small-scale-extraction-of-caenorhabditis-elegans-genomic-dna

Small-Scale Extraction of <em>Caenorhabditis elegans</em> Genomic DNA

Genomic DNA extraction from single or a few Caenorhabditis elegans has many downstream applications, including PCR for genotyping lines, cloning, and ...

Texas Woman’s University

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathways control many developmental and homeostatic processes, including cell size and extracellular matrix remodeling. An understanding of how this pathway itself is controlled remains incomplete. To identify novel regulators of BMP signaling, we performed a forward genetic screen in  for genes involved in body size regulation, a trait under the control of BMP member DBL-1. We isolated mutations that suppress the long phenotype of , a gene that encodes a negative regulator that sequesters DBL-1. This screen was effective because we isolated alleles of several core components of the DBL-1 pathway, demonstrating the efficacy of the screen. We found additional alleles of previously identified but uncloned body size genes. Our screen also identified widespread involvement of extracellular matrix proteins in DBL-1 regulation of body size. We characterized interactions between the DBL-1 pathway and extracellular matrix and other genes that affect body morphology. We discovered that loss of some of these genes affects the DBL-1 pathway, and we provide evidence that DBL-1 signaling affects many molecular and cellular processes associated with body size. We propose a model in which multiple body size factors are controlled by signaling through the DBL-1 pathway and by DBL-1-independent processes.

Genetic interactions between the DBL-1/BMP-like pathway and  body size-associated genes in .

Caenorhabditis elegans egg-laying and brood-size changes upon exposure to Serratia marcescens and Staphylococcus epidermidis are independent of DBL-1 signaling.

Animals counter specific environmental challenges with a combination of broad and tailored host responses. One protein family enlisted in the innate immune response includes the saposin-like antimicrobial proteins. We investigated the expression of a Caenorhabditis elegans saposin-like gene, spp-9, in response to different stresses. spp-9 expression was detected in the intestine and six amphid neurons, including AWB and AWC. spp-9 expression is increased in response to starvation stress. In addition, we discovered pathogen-specific regulation of spp-9 that was not clearly demarcated by Gram nature of the bacterial challenge. Multiple molecular innate immune response pathways, including DBL-1/TGF-β-like, insulin-like, and p38/MAPK, regulate expression of spp-9. Our results suggest spp-9 is involved in targeted responses to a variety of abiotic and bacterial challenges that are coordinated by multiple signaling pathways.

Article	Year
Genetic interactions between the DBL-1/BMP-like pathway and body size-associated genes in . Molecular biology of the cell\| PubMed ID: 31693440	2019
Caenorhabditis elegans egg-laying and brood-size changes upon exposure to Serratia marcescens and Staphylococcus epidermidis are independent of DBL-1 signaling. microPublication biology\| PubMed ID: 32550478	2019
Caenorhabditis elegans saposin-like spp-9 is involved in specific innate immune responses. Genes and immunity\| PubMed ID: 32770079	2020

Bhoomi Madhu

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