Figure 5. Cell-specific expression of
pkc-3gene promoter activity in C. elegans. Lines of transgenic C. elegans carrying the
pkc3P:lacZ reporter gene were created as described under Experimental Procedures and the text of Results. The histochemical stain for β-galactosidase produces an insoluble product in nuclei transcribing the
pkc-3 gene. A shows accumulation of the reporter gene product in hypodermal cells near the tip of the head (a), muscle cells in the anterior (b), and posterior (c) bulbs of the pharynx, and cells comprising the pharyngeal-intestinal valve (d). B, reveals PKC3 promoter activity in the large nuclei of intestinal cells (e). C documents high level
pkc-3 gene transcription in a complex of cells corresponding to the intestinal-rectal valve and the anal depressor and sphincter muscles (f). Lower level activity is detected in nuclei of four hypodermal cells (g) that provide the cuticle and muscle anchorage in the tail region. D demonstrates transcriptional activity of the
pkc-3 gene in vulval cells, which are symmetrically arranged on either side of the vulval opening (h) and somatic cells of the spermatheca (i). C. elegans were photographed using Nomarski optics (magnification = 1000X) as described previously (37, 47).