In wild-type animals,
lin-28::gfp is expressed in L1 larvae, is detectable but diminished in L2 larvae and is almost undetectable from the L3 stage onwards. However, in
sea-2 mutants high levels of LIN-28::GFP persisted in the head and tail at the L3 and L4 larval stages. The reporter also showed expression in seam cells in 87.5% of
sea-2 mutant L3 larvae, whereas its expression was not detected in seam cells in wild type L3 larvae. In wild-type animals, LIN-28 protein was present at the L1 larval stage, but was greatly reduced at the L3 larval stage. In
sea-2 mutants, levels of LIN-28 remained high in L3 larvae.