The expression pattern of
lin-3 in wild-type animals was determined at the late L2 to early L3 stage when vulval induction occurs. Robust expression of
lin-3 was observed in the anchor cell and throughout the pharynx. Expression of
lin-3 was also seen in the germline. In some wild-type animals a few copies of
lin-3 mRNA were seen in one or more cells in the tail, on the ventral side slightly anterior to the anus. In addition, a few copies of
lin-3 mRNA were seen on the ventral side of the animal, slightly behind the posterior gonad arm. We imaged several animals that were slightly older, in the late L3 stage, and observed expression of several copies of
lin-3 mRNA in the region where P6.p and its descendants are located (data not shown). We did not consistently detect any
lin-3 mRNA in other tissues, although in some animals we observed a single
lin-3 mRNA molecule elsewhere (e.g. in or near an intestinal cell).