Spatial control of gut-specific gene expression during Caenorhabditis elegans development

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans was transformed with constructs containing upstream deletions of the gut-specific ges-1 carboxylesterase gene. With particular deletions, ges-1 was expressed, not as normally in the gut, but rather in muscle cells of the pharynx (which belong to a sister lineage of the gut) or in body wall muscle and hypodermal cells (which belong to a cousin lineage of the gut). These observations suggest that gut-specific gene expression in C. elegans involves not only gut-specific activators but also multiple repressors that are present in particular nongut lineages.     

秀丽隐杆线虫研究综述

国内外对秀丽隐杆线虫的研究日益增多,秀丽隐杆线虫作为一种模式线虫在生命科学的发展过程中发挥着举足轻重的作用。对秀丽隐杆线虫的培养、研究进展等方面进行了简要的综述。     

Heterochronic mutants of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Mutations in the Caenorhabditis elegans genes lin-14, lin-28, and lin-29 cause heterochronic developmental defects: the timing of specific developmental events in several tissues is altered relative to the timing of events in other tissues. These defects result from temporal transformations in the fates of specific cells, that is, certain cells express fates normally expressed by cells generated at other developmental stages. The identification and characterization of genes that can be mutated to cause heterochrony support the proposal that heterochrony is a mechanism for phylogenetic change and suggest cellular and genetic bases for heterochronic variation.     

Serotonin and octopamine in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

The biogenic amines serotonin and octopamine are present in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Serotonin, detected histochemically in whole mounts, is localized in two pharyngeal neurons that appear to be neurosecretory. Octopamine, identified radioenzymatically in crude extracts, probably is also localized in a few neurons. Exogenous serotonin and octopamine elicit specific and opposite behavioral responses in Caenorhabditis elegans, suggesting that these compounds function physiologically as antagonists.     

Translational regulators maintain totipotency in the Caenorhabditis elegans germline

The molecular mechanisms that maintain totipotency of the germline are not well understood. Here, we show that two conserved translational regulators, MEX-3 and GLD-1, are essential for maintaining totipotency in the Caenorhabditis elegans germline. In mex-3 gld-1 mutants, germ cells transdifferentiate into various somatic cell types such as muscles or neurons. Our findings implicate RNA regulation in the maintenance of totipotency, suggest that multiple mechanisms maintain totipotency at different stages of germline development, and establish a genetically tractable model for studying the development of teratomas.     

Genetic analysis of halothane sensitivity in Caenorhabditis elegans

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans appears to be a useful model for studying the action of volatile anesthetics. A mutant strain that is hypersensitive to the widely used anesthetic halothane was described earlier. The mutation is now shown to be an allele of unc-79. Other alleles of unc-79 are also associated with hypersensitivity to halothane. A strain with a mutation in a second gene, unc-80, is also hypersensitive to halothane. Nematodes bearing mutations in both unc-79 and unc-80 are slightly more sensitive to halothane than those bearing only one of these mutations. Mutations in a third gene, unc-9, suppress both unc-79 and unc-80. Nematodes bearing the suppressor mutations alone have normal sensitivity to halothane. These results show that sensitivity to halothane can be altered by mutations in several different genes.     

秀丽隐杆线虫抗性基因研究进展

从3个方面总结了秀丽隐杆线虫在抗性基因方面的研究进展。秀丽隐杆线虫的先天性免疫系统在抗病原菌、抗氧化应激等方面至关重要,它主要是通过MAPK、DAF-2、TGF-β三条信号途径发挥作用;另外,含TIR区蛋白和抗菌多肽也是秀丽隐杆线虫抗微生物感染机制的重要组成部分。在秀丽隐杆线虫的抗药性基因研究方面,发现了许多抗药性相关蛋白,如P-糖蛋白和多药耐药性相关蛋白MRP在抵抗多种药物的过程中发挥重要作用;而抗驱虫剂相关蛋白也在专门针对各种驱虫剂作用机制的研究中被发现;转录因子SKN-1、信息沉默调节蛋白SIR2、谷胱甘肽转移酶等在抗百草枯等药物方面发挥着重要作用;研究还发现遍在蛋白Phb-2等对特定药物起抗性作用。此外,本文还对抗环境刺激涉及的基因、蛋白及信号途径进行了简单叙述。     

秀丽线虫寿命的调控机制

介绍了与线虫寿命相关的基因、代谢途径及代谢特征,如IIS途径、TOR途径、氨基酸池的增加等。     

Cell-cell interactions in the guidance of late-developing neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans

The initial outgrowth of developing neuronal processes can be affected by a number of extrinsic interactions. Cell-cell interactions are also important in a later stage of neuronal outgrowth when processes grow into the region of their targets. The correct positioning of the process of a postembryonic sensory neuron, the touch cell AVM of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, at its synaptic targets requires the presence of a pair of embryonic interneurons, the BDU cells. These cells receive synapses from AVM but do not participate in the touch reflex circuit. Therefore, the AVM-BDU synapses may be required to stabilize the association between these cells and assist in the guidance of the AVM processes through a mature neuropil.     

Mutations affecting programmed cell deaths in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Mutations in two nonessential genes specifically block the phagocytosis of cells programmed to die during development. With few exceptions, these cells still die, suggesting that, in nematodes, engulfment is not necessary for most programmed deaths. Instead, these deaths appear to occur by cell suicide.     

Mechanisms of AIF-mediated apoptotic DNA degradation in Caenorhabditis elegans

Apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), a mitochondrial oxidoreductase, is released into the cytoplasm to induce cell death in response to apoptotic signals. However, the mechanisms underlying this process have not been resolved. We report that inactivation of the Caenorhabditis elegans AIF homolog wah-1 by RNA interference delayed the normal progression of apoptosis and caused a defect in apoptotic DNA degradation. WAH-1 localized in C. elegans mitochondria and was released into the cytosol and nucleus by the BH3-domain protein EGL-1 in a caspase (CED-3)-dependent manner. In addition, WAH-1 associated and cooperated with the mitochondrial endonuclease CPS-6/endonuclease G (EndoG) to promote DNA degradation and apoptosis. Thus, AIF and EndoG define a single, mitochondria-initiated apoptotic DNA degradation pathway that is conserved between C. elegans and mammals.     

农药废水对秀丽隐杆线虫毒性效应及其主要有毒组分

应用battery生物测试法,检测研究农药废水对秀丽隐杆线虫的生命周期、繁殖速率、生殖能力、头摆和身体弯曲频率等影响的生物毒性.及其引发生物毒性的主要有机污染物.结果表明,在已经达到国家废水排放标准[GB 8978-19961情况下,处理出水对受试动物仍然存在致毒效应;线虫的世代周期对进水的毒性最为敏感,产卵数量对出水的毒性最为敏感;进水毒性主要来自易受酸性调节影响的有机污染物,出水毒性主要来自易受碱性调节影响的有机污染物.结果表明,该项生物测试的毒性参数,可用于指示存在于低CODCr废水中的生物毒性;所用的毒性鉴别评价(TIE)方法,可用于鉴别废水中引发致毒效应的关键污染物.废水中悬浮颗粒污染物的生物毒性至关重要,尚未研究,有待继续.     

Redox regulation of germline and vulval development in Caenorhabditis elegans

In vitro studies have indicated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the oxidation of signaling molecules are important mediators of signal transduction. We have identified two pathways by which the altered redox chemistry of the clk-1 mutants of Caenorhabditis elegans acts in vivo on germline development. One pathway depends on the oxidation of an analog of vertebrate low density lipoprotein (LDL) and acts on the germline through the Ack-related tyrosine kinase (ARK-1) kinase and inositol trisphosphate (IP3) signaling. The other pathway is the oncogenic ras signaling pathway, whose action on germline as well as vulval development appears to be modulated by cytoplasmic ROS.     

Control of larval development by chemosensory neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans

Larval development of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is controlled by the activities of four classes of chemosensory neurons. The choice between normal development and development into a specialized larval form called a dauer larva is regulated by competing environmental stimuli: food and a dauer pheromone. When the neuron classes ADF, ASG, ASI, and ASJ are killed, animals develop as dauer larvae regardless of environmental conditions. These neurons might sense food or dauer pheromone, or both, to initiate the specialized differentiation of many cell types that occurs during dauer formation. Entry into and exit from the dauer stage are primarily controlled by different chemosensory neurons. The analysis of mutants defective in dauer formation indicates that the chemosensory neurons are active in the absence of sensory inputs and that dauer pheromone inhibits the ability of these neurons to generate a signal necessary for normal development.     

染色法鉴别秀丽隐杆线虫生命状态探究

利用0.5%的曙红、10%的番红花、0.5%的亚甲基蓝和红墨水,分别对死伤秀丽隐杆线虫进行染色观察,进而找出一种清晰可见、简单易行的鉴别死伤线虫的方法。     

必需氨基酸对秀丽新杆线虫发育的影响

在秀丽新杆线虫培养的过程中去除其他营养来源,仅在培养基中加入线虫所需的10种必需氨基酸,进而考察该类氨基酸对线虫发育过程的影响.结果表明:未摄取任何营养物质的线虫始终处于滞育期,面摄入必需氨基酸的线虫体长明显长于维持在滞育期的对照组,其中色氨酸和组氨酸在该过程中发挥了关键性的作用.     

A metalloprotease disintegrin that controls cell migration in Caenorhabditis elegans

In Caenorhabditis elegans, the gonad acquires two U-shaped arms by the directed migration of its distal tip cells (DTCs) along the body wall basement membranes. Correct migration of DTCs requires the mig-17 gene, which encodes a member of the metalloprotease-disintegrin protein family. The MIG-17 protein is secreted from muscle cells of the body wall and localizes in the basement membranes of gonad. This localization is dependent on the disintegrin-like domain of MIG-17 and its catalytic activity. These results suggest that the MIG-17 metalloprotease directs migration of DTCs by remodeling the basement membrane.     

A conserved checkpoint monitors meiotic chromosome synapsis in Caenorhabditis elegans

We report the discovery of a checkpoint that monitors synapsis between homologous chromosomes to ensure accurate meiotic segregation. Oocytes containing unsynapsed chromosomes selectively undergo apoptosis even if a germline DNA damage checkpoint is inactivated. This culling mechanism is specifically activated by unsynapsed pairing centers, cis-acting chromosome sites that are also required to promote synapsis in Caenorhabditis elegans. Apoptosis due to synaptic failure also requires the C. elegans homolog of PCH2, a budding yeast pachytene checkpoint gene, which suggests that this surveillance mechanism is widely conserved.