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FEBS Lett,
2007]
Cell-cell fusion is a highly regulated and dramatic cellular event that is required for development and homeostasis. Fusion may also play a role in the development of cancer and in tissue repair by stem cells. While virus-cell fusion and the fusion of intracellular membranes have been the subject of intense investigation during the past decade, cell-cell fusion remains poorly understood. Given the importance of this cell-biological phenomenon, a number of investigators have begun analyses of the molecular mechanisms that mediate the specialized fusion events of a variety of cell types and species. We discuss recent genetic and biochemical studies that are beginning to yield exciting insights into the fusion mechanisms of Saccharomyces cerevisiae mating pairs, Caenorhabditis elegans epithelial cells and gametes, Drosophila melanogaster and mammalian myoblasts, and mammalian macrophages.
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Cells,
2017]
Macroautophagy (hereafter referred to as autophagy) is an intracellular degradative process, well conserved among eukaryotes. By engulfing cytoplasmic constituents into the autophagosome for degradation, this process is involved in the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Autophagy induction triggers the formation of a cup-shaped double membrane structure, the phagophore, which progressively elongates and encloses materials to be removed. This double membrane vesicle, which is called an autophagosome, fuses with lysosome and forms the autolysosome. The inner membrane of the autophagosome, along with engulfed compounds, are degraded by lysosomal enzymes, which enables the recycling of carbohydrates, amino acids, nucleotides, and lipids. In response to various factors, autophagy can be induced for non-selective degradation of bulk cytoplasm. Autophagy is also able to selectively target cargoes and organelles such as mitochondria or peroxisome, functioning as a quality control system. The modification of autophagy flux is involved in developmental processes such as resistance to stress conditions, aging, cell death, and multiple pathologies. So, the use of animal models is essential for understanding these processes in the context of different cell types throughout the entire lifespan. For almost 15 years, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has emerged as a powerful model to analyze autophagy in physiological or pathological contexts. This review presents a rapid overview of physiological processes involving autophagy in Caenorhabditis elegans, the different assays used to monitor autophagy, their drawbacks, and specific tools for the analyses of selective autophagy.
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Methods,
2016]
With the development of bio-imaging techniques, an increasing number of studies apply these techniques to generate a myriad of image data. Its applications range from quantification of cellular, tissue, organismal and behavioral phenotypes of model organisms, to human facial phenotypes. The bio-imaging approaches to automatically detect, quantify, and profile phenotypic changes related to specific biological questions open new doors to studying phenotype-genotype associations and to precisely evaluating molecular changes associated with quantitative phenotypes. Here, we review major applications of bioimage-based quantitative phenotype analysis. Specifically, we describe the biological questions and experimental needs addressable by these analyses, computational techniques and tools that are available in these contexts, and the new perspectives on phenotype-genotype association uncovered by such analyses.
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Mol Cell Neurosci,
2018]
Axon regeneration is a fundamental and conserved process that allows the nervous system to repair circuits after trauma. Due to its conserved genome, transparent body, and relatively simple neuroanatomy, C. elegans has become a powerful model organism for studying the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying axon regeneration. Various studies from different model organisms have found microtubule dynamics to be pivotal to axon regrowth. In this review, we will discuss the latest findings on how microtubule dynamics are regulated during axon regeneration in C. elegans. Understanding the mechanisms of axon regeneration will aid in the development of more effective therapeutic strategies for treatments of diseases involving disconnection of axons, such as spinal cord injury and stroke.
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Cell Biosci,
2016]
The generation of mutants and transgenes are indispensible for biomedical research. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, a series of methods have been developed to introduce genome modifications, including random mutagenesis by chemical reagents, ionizing radiation and transposon insertion. In addition, foreign DNA can be integrated into the genome through microparticle bombardment approach or by irradiation of animals carrying microinjected extrachromosomal arrays. Recent research has revolutionized the genome engineering technologies by using customized DNA nucleases to manipulate particular genes and genomic sequences. Many streamlined editing strategies are developed to simplify the experimental procedure and minimize the cost. In this review, we will summarize the recent progress of the site-specific genome editing methods in C. elegans, including the Cre/LoxP, FLP/FRT, MosTIC system, zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcriptional activator-like nucleases (TALENs), and the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 nuclease. Particularly, the recent studies of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing method in C. elegans will be emphatically discussed.
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Dev Dyn,
2010]
The L1 family of cell adhesion molecules (L1CAMs) in vertebrates has long been studied for its roles in nervous system development and function. Members of this family have been associated with distinct neurological disorders that include CRASH, autism, 3p syndrome, and schizophrenia. The conservation of L1CAMs in Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans allows the opportunity to take advantage of these simple model organisms and their accessible genetic manipulations to dissect L1CAM functions and mechanisms of action. This review summarizes the discoveries of L1CAMs made in C. elegans, showcasing this simple model organism as a powerful system to uncover L1CAM mechanisms and roles in healthy and diseased states.
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Biomolecules,
2023]
Heme is an iron-containing tetrapyrrole that plays a critical role in various biological processes, including oxygen transport, electron transport, signal transduction, and catalysis. However, free heme is hydrophobic and potentially toxic to cells. Organisms have evolved specific pathways to safely transport this essential but toxic macrocycle within and between cells. The bacterivorous soil-dwelling nematode <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> is a powerful animal model for studying heme-trafficking pathways, as it lacks the ability to synthesize heme but instead relies on specialized trafficking pathways to acquire, distribute, and utilize heme. Over the past 15 years, studies on this microscopic animal have led to the identification of a number of heme-trafficking proteins, with corresponding functional homologs in vertebrates. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the heme-trafficking proteins identified in <i>C. elegans</i> and their corresponding homologs in related organisms.
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Integr Comp Biol,
2014]
When a bubble oscillates in an acoustically driven pressure field, its oscillations result in an attractive force on micro-sized objects in the near field. At the same time, the objects are subject to a viscous drag force due to the streaming flow that is generated by the oscillating bubble. Based on these secondary effects, oscillating bubbles have recently been implemented in biological applications to control and manipulate micron-sized objects. These objects include live microorganisms, such as Caenorhabditis elegans and Daphnia (water flea), as well as cells and vesicles. Oscillating bubbles are also used in delivering drugs or genes inside human blood vessels. In this review paper, we explain the underlying physical mechanism behind oscillating bubbles and discuss some of their key applications in biology, with the focus on the manipulation of microorganisms and cells.
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Trends Cell Biol,
2011]
Understanding the mechanisms of axon regeneration is of great importance to the development of therapeutic treatments for spinal cord injury or stroke. Axon regeneration has long been studied in diverse vertebrate and invertebrate models, but until recently had not been analyzed in the genetically tractable model organism Caenorhabditis elegans. The small size, simple neuroanatomy, and transparency of C. elegans allows single fluorescently labeled axons to be severed in live animals using laser microsurgery. Many neurons in C. elegans are capable of regenerative regrowth, and can in some cases re-establish functional connections. Large-scale genetic screens have begun to elucidate the genetic basis of axon regrowth.
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Cells,
2024]
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a debilitating neurodegenerative condition characterized by the progressive degeneration of motor neurons. Despite extensive research in various model animals, the cellular signal mechanisms of ALS remain elusive, impeding the development of efficacious treatments. Among these models, a well-characterized and diminutive organism, <i>Caenorhabditis elegans</i> (<i>C. elegans</i>), has emerged as a potent tool for investigating the molecular and cellular dimensions of ALS pathogenesis. This review summarizes the contributions of <i>C. elegans</i> models to our comprehension of ALS, emphasizing pivotal findings pertaining to genetics, protein aggregation, cellular pathways, and potential therapeutic strategies. We analyze both the merits and constraints of the <i>C. elegans</i> system in the realm of ALS research and point towards future investigations that could bridge the chasm between <i>C. elegans</i> foundational discoveries and clinical applications.