HIS-24 and HPL-1/-2 depletion results in abnormal somatic gonad development and reduction of chromatin compaction.

(A–D) Normal U-shaped form of gonad arm of wild type, his-24 or hpl-1 single, and hpl-2; his-24 double mutants. (E) hpl-1his-24 mutant animal demonstrates aberrant loop form of gonad arm. (F–K) DAPI stained gonad arms of his-24, hil-3 or hpl-2 single and hpl-2; his-24 or hpl-2; hil-3 double mutants. Stars point to pachytene stage germ nuclei. Scale bar: 10 µm. (L, M) Morphology of pachytene stage nuclei of the germ line of hpl-2 mutant animals compared to the nuclei of hpl-2; his-24 double mutants. Scale bar: 7.5 µm.