WormMine: ExpressionPattern Expr2706

• Pattern: Expression of GEM-4::GFP within Z1 and Z4 becomes progressively more difficult to detect as the animals progress through L1 and is not detectable within the progeny of Z1 and Z4. GEM-4::GFP expresion within somatic gonadal tissues does not resume until early adulthood. At this point, GEM-4::GFP becomes strongly expressed within the distal spermathecal cells, the spermathecal valve cells, and the uterine epithelial cells. GEM-4::GFP is broadly expressed in embryos that have several hundred cells and continues to be expressed in most cells as the embryo undergoes elongation. In newly hatched L1s, GEM-4::GFP is expressed in the precursors of the somatic gonad (Z1 and Z4), the pharyngo-intestinal valve cells, the intestinal cells, and the head mesodermal cell (the sister of Z4). The germline precursors, Z2 and Z3, also appear to be outlined in some animals; however, it is not clear whether this is due to expression within the germ cells themselves or whether it results from extensions of the plasma membranes of Z1 and Z4.
• Primary Identifier: Expr2706
• Subcellular Localization: In cells that express GEM-4::GFP, fluorescence is typically brightest at the plasma membrane. In some cases, punctate staining is also evident within the cytoplasm, possibly due to association with vesicular structures.

10 Anatomy Terms

Definition	Name	Synonym	Primary Identifier
A valve tissue that connects the spermatheca and the uterus of a hermaphrodite gonad.	spermathecal-uterine junction	sp-ut valve	WBbt:0006756
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 group of six equivalent cells forms a tightly constructed `valve` that links the posterior bulb of the pharynx to the anterior four cells of the intestine. These six cells comprise a small epithelial channel with a cuticular lining in continuity with the pharyngeal cuticle and link the lumen of the pharynx to the large lumen of the anterior intestine.	pharyngeal-intestinal valve	cardia	WBbt:0005767
an accordion-like tube that contains sperm and is the site of oocyte fertilization.	spermatheca		WBbt:0005319
Head mesodermal cell, function unknown	head mesodermal cell	hmc	WBbt:0004697
toroidal epithelial cell that make up the bulk of the uterus, four cells anterior and four cells posterior to the vulva.	uterine toroidal epithelial cell	ut cell	WBbt:0006784
Somatic gonad precursor cell	Z1	lineage name: MSpppaap	WBbt:0004577
Somatic gonad precursor cell	Z4	lineage name: MSappaap	WBbt:0004574
Germ line precursor cell	Z3	lineage name: P4.a	WBbt:0004575
Germ line precursor cell	Z2	lineage name: P4.p	WBbt:0004576

1 Genes

WormBase Gene ID	Gene Name	Sequence Name	Organism
WBGene00001577	gem-4	T12A7.1	Caenorhabditis elegans

6 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 whole period of embryogenesis in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, from the formation of an egg until hatching.		embryo Ce	WBls:0000003