title: Fast Functional Germline and Epigenetic Assays in the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: Germ cells are unique in their ability to transfer traits and genetic information from one generation to the next. The proper development and integrity of their genome are therefore of utmost importance for the health of organisms and survival of species. Many features of mammalian germ cells, including their long development span and difficulty of access, present challenges for their study in the context of toxicity assays. In light of these barriers, the model system Caenorhabditis elegans shows great potential given its ease of manipulation and genetic tractability which can be easily adapted for high-throughput analysis. In this chapter, we discuss the advantages of examining germ cell processes in C. elegans, and describe three functional germline assays for the examination of chemical impact on germline maintenance and function including assays probing germ cell differentiation, germline apoptosis, and germline epigenetic regulation.
authors: Society & Genetics, Environmental Health Sciences, and Molecular Toxicology Inter-Departmental Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Zachary
authors: Z
authors: Lundby
authors: Society & Genetics, Environmental Health Sciences, and Molecular Toxicology Inter-Departmental Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors: Jessica
authors: J
authors: Camacho
authors: The Allard Laboratory, University of California, Los Angeles, CHS 76-065, 650 Charles Young Drive South, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA. pallard@ucla.edu.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Allard
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012734:Disorders of Sex Development / Q000235:genetics; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005260:Female; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D057166:High-Throughput Screening Assays; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008540:Meiosis / Q000187:drug effects; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D010063:Ovum / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D015262:Xenobiotics; C422043:ced-1 protein, C elegans; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D014635:Valproic Acid
keywords: Apoptosis; C. elegans; Germline; Meiosis; Toxicity