Expression from mid embryo to adult. Mid-embryo expression in two anterior cells. Later expression in one pair of head nerves anterior to posterior pharyngeal bulb with processes that loop ventrally to link to each other and processes to head tip, and also one pair of head nerves within anterior pharyngeal bulb with processes that link to each other. Also one pair of nerves in post anal tail with processes that extend ventrally both posterior and anterior with anterior processes joining. Possibly artifactual expression in intestine.
MUA-3 was not detected at the uterine seam, where the uterus makes indirect IF mediated contact to the cuticle via the seam cells, or in the pharynx, where IF bundles link the basal lamina to the lumenal cuticle.
The C+C enhancer (pOK17.21) activates frequent expression in all pharyngeal muscles. the C+C enhancer also activates expression in non-muscle cells in the pharynx. Expression induced by the C+C enhancer was observed in all pharyngeal cell types including gland cells, neurons and marginal cells as well as muscles. These results define C as an organ-specific subelement.