FIGURE 2:

lst-4(tm2423) and snx-1(tm847) mutants are specifically defective in the degradation of cell corpses. (A) Diagram illustrating GFP::RAB-7 (P_ced-1 gfp::rab-7) as a reporter for monitoring the degradation of cell corpses and the recruitment of RAB-7 onto phagosomes. (B) The epifluorecent image of a ∼330-min-old embryo. Arrows indicate the C1, C2, and C3 cell corpses. Engulfing cell of each cell corpse was outlined. Scale bar, 10 μm. (C–F) Time-lapse images of phagosome maturation in wild-type or mutant embryos expressing P_ced-1 gfp::rab-7. “0 min” represents the time points when phagosomes were just sealed. Scale bars, 2 μm. (G) Histogram distribution of phagosome durations measured from the formation of a nascent phagosome until it was degraded. n, number of phagosomes C1, C2, and C3 scored. (H) The temporal enrichment pattern of GFP::RAB-7 on maturing phagosomes containing somatic cell corpses. Bars depict the duration of phagosomes, and dark and light green colors indicate the duration of the strong and weak signals of GFP::RAB-7 detected on phagosomes. n, number of phagosomes C1, C2, and C3 scored. (I) DIC (a–c) and GFP (d–f) images of adult hermaphrodite gonads expressing GFP::RAB-7 in gonadal sheath cells. Arrows and arrowheads indicated GFP::RAB-7(+) and (−) phagosomes, respectively. The inset in (e) is a serial z-section of the boxed area showing that the cell corpse in the images was fully internalized. Dorsal is to the top. Scale bars, 20 μm. (J) Percentage of engulfed germ cell corpses scored using GFP::RAB-7 as a phagosome marker in adult hermaphrodites at 48 h post-L4 stage. Data are presented as mean ± SD. Fifteen animals were scored for each sample. (K) Percentage of GFP::RAB-7(+) phagosomes in adult hermaphrodites at 48 h post-L4 stage. Data are presented as mean ± SD. Fifteen animals were scored for each sample.