Figure 3. Expression of the GFP reporter gene in transgenic worms. Transgenic worms carrying different expression plasmids were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde in phosphate-buffered saline. Fluorescence confocal (A, C, E, G, I, K, M, and O) and merged images with phase contrast (B, D, F, H, J, L, N, and P) were acquired.A-D, L2 (A and B) and adult (C and D) worms carrying the
vha-5::GFP plasmid (pHJ-V5P01). The GFP signal was detectable in an H-shaped excretory cell (A andC, white arrowheads) and in the pharynx (A and C, open arrowheads). In adult worms, the GFP fusion gene was also expressed in the hypodermis around the vulva (C, arrow). E-H, L1 (E and F) and adult (G and H) worms harboring the
vha-6::GFP plasmid (pHJ-V6P03). The
vha-6::GFP fusion gene was expressed exclusively in intestinal cells (E and G, arrowheads). I-L, L1 (I and J) and adult (K and L) worms carrying the
vha-7::GFP plasmid (pHJ-V7P01). The
vha-7 promoter region was highly active in hypodermal cells. Nuclei (I, arrowheads) of the hypodermal cells were clearly detectable because the GFP fusion had a nuclear localization signal. The GFP signal was also detectable in the uteri of adult worms but not in embryos. M-P, L1 (M and N) and adult (O and P) worms harboring the
unc-32::GFP plasmid (pHJ-U32P01). In L1 larvae, the
unc-32::GFP gene was highly expressed in the nerve ring (M, arrow) and the ventral nerve cord (M, arrowhead). The signal was clearly observed in the spermathecal-uterine valve, which is located between the uterus and the spermatheca (O, arrowhead). Ph, pharynx; EC, H-shaped excretory cell canal; Vu, vulva; In, intestine;Hy, hypodermal cell; Ut, uterus; NR,nerve ring; VNC, ventral nerve cord; SUV,spermathecal-uterine valve; Sp, spermatheca. Scale bars, 50 μm.