Wild-type LIT-1::GFP expression was greatly diminished in
daf-12 mutant worms (
rh61rh412). Pharyngeal expression was abrogated in constructs bearing the 4.2
m11m31 mutations. DAF-12 probably binds to a DR5 element within 4.2 and activates LIT-1 gene expression in the C. elegans pharynx. Strikingly, the LIT-1::GFP construct with the 4.2
m11m31 mutant response element produced increased GFP expression in seam and vulva cells at larval stage 4 (L4) in wild-type animals, compared with the wild-type 4.2 construct. Elevated expression was also observed when the wild-type LIT-1::GFP construct was microinjected into the
daf-12 (
rh61rh412) mutant strain.