Ellis et al. placed engulfment mutants into two classes based on complementation: one defined by
ced-1,
ced-6, and
ced-7; the second by
ced-2,
ced-5, and
ced-10 (1). Our studies of programmed cell death in the germline of C. elegans agree with their categorization, and we suggest that
ced-2,
ced-5, and
ced-10 may be involved in more general processes. In addition, a novel engulfment gene,
ced-12 (defined by its allele
oz167), belongs in the same class as
ced-2,
ced-5, and
ced-10. The two major adult phenotypes of this class of animals are persistent corpses in the germline and gonad arms which have migrated erratically in a large percentage of hermaphrodites. The migration effect affects male gonads as well (males do not have germ cell death). Also, many hermaphrodite gonad arms have a bulge or even an additional, smaller arm extending from them. Another observation is that gonad arms may rupture in both sexes, especially in aberrantly migrated gonads. In addition, hermaphrodites occasionally burst at the vulva. Some animals die early in adulthood, creating bags-of-worms. A small percentage of animals are Unc or Dpy.
ced-2(
e1752) male tails appear to have unregressed cell processes between rays, but another
ced-2 allele (
n1995) has no effect on the male tail. Sperm were frequently found in the arm of the gonad, outside the spermatheca. Also, some
ced-2 and
ced-10 mutant animals were purged of sperm in at least one gonad arm by 36 hours into adulthood, while N2 were fertile 60 hours after the last molt. Sperm activation by monensin may indicate whether these defects are due to decreased motility of sperm or reduced ability of sperm to interact with matrix. (1)Ellis et al. (1991). Genetics 129: 79-94.