Transgenic animals carrying an
oig-1 fosmid-based reporter construct showed expression both in the DD and VD motor neurons (MN), but no other ventral nerve cord MNs. Notably, expression of
oig-1 in the D-type MNs is temporally controlled in a manner that correlates with the distinct periods of inhibition of dorsal muscle innervation exhibited by DD and VD neurons.
oig-1 is transiently expressed in the DD neurons during the time when no dorsal synapses are formed (embryos and L1), but is downregulated in the DD neurons upon formation of their dorsal synapses (L2 and later). In contrast, expression of
oig-1 in the VD neurons, which have processes but no synaptic outputs in the dorsal cord, is continuously maintained throughout the life of the neuron.