WormMine: ExpressionPattern Expr1427

• Pattern: Antibodies directed against the C terminus of CeO/E were used to confirm the GFP reporter experiments and examine the expression of CeO/E in early development. Anti-CeO/E staining were observed in 8 nuclei in the 400- to 550-cell embryo, the stage during which the embryonic motor neurons are first formed. The CeO/E-expressing cells were located in positions consistent with motor neurons destined for the ventral cord: initially located on the posterior side close to the periphery of the embryo and subsequently converging toward the ventral midline. By comma stage, the number of CeO/E-expressing cells increased to 16 and these cells became positioned along the presumptive ventral cord, again consistent with their identification as embryonic motor neurons. In late stage embryos and early L1 larvae, 16 cells expressed CeO/E at high levels along the ventral cord, in addition to at least 6 faintly immunoreactive cells also located along the ventral cord in the head and tail regions. CeO/E expression was observed in two cells outside of the ventral cord. Using the CeO/E antibody, expression in these cells was first detected in 400 to 550-cell stage in the most anterior region of the embryo. By comma stage, the immunoreactive nuclei were located closer to the ventral cord in a position consistent with that of the ASI amphid neurons. These cells continued to stain with anti-CeO/E antibody and expressed unc-3::GFP throughout development. These cells were confirmed as ASI neurons by staining adult worms expressing unc-3::GFP with DiI. In all lines, expression of unc-3::GFP was first observed in late stage embryos (3-fold) in neurons of the ventral cord. In L1 larvae, 16 cells were counted that expressed unc-3::GFP among the 22 embryonic motor neurons present in the ventral cord at this stage. By late L1 and early L2, when 57 new motor neurons are added to the ventral cord, an increase was observed in the number of GFP-positive cells. In two lines expressing GFP from an extrachromosomal array, there are up to 41 ventral cord motor neurons expressing the reporter at similar intensity. In the integrated line examined, the 23 VA and VB motor neurons expressed GFP at high levels, while 3 strongly staining and up to 11 additional faintly expressing cells were also detected. High levels of expression were maintained in these neurons through the L3 stage, but diminished in later stages. No GFP expression was observed in the ventral cord of a majority of adult worms. The P neuroblast divides to generate hypodermal cells and 3 to 5 neurons, each belonging to a different class of postembryonic ventral cord neurons (VA, VB, VC, VD or AS). During this time, CeO/E staining in the embryonic motor neurons decreased in intensity. More than 40 ventral cord motor neurons stained prominently in L2 and later stages. clusters of 3 to 5 cells were frequently observed along the ventral cord expressing CeO/E.
• Primary Identifier: Expr1427
• Remark: CeO/E = unc-3 in this article.
• Subcellular Localization: nuclei

10 Anatomy Terms

Definition	Name	Synonym	Primary Identifier
Neuron class of thirteen motoneurons, with cell bodies in the ventral cord, which innervate ventral muscles. Each cell has an anteriorly directed process emanating from its cell body.	VD neuron		WBbt:0005303
Neuron class of six motoneurons, with cell bodies in the ventral cord, which innervate dorsal muscles. Each cell has a short, posteriorly directed and a longer, anteriorly directed process emanating from its cell body. The anterior process has a branch, which leaves the ventral cord as a commissure and runs round to the dorsal cord.	DD neuron		WBbt:0005270
Neuron class of seven motoneurons that innervate dorsal muscles and have cell bodies in the ventral cord.	DB neuron		WBbt:0005274
Neuron class of twelve motoneurons, distributed along the ventral cord, which innervate ventral body muscles.	VA neuron		WBbt:0005339
Neuron class of eleven motoneurons, distributed along the ventral cord, which innervate ventral body muscles.	VB neuron		WBbt:0005336
Neuron class of nine ventral cord motor neuron, innervates dorsal muscle.	DA neuron		WBbt:0005278
Neuron class of eleven motoneurons, with cell bodies in the ventral cord, which innervate dorsal muscles.	AS neuron		WBbt:0005334
Neuron class of six motoneurons in the ventral cord, which innervate ventral body muscles and the vm2 muscles of the vulva.	VC neuron		WBbt:0005304
one member of amphid neurons, single ciliated ending, probably chemo-sensory; project into ring via commissure from ventral ganglion, make diverse synaptic connections in ring neuropil	ASIL	lineage name: ABplaapapppa	WBbt:0003888
one member of Amphid neurons, single ciliated endings, probably chemo-sensory; project into ring via commissure from ventral ganglion, make diverse synaptic connections in ring neuropil	ASIR	lineage name: ABpraapapppa	WBbt:0003887

1 Genes

WormBase Gene ID	Gene Name	Sequence Name	Organism
WBGene00006743	unc-3	Y16B4A.1	Caenorhabditis elegans

3 Life Stages

Remark	Definition	Other Name	Public Name	Primary Identifier
	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 520-620min 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 shape of embryo is elongated and tripple fold. A stage between 2-fold embryo and fully-elongated embryo. Also called pretzel embryo or pretzel stage.		3-fold embryo Ce	WBls:0000020
	A developemental life stage of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans that occurs from egg hatching until death.		postembryonic Ce	WBls:0000022