<i>osm-11</i> Normally Increases Notch Signaling during Vulval Development

<div><p>(A and B) <i>lin-12(lf)</i> is epistatic to <i>osm-11(lf)</i>. <i>lin-12(lf)</i> is the null allele <i>n941</i>; animals carrying this allele have a protruding vulva (pVul; [A]) that is distinct from the defective vulva seen in <i>osm-11(lf)</i> animals (see <a href="http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.0060196#pbio-0060196-g001" target="_blank">Figure 1</a>). <i>lin-12(lf);osm-11(lf)</i> animals were indistinguishable from <i>lin-12(lf)</i> animals (B).</p> <p>(C and D) <i>osm-11(lf)</i> suppresses <i>lin-12(csgf)</i> at 15 °C. <i>lin-12(csgf)</i> is <i>n137n460</i>, a recessive cold-sensitive gain-of-function allele; animals carrying this mutation have multiple pseudovulvae (Muv; [C]). <i>lin-12(csgf);osm-11(lf)</i> animals were significantly less Muv (nonMuv) than <i>lin-12(csgf)</i> animals ([D]; <i>p</i> < 0.05).</p> <p>(E and F) <i>osm-11(lf)</i> does not suppress <i>lin-12(gf)</i>. <i>lin-12(gf)</i> is <i>n137</i>, a dominant gain-of-function allele that is ligand independent; animals carrying this mutation are Muv (E). <i>lin-12(gf);osm-11(lf)</i> animals were indistinguishable from <i>lin-12(gf)</i> animals (F). <i>n</i> > 50 animals were scored for each genotype.</p>