C. elegans as a model organism Kavya Leo Vakkayil 20101080, BS-MS IISER PUNE 4/17/2017 Kavya Leo

GROWTH OF A RESEARCH AREA Jonathan Hodgkin, University of Oxford 4/17/2017 Kavya Leo

1. An introduction to C. elegans Anatomy Life cycle 2. A short history of C. elegans research 3. Advantages and applications of C. elegans 4. C. elegans in biology@IISER PUNE 4/17/2017 Kavya Leo

C. elegans Small, free living(non-parasitic)soil nematode Survives by feeding on bacteria 4/17/2017 Kavya Leo

C. elegans TWO SEXES: A self fertilizing hermaphrodite(XX) A male(X0) 4/17/2017 Kavya Leo

ADULT ANATOMY 4/17/2017 Kavya Leo A. DIC image of an adult hermaphrodite, left lateral side. Scale bar 0.1 mm. B. Schematic drawing of anatomical structures A. Schematic drawing of anatomical structures, left lateral side. B. DIC image of an adult male, left lateral side. Scale bar 0.1 mm C. The unilobed distal gonad of the animal in B is shown as enlarged. D. The adult male tail, ventral view. (Arrow) Cloaca; (arrowhead) fan. Rays 1-9 are labeled with asterisks on the right side. E. L3 tail, bottom, starting to bulge. 4/17/2017 Kavya Leo

LIFE CYCLE 4/17/2017 Kavya Leo

A SHORT HISTORY OF C. elegans RESEARCH Developed by Sydney Brenner(1963). Mutants published by Brenner(1974). Post embryonic cell lineages determined (Sulston and Horwitz,1976). Programmed cell death( Horwitz, 1982). Complete embryonic cell lineages determined( Deppe et al, Sulston 1983). Complete connectivity of nervous system was established(1986). RNAi and miRNA discovered in worms(1991-98)(Nobel Prize: Fire, Mello 2006). First use of GFP in animals(1994) (Nobel Prize: Chalfie, 2008). First animal whose whole genome was sequenced(97Mb,now 100.3Mb). 4/17/2017 Kavya Leo

A SHORT HISTORY OF C. elegans RESEARCH 4/17/2017 Kavya Leo

ADVANTAGES OF C. elegans AS A RESEARCH TOOL Simple Easy to grow Short life cycle Powerful genetic studies can be conducted(Both self fertile and cross fertile) Transparent Small Invariant cell lineage Fully described anatomy and development Completely sequenced genome Tools like RNAi knockdowns can be performed Stocks can be frozen and preserved No expensive animal house costs, CHEAP TO MAINTAIN! Present no biohazard Large size of progeny 4/17/2017 Kavya Leo

APPLICATIONS IN VARIOUS BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH AREAS 1. Developmental biology and Cell biology Transparency helps to view anatomy and development. Individual cell lineages can be easily traced and directly inspected by DIC light microscopy. Programmed cell death can also be visualized. 4/17/2017 Kavya Leo

Green fluorescent protein(GFP)* . Specific cells, cellular architecture can be directly examined using reporters like Green fluorescent protein(GFP)* . Ilys genes(lysozyme) exhibit distinct patterns of pharyngeal expression. *GFP= GREEN FLUORESCENT PROTEIN .Small protein derived from luminous jelly fish and can be introduced as a transgenic tag to mark any protein in the animal. Jonathan Hodgkin, University of Oxford 4/17/2017 Kavya Leo

Act as a model for neuronal development and function. 2. Neurobiology Act as a model for neuronal development and function. No brain per say, but have sophisticated nervous system(302neurons/959 cells). C. elegans responds to chemo attractants/repellants. Laser beams(selective cutting of neurons) and electrophysiology studies can be conducted. Connectome (the complete wiring diagram) have been established. 3. Aging Short life span helps to conduct genetic screens to find longevity genes. 4. Human disease studies ~75% of human disease genes have potential C. elegans homologs. ~40-50% have a C. elegans ortholog. 4/17/2017 Kavya Leo

C. elegans RESEARCH IN IISER PUNE Biochemical and genetic characterization of chromatin organizer protein Dve-1 and its role in C. elegans development and aging. The present study seeks to elucidate the mechanism by which chromatin organization impacts organismal aging by studying C. elegans protein (Defective proventriculus) Dve-1. Identify genetic and physical interactors of C. elegans Dve1. Generate C. elegans strains mutated in Dve1 and characterize the function of Dve1 during C. elegans development and aging. 4/17/2017 Kavya Leo

THANK YOU 4/17/2017 Kavya Leo