e120 : large healthy active moves forward well cannot back; ventral cord VA motoneurons have normal anatomy but synaptic inputs appropriate to VB motoneurons. ES3 ME0. NA5 (e26 etc.).
See also e2151, e2152, e2314, wd1
[C.elegansII] e120 : large, healthy, active, moves forward well but cannot back; ventral cord VA motoneurons have normal anatomy but most have synaptic inputs appropriate to VB motoneurons. ES3 ME1. OA>15: e26, e2151, e2308, e2320 (deletion null,resembles e120), e2322ts (TSP L2-L3),wd1 etc. See also unc-37. Cloned: rare 1.2 kb transcript, encodes homeoprotein (pka ceh-4); unc-4:lacZ expressed in VA but not VB motor neurons. [White et al. 1992; Miller et al. 1992; NC]
The unc-4 gene encodes a paired-class homeodomain protein with homologs in Drosophila and vertebrates; UNC-4 is required for establishing the identity of the A class motor neurons DA and VA, and is thus required for movement, axon guidance, and synapse formation; UNC-4 is negatively regulated by VAB-7, and UNC-4 activity requires UNC-37; unc-4 is expressed in the A-type motor neurons, DA and VA, the six VC motor neurons that innervate the vulval muscles, and the three SAB motor neurons; unc-4 is also expressed in the pharyngeal I5 motor neuron and the AVF neurons in the retrovesicular ganglion.
Enables DNA-binding transcription factor activity. Involved in several processes, including negative regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase II; nervous system development; and synaptic vesicle transport. Located in axon and nucleus. Expressed in I5 neuron; cholinergic neurons; and somatic nervous system.