Visualizing the organization and differentiation of the male-specific nervous system of C. elegans

• DOI: 10.1242/dev.199687
• Publication Date: 2021-08-20T12:45:06Z
• Authors: Tessa Tekieli; Eviatar Yemini; Amin Nejatbakhsh; Chen Wang; Erdem Varol; Robert W. Fernandez; Neda Masoudi; Liam Paninski; Oliver Hobert
• Keywords: Sexual Differentiation

Sex differences in the brain are prevalent throughout animal kingdom and particularly well appreciated nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, where male animals contain a little-studied set of 93 male-specific neurons. To make these neurons amenable for future study, we describe here how multicolor reporter transgene, NeuroPAL, is capable visualizing distinct identities all We used NeuroPAL to visualize characterize number features nervous system. provide several proofs concept using identify sites expression gfp-tagged genes cellular fate analysis by analyzing effect removal developmental patterning on neuronal identity acquisition. use its intrinsic cohort more than 40 differentiation markers show that, even though generated four larval stages, they execute their terminal program coordinated manner fourth stage. This wave differentiation, which call 'just-in-time' couples maturation programs with appearance sexual organs.