Fig. 1: Profiling matrisome functions in the C. elegans germ line.

a Experimental protocol for short-term RNAi-mediated silencing of matrisome genes and analysis of germline phenotypes. b Number of defects observed for each matrisome knockdown (0–4 phenotypes/per gene). Location of germline defects following RNAi-mediated gene silencing (distal, pachytene, oocyte regions (c) and/or gonad (d). Local defects identified at one location, and global defects at multiple germline regions or caused defects in gonad morphology. Number of genes generating the indicated defect after RNAi is shown. e Heatmap showing the number (bands/lane) and severity (defect score) of phenotypes after matrisome gene silencing. Each band in lanes represents a single gene. Defects are labeled as, i—PZ cell number, ii—TZ cell number, iii—multinucleated cell at pachytene, iv—apoptosis at late pachytene, v—defective oocyte morphology, vi—oocyte blebbing, vii—multinucleated oocytes, viii—gonad defects. Defect score shows the severity of the defect. f Correlation analysis of germline expression pattern and phenotypes of matrisome genes. Bar graph shows percentage of expressed genes at a specific germline region (distal, pachytene or oocyte) that generate RNAi knockdown phenotypes at the same region. Table showing the percentage of total genes with phenotypes and/or expression in a specific region. Heatmaps show the germline expressed matrisome genes that generate at least one phenotype after knockdown in the region of expression. Top heat map—expression level. Bottom heat map—specific defects. Germline schematic shows the location of expression. Defects are numbered as in (e). Supplementary data associated to Fig. 1—Supplementary Figs. 1 and 2, and Supplementary Data 1, 3 and 4.