Table 1.
Expression of lacZ reporters in body wall muscle
| Construct | Percent F1 transformants expressing β-galactosidase in body wall muscle*
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Wild type (N2) | OK0027† | |
| B sub-element∷lacZ | 2.5% (n = 118) | 16.5% (n = 151) |
| ceh-22∷lacZ | ND | 0% (n = 69) |
lacZ reporters were injected into the germ line of adult hermaphrodites, and the entire F1 brood was stained to detect β-galactosidase expression (21). Using this “F1 expression assay,” both reporters are strongly expressed in pharyngeal muscle (14). The total number of F1 transformants (n), recognized by pharyngeal expression of β-galactosidase, was counted, and they were then examined for ectopic β-galactosidase expression in body wall muscle.
The unc-54∷nkx2.5 fusion in strain OK 0027 is maintained as an extrachromosomal array that is segregated to 55% of F1 progeny; therefore, approximately 30% of the F1 transformants bearing the unc-54∷nkx2.5 fusion express B sub-element∷lacZ in body wall muscle.