Name: generation of stable transgenic c. elegans using microinjection
Uploaded: 2008-08-15T12:12:00
Description: Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Generation of Stable Transgenic C. elegans Using Microinjection at JoVE.com

We wish to acknowledge the cooperative spirit of all Caldwell Lab members. Movement disorders research in the lab has been supported by the Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia &amp; Parkinson Foundation, United Parkinson Foundation, American Parkinson Disease Association, Parkinson's Disease Association of Alabama, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, and an Undergraduate Research.

Expression Plasmid Construction
Two plasmids are required: one for tissue-specific expression of the gene of interest and a second as selectable transformation marker.
Experimental Plasmid
<ol>
<li>Select a promoter that is expressed in the tissue/cell type of interest, for example, a nerve or muscle-specific promoter. If one is to express multiple genes within the same tissue, a promoter cassette plasmid in the Gateway system (Invitrogen) can be used. This approach ...

<ol>
	<li>Stinchcomb, D. T., Shaw, J. E., Carr, S. H., 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=Extrachromosomal+DNA+transformation+of+Caenorhabditis+elegans.">Extrachromosomal DNA transformation of Caenorhabditis elegans.</a> Mol. Cell. Biol. 5, 3484-3496 (1985).</li><li>Mello, C. C., Kramer, J. M., Stinchcomb, D., Ambros, V. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Efficient+gene+transfer+in+C.elegans:+extrachromosomal+maintenance+and+integration+of+transforming+sequences.">Efficient gene transfer in C.elegans: extrachromosomal maintenance and integration of transforming sequences.</a> EMBO J. 10, 3959-3970 (1991).</li><li>Kelly, W. G., Xu, S., Montgomery, M. K., Fire, A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Distinct+requirements+for+somatic+and+germline+expression+of+a+generally+expressed+Caenorhabditis+elegans+gene.">Distinct requirements for somatic and germline expression of a generally expressed Caenorhabditis elegans gene.</a> Genetics. 146, 227-238 (1997).</li><li>Cao, S., Gelwix, C. C., Caldwell, K. A., Caldwell, G. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Torsin-mediated+neuroprotection+from+cellular+stresses+to+dopaminergic+neurons+of+C.+elegans.">Torsin-mediated neuroprotection from cellular stresses to dopaminergic neurons of C. elegans.</a> J Neurosci. 25, 3801-3812 (2005).</li><li>Caldwell, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Integrated Genomics: A Discovery-Based Laboratory Course. , (2006).</li><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></ol>

When doing this procedure, it is important to remember to: - inject directly into the center of the gonad - not inject too much liquid - work quickly to prevent dessication.
If you run into problems with the needle, such as it is broken too large, it is best to remake a fresh needle, rather than trying to inject with a less than ideal needle.
The generation of transgenic worms has many applications such as: - identification of mutant genes, in ...

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd">
<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">	
		
		<div>
		<table border="1">
		<thead>
		<tr>
		<th>Material Name</th>
		<th>Type</th>
		<th>Company</th>
		<th>Catalogue Number</th>
		<th>Comment</th>
		</tr>
		</thead>
		<tbody>
		
<tr>
<td>Agarose</td>
<td>Ultrapure</td>
<td>Invitrogen</td>
<td>15510-027</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Halocarbon Oil, Voltalef</td>
<td>Hulle 10S</td>
<td>elfatochem, France</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Coverglass 18x18 mm</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fisher</td>
<td>12-548-A</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Coverglass 20x30 mm</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fisher</td>
<td>12-548-5A</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Coverglass 22x50 mm</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Fisher</td>
<td>12-545-E</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>100 ul Capillary</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>VWR</td>
<td>53432-921</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Glass Capillary for Needles</td>
<td>"Kwik-Fil"</td>
<td>World Precision Instruments</td>
<td>1B100F-4</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Needle Puller</td>
<td>Tool</td>
<td>Narishige</td>
<td>Model PP-830</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>microINJECTOR System</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<td>Tritech Research</td>
<td>MINJ-1000</td>
<td>Scope, Stage, Manipulator</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Dissecting, with Fluorescence</td>
<td>Microscope</td>
<td>Nikon</td>
<td>SMZ800</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>
<tr>
<td>Dissecting</td>
<td>Microscope</td>
<td>Nikon</td>
<td>SMZ645</td>
<td>&nbsp;</td>		</tbody>
		</table>
		</div>

generation of stable transgenic c. elegans using microinjection

Transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans can be readily created via microinjection of a DNA plasmid solution into the gonad 1. The plasmid DNA rearranges to form extrachromosomal concatamers that are stably inherited, though not with the same efficiency as actual chromosomes 2. A gene of interest is co-injected with an obvious phenotypic marker, such as rol-6 or GFP, to allow selection of transgenic animals under a dissecting microscope. The exogenous gene may be expressed from its native promoter for cellular localization studies. Alternatively, the transgene can be driven by a different tissue-specific promoter to assess the role of the gene product in that particular cell or tissue. This technique efficiently drives gene expression in all tissues of C. elegans except for the germline or early embryo 3. Creation of transgenic animals is widely utilized for a range of experimental paradigms. This video demonstrates the microinjection procedure to generate transgenic worms. Furthermore, selection and maintenance of stable transgenic C. elegans lines is described.

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Generation of Stable Transgenic C. elegans Using Microinjection at JoVE.com

Generation of Stable Transgenic C. elegans Using Microinjection

This video demonstrates the technique of microinjection into the gonad of C. elegans to create transgenic animals.

Transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans can be readily created via microinjection of a DNA plasmid solution into the gonad 1.  The plasmid DNA rearranges to ...

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

Microinjection of A. aegypti Embryos to Obtain Transgenic Mosquitoes

In this video, Nijole Jasinskiene demonstrates the methodology employed to generate transgenic Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which are vectors for dengue ...

Generation of Transgenic C. elegans by Biolistic Transformation

Generation of Transgenic C. elegans by Biolistic Transformation

The number of laboratories using the free living nematode C. elegans is rapidly growing. The popularity of this biological model is attributed to a rapid ...

Imaging C. elegans Embryos using an Epifluorescent Microscope and Open Source Software

Imaging C. elegans Embryos using an Epifluorescent Microscope and Open Source Software

Cellular processes, such as chromosome assembly, segregation and cytokinesis,are inherently dynamic. Time-lapse imaging of living cells, using ...

Activation of Apoptosis by Cytoplasmic Microinjection of Cytochrome c

Activation of Apoptosis by Cytoplasmic Microinjection of Cytochrome c

Apoptosis, or programmed cell death, is a conserved and highly regulated pathway by which cells die1.  Apoptosis can be triggered when cells encounter a ...

Determining Genetic Expression Profiles in C. elegans Using Microarray and Real-time PCR

Determining Genetic Expression Profiles in C. elegans Using Microarray and Real-time PCR

Synapses are composed of a presynaptic active zone in the signaling cell and a postsynaptic terminal in the target cell. In the case of chemical synapses, ...

C. elegans Chemotaxis Assay

C. elegans Chemotaxis Assay

Many organisms use chemotaxis to seek out food sources, avoid noxious substances, and find mates.  Caenorhabditis elegans has impressive chemotaxis ...

Antibody Staining in C. Elegans Using &quot;Freeze-Cracking&quot;

Antibody Staining in C. Elegans Using "Freeze-Cracking"

To stain C.  elegans with antibodies, the relatively impermeable cuticle must be  bypassed by chemical or mechanical methods.  "Freeze-cracking" is one ...

Measuring the Effects of Bacteria on C. Elegans Behavior Using an Egg Retention Assay

Measuring the Effects of Bacteria on C. Elegans Behavior Using an Egg Retention Assay

C. elegans egg-laying behavior is  affected by environmental cues such as osmolarity1 and  vibration2. In the total absence of food C. elegans also cease ...

Generation of Transgenic Hydra by Embryo Microinjection

Generation of Transgenic Hydra by Embryo Microinjection

As a member of the phylum Cnidaria, the sister group to all bilaterians, Hydra can shed light on fundamental biological processes shared among ...

Investigating the Spreading and Toxicity of Prion-like Proteins Using the Metazoan Model Organism C. elegans

Investigating the Spreading and Toxicity of Prion-like Proteins Using the Metazoan Model Organism C. elegans

Prions are unconventional self-propagating proteinaceous particles, devoid of any coding nucleic acid. These proteinaceous seeds serve as templates for ...