Which cells contribute to anchor cell formation in C. elegans?
Somatic gonad precursors define anchor cell formation. In early L2, gonadal cells Z1 and Z4 divide to generate somatic and germline lineages. Their somatic daughters Z1.ppp and Z4.aaa retain equipotential, undergoing Notch-mediated lateral competition via LIN-12 and LAG-2. One cell maintains high LIN-12 activity becoming ventral uterine precursor, other downregulates LIN-12 becoming anchor cell expressing lag-2 and lin-3. Ablation studies show either Z1.ppp or Z4.aaa can become AC, demonstrating equivalence. VPCs and AB lineages do not contribute. This bipotential origin ensures single AC to induce vulva and later fuse for uterine-vulval connection.
Ref: Kimble & Hirsh 1979; WormBook Gonad Development: Anchor cell formation from Z1.ppp and Z4.aaa cells.