plx-2 expression occurs predominantly in the nervous system from embryonic to adult stages. The onset of
plx-2 reporter expression coincides with the normal timing of outgrowth or migration (e.g., CAN) of these neurons. Several nonneuronal tissues also express evIs136[
plx-2::gfp] and evIs168[
plx-2(+)::GFP] including gonadal sheath, vulva precursors, and excretory canal. Of most relevance, expression of both the transcriptional and translational reporters occurs throughout a number of stages of sensory ray morphogenesis in the male tail. Expression of the
plx-2 translational reporter evIs168[
plx-2::GFP] is observed during ray morphogenesis at the Rn stage in the early L3 larva in R1, 3, 5, and 7. This reporter continues to express faintly in the Rn.a descendents that form rays 1, 3, 5, and 7 of late L3 larvae, which coincides with the period during which lineally related Rn.a descendants sort from neighboring Rn.a descendants to form distinct rays. However, in mid-L4 larvae, expression appears restricted to the ray structural cell (Rnst) for rays 3, 5, 6, and 7, and this expression continues into the late-L4 larval stage. Ray 1 expression of both reporters is undetectable in late L4 larvae.