title: A method for selective ablation of neurons in C. elegans using the phototoxic fluorescent protein, KillerRed.
abstract: Specific neuron ablation with laser microbeam has been used in behavioral analysis of Caenorhabditis elegans. However, this method is hard to acquire many ablated worms, and is unable to compare behavioral changes just before and after ablation. Here, we developed an ablation method by using genetically encoded photosensitizer protein, KillerRed, which produces reactive oxygen species by green light irradiation. Ablation of AWA sensory neurons abolished the chemotaxis to AWA specific sensitive attractant, diacetyl, and no functional effect on the other sensory neuron, AWC, which senses benzaldehyde. This ablation method can be useful for analyzing neural in situ.
authors.affiliation: Center for Biosciences and Informatics, School of Fundamental Sciences and Technology, Keio University, 3-14-1 Hiyoshi, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Junya
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shidara
authors.forename: Yuma
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Morisawa
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawakami
authors.forename: Yuta
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tanahashi
authors.forename: Kohji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hotta
authors.forename: Kotaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Oka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000528:radiation effects*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000528:radiation effects*
chemical_list: C508771:killer red protein, Anthomedusae; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins
keywords: C. elegans; Chemosensation; KillerRed; Neural dynamics; Photo-inactivation; Reactive oxygen species