In wild- type mid L3 larvae, authors observed a peak of EGL-17::CFP expression after vulval induction in the primary descendants of P6.p. By contrast,
erm-1(
tm677) mutants showed a gradual decrease rather than an increase in EGL-17::CFP expression after vulval induction. Thus, ERM-1 is required for the generation of a long-lasting RAS/MAPK signal in the primary vulval cells after fate specification has occurred.