Universität zu Köln

Lesanpezeshki, Leila ORCID: 0000-0001-8111-4314, Hewitt, Jennifer E., Laranjeiro, Ricardo ORCID: 0000-0001-7665-0833, Antebi, Adam, Driscoll, Monica, Szewczyk, Nathaniel J., Blawzdziewicz, Jerzy, Lacerda, Carla M. R. and Vanapalli, Siva A. (2019). Pluronic gel-based burrowing assay for rapid assessment of neuromuscular health in C. elegans. Sci Rep, 9. LONDON: NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. ISSN 2045-2322

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Abstract

Whole-organism phenotypic assays are central to the assessment of neuromuscular function and health in model organisms such as the nematode C. elegans. In this study, we report a new assay format for engaging C. elegans in burrowing that enables rapid assessment of nematode neuromuscular health. In contrast to agar environments that pose specific drawbacks for characterization of C. elegans burrowing ability, here we use the optically transparent and biocompatible Pluronic F-127 gel that transitions from liquid to gel at room temperature, enabling convenient and safe handling of animals. The burrowing assay methodology involves loading animals at the bottom of well plates, casting a liquid-phase of Pluronic on top that solidifies via a modest temperature upshift, enticing animals to reach the surface via chemotaxis to food, and quantifying the relative success animals have in reaching the chemoattractant. We study the influence of Pluronic concentration, gel height and chemoattractant choice to optimize assay performance. To demonstrate the simplicity of the assay workflow and versatility, we show its novel application in multiple areas including (i) evaluating muscle mutants with defects in dense bodies and/or M-lines (pfn-3, atn-1, uig-1, dyc-1, zyx-1, unc-95 and tln-1), (ii) tuning assay conditions to reveal changes in the mutant gei-8, (iii) sorting of fast burrowers in a genetically-uniform wild-type population for later quantitation of their distinct muscle gene expression, and (iv) testing proteotoxic animal models of Huntington and Parkinson's disease. Results from our studies show that stimulating animals to navigate in a dense environment that offers mechanical resistance to three-dimensional locomotion challenges the neuromuscular system in a manner distinct from standard crawling and thrashing assays. Our simple and high throughput burrowing assay can provide insight into molecular mechanisms for maintenance of neuromuscular health and facilitate screening for therapeutic targets.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Creators:	Creators Email ORCID ORCID Put Code Lesanpezeshki, Leila UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0001-8111-4314 UNSPECIFIED Hewitt, Jennifer E. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Laranjeiro, Ricardo UNSPECIFIED orcid.org/0000-0001-7665-0833 UNSPECIFIED Antebi, Adam UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Driscoll, Monica UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Szewczyk, Nathaniel J. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Blawzdziewicz, Jerzy UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Lacerda, Carla M. R. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED Vanapalli, Siva A. UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED UNSPECIFIED
URN:	urn:nbn:de:hbz:38-130521
DOI:	10.1038/s41598-019-51608-9
Journal or Publication Title:	Sci Rep
Volume:	9
Date:	2019
Publisher:	NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
Place of Publication:	LONDON
ISSN:	2045-2322
Language:	English
Faculty:	Unspecified
Divisions:	Unspecified
Subjects:	no entry
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Keywords Language NEMATODE CAENORHABDITIS-ELEGANS; AGGREGATION; LOCOMOTION; IMMOBILIZATION; THRESHOLD; MOVEMENT; PLATFORM; DISEASE; SYSTEM; FORCES Multiple languages Multidisciplinary Sciences Multiple languages
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://kups.ub.uni-koeln.de/id/eprint/13052