WormBase Tree Display for Expr_pattern: Expr8171

Expr8171 Expression_of: Gene: WBGene00020838
    Reflects_endogenous_expression_of: WBGene00020838
  Expression_data: Life_stage: WBls:0000024
      WBls:0000038
      WBls:0000027
      WBls:0000035
      WBls:0000041
      WBls:0000015
      WBls:0000021
    Anatomy_term: WBbt:0003679 Partial
      WBbt:0004106 Certain
      WBbt:0004108 Certain
      WBbt:0004110 Certain
      WBbt:0004112 Certain
      WBbt:0004114 Certain
      WBbt:0004116 Certain
      WBbt:0004506 Certain
      WBbt:0004520 Certain
      WBbt:0005312 Certain
      WBbt:0005451 Certain
      WBbt:0005753 Certain
      WBbt:0005772 Certain
      WBbt:0005799 Certain
      WBbt:0005800 Certain
      WBbt:0005828 Partial
      WBbt:0006748 Uncertain
        Remark: Cell identity remains unclear.
      WBbt:0006941 Uncertain
  Type: Reporter_gene
  Pattern: Cells with neuronal-like processes were visible immediately after the embryonic stage and remained through the life of the worm. GFP-positive cells were visible in the head anterior and posterior ganglia, which contain most of the C. elegans neurons as well as other associated cells. GFP-positive neuronal-like processes were also found in the nerve ring encircling the isthmus of the pharynx. Whether the GFP-positive cells were indeed neurons could not be determined solely on their localization. However, the finding of GFP-positive processes in the nerve ring suggested that at least some neurons were expressing T27A3.1. When a shorter promoter region, only 2 kb of genomic DNA upstream from the start codon of T27A3.1a, was used to drive the expression of GFP, a similar expression pattern was seen; however, fewer GFP-expressing neurons were visible. This data suggest that the larger 4-kb promoter region contains regulatory elements necessary for specific neuronal expression that are not contained within the smaller 2-kb promoter segment.
    Each transgenic line displayed similar expression patterns. GFP expression was visible late in embryogenesis but before morphogenesis and continued through the larval stages into adulthood. In adults, expression was found in a variety of cell types: GFP was found in the cells of the pharynx, in the epithelial cells of the intestine, in the seam cells that line the sides of the worm, in cells of the vulval region, in the somatic gonads, and in cells of the tail region.
    In males, GFP expression was found in the bilateral sensory rays and in the spicules.
    In the pharyngeal bulbs, the morphology and striated appearance of GFP-positive cells is consistent with muscle cell characteristics. In the vulval region, the GFP-positive cells did not appear to be neurons or muscle cells, and their identity remains unclear. In the gonads, GFP expression was visible in the distal tip cell (DTC), as well as in the distal sheath cell pair 1 that can be identified by its fish-net-like appearance. In the tail, GFP-positive cells most likely include the rectal gland cells, the rectum epithelial cells, and phasmid sheath cells (Phsh) and socket cells (Phso1 and 2).
  Remark: Picture: Figure 3.
  Reference: WBPaper00031987
  Transgene: WBTransgene00030358