I have a gene (such as ear-1) and made a transcription reporter strain using its own promoter ear-1p::gfp. EAR-1 is normally expressed in the somatic gonad, sensory neurons, and interneurons (totally around 10 neurons). When exposed ear-1p::gfp strain to pathogen A, I noticed only five neurons having EAR-1::GFP expression. I wonder how to interpret the result.
Does the result suggest that the five neurons are activated in response to pathogen A?
Does this result suggest the five neurons might be involved in the response to pathogen A?
Do I need to do a) individual neuron rescue in ear-1 mutant background and b) individual neuron ablation to determine if they indeed are involved in the response to pathogen infection?
Your inputs to my questions are highly appreciated.
it almost slipped through…could of left it…buuuuuuuut.
Are you actually talking about ear-1 or a mystery gene that ‘sounds’ like / ‘acts’ like /is ‘structurally’ similar to ear-1?
If it is ear-1 / E75 / nhr-85 you are talking about, then its expression pattern is in any case different to what you describe. If it isn’t ear-1 then the next few comments are just as relevant.
If you DON#T mean ear-1 then:
General: you see 5 out of the 10 (reported) neurons lighting up: how many worms did you observe, were they all the same age, did you observe worms from different orientations?
1. Does the result suggest that the five neurons are activated in response to pathogen A?
Given you normally see 10, then seeing 5 suggests (all other considerations listed above taken into account) that 5 neurons are switched off doesn’t it? :-\
2. Does this result suggest the five neurons might be involved in the response to pathogen A?
no
3. Do I need to do a) individual neuron rescue in ear-1 mutant background and b) individual neuron ablation to determine if they indeed are involved in the response to pathogen infection?
no, you need to rethink what you are asking / doing / thinking.