Pellerone FI et al. (2003) Int J Parasitol "Trehalose metabolism genes in Caenorhabditis elegans and filarial nematodes."

Somerville AC, Pellerone FI, Grant WN, Archer SK, Lacey MJ, Behm CA

[Int J Parasitol, 2003]

The sugar trehalose is claimed to be important in the physiology of nematodes where it may function in sugar transport, energy storage and protection against environmental stresses. In this study we investigated the role of trehalose metabolism in nematodes, using Caenorhabditis elegans as a model, and also identified complementary DNA clones putatively encoding genes involved in trehalose pathways in filarial nematodes. In C. elegans two putative trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (tps) genes encode the enzymes that catalyse trehalose synthesis and five putative trehalase (tre) genes encode enzymes catalysing hydrolysis of the sugar. We showed by RT-PCR or Northern analysis that each of these genes is expressed as mRNA at all stages of the C. elegans life cycle. Database searches and sequencing of expressed sequence tag clones revealed that at least one tps gene and two tre genes are expressed in the filarial nematode Brugia malayi, while one tps gene and at least one tre gene were identified for Onchocerca volvulus. We used the feeding method of RNA interference in C. elegans to knock down temporarily the expression of each of the tps and tre genes. Semiquantitative RT-PCR analysis confirmed that expression of each gene was silenced by RNA interference. We did not observe an obvious phenotype for any of the genes silenced individually but gas-chromatographic analysis showed >90% decline in trehalose levels when both tps genes were targeted simultaneously. This decline in trehalose content did not affect viability or development of the nematodes.

Caldero-Escudero E et al. (2024) Methods Cell Biol "Using C. elegans as a model for neurodegenerative diseases: Methodology and evaluation."

Caldero-Escudero E, De la Fuente S, Romero-Sanz S

[Methods Cell Biol, 2024]

Caenorhabditis elegans is a nematode that has been used as an animal model for almost 50years. It has primitive and simple tissues and organs, making it an ideal model for studying neurological pathways involved in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). C. elegans has conserved neurological pathways and is able to mimic human diseases, providing valuable insights into the human disease phenotype. This methodological review presents current approaches to generate neurodegenerative-like models of AD and PD in C. elegans, and evaluates the experiments commonly used to validate the diseases. These experimental approaches include assessing survival, fertility, mobility, electropharyngeogram assays, confocal mitochondrial imaging, RNA extraction for qRT-PCR or RT-PCR, and rate of defecation. This review also summarizes the current knowledge acquired on AD and PD using the aforementioned experimental approaches. Additionally, gaps in knowledge and future directions for research are also discussed in the review.

Chandra S et al. (2017) Life Sci "Role of miRNAs in development and disease: Lessons learnt from small organisms."

Chowdhuri DK, Vimal D, Gupta SC, Sharma D, Chandra S, Rai V

[Life Sci, 2017]

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) constitute a class of small (21-24 nucleotides) non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Caenorhabditis elegans, Drosophila melanogaster, and many other small organisms have been instrumental in deciphering the biological functions of miRNAs. While some miRNAs from small organisms are highly conserved across the taxa, others are organism specific. The miRNAs are known to play a crucial role during development and in various cellular functions such as cell survival, cell proliferation, and differentiation. The miRNAs associated with fragile X syndrome, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, cancer, malaria, infectious diseases and several other human diseases have been identified from small organisms. These organisms have been used as platforms in deciphering the functions of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of human diseases and to study miRNA biogenesis. Small organisms have also been used in the development of miRNA-based diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic strategies. The molecular techniques such as genome sequencing, northern blot analysis, and quantitative RT-PCR, have been used in deciphering the functions of miRNAs in small organisms. How miRNAs from small organisms especially those from Drosophila and C. elegans regulate development and disease pathogenesis is the focus of this review. The outstanding questions raised by our current understanding are discussed.