WormMine: ExpressionPattern Expr8171

• Pattern: Cells with neuronal-like processes were visible immediately after the embryonic stage and remained through the life of the worm. GFP-positive cells were visible in the head anterior and posterior ganglia, which contain most of the C. elegans neurons as well as other associated cells. GFP-positive neuronal-like processes were also found in the nerve ring encircling the isthmus of the pharynx. Whether the GFP-positive cells were indeed neurons could not be determined solely on their localization. However, the finding of GFP-positive processes in the nerve ring suggested that at least some neurons were expressing T27A3.1. When a shorter promoter region, only 2 kb of genomic DNA upstream from the start codon of T27A3.1a, was used to drive the expression of GFP, a similar expression pattern was seen; however, fewer GFP-expressing neurons were visible. This data suggest that the larger 4-kb promoter region contains regulatory elements necessary for specific neuronal expression that are not contained within the smaller 2-kb promoter segment. Each transgenic line displayed similar expression patterns. GFP expression was visible late in embryogenesis but before morphogenesis and continued through the larval stages into adulthood. In adults, expression was found in a variety of cell types: GFP was found in the cells of the pharynx, in the epithelial cells of the intestine, in the seam cells that line the sides of the worm, in cells of the vulval region, in the somatic gonads, and in cells of the tail region. In males, GFP expression was found in the bilateral sensory rays and in the spicules. In the pharyngeal bulbs, the morphology and striated appearance of GFP-positive cells is consistent with muscle cell characteristics. In the vulval region, the GFP-positive cells did not appear to be neurons or muscle cells, and their identity remains unclear. In the gonads, GFP expression was visible in the distal tip cell (DTC), as well as in the distal sheath cell pair 1 that can be identified by its fish-net-like appearance. In the tail, GFP-positive cells most likely include the rectal gland cells, the rectum epithelial cells, and phasmid sheath cells (Phsh) and socket cells (Phso1 and 2).
• Primary Identifier: Expr8171
• Remark: Picture: Figure 3.

18 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
female genital.	vulva		WBbt:0006748
type of cells that make up muscle layers in the pharynx.	pharyngeal muscle cell		WBbt:0005451
Posterior distal tip cell, inhibit meiosis in neighbouring germ cells, lead gonad during morphogenesis, herm gonad	posterior distal tip cell	gon herm dtc P	WBbt:0004506
Anterior distal tip cell, inhibit meiosis in neighbouring germ cells, lead gonad during morphogenesis, herm gonad	anterior distal tip cell	gon herm dtc A	WBbt:0004520
Major cell type of nervous tissue, specialized for transmission of information in the form of patterns of impulses.	neuron	neurone	WBbt:0003679
a group of hypodermal cells that lie along the apical midline of the hypodermis, at the extreme left and right sides between nose and tail	seam cell	lateral hypodermis	WBbt:0005753
Post-embryonic cell of pedigree TR.paa. phasmid sockets.	PHso1R	lineage name: TR.paa	WBbt:0004110
Post-embryonic cell of pedigree TL.pap, phasmid sockets.	PHso2L	lineage name: TL.pap	WBbt:0004108
Post-embryonic cell of pedigree TR.pap, phasmid sockets.	PHso2R	lineage name: TR.pap	WBbt:0004106
Post-embryonic cell of pedigree TL.paa, phasmid sockets.	PHso1L	lineage name: TL.paa	WBbt:0004112
	rectal gland cell		WBbt:0005799
	copulatory spicule		WBbt:0005312
five pairs of thin gonadal sheath cells form a single layer covering the germ line component of each arm, each pair occupying a stereotyped position along the gonad proximal-distal axis.	gonadal sheath cell		WBbt:0005828
epithelium connecting intestine and anus.	rectal epithelium		WBbt:0005800
male sensory organ; nine bilateral pairs of finger-like rays (numbered 1 to 9, Left/Right) radiate from the tail and are embedded in a cuticlar fan.	ray	male sensory ray	WBbt:0006941
Phasmid sheath	PHshR	lineage name: ABprpppapaa	WBbt:0004114
Phasmid sheath	PHshL	lineage name: ABplpppapaa	WBbt:0004116

1 Genes

WormBase Gene ID	Gene Name	Sequence Name	Organism
WBGene00020838	trak-1	T27A3.1	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