Using transcriptional reporters, we found that the
nrf-5 promoter (Pnrf-5) drove expression in body wall muscle cells. We also generated NRF-5 translational fusions with or without the secretion signal (Pnrf-5ssGFP::mNRF-5 and Pnrf-5GFP::mNRF-5). Secreted GFP::mNRF-5 (ssGFP::mNRF-5) displayed a diffuse staining pattern and associated with the basal surface of pharyngeal cells and the basal-lateral membranes of the intestine, whereas nonsecretory GFP::mNRF-5 labeled body wall muscle cells but not the intestine. These results suggest that NRF-5 is synthesized in and secreted from muscle cells to recognize apoptotic cells and associate with the basal surface of pharyngeal and intestine cells.