Gli autori vorrebbero riconoscere che questo lavoro è stato supportato dalle scienze naturali e ingegneria Research Council del Canada (NSERC) sovvenzione.

<ol>
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Y., Wallace, A., Nguyen, J., Mohler, W. A., Soto, M. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=UNC-40/DCC,+SAX-3/Robo,+and+VAB-1/Eph+polarize+F-actin+during+embryonic+morphogenesis+by+regulating+the+WAVE/SCAR+actin+nucleation+complex.">UNC-40/DCC, SAX-3/Robo, and VAB-1/Eph polarize F-actin during embryonic morphogenesis by regulating the WAVE/SCAR actin nucleation complex.</a> PLoS Genet. 8, (2012).</li><li>Piekny, A. J., Werner, M., Glotzer, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Cytokinesis:+welcome+to+the+Rho+zone.">Cytokinesis: welcome to the Rho zone.</a> Trends Cell Biol. 15, 651-658 (2005).</li><li>Piekny, A. J., Maddox, A. 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+myriad+roles+of+Anillin+during+cytokinesis.">The myriad roles of Anillin during cytokinesis.</a> Sem. Cell Dev. Biol. 21, 881-891 (2010).</li><li>Zhao, W. M., Fang, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Anillin+is+a+substrate+of+anaphase-promoting+complex/cyclosome+(APC/C)+that+controls+spatial+contractility+of+myosin+during+late+cytokinesis.">Anillin is a substrate of anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C) that controls spatial contractility of myosin during late cytokinesis.</a> J. Biol. Chem. 280, 33516-33524 (2005).</li><li>Piekny, A. J., Glotzer, M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Anillin+is+a+scaffold+protein+that+links+RhoA,+actin+and+myosin+during+cytokinesis.">Anillin is a scaffold protein that links RhoA, actin and myosin during cytokinesis.</a> Curr. Biol. 18, 30-36 (2008).</li><li>Hickson, G. R., O&#8217;Farrell, P. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Rho-dependent+control+of+anillin+behavior+during+cytokinesis.">Rho-dependent control of anillin behavior during cytokinesis.</a> J. Cell Biol. 180, 285-294 (2008).</li><li>Fraser, A. G., Kamath, R. S., Zipperlen, P., Martinez-Campos, M., Sohrmann, M., 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=Functional+genomic+analysis+of+C.+elegans+chromosome+I+by+systematic+RNA+interference.">Functional genomic analysis of C. elegans chromosome I by systematic RNA interference.</a> Nature. 408, 325-330 (2000).</li><li>Kamath, R. S., et al. <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>Duerr, J. S. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Immunohistochemistry. 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Questo protocollo descrive l&#39;uso di vari tipi di microscopia a divisioni cellulari immagine in media embriogenesi. In particolare, questo protocollo evidenzia come immagine la divisione dei neuroblasti, cellule che possono facilitare epidermica morfogenesi. Comunicazione cellula-cellula è importante per la formazione di tessuto durante lo sviluppo metazoi e C. elegans è un modello eccellente per studiare la formazione di tessuto in vivo. Un evento che ritrae bene l&#39;interazione dei tessuti è ...

Mentre ci sono protocolli che descrivono come la divisione cellulare immagine nei primi C. elegans embrione, questo protocollo viene descritto come la divisione cellulare l&#39;immagine all&#39;interno di un tessuto durante la metà embriogenesi. Una delle principali sfide nel campo dell&#39;imaging organismi in fase di sviluppo è stata la loro sensibilità alla fototossicità. Tuttavia, una maggiore accessibilità alle filatura microscopio confocale disco o microscopi campo spazzato ha permesso applicazioni di imaging più diffuse. Entrambi i sistemi utilizzano laser a stato solido e luce diffusa, limitando i livelli di UV che gli organismi sono esposti. Tuttavia, stand widefield possono ancora essere utilizzati per l&#39;imaging in vivo, soprattutto se è provvisto di telecamere ad alta sensibilità (ad esempio EMCCD), controllo di apertura e di controllo della luce (ad esempio LED o lampade al mercurio regolabili). Questo protocollo descrive come utilizzare sia un sistema confocale o basato su un sistema widefield di divisione cellulare immagine all&#39;interno di sviluppo C. elegans &lt;/ Em&gt; embrioni. A titolo di esempio, descriviamo come immagine divisione cellulare neuroblasti. Neuroblasti possono facilitare epidermica morfogenesi fornendo segnali chimici o meccanici per le cellule epidermiche sovrastanti, e fornire un eccellente esempio dell&#39;importanza della comunicazione intercellulare nella formazione dei tessuti. Caenorhabditis elegans è un organismo modello ideale per studi basati microscopia essendo trasparente e semplice organizzazione tessuto 1. Inoltre, C. elegans è suscettibile di metodi genetici e RNAi, e dal momento che molti dei suoi geni hanno omologhi umani, può essere utilizzato per identificare i meccanismi conservati per formazione di tessuto 2-5. In C. elegans, la formazione dell&#39;epidermide avviene in media embriogenesi, quando l&#39;embrione ha&gt; 300 cellule. Epidermal morfogenesi consiste di diverse fasi principali, durante il quale l&#39;embrione è racchiuso in uno strato di cellule epidermiche che restringono e si estendono per trasformare il embryo da una forma ovoidale nella forma allungata di una vite senza fine 6. Contenitore ventrale descrive uno di questi eventi morfogenetici, quando le cellule epidermiche ventrali migrano verso la linea mediana ventrale per coprire la superficie ventrale dell&#39;embrione (Figura 1). In primo luogo, due coppie di anteriori situato cellule Leading Edge migrano verso la linea mediana ventrale, dove aderiscono e si fondono con i loro vicini controlaterale 6. Questa è seguita da migrazione delle cellule posteriori situato tasca, che formano cuneo come forme creando una tasca ventrale 6-7. Il meccanismo che chiude la tasca non è ben compreso. Una possibilità è che una struttura di actina miosina contrattile sovracellulari lega le cellule tasca insieme in una stringa di borsa come la moda, simile alla guarigione delle ferite 8. È interessante notare che la migrazione di alcune delle cellule tasca è mediata da specifici sottoinsiemi di neuroblasti sottostanti 9 (precursori neuronali che si trovano sotto il epidermis; Figura 1B). Studi precedenti hanno mostrato che i neuroblasti regolano ventrale migrazione delle cellule epidermiche e contenitore ventrale. VAB-1 (recettore Ephrin) e VAB-2 (Ephrin ligando) sono altamente espresso nei neuroblasti e facilitare lo smistamento delle anteriori e posteriori neuroblasti uno dall&#39;altro, e mutazioni nel VAB-1 o VAB-2 causa custodia ventrale fenotipi 10-13. Tuttavia, gli esperimenti di soccorso Promotore mostrato che è richiesta anche VAB-1 nelle sovrastanti cellule epidermiche ventrali e recettori per altri segnali di orientamento secreti dai neuroblasti sono espressi nelle cellule epidermiche ventrali 9. Anche se le mutazioni in nessuno di questi recettori causano fenotipi recinzione ventrale, non è chiaro se i difetti sorgono a causa di problemi nel posizionamento neuroblast o dovuti a mancanza delle cellule epidermiche ventrale per rispondere alle linee guida spunti 14. Alterare la divisione dei neuroblasti wiThout alterano la capacità di secernere spunti di orientamento potrebbe far luce sul ruolo dei neuroblasti e la loro capacità di fornire un contributo meccanica durante la morfogenesi epidermica. Recentemente, è stato scoperto che un gene divisione cellulare, ani-1 (anillin) è altamente espresso in neuroblasti (Figura 2A) e il suo esaurimento causa difetti divisione neuroblasti. È interessante notare che questi embrioni mostrano ventrali fenotipi di recinzione (Fotopoulos, Wernike e Piekny, osservazioni non pubblicate). Anillin è necessaria per la divisione cellulare, e in particolare per citochinesi, che descrive il processo in cui una cellula madre si divide fisicamente in due cellule figlie. Citochinesi è guidato dalla formazione di un anello contrattile actomyosin, che deve essere strettamente controllato nello spazio e nel tempo per assicurare che esso sia correttamente accoppiato con cromatidi fratelli segregazione. Il principale regolatore della citochinesi metazoi è RhoA (RHO-1 in C. elegans), una piccola GTPasi che è unctive nella sua forma GTP-bound. Il GEF Ect2/ECT-2 attiva RhoA, dopo di che RhoA-GTP interagisce con effettori a valle che formano l&#39;anello contrattile e mediano suo ingresso di 15. Anillin è una proteina che si lega a più dominio di RhoA tramite il suo C-terminale e di actina e miosina attraverso il suo N-terminale. Anillin è necessario per stabilizzare la posizione dell&#39;anello contrattile in cellule di mammifero o Drosophila S2 16. Anillin esaurimento provoca anelli contrattili a subire oscillazioni laterali, e cytokinesis alla fine non riesce formando cellule multinucleate 17-19. Curiosamente, sebbene C. elegans ani-1 Coordinate actomyosin contrattilità in embrione precoce, ma non è essenziale per la citochinesi. Tuttavia, come sopra descritto, è necessario ani-1 per neuroblast citochinesi durante la metà embriogenesi (Fotopoulos, Wernike e Piekny, osservazioni non pubblicate). Fallimento Citocinesi altererebbe il numero e la posizione dei neuroblasti e potrebbe influenzare il loczione dei segnali di orientamento chimici, o potrebbe alterare le proprietà meccaniche del tessuto. Entrambi i modelli evidenziano il ruolo non autonomo di neuroblasti per custodia ventrale, e l&#39;importanza della comunicazione tessuto dei tessuti durante lo sviluppo embrionale. Questo protocollo sperimentale descritto come la divisione cellulare immagini durante la C. elegans metà embriogenesi usando la microscopia a fluorescenza. La maggior parte degli esperimenti che studiano i meccanismi di divisione cellulare sono stati eseguiti in singole cellule all&#39;interno piastre di coltura (per es. HeLa o cellule S2) o in embrioni precoci con un numero limitato di cellule (ad esempio C. elegans embrione unicellulare, Xenopus, o echinoderm embrioni). Tuttavia, è importante studiare la divisione cellulare nei tessuti, in quanto vi sono segnali esterni che possono influenzare la sincronizzazione e il posizionamento del piano di divisione. Inoltre, le cellule possono fornire segnali chimici o meccanici di influenzare lo sviluppo del tessuto limitrofos, ed è importante capire come la comunicazione intercellulare aiuta a formare tessuti durante lo sviluppo.

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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;width:291px;">Agar</td>
			<td style="width:247px;">BioShop Canada Inc.</td>
			<td style="width:185px;">#AGR001.1</td>
			<td style="width:335px;">For making C. elegans NGM and RNAi plates</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Agar</td>
			<td>Bio Basic Inc.</td>
			<td>#9002-18-0</td>
			<td>For making bacteria LB agar plates</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Agarose</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Anti-mouse Alexa 488 antibody</td>
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			<td>#A11029</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Anti-mouse anti-GFP antibody</td>
			<td>Roche Applied Science</td>
			<td>#11814460001</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Anti-rabbit Alexa 568 antibody</td>
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			<td>#A11011</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Ampicillin</td>
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			<td>#AMP201.5</td>
			<td>Store powder at 4 &#176;C and dissolved ampicillin at -20 &#176;C</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Bactopetone&#160; (peptone-A)</td>
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			<td>#G213</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">CaCl2 (calcium chloride)</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">DAPI&#160;</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich&#160;</td>
			<td>#D9542</td>
			<td>Use to stain nucleic acids (DNA)</td>
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			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">IPTG (isopropylthio-&#946;-galactoside)</td>
			<td>Bio Basic Inc.</td>
			<td>#367-93-1</td>
			<td>Store powder and dissolved IPTG at -20 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">KH2PO4 (potassium phosphate, monobasic)</td>
			<td>BioShop Canada Inc.</td>
			<td>#PPM666.1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">K2HPO4 (potassium phosphate, dibasic)</td>
			<td>BioShop Canada Inc.</td>
			<td>#PPD303.1</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">L4440&#160; (feeding vector)</td>
			<td>Addgene</td>
			<td>#1654</td>
			<td>Keep as glycerol stock at -80 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">MgSO4&#160;&#160; (magnesium sulfate)</td>
			<td>BioShop Canada Inc.</td>
			<td>#MAG511.500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">NaCl (sodium chloride)</td>
			<td>Bio Basic Inc.</td>
			<td>#7647-14-5</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Na2HPO4 (sodium phosphate, dibasic)</td>
			<td>Bio Basic Inc.</td>
			<td>#7558-79-4</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Normal Donkey Serum (NDS)</td>
			<td>Wisent Bioproducts</td>
			<td>#035-110</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">n-propyl 3.4.5-trihydroxybenzoate (propyl gallate)</td>
			<td>Alfa Aesar</td>
			<td>#A10877</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Poly-L-lysine</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich&#160;</td>
			<td>#P8920</td>
			<td>For optimal results coat microscope slides three times&#160;</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Streptomycin</td>
			<td>BioShop Canada Inc.</td>
			<td>#STP101.50</td>
			<td>Store powder at 4 &#176;C and dissolved streptomycin at -20 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Tetracyclin</td>
			<td>BioShop Canada Inc.</td>
			<td>#TET701.10</td>
			<td>Store powder at 4 &#176;C and dissolved tetracycline at -20 &#176;C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Tween-20</td>
			<td>Bio Basic Inc.</td>
			<td>CAS#9005-64-5</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Tryptone</td>
			<td>BioShop Canada Inc.</td>
			<td>#TRP402.500</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr height="21">
			<td height="21" style="height:21px;">Yeast Extract</td>
			<td>Bio Basic Inc.</td>
			<td>#8013-01-2</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

visualizing neuroblast cytokinesis during c. elegans embryogenesis

Questo protocollo descrive l&#39;uso di microscopia a fluorescenza a immagine divisione delle cellule all&#39;interno di sviluppare Caenorhabditis elegans embrioni. In particolare, questo protocollo si concentra su come un&#39;immagine dividendo neuroblasti, che si trovano sotto le cellule epidermiche e possono essere importanti per epidermico morfogenesi. Formazione di tessuto è cruciale per lo sviluppo metazoi e si basa su stimoli esterni da tessuti vicini. C. elegans è un ottimo organismo modello per studiare morfogenesi dei tessuti in vivo a causa della sua trasparenza e semplice organizzazione, rendendo i tessuti facile da studiare tramite microscopia. Contenitore ventrale è il processo in cui la superficie ventrale dell&#39;embrione è coperto da un singolo strato di cellule epiteliali. Questo evento è pensato per essere facilitato dai neuroblasti sottostanti, che forniscono spunti di orientamento chimica di mediare la migrazione delle cellule epiteliali sovrastanti. Tuttavia, i neuroblasti sono altamente proliferative, oppure possono agirecome substrato meccanico per le cellule epidermiche ventrali. Gli studi che utilizzano questo protocollo sperimentale potrebbe scoprire l&#39;importanza della comunicazione intercellulare durante la formazione del tessuto, e potrebbero essere utilizzati per rivelare i ruoli dei geni coinvolti nella divisione cellulare nei tessuti in via di sviluppo.

Questo protocollo sperimentale descritto come immagine divisione cellulare in C. elegans embrioni in media embriogenesi. In particolare, si descrive come neuroblasti immagine, che può facilitare epidermica morfogenesi. Epidermal morfogenesi verifica a causa di una combinazione di cambiamenti di forma delle cellule epidermiche, la migrazione e l&#39;adesione, ma anche si basa su segnali chimici o meccanici dai neuroblasti sottostanti (Figura 1B). I neuroblasti secernono spunti di orientamento c...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Visualizing Neuroblast Cytokinesis During C. elegans Embryogenesis at JoVE.com

Visualizing Neuroblast Cytokinesis During C. elegans Embryogenesis

Questo protocollo descrive come immagine divisione delle cellule all&#39;interno di un tessuto in Caenorhabditis elegans embrioni. Mentre diversi protocolli descrivono come la divisione cellulare l&#39;immagine in embrione precoce, questo protocollo viene descritto come immagine divisione cellulare all&#39;interno di un tessuto in via di sviluppo durante la metà tarda embriogenesi.

Visualizzazione neuroblasti Citocinesi Durante<em&gt; C. elegans</em&gt; Embriogenesi

This protocol describes the use of fluorescence microscopy to image dividing cells within developing Caenorhabditis elegans embryos. In particular, this ...

visualizing-neuroblast-cytokinesis-during-c-elegans-embryogenesis

Research

JoVE Journal

Neuroscience

Visualizing Neuroblast Cytokinesis During C. elegans Embryogenesis

11.8K Views.  Concordia University.  Questo protocollo descrive come immagine divisione delle cellule all'interno di un tessuto in Caenorhabditis elegans embrioni. Mentre diversi protocolli descrivono come la divisione cellulare l'immagine in embrione precoce, questo protocollo viene descritto come immagine divisione cellulare all'interno di un tessuto in via di sviluppo durante la metà tarda embriogenesi. 

Video: Visualizing Neuroblast Cytokinesis During C. elegans Embryogenesis

Assaying &beta;-amyloid Toxicity using a Transgenic C. elegans Model

Accumulation of the &beta;-amyloid peptide (A&beta;) is generally believed to be central to the induction of Alzheimer's disease, but the relevant mechanism(s) of toxicity are still unclear. A&beta; is also deposited intramuscularly in Inclusion Body Myositis, a severe human myopathy. The intensely studied nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans can be transgenically engineered to express human A&beta;. Depending on the tissue or timing of A&beta; expression, transgenic worms can have readily measurable phenotypes that serve as a read-out of A&beta; toxicity. For example, transgenic worms with pan-neuronal A&beta; expression have defects is associative learning (Dosanjh et al. 2009), while transgenic worms with constitutive muscle-specific expression show a progressive, age-dependent paralysis phenotype (Link, 1995; Cohen et al. 2006). One particularly useful C. elegans model employs a temperature-sensitive mutation in the mRNA surveillance system to engineer temperature-inducible muscle expression of an A&beta; transgene, resulting in a reproducible paralysis phenotype upon temperature upshift (Link et al. 2003). Treatments that counter A&beta; toxicity in this model [e.g., expression of a protective transgene (Hassan et al. 2009) or exposure to Ginkgo biloba extracts (Wu et al. 2006)] reproducibly alter the rate of paralysis induced by temperature upshift of these transgenic worms. Here we describe our protocol for measuring the rate of paralysis in this transgenic C. elegans model, with particular attention to experimental variables that can influence this measurement.

Assaying &#946;-amyloid Toxicity using a Transgenic C. elegans Model

The intensely studied nematode worm Caenorhabditis elegans can be transgenically engineered to express the human &beta;-amyloid peptide (A&beta;). Induced expression of A&beta; in C. elegans muscle leads to a rapid, reproducible paralysis phenotype that can be used to monitor treatments that modulate A&beta; toxicity.

Saggio β-amiloide tossicità utilizzando un transgenici C. elegans Modello

Accumulation of the &beta;-amyloid peptide (A&beta;) is generally believed to be central to the induction of Alzheimer's disease, but the relevant ...

Ricerca

Neuroscienze

C. elegans Positive Butanone Learning, Short-term, and Long-term Associative Memory Assays

The memory of experiences and learned information is critical for organisms to make choices that aid their survival. C. elegans navigates its environment through neuron-specific detection of food and chemical odors1, 2, and can associate nutritive states with chemical odors3, temperature4, and the pathogenicity of a food source5.
Here, we describe assays of C. elegans associative learning and short- and long-term associative memory. We modified an aversive olfactory learning paradigm6 to instead produce a positive response; the assay involves starving ~400 worms, then feeding the worms in the presence of the AWC neuron-sensed volatile chemoattractant butanone at a concentration that elicits a low chemotactic index (similar to Toroyama et al.7). A standard population chemotaxis assay1 tests the worms' attraction to the odorant immediately or minutes to hours after conditioning.
After conditioning, wild-type animals' chemotaxis to butanone increases ~0.6 Chemotaxis Index units, its "Learning Index". Associative learning is dependent on the presence of both food and butanone during training. Pairing food and butanone for a single conditioning period ("massed training") produces short-term associative memory that lasts ~2 hours. Multiple conditioning periods with rest periods between ("spaced training") yields long-term associative memory (&lt;40 hours), and is dependent on the cAMP Response Element Binding protein (CREB),6 a transcription factor required for long-term memory across species.8
Our protocol also includes image analysis methods for quick and accurate determination of chemotaxis indices. High-contrast images of animals on chemotaxis assay plates are captured and analyzed by worm counting software in MatLab. The software corrects for uneven background using a morphological tophat transformation.9 Otsu's method is then used to determine a threshold to separate worms from the background.10 Very small particles are removed automatically and larger non-worm regions (plate edges or agar punches) are removed by manual selection. The software then estimates the size of single worm by ignoring regions that are above a specified maximum size and taking the median size of the remaining regions. The number of worms is then estimated by dividing the total area identified as occupied by worms by the estimated size of a single worm.
We have found that learning and short- and long-term memory can be distinguished, and that these processes share similar key molecules with higher organisms.6,8 Our assays can quickly test novel candidate genes or molecules that affect learning and short- or long-term memory in C. elegans that are relevant across species.

C. elegans Positive Butanone Learning, Short-term, and Long-term Associative Memory Assays

Here we describe methods to test C. elegans associative learning and short- and long-term associative memory. These population assays employ the worms abilities to chemotax toward volatile odorants, and form positive associations upon pairing food with the chemoattractant butanone. Increasing the number of conditioning periods induces long-term memory.

C. elegans Learning Positivo Butanone, a breve termine e lungo termine saggi di memoria associativa

The memory of experiences and learned information is critical for organisms to make choices that aid their survival. C. elegans navigates its environment ...

In vivo Laser Axotomy in C. elegans

Neurons communicate with other cells via axons and dendrites, slender membrane extensions that contain pre- or post-synaptic specializations. If a neuron is damaged by injury or disease, it may regenerate. Cell-intrinsic and extrinsic factors influence the ability of a neuron to regenerate and restore function. Recently, the nematode C. elegans has emerged as an excellent model organism to identify genes and signaling pathways that influence the regeneration of neurons1-6. The main way to initiate neuronal regeneration in C. elegans is laser-mediated cutting, or axotomy. During axotomy, a fluorescently-labeled neuronal process is severed using high-energy pulses. Initially, neuronal regeneration in C. elegans was examined using an amplified femtosecond laser5. However, subsequent regeneration studies have shown that a conventional pulsed laser can be used to accurately sever neurons in vivo and elicit a similar regenerative response1,3,7.
We present a protocol for performing in vivo laser axotomy in the worm using a MicroPoint pulsed laser, a turnkey system that is readily available and that has been widely used for targeted cell ablation. We describe aligning the laser, mounting the worms, cutting specific neurons, and assessing subsequent regeneration. The system provides the ability to cut large numbers of neurons in multiple worms during one experiment. Thus, laser axotomy as described herein is an efficient system for initiating and analyzing the process of regeneration.

In vivo Laser Axotomy in C. elegans

A protocol to cut neurons in C. elegans with a MicroPoint pulsed laser is presented. We describe setting up the system, immobilizing worms, and severing labeled neurons. Advantages include a relatively low-cost system and the ability to sever neuronal processes or ablate cells in vivo.

In vivo Laser assotomia in C. elegans

Neurons communicate with other cells via axons and dendrites, slender membrane extensions that contain pre- or post-synaptic specializations. If a neuron ...

Automated Quantification of Synaptic Fluorescence in C. elegans

Synapse strength refers to the amplitude of postsynaptic responses to presynaptic neurotransmitter release events, and has a major impact on overall neural circuit function. Synapse strength critically depends on the abundance of neurotransmitter receptors clustered at synaptic sites on the postsynaptic membrane. Receptor levels are established developmentally, and can be altered by receptor trafficking between surface-localized, subsynaptic, and intracellular pools, representing important mechanisms of synaptic plasticity and neuromodulation. Rigorous methods to quantify synaptically-localized neurotransmitter receptor abundance are essential to study synaptic development and plasticity. Fluorescence microscopy is an optimal approach because it preserves spatial information, distinguishing synaptic from non-synaptic pools, and discriminating among receptor populations localized to different types of synapses. The genetic model organism Caenorhabditis elegans is particularly well suited for these studies due to the small size and relative simplicity of its nervous system, its transparency, and the availability of powerful genetic techniques, allowing examination of native synapses in intact animals.
Here we present a method for quantifying fluorescently-labeled synaptic neurotransmitter receptors in C. elegans. Its key feature is the automated identification and analysis of individual synapses in three dimensions in multi-plane confocal microscope output files, tabulating position, volume, fluorescence intensity, and total fluorescence for each synapse. This approach has two principal advantages over manual analysis of z-plane projections of confocal data. First, because every plane of the confocal data set is included, no data are lost through z-plane projection, typically based on pixel intensity averages or maxima. Second, identification of synapses is automated, but can be inspected by the experimenter as the data analysis proceeds, allowing fast and accurate extraction of data from large numbers of synapses. Hundreds to thousands of synapses per sample can easily be obtained, producing large data sets to maximize statistical power. Considerations for preparing C. elegans for analysis, and performing confocal imaging to minimize variability between animals within treatment groups are also discussed. Although developed to analyze C. elegans postsynaptic receptors, this method is generally useful for any type of synaptically-localized protein, or indeed, any fluorescence signal that is localized to discrete clusters, puncta, or organelles.
The procedure is performed in three steps: 1) preparation of samples, 2) confocal imaging, and 3) image analysis. Steps 1 and 2 are specific to C. elegans, while step 3 is generally applicable to any punctate fluorescence signal in confocal micrographs.

Automated Quantification of Synaptic Fluorescence in C. elegans

The abundance of neurotransmitter receptors clustered at synapses strongly influences synaptic strength. This method quantifies fluorescently-labeled neurotransmitter receptors in three dimensions with single-synapse resolution in C. elegans, allowing hundreds of synapses to be rapidly characterized within a single sample without distortions introduced by z-plane projection.

Quantificazione automatica di fluorescenza in Synaptic<em&gt; C. elegans</em

Synapse strength refers to the amplitude of postsynaptic responses to presynaptic neurotransmitter release events, and has a major impact on overall ...

C. elegans Tracking and Behavioral Measurement

We have developed instrumentation, image processing, and data analysis techniques to quantify the locomotory behavior of C. elegans as it crawls on the surface of an agar plate. For the study of the genetic, biochemical, and neuronal basis of behavior, C. elegans is an ideal organism because it is genetically tractable, amenable to microscopy, and shows a number of complex behaviors, including taxis, learning, and social interaction1,2. Behavioral analysis based on tracking the movements of worms as they crawl on agar plates have been particularly useful in the study of sensory behavior3, locomotion4, and general mutational phenotyping5. Our system works by moving the camera and illumination system as the worms crawls on a stationary agar plate, which ensures no mechanical stimulus is transmitted to the worm. Our tracking system is easy to use and includes a semi-automatic calibration feature. A challenge of all video tracking systems is that it generates an enormous amount of data that is intrinsically high dimensional. Our image processing and data analysis programs deal with this challenge by reducing the worms shape into a set of independent components, which comprehensively reconstruct the worms behavior as a function of only 3-4 dimensions6,7. As an example of the process we show that the worm enters and exits its reversal state in a phase specific manner.

C. elegans Tracking and Behavioral Measurement

We have developed a video-rate tracking microscope system that can record and quantify C. elegans behavior at high resolution and high speeds. We have also developed computational methods to reduce the dimensionality of the worm images to a fundamental set of measurements that completely describe the shape of the worm.

C. elegans Monitoraggio e valutazione del comportamento

We have developed instrumentation, image processing, and data analysis techniques to quantify the locomotory behavior of C. elegans as it crawls on the ...

A Molecular Readout of Long-term Olfactory Adaptation in C. elegans

During sustained stimulation most sensory neurons will adapt their response by decreasing their sensitivity to the signal. The adaptation response helps shape attention and also protects cells from over-stimulation. Adaptation within the olfactory circuit of C. elegans was first described by Colbert and Bargmann1,2. Here, the authors defined parameters of the olfactory adaptation paradigm, which they used to design a genetic screen to isolate mutants defective in their ability to adapt to volatile odors sensed by the Amphid Wing cells type C (AWC) sensory neurons. When wildtype C. elegans animals are exposed to an attractive AWC-sensed odor3 for 30 min they will adapt their responsiveness to the odor and will then ignore the adapting odor in a chemotaxis behavioral assay for ~1 hr. When wildtype C. elegans animals are exposed to an attractive AWC-sensed odor for ~1 hr they will then ignore the adapting odor in a chemotaxis behavioral assay for ~3 hr. These two phases of olfactory adaptation in C. elegans were described as short-term olfactory adaptation (induced after 30 min odor exposure), and long-term olfactory adaptation (induced after 60 min odor exposure). Later work from L'Etoile et al.,4 uncovered a Protein Kinase G (PKG) called EGL-4 that is required for both the short-term and long-term olfactory adaptation in AWC neurons. The EGL-4 protein contains a nuclear localization sequence that is necessary for long-term olfactory adaptation responses but dispensable for short-term olfactory adaptation responses in the AWC4. By tagging EGL-4 with a green fluorescent protein, it was possible to visualize the localization of EGL-4 in the AWC during prolonged odor exposure. Using this fully functional GFP-tagged EGL-4 (GFP::EGL-4) molecule we have been able to develop a molecular readout of long-term olfactory adaptation in the AWC5. Using this molecular readout of olfactory adaptation we have been able to perform both forward and reverse genetic screens to identify mutant animals that exhibit defective subcellular localization patterns of GFP::EGL-4 in the AWC6,7. Here we describe: 1) the construction of GFP::EGL-4 expressing animals; 2) the protocol for cultivation of animals for long-term odor-induced nuclear translocation assays; and 3) the scoring of the long-term odor-induced nuclear translocation event and recovery (re-sensitization) from the nuclear GFP::EGL-4 state.

A Molecular Readout of Long-term Olfactory Adaptation in C. elegans

Here we describe a molecular readout of long-term olfactory adaptation in Caenorhabditis elegans. The Protein Kinase G, EGL-4, is necessary for stable adaptation responses in the primary sensory neuron pair called AWC. During prolonged odor exposure EGL-4 translocates from the cytosol to nucleus of the AWC.

Una lettura molecolare di lungo termine adattamento olfattivo nel<em&gt; C. elegans</em

During sustained stimulation most sensory neurons will adapt their response by decreasing their sensitivity to the signal. The adaptation response helps ...

Hippocampal Insulin Microinjection and In vivo Microdialysis During Spatial Memory Testing

Glucose metabolism is a useful marker for local neural activity, forming the basis of methods such as 2-deoxyglucose and functional magnetic resonance imaging. However, use of such methods in animal models requires anesthesia and hence both alters the brain state and prevents behavioral measures. An alternative method is the use of in vivo microdialysis to take continuous measurement of brain extracellular fluid concentrations of glucose, lactate, and related metabolites in awake, unrestrained animals. This technique is especially useful when combined with tasks designed to rely on specific brain regions and/or acute pharmacological manipulation; for example, hippocampal measurements during a spatial working memory task (spontaneous alternation) show a dip in extracellular glucose and rise in lactate that are suggestive of enhanced glycolysis1-3,4-5, and intrahippocampal insulin administration both improves memory and increases hippocampal glycolysis6. Substances such as insulin can be delivered to the hippocampus via the same microdialysis probe used to measure metabolites. The use of spontaneous alternation as a measure of hippocampal function is designed to avoid any confound from stressful motivators (e.g. footshock), restraint, or rewards (e.g. food), all of which can alter both task performance and metabolism; this task also provides a measure of motor activity that permits control for nonspecific effects of treatment. Combined, these methods permit direct measurement of the neurochemical and metabolic variables regulating behavior.

Hippocampal Insulin Microinjection and In vivo Microdialysis During Spatial Memory Testing

Modulation of hippocampally-dependent spatial working memory by direct intrahippocampal microinjection, accompanied and followed by in vivo microdialysis for metabolites in conscious, behaving animals.

Insulina Microiniezione ippocampale e<em&gt; In vivo</emMicrodialisi&gt; Durante il test di memoria spaziale

Glucose metabolism is a useful marker for local neural activity, forming the basis of methods such as 2-deoxyglucose and functional magnetic resonance ...

In vivo Neuronal Calcium Imaging in C. elegans

The nematode worm C. elegans is an ideal model organism for relatively simple, low cost neuronal imaging in vivo. Its small transparent body and simple, well-characterized nervous system allows identification and fluorescence imaging of any neuron within the intact animal. Simple immobilization techniques with minimal impact on the animal's physiology allow extended time-lapse imaging. The development of genetically-encoded calcium sensitive fluorophores such as cameleon 1 and GCaMP 2 allow in vivo imaging of neuronal calcium relating both cell physiology and neuronal activity. Numerous transgenic strains expressing these fluorophores in specific neurons are readily available or can be constructed using well-established techniques. Here, we describe detailed procedures for measuring calcium dynamics within a single neuron in vivo using both GCaMP and cameleon. We discuss advantages and disadvantages of both as well as various methods of sample preparation (animal immobilization) and image analysis. Finally, we present results from two experiments: 1) Using GCaMP to measure the sensory response of a specific neuron to an external electrical field and 2) Using cameleon to measure the physiological calcium response of a neuron to traumatic laser damage. Calcium imaging techniques such as these are used extensively in C. elegans and have been extended to measurements in freely moving animals, multiple neurons simultaneously and comparison across genetic backgrounds. C. elegans presents a robust and flexible system for in vivo neuronal imaging with advantages over other model systems in technical simplicity and cost.

In vivo Neuronal Calcium Imaging in C. elegans

With its small transparent body, well-documented neuroanatomy and a host of amenable genetic techniques and reagents, C. elegans makes an ideal model organism for in vivo neuronal imaging using relatively simple, low-cost techniques. Here we describe single neuron imaging within intact adult animals using genetically encoded fluorescent calcium indicators.

In vivo imaging di calcio neuronale in C. elegans

The nematode worm C. elegans is an ideal model organism  for relatively simple, low cost neuronal imaging in vivo. Its small transparent body and simple, ...

In Vivo Imaging of Dauer-specific Neuronal Remodeling in C. elegans

The mechanisms controlling stress-induced phenotypic plasticity in animals are frequently complex and difficult to study in vivo. A classic example of stress-induced plasticity is the dauer stage of C. elegans. Dauers are an alternative developmental larval stage formed under conditions of low concentrations of bacterial food and high concentrations of a dauer pheromone. Dauers display extensive developmental and behavioral plasticity. For example, a set of four inner-labial quadrant (IL2Q) neurons undergo extensive reversible remodeling during dauer formation. Utilizing the well-known environmental pathways regulating dauer entry, a previously established method for the production of crude dauer pheromone from large-scale liquid nematode cultures is demonstrated. With this method, a concentration of 50,000 - 75,000 nematodes/ml of liquid culture is sufficient to produce a highly potent crude dauer pheromone. The crude pheromone potency is determined by a dose-response bioassay. Finally, the methods used for in vivo time-lapse imaging of the IL2Qs during dauer formation are described.

In Vivo Imaging of Dauer-specific Neuronal Remodeling in C. elegans

Following exposure to specific environmental stressors, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans undergoes extensive phenotypic plasticity to enter into a stress-resistant &#8216;dauer&#8217; juvenile stage. We present methods for the controlled induction and imaging of neuroplasticity during dauer.

In Vivo Imaging di Dauer-specifica neuronale ritocca in C. elegans

The mechanisms controlling stress-induced phenotypic plasticity in animals are frequently complex and difficult to study in vivo. A classic example of ...

An Assay for Measuring the Effects of Ethanol on the Locomotion Speed of Caenorhabditis elegans

Alcohol use disorders are a significant public health concern, for which there are few effective treatment strategies. One difficulty that has delayed the development of more effective treatments is the relative lack of understanding of the molecular underpinnings of the effects of ethanol on behavior. The nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans (C.&#160;elegans), provides a useful model in which to generate and test hypotheses about the molecular effects of ethanol. Here, we describe an assay that has been developed and used to examine the roles of particular genes and environmental factors in behavioral responses to ethanol, in which locomotion is the behavioral output. Ethanol dose-dependently causes an acute depression of crawling on an agar surface. The effects are dynamic; animals exposed to a high concentration demonstrate an initial strong depression of crawling, referred to here as initial sensitivity, and then partially recover locomotion speed despite the continued presence of the drug. This ethanol-induced behavioral plasticity is referred to here as the development of acute functional tolerance. This assay has been used to demonstrate that these two phenotypes are distinct and genetically separable. The straightforward locomotion assay described here is suitable for examining the effects of both genetic and environmental manipulations on these acute behavioral responses to ethanol in C.&#160;elegans.

An Assay for Measuring the Effects of Ethanol on the Locomotion Speed of Caenorhabditis elegans

C. elegans is a useful model for studying the effects of ethanol on behavior. We present a behavioral assay that quantifies the effects of ethanol on the locomotion speed of crawling worms; both initial sensitivity and the development of acute functional tolerance to ethanol can be measured with this assay.

Un test per misurare gli effetti di etanolo sulla velocità di Locomotion<em&gt; Caenorhabditis elegans</em

Alcohol use disorders are a significant public health concern, for which there are few effective treatment strategies. One difficulty that has delayed the ...