Figure 2
Genetic interaction between zfp-2 and lin-35 Rb. (A) Double inactivation of zfp-2 and lin-35 causes sterility. Total numbers of progeny were counted for 77 single lin-35(n2239); zfp-2(tm557) hermaphrodites. For other genotypes, total progeny of 6 to 12 single hermaphrodites were counted. Error bars indicate standard deviation.(B-H) Somatic gonad defects in animals deficient for zfp-2 and lin-35. (B) Simplified scheme representing the lineage of Z1 through larval stages, which it is one of the two precursors of the somatic gonad. (ant: anterior, post: posterior, SS: sheath/spermathecal precursor, DU and VU: dorsal and ventral uterine precursors). (C) Detail of WT proximal hermaphrodite gonad. White arrowheads point to spermatocytes and spermatids in panels C-F. (D) Detail of sterile lin-35(n2239); zfp-2(tm557) adult hermaphrodite with defective spermatheca and uterus. Some sperm precursors, spermatocytes and spermatids, are misplaced. (E) Expression of fkh-6::GFP in lin-35 (RNAi) animals. Sperm precursors are properly located. (F) Expression of fkh-6::GFP in lin-35(RNAi); zfp-2(tm557) animals. Sperm precursors are misplaced. Expression of fkh-6 is required for normal differentiation of the spermatheca and uterus [60] and appears normal, indicating that cell specification is initiated. (G) Defect in Distal Tip Cell migration in lin-35(n2239); zfp-2(tm557) animal. (H) lin-35(n2239); zfp-2(tm557) adult, DNA stained with DAPI. Note aberrant turn of one gonad arm (*), endomitotic oocytes (Emo) (arrow) and polyploid somatic nuclei (arrowheads). Proper proximal gonad structures such as spermatheca are missing. Lower left: High magnification of the bracketed area. Note misplaced sperm (small and intense blue spots).