WormMine: AnatomyTerm WBbt:0004618

• Definition: Hermaphrodite specific ventral cord motor neuron innervates vulval muscles and ventral body muscles
• Name: VC3
• Primary Identifier: WBbt:0004618
• Synonym: lineage name: P5.aap

1 Children

Definition	Name	Synonym	Primary Identifier
	P5.aap nucleus hermaphrodite		WBbt:0008281

2 Expression Clusters

Regulated By Treatment	Description	Algorithm	Primary Identifier
	Transcripts enriched in VC1_3_6 according to single cell RNAseq.	Genes that pass the Bonferroni threshold for multiple comparisons (q < 0.05) are significantly enriched.	WBPaper00066550:VC1_3_6_enriched
	Transcripts enriched in VC according to single cell RNAseq.	Genes that pass the Bonferroni threshold for multiple comparisons (q < 0.05) are significantly enriched.	WBPaper00061651:VC_enriched

40 Expression Patterns

• Primary Identifier: Expr4650
• Remark: Reporter gene fusion type not specified.
• Pattern: The Plin-11 gfp reporter is expressed in the six VC motor neurons, P3 - 8.aap , of the ventral cord.

• Primary Identifier: Expr9674
• Pattern: Pprkl-1::GFP was only consistently detected in VC1-6 and the HSN neurons and a small subset of neurons in the head and ventral nerve cord. In non-neuronal tissue, prkl-1 promoter activity was detected in somatic gonad cells, uterine cells, distal tip cells, and vulval cells.

• Primary Identifier: Expr15558

• Primary Identifier: Expr15571

• Primary Identifier: Expr15572

• Primary Identifier: Expr15573

• Primary Identifier: Expr15579

• Primary Identifier: Expr15586

• Primary Identifier: Expr15651

• Primary Identifier: Expr15652

• Primary Identifier: Expr15589

• Primary Identifier: Expr15591

• Primary Identifier: Expr15598

• Primary Identifier: Expr15604

• Primary Identifier: Expr14590
• Pattern: Embryonic expression of exc-7 was first observed at the bean stage. By reverse lineaging with use of SIMI-Biocell software, we confirm the identity of one of the expressing cells at this stage as the excretory canal cell. In L1 animals, broad expression in the head, ventral nerve cord (VNC), and tail was observed. In young adults, expression is notably observed in vulva cells. In the nervous system specifically, expression is observed in many neurons throughout the body, but unlike Drosophila Elav, exc-7::gfp it is not panneuronally expressed. We confirmed previously reported expression in cholinergic VNC MNs, but absence of GABAergic VNC MNs, consistent with previous reports (Fujita et al., 1999; Loria et al., 2003) and consistent with exc-7 functioning in cholinergic, but not GABAergic neurons to control alternative splicing (Norris et al., 2014). exc-7::gfp is also expressed in some non-neuronal cell types, including muscle and hypodermis, but not in the gut. A previous report showed that exc-7 is only transiently and weakly expressed in the excretory cell, which, based on exc-7's excretory mutant phenotype, has puzzled researchers (Fujita et al., 2003). We find that the gfp tagged exc-7 locus is strongly and continuously expressed in the excretory canal cell.

• Primary Identifier: Expr15608

• Primary Identifier: Expr15611

• Primary Identifier: Expr1842
• Pattern: Staining embryos with this anti-VAB-7 antibody confirmed that VAB-7 is expressed in posterior muscle and epidermal cells. However, a second phase of VAB-7 expression was discovered in embryonic ventral nerve cord (VNC) neurones, beginning at the 1.5-fold stage. At the threefold stage VAB-7 is expressed in nine neuronal nuclei (seven in the VNC and two nuclei in the head), and in the five most posterior epidermal nuclei, which form the hyp8 to hyp11 cells. VAB-7 is expressed in the seven DB class motoneurones; VAB-7 staining is also seen in two additional head neurones that have not been identified. DB neurones express VAB-7 throughout development. In addition, VAB-7 is expressed continuously in the hypodermal syncitium hyp10, and from the L1 stage in four unidentified neurones in the tail. Finally, at the adult stage, VAB-7 is detected in three VC neurones: VC1, VC2 and VC6.
• Subcellular Localization: nuclei

• Primary Identifier: Expr3875
• Remark: The timing expression pattern of coq-8 gene reported herein correlates with the overall Q content in C. elegans. Higher expression of coq-8 gene, and presumably Q biosynthesis activity, correspond with those tissues with particularly active bioenergetics in different development stages during life cycle. Thus coq-8 expression pattern may directly or indirectly reflect bioenergetics and cellular activity in vivo.
• Pattern: As adult animals progressed towards the post-fertile period, COQ-8::GFP expression became restricted to nervous system, whilst in other tissues, including muscles, progressively diminished until it completely disappeared. During the adult stage stained neurons could be individually identified. These included at least the ASIL, ASIR, PHAL, PHAR, PVDR and PVDL sensory neurons. The interneurons AVKL, AVKR, PVT, PVQL, PVQR, and motoneurons AS1 to AS8, DA1 to DA9, DD1 to DD6, and VC1 to VC6, were also stained. COQ-8 expression in hypodermis was not evident until worms reached the L2 stage, however not all hypodermal cells showed similar expression levels. Lateral hypodermal syncytium appeared heavily stained whereas seam cells, that form a protruding hypodermal ridge termed alae, did not show significant fluorescence. Neuronal cells stained in L1 remained stained during L2 stage. COQ-8 expression pattern changed in L4 larvae and young adult stages of very active and fertile young individuals. Hypodermis fluorescence decreased abruptly and GFP signal appeared restricted to muscles and nervous system. It worth noting that hypodermal COQ-8::GFP expression was readily observed during moulting period but decreases abruptly in young adults, that no further moults, allowing the detection of COQ-8::GFP fluorescence in smaller cells as coelomocytes, which were not readily visible in earlier larval stages. Coelomocytes are defensive phagocytes that produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) in worms and other invertebrates and a high Q content would be needed to prevent oxidative damage derived from this particular oxygen metabolism. During egg development fluorescence was readily detectable in early pre-morphogenetic stages about 4 to 5 h post-fertilization, becoming higher in both intensity and number of fluorescent cells during later embryogenesis. 4D microscopy revealed some spatial and temporal variability in the initial expression of COQ-8::GFP from embryo to embryo. The beginning of the COQ-8::GFP expression was detected between the 8th and the 10th embryonic mitosis and was triggered by a group of several blastomeres in all the analyzed embryos. These blastomers are committed to differentiate into specific tissues with high energetic requirements, such as neurons and muscles, but also hypodermis and coelomocytes. These tissues also showed fluorescence during later life stages. Fluorescence reached its maximum intensity in L3 stage of development, supporting a genetic basis to previous observations that showed highest Q content in L2 ~ L4 stages. Longitudinal nervous ventral and dorsal cords showed high fluorescence and some muscular innervations were also stained at this stage. Expression of COQ-8::GFP was clearly evident in hypodermis, neurons and cords, and muscle cells. This expression pattern cannot exclude other tissues showing much weaker fluorescence that may not be readily observed. The expression in muscle and neuronal cells was detected during larval development as early as in the first larval stage (L1). At this stage, longitudinal muscles quadrants were GFP-stained tail and pharyngeal ring neural centres displayed significantly higher COQ-8 expression levels than other tissues. The nervous system of L1 wild type larvae is not entirely developed and contains fewer connections between neurons than in older animals, as it is observed by the GFP staining.

• Primary Identifier: Expr9672
• Pattern: In L4 larvae, vang-1 promoter activity was detected in many head and ventral cord neurons, some bilaterally located mid-body neurons including the HSNs, as well as non-neuronal tissue such as somatic gonad cells, uterine cells, vulval muscle and vulval epithelial cells. Co-expression with the VC1-6 specific reporter Plin-11::RFP revealed that the subset of ventral cord neurons expressing vang-1 includes all six VC neurons.

• Primary Identifier: Expr9673
• Pattern: In L4 larvae, dsh-1 promoter activity was detected in many head and ventral cord neurons, some bilaterally located mid-body neurons including the HSNs, as well as non-neuronal tissue such as somatic gonad cells, uterine cells, vulval muscle and vulval epithelial cells. Co-expression with the VC1-6 specific reporter Plin-11::RFP revealed that the subset of ventral cord neurons expressing dsh-1 includes all six VC neurons.

• Primary Identifier: Expr15570

• Primary Identifier: Expr1872
• Pattern: In late L2 larvae anti-PAG-3 staining was seen in approximately two dozen cells in the head, all six mechanosensory neurons, the BDU neurons, approximately ten cells in the tail as well as in the ventral cord. PAG-3 staining of many cells in the head and tail remained detectable in adult animals. In the ventral cord, PAG-3 was first detected in the Pn.aa neuroblasts. PAG-3 was not detected in the Pn.ap euroblasts or their descendants. PAG-3 was present equally in each of the descendant cells of Pn.aa after subsequent rounds of division (i.e. the Pn.aaa, Pn.aap, Pn.aaaa and Pn.aaap cells), including the three differentiating neurons generated by each Pn.aa neuroblast. In most cells, PAG-3 protein became undetectable shortly after the cells had been generated in the L1, but PAG-3 was present in six cells in the ventral cords of adults. In late L2 larvae anti-PAG-3 staining was seen in approximately two dozen cells in the head, all six mechanosensory neurons, the BDU neurons, approximately ten cells in the tail as well as in the ventral cord. PAG-3 staining of many cells in the head and tail remained detectable in adult animals. In the ventral cord, PAG-3 was first detected in the Pn.aa neuroblasts. PAG-3 was not detected in the Pn.ap neuroblasts or their descendants. PAG-3 was present equally in each of the descendant cells of Pn.aa after subsequent rounds of division (i.e. the Pn.aaa, Pn.aap, Pn.aaaa and Pn.aaap cells), including the three differentiating neurons generated by each Pn.aa neuroblast. In most cells, PAG-3 protein became undetectable shortly after the cells had been generated in the L1, but PAG-3 was present in six cells in the ventral cords of adults. PAG-3 expression persisted throughout the life of the animal in four cells in the retrovesicular ganglion at the anterior end of the ventral cord and in two cells in the posterior ventral cord. In newly hatched L1-stage larvae, before the initiation of the postembryonic W and P cell lineages, two cells in the retrovesicular ganglion expressed PAG-3. Based on position, these cells were most likely the RIG interneurons. After completion of the W and P cell lineages, two additional cells in the retrovesicular ganglion and two cells in the posterior ventral cord contained detectable PAG-3 protein. These nuclei might be the two AVF and the VA11 and VA12 neurons, respectively. This hypothesis was confirmed by staining animals carrying an integrated Punc-4lacZ reporter, which is expressed in the AVF and VA as well as other neurons, with PAG-3 antiserum and monoclonal antibody against beta-galactosidase. PAG-3 protein was expressed more widely in the nervous system than had been observed using the Ppag-3lacZ reporter. PAG-3 was detected during embryonic development in many nuclei ~280 minutes after fertilization.

• Primary Identifier: Expr15644

• Primary Identifier: Expr15648

• Primary Identifier: Expr12716

• Primary Identifier: Expr12717

• Primary Identifier: Expr15627

• Primary Identifier: Expr15633

• Primary Identifier: Expr8946
• Remark: Picture: Figure 2.
• Pattern: GFP is expressed in mechanosensory neurons. Prominent expression occurs in ALMLR, PLML/R and AVM, while PVM does not express GFP under the control of the ptl-1 promoter in adult worms. GFP is also expressed in a number of head neurons, neurons along the ventral nerve cord (including DD2, DA3, DB3, DA9, VA3), cells near the vulva (including VC3, VB4) and stomatointestinal muscle.

0 Life Stages

2 Parents

Definition	Name	Synonym	Primary Identifier
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
post-embryonic cell of pedigree P5.aa	P5.aa		WBbt:0007249