Transcription regulatory networks in Caenorhabditis elegans

lsy-12 is maternally required for developmental differentiation of ASEL neurons from ASERs, with lsy-12 mutants having double ASERs and no ASELs; lsy-12 is also zygotically required for normal vulval development, locomotion, egg-laying, fecundity, health, and viability of gravid hermaphrodites; lsy-12(ot171) hermaphrodites bag prematurely, are sickly, and have mildly protruding vulvae, while other lsy-12 mutants display egg-laying defects, protruding vulvae, or low brood sizes; on the basis of its phenotype, lsy-12 is expected to act in concert with CEH-36, DIE-1, LIN-49, LSY-2, and lsy-6 during the lateral specification of ASER/ASEL.