Figure 1. Genetic Model of Somatic Sex Determination in C. elegans, and TRA-1 Localization in Males and Hermaphrodites. (A) Simplified representation of the genetic pathway that regulates somatic sex determination. Barred lines indicate negative interactions, and arrows indicate positive interactions. The X/A ratio regulates X chromosome dosage compensation and sex determination via
xol-1 and the sdc genes. The pathway branches at the sdc genes, and only downstream genes involved in sex determination are shown. (See Meyer, 1997 for a review.)(B-I) (B, D, F, and G) Differential interference contrast micrographs and (C, E, H, and I) TRA-1 immunofluorescence of adult nematodes: (B and C)
tra-1; eDp6[
tra-1(+)] XX hermaphrodite and (D and E) a
tra-1(null) mutant XX pseudomale sibling; (F and H)
tra-1(+) XX hermaphrodite and (G and I) a
tra-1(+) XO male sibling. Exposure times in (C) and (E) are identical, as are exposure times in (H) and (I).(J and K) DAPI staining of the animals in (F) and (G).