Name: basic caenorhabditis elegans methods: synchronization and observation
Uploaded: 2012-06-10T14:00:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Basic Caenorhabditis elegans Methods: Synchronization and Observation at JoVE.com

Authors would like to acknowledge MICINN (PTA program supporting Montserrat Porta de la Riva), AGAUR (Phd Fellowship to Laura Fontrodona), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Miguel Servet program supporting Juli&aacute;n Cer&oacute;n), and Marie Curie IRG, ISCIII and IDIBELL for financing the lab.

1. Protocol A: Culturing Worms for Bleaching 11
Large populations of C. elegans can be obtained by culturing them either in liquid media or on solid media in plates. They are usually grown on solid NGM (Nematode Growth Media) and fed with E. coli bacteria, which is added to the plates either alive or dead (killed by UV12, by heat13 or by cold14). The most common procedure uses live OP50 E. coli, which is defective in the syn...

<ol>
	<li>Brenner, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+genetics+of+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">The genetics of Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> Genetics. 77, 71-94 (1974).</li><li>Wood, W. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. , (1988).</li><li>Potts, M. B., Cameron, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cell+lineage+and+cell+death:+Caenorhabditis+elegans+and+cancer+research.">Cell lineage and cell death: Caenorhabditis elegans and cancer research.</a> Nat. Rev. Cancer. 11, 50-58 (2011).</li><li>Kimble, J., Hirsh, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+postembryonic+cell+lineages+of+the+hermaphrodite+and+male+gonads+in+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">The postembryonic cell lineages of the hermaphrodite and male gonads in Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> Dev. Biol. 70, 396-417 (1979).</li><li>Sulston, J. E., Horvitz, H. R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Post-embryonic+cell+lineages+of+the+nematode+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">Post-embryonic cell lineages of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> Dev. Biol. 56, 110-156 (1977).</li><li>Hobert, O. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Neurogenesis+in+the+nematode+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">Neurogenesis in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> WormBook. , 1-24 (2010).</li><li>Depuydt, G., Vanfleteren, J. R., Braeckman, B. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Protein+metabolism+and+lifespan+in+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">Protein metabolism and lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 694, 81-107 (2010).</li><li>Jia, K., Levine, B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Autophagy+and+longevity:+lessons+from+C.+elegans.">Autophagy and longevity: lessons from C. elegans.</a> Adv. Exp. Med. Biol. 694, 47-60 (2010).</li><li>Joshi, P. M., Riddle, M. R., Djabrayan, N. J., Rothman, J. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Caenorhabditis+elegans+as+a+model+for+stem+cell+biology.">Caenorhabditis elegans as a model for stem cell biology.</a> Dev. Dyn. 239, 1539-1554 (2010).</li><li>Waters, K. A., Reinke, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Extrinsic+and+intrinsic+control+of+germ+cell+proliferation+in+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">Extrinsic and intrinsic control of germ cell proliferation in Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> Mol. Reprod. Dev. 78, 151-160 (2011).</li><li>Stiernagle, T. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Maintenance+of+C.+elegans.">Maintenance of C. elegans.</a> Wormbook. , (2006).</li><li>Smith, E. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Age-+and+calorie-independent+life+span+extension+from+dietary+restriction+by+bacterial+deprivation+in+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">Age- and calorie-independent life span extension from dietary restriction by bacterial deprivation in Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> BMC Dev. Biol. 8, 49 (2008).</li><li>Olahova, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+redox-sensitive+peroxiredoxin+that+is+important+for+longevity+has+tissue-+and+stress-specific+roles+in+stress+resistance.">A redox-sensitive peroxiredoxin that is important for longevity has tissue- and stress-specific roles in stress resistance.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 105, 19839-19344 (2008).</li><li>Voisine, C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Identification+of+potential+therapeutic+drugs+for+huntington's+disease+using+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">Identification of potential therapeutic drugs for huntington's disease using Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> PLoS One. 2, e504 (2007).</li><li>Garigan, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genetic+analysis+of+tissue+aging+in+Caenorhabditis+elegans:+a+role+for+heat-shock+factor+and+bacterial+proliferation.">Genetic analysis of tissue aging in Caenorhabditis elegans: a role for heat-shock factor and bacterial proliferation.</a> Genetics. 161, 1101-1112 (2002).</li><li>Aceves, J., Erlij, D., Martinez-Maranon, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+mechanism+of+the+paralysing+action+of+tetramisole+on+Ascaris+somatic+muscle.">The mechanism of the paralysing action of tetramisole on Ascaris somatic muscle.</a> Br. J. Pharmacol. 38, 602-607 (1970).</li><li>Shaham, S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Methods+in+cell+biology.">Methods in cell biology.</a> Wormbook. , (2006).</li><li>Pepper, A. S., Killian, D. J., Hubbardm, E. J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Genetic+analysis+of+Caenorhabditis+elegans+glp-1+mutants+suggests+receptor+interaction+or+competition.">Genetic analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans glp-1 mutants suggests receptor interaction or competition.</a> Genetics. 163 (1), 115-132 (2003).</li><li>Morley, J. F., Brignull, H. R., Weyers, J. J., Morimoto, R. I. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+threshold+for+polyglutamine-expansion+protein+aggregation+and+cellular+toxicity+is+dynamic+and+influenced+by+aging+in+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">The threshold for polyglutamine-expansion protein aggregation and cellular toxicity is dynamic and influenced by aging in Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 99, 10417-10422 (2002).</li></ol>

Nematode Synchronization
Several bleaching solutions have been described. We tried five different recipes (Table I) and, in our hands, they did not show significant differences in the synchronization of worm populations (Fig. 1). However, our experiments did show that parameters such as temperature (Fig. 2), the ratio bleaching solution:volume of worms (Fig. 3) and the volume of M9 with which the embryos are incubated for hatchin...

basic caenorhabditis elegans methods: synchronization and observation

Research into the molecular and developmental biology of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans was begun in the early seventies by Sydney Brenner and it has since been used extensively as a model organism 1. C. elegans possesses key attributes such as simplicity, transparency and short life cycle that have made it a suitable experimental system for fundamental biological studies for many years 2. Discoveries in this nematode have broad implications because many cellular and molecular processes that control animal development are evolutionary conserved 3.
C. elegans life cycle goes through an embryonic stage and four larval stages before animals reach adulthood. Development can take 2 to 4 days depending on the temperature. In each of the stages several characteristic traits can be observed. The knowledge of its complete cell lineage 4,5 together with the deep annotation of its genome turn this nematode into a great model in fields as diverse as the neurobiology 6, aging 7,8, stem cell biology 9 and germ line biology 10. 
An additional feature that makes C. elegans an attractive model to work with is the possibility of obtaining populations of worms synchronized at a specific stage through a relatively easy protocol. The ease of maintaining and propagating this nematode added to the possibility of synchronization provide a powerful tool to obtain large amounts of worms, which can be used for a wide variety of small or high-throughput experiments such as RNAi screens, microarrays, massive sequencing, immunoblot or in situ hybridization, among others. 
Because of its transparency, C. elegans structures can be distinguished under the microscope using Differential Interference Contrast microscopy, also known as Nomarski microscopy. The use of a fluorescent DNA binder, DAPI (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole), for instance, can lead to the specific identification and localization of individual cells, as well as subcellular structures/defects associated to them.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Basic Caenorhabditis elegans Methods: Synchronization and Observation at JoVE.com

Basic Caenorhabditis elegans Methods: Synchronization and Observation

The easiness of maintaining and propagating the nematode C. elegans make it a nice model organism to work with. The possibility of synchronizing worms allows the work with a significant amount of subjects at the same developmental stage, what facilitates the study of one particular process in many animals.

Basic Caenorhabditis elegans Methods: Synchronization and Observation

Research into the molecular and developmental biology of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans was begun in the early seventies by Sydney Brenner and it has ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

Measuring Caenorhabditis elegans Life Span on Solid Media

Measuring Caenorhabditis elegans Life Span on Solid Media

Aging is a degenerative process characterized by a progressive deterioration of cellular components and organelles resulting in mortality. The nematode ...

Isolation and In vitro Activation of Caenorhabditis elegans Sperm

Isolation and In vitro Activation of Caenorhabditis elegans Sperm

Males and hermaphrodites are the two naturally found sexual forms in the nematode C. elegans. The amoeboid sperm are produced by both males and ...

Solid Plate-based Dietary Restriction in Caenorhabditis elegans

Solid Plate-based Dietary Restriction in Caenorhabditis elegans

Reduction of food intake without malnutrition or starvation is known to increase lifespan and delay the onset of various age-related diseases in a wide ...

Prostaglandin Extraction and Analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans

Prostaglandin Extraction and Analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans

Caenorhabditis elegans is emerging as a powerful animal model to study the biology of lipids1-9. Prostaglandins are an important class of eicosanoids, ...

Observation and Quantification of Telomere and Repetitive Sequences Using Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) with PNA Probes in Caenorhabditis elegans

Observation and Quantification of Telomere and Repetitive Sequences Using Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization FISH with PNA Probes in Caenorhabditis elegans

Telomere is a ribonucleoprotein structure that protects chromosomal ends from aberrant fusion and degradation. Telomere length is maintained by telomerase ...

Methods to Study Changes in Inherent Protein Aggregation with Age in Caenorhabditis elegans

Methods to Study Changes in Inherent Protein Aggregation with Age in Caenorhabditis elegans

In the last decades, the prevalence of neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), has grown. These ...

Combined Nucleotide and Protein Extractions in Caenorhabditis elegans

Combined Nucleotide and Protein Extractions in Caenorhabditis elegans

A single biological sample holds a plethora of information, and it is now common practice to simultaneously investigate several macromolecules to capture ...

Measurement of Oxygen Consumption Rates in Intact Caenorhabditis elegans

Measurement of Oxygen Consumption Rates in Intact Caenorhabditis elegans

Optimal mitochondrial function is critical for healthy cellular activity, particularly in cells that have high energy demands like those in the nervous ...

Purification and Analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans Extracellular Vesicles

Purification and Analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans Extracellular Vesicles

The secretion of small membrane-bound vesicles into the external environment is a fundamental physiological process of all cells. These extracellular ...

Modeling Age-Associated Neurodegenerative Diseases in Caenorhabditis elegans

Modeling Age-Associated Neurodegenerative Diseases in Caenorhabditis elegans

Battling human neurodegenerative pathologies and managing their pervasive socioeconomic impact is becoming a global priority. Notwithstanding their ...