Figure 7.

Partial depletion of NMY-1 and NMY-2 results in phenotypes similar to model predictions. (A) Ring channel diameters do not change during an empty vector RNAi treatment time course. The graph of ring channel opening diameters (mean ± SD) shows that the size is maintained as the worms age (0–24 h) and is similar to that observed in asynchronous worms (48 h; n > 10 ring channels from at least two worms for each time point). (B) Graph of ring channel diameters (mean ± SD) during gradual depletion of type-II myosins NMY-1 (white diamonds) and NMY-2 (gray diamonds) by RNAi treatment for the times indicated. EV is the empty vector control, which results in no depletion of protein (black diamonds, line). EV data were repeated for 0–24 h from (A); n > 50 ring channels from at least seven worms for 8–24 h myosin RNAi; 0 h data are from independent experiments (n > 40 ring channels from at least four worms). (C) Fluorescent micrographs of representative sections of gonad for each treatment and time point. GFP::PH marks the membranes of primordial germ cells. All images are oriented with the rachis at the top, showing a single focal plane at the maximum diameter of the opening for the cells in view. The measured ring channel openings are indicated for clarity (white bars). The scale bar at bottom right applies to all of the images and is 5 μm in length.