Expr1682
AJM-1 localizes to the apical borders of all C. elegans epithelia. Expression occurs in the embryonic hypodermis, pharynx and intestine, as well as in post-embryonic epithelia, including the vulva, uterus, spermathecae, pharynx, intestine, hindgut, hypodermis and male tail. MH27 staining of embryos expressing HMP-1GFP reveals that AJM-1 occupies an apical domain that is basal to the HMRHMP(cadherincatenin) complex in all epithelial tissues examined. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analysis of embryonic hypodermal cell junctions revealed an apical junctional domain resembling adherens junctions of flies and vertebrates, whereas no morphologically distinct septate or tight junctions are observed. The apicobasal extent of this domain is ~100 nm. Immuno-TEM analysis of hypodermal cells of larvae with the MH27 antibody revealed that AJM-1 specifically localizes to the apical domain.