Nos gustaría reconocer la naturaleza de colaboración del laboratorio de Hunter, y darles las gracias por el debate útil y la asistencia que han hecho del desarrollo de esta técnica posible y divertido. Nos gustaría dar las gracias a Nigel Delaney y el Caenorhabditis Centro de Genética para el gusano y las cepas bacterianas. Este trabajo fue financiado por los Institutos Nacionales de Salud de subvención GM089795 a CPH.

<ol>
	<li>Berkowitz, L. A., Knight, A. L., Caldwell, G. A., Caldwell, K. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Generation+of+Stable+Transgenic+C.+elegans+Using+Microinjection.">Generation of Stable Transgenic C. elegans Using Microinjection.</a> J. Vis. Exp. (18), e833-e833 (2008).</li><li>Hirose, T., Nakano, Y., Nagamatsu, Y., Misumi, T., Ohta, H., Ohshima, Y. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cyclic+GMP-dependent+protein+kinase+EGL-4+controls+body+size+and+lifespan+in+C+elegans.">Cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase EGL-4 controls body size and lifespan in C elegans.</a> Development. 130, 1089-1099 (2003).</li><li>Kimble, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Alterations+in+cell+lineage+following+laser+ablation+of+cells+in+the+somatic+gonad+of+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">Alterations in cell lineage following laser ablation of cells in the somatic gonad of Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> Dev. Biol. 87, 286-300 (1981).</li><li>Hegreness, M., Shoresh, N., Hartl, D., Kishony, R. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+equivalence+principle+for+the+incorporation+of+favorable+mutations+in+asexual+populations.">An equivalence principle for the incorporation of favorable mutations in asexual populations.</a> Science. 311, 1615-1617 (2006).</li><li>Labrousse, A., Chauvet, S., Couillault, C., Kurz, C. L., Ewbank, J. J. <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+is+a+model+host+for+Salmonella+typhimurium.">Caenorhabditis elegans is a model host for Salmonella typhimurium.</a> Curr. Biol. 10, 1543-1545 (2000).</li><li>Kamath, R. S., Martinez-Campos, M., Zipperlen, P., Fraser, A. G., Ahringer, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Effectiveness+of+specific+RNA-mediated+interference+through+ingested+double-stranded+RNA+in+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">Effectiveness of specific RNA-mediated interference through ingested double-stranded RNA in Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> Genome. Biol. 2, (2001).</li><li>Min, K., Kang, J., Lee, J. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+modified+feeding+RNAi+method+for+simultaneous+knock-down+of+more+than+one+gene+in+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">A modified feeding RNAi method for simultaneous knock-down of more than one gene in Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> Biotechniques. 48, 229-232 (2010).</li><li>Zhuang, J. J., Hunter, C. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tissue-specificity+of+Caenorhabditis+elegans+Enhanced+RNAi+Mutants.">Tissue-specificity of Caenorhabditis elegans Enhanced RNAi Mutants.</a> Genetics. 188 (1), 235-237 (2011).</li><li>Way, J. C., Chalfie, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=mec-3,+a+homeobox-containing+gene+that+specifies+differentiation+of+the+touch+receptor+neurons+in+C.+elegans.">mec-3, a homeobox-containing gene that specifies differentiation of the touch receptor neurons in C. elegans.</a> Cell. 54, 5-16 (1988).</li><li>Kamath, R. S., Fraser, A. G., Dong, Y., Poulin, G., Durbin, R., Gotta, M., Kanapin, A., Bot, N. L. e., Moreno, S., Sohrmann, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Systematic+functional+analysis+of+the+Caenorhabditis+elegans+genome+using+RNAi.">Systematic functional analysis of the Caenorhabditis elegans genome using RNAi.</a> Nature. 421, 231-237 (2003).</li><li>Winston, W. M., Molodowitch, C., Hunter, C. P. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Systemic+RNAi+in+C.+elegans+requires+the+putative+transmembrane+protein+SID-1.">Systemic RNAi in C. elegans requires the putative transmembrane protein SID-1.</a> Science. 295, 2456-2459 (2002).</li></ol>

No hay conflictos de interés declarado.

Hemos presentado aquí un nuevo método que permite el aislamiento y la caracterización de líquido extracelular del organismo modelo C. elegans. La técnica comienza con la manipulación genética o física de gusanos donantes a incrementar su volumen total de fluido extracelular. Fluido extracelular se aísla a continuación usando una técnica de microinyección modificada. Los gusanos están montados para la microinyección usando almohadillas secas de agarosa para mantener los gusanos inmóvil durante el ...

<table border="1"&gt;<tbody&gt;<tr&gt;<td<strong&gt; Día</strong</td&gt;<td<strong&gt; Worm Prep</strong</td&gt;<td<strong&gt; Material Prep</strong</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td&gt; -7 O antes</td&gt;<td&gt; Mantener limpio y bien alimentados<em&gt; Clr-1 (e1745)</em&gt; N2 y gusanos</td&gt;<td&gt; Hacer almohadillas de inyección, placas de NGM, NGM + Carb / placas de IPTG, OP50 acciones LB</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td&gt; -6</td&gt;<td</td&gt;<td&gt; Streak por RNAi comida en LB + Carb</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td&gt; -5</td&gt;<td</td&gt;<td&gt; Inocular 3 ml durante la noche con comida RNAi</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td&gt; -4</td&gt;<td&gt; Mover embriones para RNAi placa</td&gt;<td&gt; Semilla RNAi placa</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td&gt; -3</td&gt;<td</td&gt;<td</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td&gt; -2</td&gt;<td</td&gt;<td</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td&gt; -1</td&gt;<td</td&gt;<td</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td&gt; 0</td&gt;<td&gt; Cambie los gusanos a 25 durante 4 horas</td&gt;<td&gt; Hacer las placas de ensayo</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td</td&gt;<td&gt; Mover gusanos para limpiar las placas de NGM</td&gt;<td</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td</td&gt;<td&gt; Vampírico transferencia</td&gt;<td</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td</td&gt;<td&gt; Recuperar destinatario</td&gt;<td</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td&gt; +1</td&gt;<td&gt; Eliminar destinatario de la transferencia</td&gt;<td</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td&gt; +2</td&gt;<td&gt; Resultado Progenie</td&gt;<td</td&gt;</tr&gt;</tbody&gt;</table&gt;<p class="jove_content"<strong&gt; Tabla 1.</strong&gt; Timeline preparación de materiales.</p&gt;<table border="1"&gt;<tbody&gt;<tr&gt;<td<strong&gt; Equipos</strong</td&gt;<td<strong&gt; Empresa</strong</td&gt;<td<strong&gt; Número de catálogo</strong</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td&gt; Presión del inyector picolitros</td&gt;<td&gt; Warner Instruments</td&gt;<td&gt; 65-0001 (PLI-100)</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td&gt; Flaming / Brown micropipeta Puller</td&gt;<td&gt; Sutter Instruments</td&gt;<td&gt; P97</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td&gt; Axiovert 200</td&gt;<td&gt; Zeiss</td&gt;<td&gt;</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td colspan="3"<strong&gt; Reactivos</strong&gt;</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td&gt; Aceite Mineral</td&gt;<td&gt; EM Science</td&gt;<td&gt; MX1560-1</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td&gt; 22x50 n º 1 ½ cubierta de cristal</td&gt;<td&gt; Corning</td&gt;<td&gt;</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td&gt; SeaKem LE agarosa</td&gt;<td&gt; Lonza</td&gt;<td&gt; 50004</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td&gt; Vidrio borosilicato capilares</td&gt;<td&gt; Mundo Precisiones Instrumentos</td&gt;<td&gt; 1B100F-4</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td&gt; Solución de hipoclorito de sodio (5% de cloro disponible)</td&gt;<td&gt; JT Baker</td&gt;<td&gt; 9416-01</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td colspan="3"<strong<em&gt; C. elegans</em&gt; Y Cepas bacterianas</strong&gt;</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td<em&gt; Clr-1 (e1745) II</em&gt;<sup&gt; 9</sup</td&gt;<td&gt; El Centro de Genética Caenorhabditis (CGC)</td&gt;<td&gt; CB3241</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td<em&gt; GLP-1</em&gt; RNAi vector<sup&gt; 10</sup&gt;</td&gt;<td&gt; Fuente Bioscience (Biblioteca Ahringer Alimentación)</td&gt;<td&gt; F02A9.6</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td<em&gt; Pal-1</em&gt; RNAi vector<sup&gt; 11</sup&gt;</td&gt;<td&gt;</td&gt;<td&gt; PHC187</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td&gt; OP50-GFP<sup&gt; 5</sup&gt;</td&gt;<td&gt; El Centro de Genética Caenorhabditis (CGC)</td&gt;<td&gt; OP50-GFP</td&gt;</tr&gt;<tr&gt;<td&gt; YFP<em&gt; E. coli</em&gt;<sup&gt; 4</sup&gt;</td&gt;<td&gt;</td&gt;<td&gt; MC4100-YFP</td&gt;</tr&gt;</tbody&gt;</table&gt;<p class="jove_content"<strong&gt; Tabla 2.</strong&gt; Reactivos y equipos específicos.</p

vampiric isolation of extracellular fluid from caenorhabditis elegans

El organismo genéticamente tractable modelo C. elegans ha ayudado a comprender un gran número de cuestiones biológicas, habilitado por su corto tiempo de generación, facilidad de crecimiento y el tamaño pequeño. Este pequeño tamaño, sin embargo, ha rechazado un número de enfoques técnicos encontrados en otros sistemas modelo. Por ejemplo, las transfusiones de sangre en los sistemas de mamíferos y las técnicas de injerto en plantas permiten hacer preguntas de composición del sistema circulatorio y señalización. El sistema circulatorio de la lombriz, el pseudoceloma, ha sido hasta hace poco imposible de ensayo directamente. Para responder a las preguntas de la señalización intercelular y el sistema circulatorio composición C. investigadores elegans tradicionalmente han convertido a un análisis genético, de célula / tejido de rescate específico, y el análisis de mosaico. Estas técnicas proporcionan un medio para inferir lo que está pasando entre las células, pero no son universalmente aplicables en la identificación y caracterización de moléculas extracelulares. Aquí les presentamos una neWLY técnica desarrollada a ensayo directamente el fluido pseudocoelomic de C. elegans. La técnica comienza con cualquiera de manipulación genética o física para aumentar el volumen de fluido extracelular. Después, los animales se someten a una técnica de microinyección vampírica inversa usando una plataforma de microinyección que permite un control fino balance de la presión. Después del aislamiento de fluido extracelular, el líquido recogido puede ensayarse por transferencia a otros animales o por medios moleculares. Para demostrar la eficacia de esta técnica se presenta un enfoque detallado para el ensayo de un ejemplo específico de moléculas de señalización extracelular, durante un largo dsRNA de respuesta RNAi. Aunque la caracterización de RNAi sistémico es una prueba de principio ejemplo, vemos esta técnica como ser adaptable para responder una variedad de preguntas de la composición del sistema circulatorio y de señalización.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Vampiric Isolation of Extracellular Fluid from Caenorhabditis elegans at JoVE.com

Vampiric Isolation of Extracellular Fluid from Caenorhabditis elegans

El organismo modelo<em&gt; C. elegans</em&gt; Utiliza fluido pseudocoelomic como un sistema circulatorio pasiva. Ensayo directo de este fluido no ha sido posible anteriormente. Aquí se presenta una técnica novedosa de ensayo directamente en el espacio extracelular, y utilizar las señales sistémicas silenciamiento durante una respuesta de RNAi como una prueba de principio ejemplo.

Vampiric Aislamiento de líquido extracelular de<em&gt; Caenorhabditis elegans</em

The genetically tractable model organism C. elegans has provided insights into a myriad of biological questions, enabled by its short generation time, ...

vampiric-isolation-of-extracellular-fluid-from-caenorhabditis-elegans

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

Vampiric Isolation of Extracellular Fluid from Caenorhabditis elegans

10.1K vistas.  Harvard University. El organismo modelo C. elegans Utiliza fluido pseudocoelomic como un sistema circulatorio pasiva. Ensayo directo de este fluido no ha sido posible anteriormente. Aquí se presenta una técnica novedosa de ensayo directamente en el espacio extracelular, y utilizar las señales sistémicas silenciamiento durante una respuesta de RNAi como una prueba de principio ejemplo.

Video: Vampiric Isolation of Extracellular Fluid from Caenorhabditis elegans

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 Caenorhabditis elegans has emerged as a principal model used to study the biology of aging. Because virtually every biological subsystem undergoes functional decline with increasing age, life span is the primary endpoint of interest when considering total rate of aging. In nematodes, life span is typically defined as the number of days an animal remains responsive to external stimuli. Nematodes can be propagated either in liquid media or on solid media in plates, and techniques have been developed for measuring life span under both conditions. Here we present a generalized protocol for measuring life span of nematodes maintained on solid nematode growth media and fed a diet of UV-killed bacteria. These procedures can easily be adapted to assay life span under various common conditions, including a diet consisting of live bacteria, dietary restriction, and RNA interference.

Measuring Caenorhabditis elegans Life Span on Solid Media

In this article we present a general protocol for measuring life span of nematodes maintained on solid media with UV-killed bacterial food.

Medición Caenorhabditis elegans Duración de la vida en el medio sólido

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

Investigación

Biología

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 hermaphrodites. In the earlier phase of gametogenesis, the germ cells of hermaphrodites differentiate into limited number of sperm - around 300 - and are stored in a small 'bag' called the spermatheca. Later on, hermaphrodites continually produce oocytes1. In contrast, males produce exclusively sperm throughout their adulthood. The males produce so much sperm that it accounts for &gt;50% of the total cells in a typical adult worm2. Therefore, isolating sperm from males is easier than from that of hermaphrodites.
Only a small proportion of males are naturally generated due to spontaneous non-disjunction of X chromosome3. Crossing hermaphrodites with males or more conveniently, the introduction of mutations to give rise to Him (High Incidence of Males) phenotype are some of strategies through which one can enrich the male population3.
Males can be easily distinguished from hermaphrodites by observing the tail morphology4. Hermaphrodite's tail is pointed, whereas male tail is rounded with mating structures.
Cutting the tail releases vast number of spermatids stored inside the male reproductive tract. Dissection is performed under a stereo microscope using 27 gauge needles. Since spermatids are not physically connected with any other cells, hydraulic pressure expels internal contents of male body, including spermatids2.
Males are directly dissected on a small drop of 'Sperm Medium'. Spermatids are sensitive to alteration in the pH. Hence, HEPES, a compound with good buffering capacity is used in sperm media. Glucose and other salts present in sperm media help maintain osmotic pressure to maintain the integrity of sperm.
Post-meiotic differentiation of spermatids into spermatozoa is termed spermiogenesis or sperm activation. Shakes5, and Nelson6 previously showed that round spermatids can be induced to differentiate into spermatozoa by adding various activating compounds including Pronase E. Here we demonstrate in vitro spermiogenesis of C. elegans spermatids using Pronase E.
Successful spermiogenesis is pre-requisite for fertility and hence the mutants defective in spermiogenesis are sterile. Hitherto several mutants have been shown to be defective specifically in spermiogenesis process7. Abnormality found during in vitro activation of novel Spe (Spermatogenesis defective) mutants would help us discover additional players participating in this event.

Isolation and In vitro Activation of Caenorhabditis elegans Sperm

A protocol for isolating and activating spermatids from male C. elegans is described here. Cutting the posterior end of male releases spermatids. The spermatids can be activated by addition of protease.

El aislamiento y la In vitro La activación de Caenorhabditis elegans El esperma

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

Time-lapse Microscopy of Early Embryogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans

Caenorhabditis elegans has often been used as a model system in studies of early developmental processes. The transparency of the 
embryos, the genetic resources, and the relative ease of transformation are qualities that make C. elegans an excellent model for early embryogenesis. Laser-based 
confocal microscopy and fluorescently labeled tags allow researchers to follow specific cellular structures and proteins in the developing embryo. For example, 
one can follow specific organelles, such as lysosomes or mitochondria, using fluorescently labeled dyes. These dyes can be delivered to the early embryo by means 
of microinjection into the adult gonad. Also, the localization of specific proteins can be followed using fluorescent protein tags. Examples are presented here 
demonstrating the use of a fluorescent lysosomal dye as well as fluorescently tagged histone and ubiquitin proteins. The labeled histone is used to visualize 
the DNA and thus identify the stage of the cell cycle. GFP-tagged ubiquitin reveals the dynamics of ubiquitinated vesicles in the early embryo. Observations 
of labeled lysosomes and GFP:: ubiquitin can be used to determine if there is colocalization between ubiquitinated vesicles and lysosomes. A technique for 
the microinjection of the lysosomal dye is presented. Techniques for generating transgenenic strains are presented elsewhere (1, 2). For imaging, embryos 
are cut out of adult hermaphrodite nematodes and mounted onto 2% agarose pads followed by time-lapse microscopy on a standard laser scanning confocal 
microscope or a spinning disk confocal microscope. This methodology provides for the high resolution visualization of early embryogenesis.

Time-lapse Microscopy of Early Embryogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans

This article describes a technique for the visualization of the early events of embryogenesis in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.

Time-lapse microscopía de embriogénesis temprana en Caenorhabditis elegans

Caenorhabditis elegans has often been used as a model system in studies of early developmental processes.  The transparency of the 
embryos, the genetic ...

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.

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.

Básico<em&gt; Caenorhabditis elegans</em&gt; Métodos de sincronización y de observación

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

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, which are lipid signals derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs)10-14. These signalling molecules are difficult to study because of their low abundance and reactive nature. The characteristic feature of prostaglandins is a cyclopentane ring structure located within the fatty acid backbone. In mammals, prostaglandins can be formed through cyclooxygenase enzyme-dependent and -independent pathways10,15. C. elegans synthesizes a wide array of prostaglandins independent of cyclooxygenases6,16,17. A large class of F-series prostaglandins has been identified, but the study of eicosanoids is at an early stage with ample room for new discoveries. Here we describe a procedure for extracting and analyzing prostaglandins and other eicosanoids. Charged lipids are extracted from mass worm cultures using a liquid-liquid extraction technique and analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS/MS). The inclusion of deuterated analogs of prostaglandins, such as PGF2 &alpha;-d4 as an internal standard is recommended for quantitative analysis. Multiple reaction monitoring or MRM can be used to quantify and compare specific prostaglandin types between wild-type and mutant animals. Collision-induced decomposition or MS/MS can be used to obtain information on important structural features. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) survey scans of a selected mass range, such as m/z 315-360 can be used to evaluate global changes in prostaglandin levels. We provide examples of all three analyses. These methods will provide researchers with a toolset for discovering novel eicosanoids and delineating their metabolic pathways.

Prostaglandin Extraction and Analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans

In this paper, we describe an optimized procedure for extracting and analyzing prostaglandins and other eicosanoids from C. elegans using LC-MS/MS.

Extracción y análisis de prostaglandina en<em&gt; Caenorhabditis elegans</em

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

Dietary Supplementation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Caenorhabditis elegans

Fatty acids are essential for numerous cellular functions. They serve as efficient energy storage molecules, make up the hydrophobic core of membranes, and participate in various signaling pathways. Caenorhabditis elegans synthesizes all of the enzymes necessary to produce a range of omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. This, combined with the simple anatomy and range of available genetic tools, make it an attractive model to study fatty acid function. In order to investigate the genetic pathways that mediate the physiological effects of dietary fatty acids, we have developed a method to supplement the C. elegans diet with unsaturated fatty acids. Supplementation is an effective means to alter the fatty acid composition of worms and can also be used to rescue defects in fatty acid-deficient mutants. Our method uses nematode growth medium agar (NGM) supplemented with fatty acidsodium salts. The fatty acids in the supplemented plates become incorporated into the membranes of the bacterial food source, which is then taken up by the C. elegans that feed on the supplemented bacteria. We also describe a gas chromatography protocol to monitor the changes in fatty acid composition that occur in supplemented worms. This is an efficient way to supplement the diets of both large and small populations of C. elegans, allowing for a range of applications for this method.

Dietary Supplementation of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Caenorhabditis elegans

Caenorhabditis elegans is a useful model to explore the functions of polyunsaturated fatty acids in development and physiology. This protocol describes an efficient method of supplementing the C. elegans diet with polyunsaturated fatty acids.

La suplementación dietética de ácidos grasos poliinsaturados en<em&gt; Caenorhabditis elegans</em

Fatty acids are essential for numerous cellular functions. They serve as efficient energy storage molecules, make up the hydrophobic core of membranes, ...

Cultivation of Caenorhabditis elegans in Three Dimensions in the Laboratory

The use of genetic model organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans has led to seminal discoveries in biology over the last five decades. Most of what we know about C. elegans is limited to laboratory cultivation of the nematodes that may not necessarily reflect the environments they normally inhabit in nature. Cultivation of C. elegans in a 3D habitat that is more similar to the 3D matrix that worms encounter in rotten fruits and vegetative compost in nature could reveal novel phenotypes and behaviors not observed in 2D. In addition, experiments in 3D can address how phenotypes we observe in 2D are relevant for the worm in nature. Here, a new method in which C. elegans grows and reproduces normally in three dimensions is presented. Cultivation of C. elegans in Nematode Growth Tube-3D (NGT-3D) can allow us to measure the reproductive fitness of C. elegans strains or different conditions in a 3D environment. We also present a novel method, termed Nematode Growth Bottle-3D (NGB-3D), to cultivate C. elegans in 3D for microscopic analysis. These methods allow scientists to study C. elegans biology in conditions that are more reflective of the environments they encounter in nature. These can help us to understand the overlying evolutionary relevance of the physiology and behavior of C. elegans we observe in the laboratory.

Cultivation of Caenorhabditis elegans in Three Dimensions in the Laboratory

We present a simple method to construct 3D nematode cultivation systems called NGT-3D and NGB-3D. These can be used to study nematode fitness and behaviors in habitats that are more similar to natural Caenorhabditis elegans habitats than the standard 2D laboratory C. elegans culture plates.

El cultivo de<em&gt; Caenorhabditis elegans</em&gt; En tres dimensiones en el Laboratorio

The use of genetic model organisms such as Caenorhabditis elegans has led to seminal discoveries in biology over the last five decades. Most of what we ...

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 system and muscle. Consistent with this, mitochondrial dysfunction has been associated with a myriad of neurodegenerative diseases and aging in general. Caenorhabditis elegans have been a powerful model system for elucidating the many intricacies of mitochondrial function. Mitochondrial respiration is a strong indicator of mitochondrial function and recently developed respirometers offer a state-of-the-art platform to measure respiration in cells. In this protocol, we provide a technique to analyze live, intact C. elegans. This protocol spans a period of ~7 days and includes steps for (1) growing and synchronization of C. elegans, (2) preparation&#160;of compounds to be injected and hydration of probes, (3) drug loading and cartridge equilibration, (4) preparation of worm assay plate and assay run, and (5) post-experiment data analysis.

Measurement of Oxygen Consumption Rates in Intact Caenorhabditis elegans

Mitochondrial respiration is critical for organismal survival; therefore, oxygen consumption rate is an excellent indicator of mitochondrial health. In this protocol, we describe the use of a commercially available respirometer to measure basal and maximal oxygen consumption rates in live, intact, and freely-motile Caenorhabditis elegans.

Medición de las tasas de consumo de oxígeno en intacto 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

The secretion of small membrane-bound vesicles into the external environment is a fundamental physiological process of all cells. These extracellular vesicles (EVs) function outside the cell to regulate global physiological processes by transferring proteins, nucleic acids, metabolites, and lipids between tissues. EVs reflect the physiological state of their cells of origin. EVs are implicated to have fundamental roles in virtually every aspect of human health. Thus, EV protein and genetic cargos are being increasingly analyzed for biomarkers of health and disease. However, the EV field still lacks a tractable invertebrate model system that permits the study of EV cargo composition. C. elegans is well suited for EV research because it actively secretes EVs outside of its body into its external environment, permitting facile isolation. This article provides all the necessary information for generating, purifying, and quantifying these environmentally secreted C. elegans EVs including how to work quantitatively with very large populations of age-synchronized worms, purifying EVs, and a flow cytometry protocol that directly measures the number of intact EVs in the purified sample. Thus, the large library of genetic reagents available for C. elegans research can be tapped into for investigating the impacts of genetic pathways and physiological processes on EV cargo composition.

Purification and Analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans Extracellular Vesicles

This article presents methods for generating, purifying, and quantifying Caenorhabditis elegans extracellular vesicles.

Purificación y análisis de las vesículas extracelulares de Caenorhabditis elegans

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

Automating Aggregate Quantification in Caenorhabditis elegans

A rise in the prevalence of neurodegenerative protein conformational diseases (PCDs) has fostered a great interest in this subject over the years. This increased attention has called for the diversification and improvement of animal models capable of reproducing disease phenotypes observed in humans with PCDs. Though murine models have proven invaluable, they are expensive and are associated with laborious, low-throughput methods. Use of the Caenorhabditis elegans nematode model to study PCDs has been justified by its relative ease of maintenance, low cost, and rapid generation time, which allow for high-throughput applications. Additionally, high conservation between the C. elegans and human genomes makes this model an invaluable discovery tool. Nematodes that express fluorescently tagged tissue-specific polyglutamine (polyQ) tracts exhibit age- and polyQ length-dependent aggregation characterized by fluorescent foci. Such reporters are often employed as proxies to monitor changes in proteostasis across tissues. Manual aggregate quantification is time-consuming, limiting experimental throughput. Furthermore, manual foci quantification can introduce bias, as aggregate identification can be highly subjective. Herein, a protocol consisting of worm culturing, image acquisition, and data processing was standardized to support high-throughput aggregate quantification using C. elegans that express intestine-specific polyQ. By implementing a C. elegans-based image processing pipeline using CellProfiler, an image analysis software, this method has been optimized to separate and identify individual worms and enumerate their respective aggregates. Though the concept of automation is not entirely unique, the need to standardize such procedures for reproducibility, elimination of bias from manual counting, and increase throughput is high. It is anticipated that these methods can drastically simplify the screening process of large bacterial, genomic, or drug libraries using the C. elegans model.

Automating Aggregate Quantification in Caenorhabditis elegans

The following protocol describes the development and optimization of a high-throughput workflow for worm culturing, fluorescence imaging, and automated image processing to quantify polyglutamine aggregates as an assessment of changes in proteostasis.

Automatización de la cuantificación agregada en Caenorhabditis elegans

A rise in the prevalence of neurodegenerative protein conformational diseases (PCDs) has fostered a great interest in this subject over the years. This ...