A gene expression fingerprint of C. elegans embryonic motor neurons.
AUTHORS
Fox
RMRebecca M ,
Von Stetina
SE Stephen E ,
Barlow
SJ Susan J ,
Shaffer
C Christian ,
Olszewski
KL Kellen L ,
Moore
JH Jason H ,
Dupuy
D Denis ,
Vidal
M Marc ,
Miller
DM David M .
BMC genomics. 2005 ; 6().
42
- PMID: 15780142[PubMed].
- PMCID: PMC1079822.
ABSTRACT
Differential gene expression specifies the highly diverse cell types that constitute the nervous system. With its sequenced genome and simple, well-defined neuroanatomy, the nematode C. elegans is a useful model system in which to correlate gene expression with neuron identity. The UNC-4 transcription factor is expressed in thirteen embryonic motor neurons where it specifies axonal morphology and synaptic function. These cells can be marked with an unc-4::GFP reporter transgene. Here we describe a powerful strategy, Micro-Array Profiling of C. elegans cells (MAPCeL), and confirm that this approach provides a comprehensive gene expression profile of unc-4::GFP motor neurons in vivo.