High-throughput in vivo analysis of gene expression in Caenorhabditis elegans.

• Main Authors: Rebecca Hunt-Newbury, Ryan Viveiros, Robert Johnsen, Allan Mah, Dina Anastas, Lily Fang, Erin Halfnight, David Lee, John Lin, Adam Lorch, Sheldon McKay, H Mark Okada, Jie Pan, Ana K Schulz, Domena Tu, Kim Wong, Z Zhao, Andrey Alexeyenko, Thomas Burglin, Eric Sonnhammer, Ralf Schnabel, Steven J Jones, Marco A Marra, David L Baillie, Donald G Moerman
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2007-09-01
• Series: PLoS Biology
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.0050237

Using DNA sequences 5' to open reading frames, we have constructed green fluorescent protein (GFP) fusions and generated spatial and temporal tissue expression profiles for 1,886 specific genes in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. This effort encompasses about 10% of all genes identified in this organism. GFP-expressing wild-type animals were analyzed at each stage of development from embryo to adult. We have identified 5' DNA regions regulating expression at all developmental stages and in 38 different cell and tissue types in this organism. Among the regulatory regions identified are sequences that regulate expression in all cells, in specific tissues, in combinations of tissues, and in single cells. Most of the genes we have examined in C. elegans have human orthologs. All the images and expression pattern data generated by this project are available at WormAtlas (http://gfpweb.aecom.yu.edu/index) and through WormBase (http://www.wormbase.org).