 20 Centigrade. Cell number remains at ~560 cells, with some new cells generated and some cells go through programmed cell death. A stage after elongation is over. The last stage of embryogenesis. Also called pre-hatched embryo, late embryo or morphogenetic embryo.		fully-elongated embryo Ce	WBls:0000021
	The C. elegans life stage spanning 350-620min after first cleavage at 20 Centigrade. Cell number remains at ~560 cells, with some new cells generated and some cells go through programmed cell death. The stage that embryo starts elongation until elongation is over.		elongating embryo Ce	WBls:0000015
	The C. elegans life stage spanning 290-350min after first cleavage at 20 Centigrade. Proliferate from 421 cells to 560 cells. The stage when embryo just finished gastrulation and is enclosing.		enclosing embryo Ce	WBls:0000013
	The C. elegans life stage spanning 100-290min after first cleavage at 20 Centigrade. Proliferate from 28 cells to 421 cells. Referring to the whole period of gastrulation.		gastrulating embryo Ce	WBls:0000010