WormMine: ExpressionPattern Expr2823

• Pattern: VAB-19::GFP was first detected in embryos at the onset of elongation. At this stage, VAB-19::GFP localization was diffuse in dorsal and ventral, but not in lateral, epidermal cells. During early elongation, VAB-19::GFP started to accumulate in muscle-adjacent regions of dorsal and ventral epidermal cells. During intermediate stages of elongation, VAB-19::GFP became localized to the parts of the epidermis adjacent to body wall muscles. Finally, during the late elongation, larval and adult stages, VAB-19::GFP localized to circumferential bands in epidermis adjacent to muscles and to mechanosensory neuron processes. Within these regions, the pattern of circumferential bands is interrupted by gaps where other neuronal processes intervene between muscles and the epidermis. This pattern of localization of VAB-19::GFP resembles that of epidermal attachment structures. VAB-19::GFP was also expressed in pharyngeal marginal cells. In contrast to Myotactin, which is localized to the outer basal surface of marginal cells, VAB-19::GFP was localized throughout the apical-basal axis, although it was concentrated at the apical and basal surfaces.
• Primary Identifier: Expr2823
• Remark: Transgenes containing the VAB-19 cDNA under the control of the ajm-1 promoter, which is expressed in the epidermis and other epithelial tissues but not in muscles, also fully rescued vab-19 phenotypes, consistent with VAB-19 functioning in epidermal cells.
• Subcellular Localization: Attachment structures contain several intermediate filament (IF) proteins, some of which are recognized by monoclonal antibody MH4. During early elongation, MH4 staining accumulated in a single patch in dorsal epidermal cells, whereas VAB-19::GFP remained diffuse. During the intermediate elongation stage, VAB-19::GFP and MH4 staining displayed more extensive colocalization. During later elongation and afterwards, VAB-19::GFP and MH4 staining fully co-localized to circumferential bands. The transmembrane protein Myotactin maintains localization of attachment structures to muscle-adjacent parts of the epidermis. Myotactin itself initially localizes to muscle-adjacent regions of the epidermis and later becomes organized into attachment structures. VAB-19::GFP colocalized with Myotactin before the twofold stage. Both Myotactin and VAB-19::GFP localized to circumferential bands. These bands are interrupted by gaps where neuronal processes intervene between muscle and epidermis. In contrast to Myotactin or VAB-19::GFP, MH4 staining is present or enhanced at such positions. These differences suggest that VAB-19 does not colocalize with all epidermal IFs but only those associated with muscle adjacent attachment structures.

2 Anatomy Terms

Definition	Name	Synonym	Primary Identifier
Epidermal layer.	hypodermis	epidermis	WBbt:0005733
a type of pharyngeal cell that connects basement membrane to the apices of triangle-shaped pharyngeal lumen.	marginal cell		WBbt:0003673

1 Genes

WormBase Gene ID	Gene Name	Sequence Name	Organism
WBGene00006882	vab-19	T22D2.1	Caenorhabditis elegans

7 Life Stages

Remark	Definition	Other Name	Public Name	Primary Identifier
	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 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 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