Figure 1

Reduction of YFP expression in 128Q; rff-3 nematodes treated with RNAi against GFP. Following incubation of ID447 L1 larvae with bacteria expressing either empty vector (pL4440) or RNAi against GFP (pL4417) until F1 young adults are produced, YFP levels in PLM touch receptor cells were measured by image analysis, and YFP mRNA levels were measured by qRT-PCR from whole animals. (A) Representative image showing YFP expression (pseudocolored in green) in animals treated with empty vector. The name of the mec-7p target cells is indicated. The insert shows a closer view of the left (PLMl) and right (PLMr) PLM cell. (B) Representative image showing reduced YFP expression in animals treated with RNAi against GFP. The yellow arrow indicates natural auto-fluorescence of the gut granules. This fluorescence is also present in the control animals and works as an internal control of light intensity, showing that pictures were collected in the confocal microscope under the same conditions. The insert shows a closer view of PLM cell left (PLMl) and right (PLMr). (C) YFP mRNA levels are reduced by treatment with pL4417. Data are means ± SE (n = 5). ***P < 0.001 compared to pL4440. (D) YFP expression levels in PLM cells are reduced by treatment with pL4417. Data are means ± SEM (n = 3) as compiled from greater than 70 animals/experiment. ***P < 0.001 compared to pL4440. Scale bar is 100 μm in all panels.