Figure 1
Tubulin glutamylation in C. elegans sensory cilia is modulated by the environment. (a) Schematic diagram of a worm head that illustrates the positions of the ciliated cell bodies (right) and their ending (left). (b–g) Results of immunohistochemical analysis of the C. elegans head (around tip of nose) using GT335, which recognises glutamylated tubulin. Signals can be observed in the cilia of amphid, inner labial, and outer labial neurons. Signal intensities were compared between control (b) and worms exposed to environmental stimuli (c–g). (h) Quantified result of tubulin glutamylation described in (b–g). All stimuli except physical vibration induced a significant increase in tubulin glutamylation. Asterisks (*p < 0.01, Student’s t test) and double asterisks (**p < 0.001, Student’s t test) indicate significant differences as compared with the wild-type. Environmental stimuli of “heat”, “cold”, “osmotic”, and “starvation” but not of “shake” induced a significant increase in glutamylation. Numbers of animals scored are indicated (h, bottom). Bars indicate mean ± S.E. Scale bars = 5 μm.
