CEPsh glia development is not required for general AWC identity or AWC asymmetry.

The VAB-3/Pax6 homeodomain protein was previously shown to play a role in both the development of cephalic sheath (CEPsh) glia and asymmetric differentiation of AWC olfactory neuron subtypes AWC /AWC . Here we show that is not required for the specification of general AWC identity. We also show that some mutant alleles with defective CEPsh glia development displayed wild-type AWC asymmetry. These results suggest that has separable roles in CEPsh glia development and AWC asymmetry. Together, our results suggest that general AWC identity and AWC asymmetry are not dependent on the development of CEPsh glia.